Mammoth Caves had been my home for so long, I’d forgotten the wonder that they were to fresh eyes. Now, I saw them as Lena and Eve did for the first time, filled with awe and reverence.

Eve ran her hands along the smooth, stone walls, marveling at the high natural ceilings and remarking on the sophisticated network of passageways we had claimed. The vision had never been mine. It was Keara’s and now Molly’s.

A series of LED lights strung along the path lit the way as we headed into the main rotunda. Molly and Liam were waiting. Molly’s eyes shone with fresh tears as she saw me with the women I loved. She rushed forward and threw her arms around me. I could see on her face she wanted to do the same to Lena and Eve, but hung back, cautious.

Lena hadn’t said more than two words the whole way back. She put her fragile trust in me that I’d get her to safety.

“We’ll take care of you,” Molly said. Lena towered over her by a good five inches. Yet somehow, she seemed so small as she let Molly smooth the hair away from her face. “I’ve already got it all arranged.”

“You must be Eve,” she said, turning from Lena.

Eve gave me a cautious look then extended her hand. “I must be.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. We’ve been waiting.” Molly’s eyes flicked to mine. She wasn’t a shifter, but Molly had gotten freakishly good at reading minds around here. “I’ll bet you’d love to freshen up. We’ve got that figured out down here too. Mac, do you mind if I steal your girl for a little bit? It’ll give you and Lena a chance to catch up.”

Eve reached back and gave me a quick squeeze of her hand. I felt her reticence to leave me. At the same time, her eyes lit up as Molly talked and she took in her surroundings. This would be her home now, if she’d have me. I could already see Eve’s wheels turning.

“I’d love that,” Eve said. “I’m a mess.”

“You’re a supermodel,” Molly said. “You should have seen me when Liam first dragged me down here.”

Liam caught my eyes. I gave him a quick shake of my head. A muscle jumped in his jaw and he dropped his chin. There was no word from Payne or Gunnar. I had to get Eve and Lena settled, but then Liam and I would have decisions to make.

He left with Molly and Eve. I put a light hand on Lena and turned her toward me. Her breath hitched and her eyes went up and up until they settled on mine.

Lena crumpled against me, letting me draw her into a hug. “I’m so sorry,” I said, smoothing the hair away from her face. “I tried for so long to find you.”

A single tear fell from her face, but my strong, beautiful sister managed a smile. It tore me in two. Her perfect, ivory skin was marred now by a jagged scar through her arched ruddy brow. I knew she bore other scars I couldn’t see. On instinct, I slid my fingers to the back of her neck. She had one more scar there too.

Hissing, Lena pulled herself away. She rubbed the back of her neck. “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t think of it.”

I had a million questions for her. Had he hurt her? Had he broken her? Who was he? My wolf stirred. I knew she could see it in my eyes. A war raged within me. If only I’d been there to slay my little sister’s monsters for her.

“He’s dead,” Lena answered the question that mattered more. “I killed him in his sleep. His name was Shelby Cole and he was weak. Lucky for me. That’s the secret the Alpha doesn’t want to be known. A girl like me, a human girl, could be strong enough to kill a member of his Pack.”

Tall for a human, Lena was small to me. She was bruised and battered. But, my sister was mighty. “No one will ever hurt you like that again,” I said. “I swear it.”

“Don’t do that either,” Lena smiled. “I know how the world works, my brother. It’s enough you got me out of that place.” Her breath hitched as she held back a sob. I drew her into my arms and kissed the top of her head. We sat on a natural ledge on the wall together. I bore my sister’s pain as she cried the tears she’d kept inside for far too long.

When she recovered, I took Lena by the hand. Knowing Molly as well as I did, I guessed at the place she’d set aside for Lena. Off the main rotunda, I led her down a wide passageway. I had a cavern down here. Right across from it, there was another one. Sure enough, Molly had already made a comfortable pallet and strung the place with lights.

“It’s amazing down here,” Lena marveled. “I mean, we heard rumors. Not about the caves. As far as I know, the Pack has no idea you’re here. Oh, Mac. We have to keep it that way. They can never know. Do you think…”

She didn’t finish the thought. It was too horrible to think about right now. But, it was on my mind too. Payne and Gunnar were out there. They could lead the Pack to the caves if they succumbed to the Alpha’s control. It was the thing we all feared. We’d won an important battle today, but there was still a greater war looming.

Lena had fought enough for one day. As she fell asleep against my shoulder, I gently laid her down and covered her with blankets. I knew my sister. After what she’d been through, I wouldn’t be surprised if she slept for a whole day. She deserved it. I would keep my promise and watch over her. She would never be a prisoner of the Pack again.

Satisfied that she’d at least found temporary peace, I headed back to the main rotunda where I knew I’d find Liam waiting. He was pacing and tearing his hand through his hair. He could already see the answers in my face, but I couldn’t avoid him any longer.

“It was the Alpha,” I said. “He showed up at Birch Haven. Gunnar and Payne went after him.”

“God,” Liam said. “Fucking hell. Are they dead?”

I swallowed past a dry lump in my throat. “I don’t know. The longer they’re gone the more…”

“Don’t say it,” Liam said. “Don’t even think it. Not yet.”

“They won’t betray us,” I said. “You know it. They won’t get taken alive.”

“Stop!” Molly’s voice echoed off the cave walls as she stepped into the light. “We aren’t losing anyone else. You hear me?”

She went to Liam. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her cheek.

“We’ll give it some time,” I said. “Then Liam and I will do some recon in the morning. One way or another, we’ll find out what happened.”

Liam gave me a knowing look over Molly’s head. The less she knew, the better for her own protection. I just prayed the worst hadn’t happened.

“I like her,” Molly said, her eyes brightening. “Your Eve. She’s strong as hell to have survived what she did. Your sister too.”

“There were others,” I said. “Dozens of them. I just pray they got to safety across the border.”

“I’ve got feelers out,” Molly answered. “Eve filled me in on the details. I should know by morning whether those little birds flew to freedom. I think the odds are in their favor.”

“Can’t blame ‘em for wanting nothing to do with our kind,” Liam said. “I wish I’d been there too. If I had…”

Molly silenced him with a kiss. “If you had you’d be A.W.O.L. now too. And I’d have to go out there and kill you myself then drag your ass back here. Now, let’s cut the doom and gloom. Mac, I’ll check in on Lena in a little while. Meantime, I think you and Eve have some unfinished business. She’s down in the grotto.”

Molly gave me a conspiratorial wink that damn near made me blush. Liam chuckled as he drew her away and the two of them disappeared down the corridor.