Chapter 136 Chapter 136
Kobie paced away and stared at the ground, trying to gather her thoughts before she spoke. Turning, she looked back at Fischer. She’d grown up with him in her life from as far back as she could remember. He was her brother’s best friend and unfortunately a one-form, other than that, he was an amazing guy. There had been a few times in her brief life she’d considered making a play for him, he had this boy-next-door cuteness going on with his sandy hair always hanging over his eyes. Kobie was too loyal to the clan to do that and other than his cuteness, she wasn’t emotionally attached to him. She blew out a breath and placed her hands on her hips. “I don’t know, Fish.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he gave her a sympathetic look. “Look, your brother made me promise that if anything ever happened to call that number and get you out of here,” he heaved a visible sigh, “your dad agreed.” He moved closer to her but seemed to know not to touch her right now. “I spoke to the Prince of this Alliance and he’s a very blunt, straightforward man.”
Kobie cleared her throat so she wouldn’t give in to the tears that threatened to fill her eyes. The prince, holy crap. “I know the Alliance is trustworthy,” she turned and looked out across the field, “but crossing the border and leaving here…”
Fischer grasped her shoulder and turned her, so she was looking at him. “There is nothing here for you now.” He jerked his chin toward the house. “Dad and I can’t keep you guys safe.” He shook his head. “It’s just a matter of time before they think to look here, and we can’t go up against them.” He frowned, “I still don’t know how they didn’t track you over here already.”
She did but wasn’t sharing how and besides, she knew this area better than anyone. Nodding, she stepped a more comfortable distance from him. Reaching up, she pulled the elastic from her hair, then stalled to think as she pulled it all back and put it back in the elastic. “How are we getting over to the other side?” She didn’t have a choice. She had to get the others to safety.
“Dad and I will take care of that. Jay and your father came up with the plan, we just have to follow it.” He glanced at the barn. “Be ready to go first thing in the morning.”
Kobie nodded, “yeah. Did you get me that stuff?”
Fischer pointed to the bag on the ground where he’d been standing then reached into his pocket, “you should have said something if one of you are injured.”
She grinned, “we’re not. Keep it, give it to whoever they send for us.”
He looked at the tube in his hand and then back to her. “For what?”
She chuckled softly, “they’ll send a male, he needs to put a dab under his nose.”
“Won’t that fuck with his sense of smell?”
She tucked her hands into the pocket of her jacket. “Yes, and that’s the point.” She motioned to the barn with her chin, “we have no idea when Annamarie and Nichelle will come into their first cycle or shift, so—”
“Ah. Got it.” He took the cap off and smelled it. “Jesus.” He capped it and then stuffed it in his pocket, “that will do the trick.”
“It always does.” She turned and looked back across the field. “We squeezed about six tubes of it all around the farm before we came over here.” She sucked in a breath and cleared her throat. She wanted nothing more than to go over and check if any of them had come back, but after they’d found the three bodies of their men, she knew she had to get the remaining members of the clan out of there. “Were you able to get their bodies out of there, so no one could find them?”
“Yeah. We buried them in the old meadow.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Thanks. I’ll tell their mates they were buried with respect.”
“Do you need anything tonight?”
She knew the food he’d given them was probably still sitting there uneaten. It was hard to force anything down when your universe had just caved in around you. Clearing her throat, she shook her head and turned toward the barn. “No. We’ll be ready before dawn.” She couldn’t look at him and see that expression on his face again. “Thanks, Fish, for everything.”
Going through the door, she turned and locked it again. Cortney met her. “Everyone resting?”
Cortney nodded and flipped her long hair out of the way. “Finally, yes.” She glanced at the door, a hopeful look on her face.
Kobie shook her head. “Fish buried the ones we found.” She cleared her throat, trying to prevent her voice from cracking with emotion. “His dad and he have been taking turns driving over,” she shook her head slowly, “no sign of anyone else.”
“I tried calling all the numbers we had. There’s no answer.” She held the cell phone out to her.
“Did you take the battery and card out of the phone after?” Kobie took the phone and stuffed it in her pocket. Fish had given it to her, along with the numbers he knew.
“Yes.” Cortney handed her the card and battery. Then put her hand over her mouth. “I don’t know what to tell Daisie about her father.”
Kobie turned and looked over to where the girls slept. Daisie was nine and probably the biggest ray of sunshine on the entire planet. The combination of her big blue eyes and shiny strawberry blonde hair just hit you in the heart when she looked at you. “Nothing for now.” Kobie took her elbow and guided her further away from the others. “Jay and Dad had an emergency plan lined up for the clan.”
Cortney looked surprised for a second. “I suppose it makes sense our Alpha would think of that.” She glanced over at her daughter again, then used her fist to wipe a tear off her cheek. “At the rate members were vanishing.”
Kobie nodded. “We’re going across the border with the protection of the Alliance.”
“The border?” Cortney’s voice cracked.
“Fish will keep checking for any that return.” She had to believe some of them would make it back. “They’ll join us when they do.” She inhaled a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to keep herself calm. “We can’t stay here—if they come back…” She couldn’t finish.
“I know.” Cortney nodded. “When?”
“Dawn.” She placed her hand on the other woman’s arm. “Go get some rest.” She glanced up to the top of the mow. “Torrey and I will take watch until dusk.” She waited until she left and went over to where the others were sleeping. Taking a deep breath, Kobie turned and started climbing the ladder to the mow. She’d fill Torrey in on the plan after she checked out the loft door and made sure that there was no one in sight that shouldn’t be.
Opening the door a few inches, she looked out it. Cortney and Torrey were technically her elders, but they both had daughters to watch over, so Kobie took it upon herself to take the lead. The others followed suit. Until her father or brother came back, she was the leader of the clan. Despite the other two women being seventeen and seven years older than her twenty-three years, they respected Kobie would do all within her power to keep everyone safe.
Leaning closer to the opening, she inhaled deep and took the scents into her system. She closed her eyes and took a moment to process the many smells. Opening her eyes, she glanced across the mow at Torrey and shook her head. Torrey gave her a quick nod, telling her all was clear on her side too.
Getting up, Kobie walked carefully over the tiered bales to the opening on the other end, she’d spend the next twelve hours walking in a circle checking every direction if she had to. She touched the pocket with the phone in it and wanted nothing more than to call her brother again. She knew she shouldn’t. Couldn’t.
As she looked out across the barren field, she clenched her jaw. Jay, you better get your ass back here. She wanted her father to return too, but she needed her twin in ways she could never explain to anyone. They had a connection, something that had bound them together before they were born. She smiled despite the ache in her heart. Hunting with her brother when they shifted was her most favorite thing on earth. They were in total synch with each other, like they were of one mind.
Sniffling past the emotion, she closed her eyes to inhale the air outside. She had to hold on to the hope that her brother would contact Fish as soon as he was able. She inhaled slowly. If you need me, I’m there, Jay. Always.