Chapter Eighteen
Xander
Xander and Frost were out on their daily trek around the woods with Silas. Jade and Ax had decided to join them. Because their little man had been shifting, he needed to expend the energy that came along with shifting and growing stronger every day. So at night, after dinner, they had taken to exploring the mountain. He and his son were in their snow leopard forms.
The summer had passed fairly quickly and their little cub was five months old. His shifts had become easier and it didn’t tire him out as much as the first one had. They worried when Silas slept through the night and most of the next day. But shifting took a lot of energy and they monitored him throughout the next day, and he soon recovered.
Since the weather had settled from warm to cool evenings, they enjoyed their walks more and more. They couldn’t wait for him to see snow for the first time.
Anzû had been silent since the call Ghost had received and as far as they could tell, stopped his push to take over Dark Company. Xander had hoped that he’d given up, but he knew better. The reason that their friends had joined them on their nightly ritual was because Ghost knew better as well.
And the sick part, despite the looming threat, was Xander had never been happier in his life.
He walked closer to Frost and he loved how she ran her fingers through his fur as they both kept an eye on Silas. He understood why he had lived so many years alone. He had to wait for Frost to come into his life. He remembered the feeling of being alone. But every morning, he woke up next to his wife and mate, and with their son sleeping next to them, content and dreaming happy dreams, he knew he was the luckiest man. And with his extended family vowing to protect them, as he would protect them, he knew that they could handle whatever Anzû threw at them. But he wished he would hurry the fuck up with his plans.
Xander laughed as Silas had a burst of energy and ran around the trees, darting in and out, before looping back to keep his parents in sight. He had developed speed in his leopard form, only with the occasional stumble. But as he grew more confident in his abilities, he shifted often. In his human form, he was stuck with someone holding him, and he liked that when he was tired or wanted to cuddle with Frost, but he couldn’t crawl at his young age and this way, he was free to run. Xander couldn’t fault him for that.
Xander was alerted to the change in their environment when Silas stopped running. His ears perked up, and his furry head tilted a bit to the right, as if he were listening to someone speak.
Two men are talking. Maybe more. No, wait. Not talking, thinking as they track something.
Frost stood by Silas as Jade and Ax turned in the direction of where Silas had heard the intruders’ thoughts. Xander put himself in front of his family. They readied themselves for an attack whenever the men came into view.
They’ve gone quiet. Their minds blanked.
Silas jumped into Frost’s arms, but the moment she straightened, they all heard a low whistle of something they couldn’t identify, heading their way. With horror, Xander watched a dart pierce the soft skin of Frost’s neck. Her eyes widened and she put Silas underneath Xander before reaching for the dart and pulling it out. Her eyes drooped and she fell unconscious.
Stay under me, little man.
He managed to break her fall and laid her gently on the grass using his head, before he stood in front of her, standing guard, ready to kill anyone who came close.
Silas, I need you to go to Jade and keep close.
Okay, Daddy.
Silas quickly made his way to Jade and Xander felt that he had erected a barrier around all of them the moment he reached her. It had been just in time, because the shifters emerged from the bushes at full sprint, their sights set on grabbing Frost. They slammed into the barrier and it knocked them back on their assess. They looked around, confused. They stepped back to regroup.
Silas, keep the barrier around you and Mommy only, okay?
Silas sent out a wave of anxiety that Xander recognized. Don’t worry, little man. We will be fine. I promise.
He sensed more than spotted the shield move away from Jade, Ax, and himself. Without waiting, they sprung at the intruders, pushing them deeper into the trees and away from Silas and Frost. He didn’t want Silas seeing what he had to do.
Jade opened her mouth, showing her sharp teeth and howling, effectively distracting the two shifters, while Ax came up behind them and swiped at both with his gigantic claws. As one of the men started to run away, Xander jumped on him and wrapped his mouth around his neck, not hesitating to clamp his jaw closed and effectively breaking the shifter’s neck. Not hesitating, he bit clean through the shifter’s throat and spine, only satisfied when his head detached and rolled away from his body.
“Wait, wait. I have a message. You have to let me live,” the last intruder pleaded.
Xander chuffed and growled, showing all of his teeth. They planned on kidnapping Frost and relaying the warning. Their confidence was their downfall. But Silas had saved his mom and now this fucker wanted to negotiate. These guys would pay.
Fuck the warning, Xander communicated to Ax. Ax swung his big paw down, effectively decapitating the second intruder before he had another chance to speak.
While Ax and Xander buried the two, Jade went back and watched over his family. He knew he should have felt a pang of remorse for killing the immortals, but they advanced on them with violence first, and their deaths had been the price they had to pay.
Xander finished up. He and Ax walked back toward the others. He was proud of his son. Silas still had the barrier up.
Okay, little man. Ready to go home?
Yes. Silas sounded so lost.
When Silas dropped his barrier, Xander shifted back and picked up Silas, who had also shifted back. He gently lifted his wife and walked them both back home. He tried to rid himself of the anger and adrenaline coursing through him, but he knew it wouldn’t be worth the effort. It would dissipate when he got his family home and safe. Ax and Jade sensed this and kept quiet.
He rushed through the front door and carried them up to their bedroom, laying Frost on the bed and then Silas, who cuddled up against her side. He dressed Silas in pajamas and covered them both. Xander leaned toward Frost and could smell the scent of the tranquilizer she’d been shot with. He closed his eyes and reassured himself that she would be all right when he heard her steady heartbeat and rhythmic breathing.
Ghost walked in as Xander pulled up his jeans and reached for a shirt. Silas blinked open his eyes and held up his arms for Ghost to pick him up, which he did. Silas, with his talents, played back the entire event, minus what happened after he and the others disappeared through the trees. When Silas had been through it all, Ghost kissed his head and gently placed him back against Frost. Both men watched as he cuddled in the crook of her neck.
He’s waiting for us to slip up. His only objective was to kidnap Frost. We had to kill them.
That’s understandable. Don’t be so hard on yourself. They tried to kidnap your mate. You did the right thing. Ghost squeezed his shoulder and the last of Xander’s adrenaline washed away.
Ghost left them to be together, and Xander cuddled next to his mate, careful of Silas between them. Unable to stand the distance, he pulled her closer and Silas blew out a breath, a wave of happiness that both his parents lay next to him.
Xander shivered in fear at how close he was to losing her. If it wasn’t for Silas, they would have most likely succeeded. With his adrenaline completely drained, but with the horrifying thoughts swirling around in his mind, he fell into a fitful, yet exhausted sleep with his arms wrapped tightly around his entire world.