Chapter 125 Chapter 125
“Heh, I may never live that one down.” She nodded to Shaelan, “Faye and I were busy today. We made stink bombs, gave them to most of the women…” she fanned her face excitedly, “let’s just say when they were lit up all over the place…” she sobered, “on the sly of course, so no one could get blamed.” She clapped her hands together lightly, “the whole place was puffs of smoke all over.” She frowned. “We should have asked Nona for help with our selection though, half of us were hyped up like happy squirrels, and the rest wanted to lay down right where they stood and hum a lullaby.” She exhaled loudly, “it’s why I’m late in coming, it had to wear off.” Shaking her head, she grinned, “By the time we were done, no nose there could have tracked a thing.” Inhaling slowly, she gave a small laugh, “still can’t smell a darn thing.”
Despite the somber tone, there wasn’t one person present without a smile after her story, Calum noted. He didn’t want to halt the only reason they’d had to smile today, but he needed to know. “Did they find the guards?”
She gave her head a quick shake. “No and they won’t either. The entire village is in on keeping them hidden.” She opened her mouth looking completely animated for a moment, then looked to Shaelan. “That Brock, he’s storming around with your… Leroy, his chest all puffed out, stomping around. He’s such a hoot.” Nodding, she grinned wide, “saying he’s checking homes personally while Leroy stands there pacing like a rabid animal…” she chuckled, “then he stomps out and off they go to the next one.” She laughed loud. “I tell you, if we get out of this alive…” Her head bobbed a few times, “I’m sending him to that place I read about.” She smiled wide, “That Hollywood Loss Angelees, so he can be a famous actor.”
Devin put his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide. Gage tilted his head to the side, smirking. No one even attempted to correct her, it would just take too long. Calum figured.
“What about mom, she can’t stay with Leroy....” Shaelan asked with a shaky voice.
Calum straightened and was ready to take off to the village when Marilyn waved him off.
“She’s at Nona’s. Told Leroy those nasty herbs made her real sick.” Scowling, she huffed out a loud breath. “That man don’t care if she’s ill, so he won’t even care where she is.” Looking around she turned to Devin. “Your alliance get here yet?”
Devin shook his head. “No. I got a message from my father and they should be here by tomorrow afternoon.”
Her eyes widened. “Then what happens?”
Calum exchanged a glance with Devin and Gage briefly, he’d been meaning to talk to them earlier, but with one thing after the other happening, there just hadn’t been a moment they could plan without interruption. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what he was thinking, so voicing it wasn’t going to be easy. “I don’t think we can wait until then.” Gage looked at him and frowned. Calum shrugged, “the fact that they haven’t thought to look in the most obvious place this long, is surprising.” If it were Calum looking for people, the first place he would have looked was the areas they weren’t supposed to be in.
“I was wondering on that too.” Marilyn said quietly. “I don’t know where else to move you though, I’ve been thinking on it. I know Brock is distracting him from coming this direction a lot, but Leroy goes for runs and he’s going to think of here one of these times.”
Calum felt Shaelan tense, could taste her fear. He looked to see both Devin and Gage watching him carefully, as if they knew what he was going to say next. It was the only solution he could find. He was the only healthy male present the same species as Shaelan’s clan. It had to stop. Stalling, one way or the other, wasn’t going to change it.
Unless Devin’s father came riding in on a tank, it was going to get messy before it got better. Those people didn’t know him, or know what was the truth or lies regarding the alliance. They didn’t even know what it meant to be in a functional clan. He exhaled slowly and looked to Devin as he spoke. “I’ll challenge Leroy.”
Shaelan was on her knees, in his face before he could take his next breath. “What? No.” She shook her head. “You mean fight him?” She looked at the others. “Isn’t that to the death?”
“In most cases.” Devin answered quietly.
Her head snapped back to look at Calum. “No. You can’t. He killed the true alpha…”
“That wasn’t no fight.” Marilyn said with disgust in her voice, “Leroy had Jerome shoot your momma’s man in the back with a tranquilizer as it started.” She shook her head slowly, “it was over before it begun.”
Devin growled and jumped to his feet. “So, this lunatic didn’t even take over the clan in a legal way?”
A sadness came over Marilyn. “No. Anyone that said a word about it, or against him…” She looked at her hands. “disappeared.” Her voice was barely audible. “Enough get to vanishing like that and people tow the line,” she glanced around at them, “you know?”
Calum felt his cat roll over his skin, the animosity very easy to pick up. He looked at Shaelan and cupped her face gently. “It’s the only way to free your people.” He glanced at his mark on her neck, “our people.”
Kelsey came over, “What is?”
Shaelan dropped back onto her heels and looked at her, “Calum is going to fight Leroy for alpha.”
Kelsey’s eyes went huge, she looked to Gage, then back to Calum. “Your what?” She shook her head. “We don’t even know how big this man is? Or… or…” She looked to Gage, then Devin and covered her mouth with both hands.
Calum stood up, his hands on his hips, purposely avoiding eye contact with his mate. What her clan had gone through, for years… it had to be stopped. He could see no other way. The only decision, as far as he was concerned, was if he was walking boldly in the front gate, or sneaking in the back door.
“You haven’t seen Calum fight.” Gage said in a serious tone, as he got up to go to Kelsey. “If Leroy picks cat form, he’s dead before he lifts a paw and on two legs…” Gage blew out a breath, “it’s not any less painful.”
Devin nodded then paused to watch Dale walking over.
“Couldn’t sleep, woke up needing air.” He stopped and looked at everyone. “What’s happened now?”
“Calum’s going to fight the alpha.” Shaelan sobbed as she got up and ran toward the trees behind the cave entrance.
He exhaled slowly and watched her go.
“Oh shit. Sucks to be the alpha.” Dale said.
Turning, Calum looked back at Devin, who motioned with his head to follow her. Shaking his head, he went after her.