Ember stood tall, holding her hands up toward Talon. He immediately picked her up as she babbled her baby nonsense. The alpha knew his daughter wanted his attention. It was something that he’d never tire of when it came to his family.
Looking over at his mate, Talon wondered when they’d have another child, but with the way of their current world, he wasn’t sure he wanted to bring another life into the dangers they were facing. The Community was still at large, gathering up shifters of all species, locking them away in cages and experimenting on them like lab rats. The government was raiding these facilities as fast as they could find them, but it was hard.
Only a few of them were able to call out to their alphas for help, giving locations in their hysteria while being held as prisoners. Others weren’t so lucky. Word had come that the ones being found couldn’t call out to their leaders because the Community had learned about the alpha’s ability to speak mentally with their people, and they’d killed the alphas before taking the prisoners for study.
The Guardians of the Shaw Pride were even more protective of Talon than ever. He was a ball of anger with them staying so close, but he understood their worry. He was worried, too.
“She needs a nap,” Liberty yawned. “In fact, so does her mother.”
“Go rest, my love.” Talon smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He knew his mate felt his unease by the way she softly closed her eyes and released a quiet breath. She looked over her shoulder at Booth, Storm, and Dane, who were posted at the entrances to the room, standing at attention. Dane and Booth were at the one closest to the foyer, while Storm leaned against the frame leading into the kitchen. All three males watched the windows and doors that led outside.
Talon waited until his mate was out of the room before taking a seat in the high-back chair by the fireplace. He was safe from any windows at his back, and he used that time to place his head into his hands. There was a sense of unease in his body, almost like a small vibration.
Talon!
His brother’s call jerked his body upright. The Guardians were immediately at his side. He didn’t have a chance to answer his brother before the message came through.
Sheriff just appeared by the pond to warn us that humans are on our land. Evie and I are coming to the house.
“Humans are on our land,” Talon snarled. “Kye and Evie are on their way here from the pond.”
“Talon, we need you in the security room,” Booth urged as Talon stood from his seat.
“I’m going after my mate and my daughter,” he growled, feeling his beast push at his human skin. The three guards made a triangle of protection around him as he moved toward the stairs. They quickly reached the alpha’s bedroom and Liberty gasped when Talon rushed into the room. “Safe room, now!”
Liberty didn’t question him. She just scooped up Ember and found her place at his back. The Guardians made their protective triangle around him once again and they were on the move. Each step was coordinated. It’d been planned and practiced months before when the threats had originally come for the shifters.
“Shhh, little one,” Liberty cooed to their daughter who was crying from being woken up suddenly.
“Inside,” Booth barked, pushing into the control room. The room was as secure as a bank vault and it was the new safe haven for the pride in the event of an attack.
Noah jumped to his feet as soon as they entered, immediately pointing at one of the cameras. “Someone get the back door. Evie and Kye are almost here.”
Talon saw his brother and the young female racing up the road that led to the mated cabins, turning for the backyard of his home. Dane hurried out the door. His image was picked up on the interior cameras as he reached the back door. He held it open for the two cats to enter.
Talon sent out a message to his pride, warning them of the breach. His command for them to hide was sent back with fear from the pride. He sent out his calming touch through their connections, but it didn’t help. Feeling his pride on edge sent anger surging through his veins.
“Find out who is on my land!” Talon roared as he felt a ripple of fear come directly from Savage, who was out on patrol. Everyone froze when gunshots rang out.
“Talon?” Liberty cried, reaching for him when his eyes flashed amber and his canines appeared in his mouth. “Talon!”
“I want Guardians in the woods, now!” he barked as he closed his eyes tight. “Someone find Savage. He…he’s been shot.”
Evie laid on her side as she panted heavily. Kye had already shifted and left to find clothes. She had no desire to move until he returned. Her panther was exhausted from the run they’d just completed. The Watcher had appeared and yelled at them to run because there were humans on their land, and that had sent fear down her spine. When would they ever feel safe again?
Dane was standing guard at the back door, a gun strapped to his hip. Kye rushed back down the stairs with a pair of sweats and one of his cotton shirts in his hand. Evie shifted and climbed to her feet slowly, accepting the clothes.
“You two should go into the safe room with the alpha’s mate,” he said, not taking his eyes off the backyard. Kye grabbed her hand and started to turn, but froze when gunshots rang out in the air.
Everyone in the house gasped as their enhanced hearing picked it up. Feet pounded from the security room. Some Guardians shifted while some stayed human. Talon growled at Kye as he looked at Evie, “Get my mate into the safe room!”
Both of them ran down the hallway, meeting Talon at the door to the room. Evie pushed past her alpha and went straight for the weapons closet, stopping to scoop up the keys to the lock from the desk. No one questioned her when she reached inside and found a pair of gloves and a handgun she was comfortable handling.
“What are you doing?” Kye growled, his eyes flashing between his human and animal form.
“I’m protecting my alpha’s mate and the next alpha to our pride,” she replied, keeping her heart rate calm, just as she’d been taught in all of those hours of training. Evie donned a shoulder holster and secured one gun, reaching in for another one. She tossed it to the alpha’s mate. “Come on, Liberty.”
Evie closed and locked the door to the weapons and reached up above the frame. A soft click sounded and the door opened again to reveal a room behind the closet. It was a fairly large space and held several cots and blankets. A refrigerator sat in the corner that held enough water for a damn army.
Liberty scooped up her daughter and rushed into the room, a look of determination on her face. “Lock me in.”
“You know the drill.” Evie breathed deep and nodded toward Liberty, closing the door as soon as possible. She quickly wrapped her braided hair into a bun and secured it with a few hairpins she kept hidden in her hair. She double-checked the door and gave it one solid knock to let Liberty know she was secure.
The room had been added on months ago, giving the pride a place to hide in the case of a breach on their lands. Talon had hoped it wouldn’t be needed, but they all knew at some point they would.
“I’m shifting and you stay with me,” Kye ordered, lifting the shirt over his head. “I mean it, Evie. Don’t leave my side.”
“I won’t,” she growled, feeling her own beast prowl in her head. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Evie,” he began, but a hard glare from her shut him up. He quickly dropped his pants and shifted, coming up to nudge her side and nip at her wrist. Evie knew he was going to protect her. It was in their nature, but she was ready to fight alongside her pride to keep everyone safe.
“Let’s go.”
Noah nodded at them and reached up to kill the lights in the room. Kye and Evie stepped out the door and waited for it to close. The sound of the bolt sliding into place signaled that Noah was now protected with Liberty and Ember. He would be the first line of communication with Talon and the other Guardians.
Evie removed her gun from the holster and held it at her side as she walked silently down the hallway, past the alpha’s office. Kye’s panther huffed softly when they came to the opening of the living room. She felt his warmth as his body touched her right leg.
The house was silent, but that didn’t mean it was empty. When she looked to her left, Axel, the new Guardian, was poised at the door, his eyes flashing between amber and icy blue. The Guardian nodded toward the back door where she saw Lucky Cooper in place. She held up one finger and pressed it to her lips. With a deep breath, she pointed upstairs, letting them know she was going up to clear all of the rooms.
Kye stayed beside her as she moved to the bottom of the stairway. Axel covered the front door and Evie caught herself praying no one decided to shoot through it as she passed. Thank god, because she really didn’t want to know what getting shot felt like anytime soon.
She took the stairs one at a time. Kye’s beast crouched low to the ground as if he were stalking prey. His huge body made no sounds as it moved over the hardwood flooring on the upstairs landing. He was a predator…they didn’t make sounds when on the hunt.
Slowly, they cleared all of the rooms and returned to the foyer where the young Guardian was waiting. No words were spoken, only a short nod of her head to let him know the alpha’s home was secure. It was time to wait out the threat and pray that the ones who got onto their land were caught.