Chapter 153 Chapter 153
Blair got out of the car and stretched. That was about all the car rides he could deal with for a few weeks. He was really missing his truck. Dropping his hands to his waist, he turned and looked around slowly. The house was enormous, which is probably why the Alliance had it, to house many shifters at once. A man was standing at the gate with an automatic rifle. Turning, he looked over to see a smaller building that may have been a small guest house at one time. Two men stood outside it, both had rifles. He wasn’t a big fan of guns, but after the last few days, he was happy for the backup.
“First thing I’m doing is having a shower.”
He turned to see Annamarie getting out of the van. He was happy to see the long drive hadn’t dampened her dramatic flair.
“First thing you’re doing is helping take the packs in and emptying them,” Franki told her.
Catching a backpack that was tossed at her, Annamarie sighed dramatically.
“It’s pretty here,” Daisie said as she stood there hugging her mother.
Kobie climbed out next and Blair forgot everyone else around them. Even sitting in a van for that long, she looked great. He was suspecting he was biased or she always looked fantastic.
“Blair?”
Blair jumped to see Calum standing beside him, he pointed to the smaller building. “That’s the guardhouse, where are the camera feeds are.”
Nodding, Blair headed toward it. He’d go out and run the property shortly, but he wanted to see how safe this safe house was.
The house was huge, with many rooms. It was clearly just a brief stopping point for the shifters they brought here, though. The furniture was sparse. There was a big cupboard on the main floor with clothes of all sizes. The only part that seemed like it was a normal house was the kitchen. It was well stocked with all the utensils and wares a person could need.
After Blair wandered through the house and the immediate area outside, he met up with Calum, Jesse, and Shaelan standing talking quietly beside the fence at the back of the house.
He gave Calum a curious look.
“Kobie’s brother is stable enough they want to bring him here, so we can move them together,” Jesse said in a quiet tone.
“I wouldn’t call him stable.” Shaelan shook her head, “he’s not in good shape at all.” Nodding, she looked at Calum, “we’re staying so I can look after him.”
Blair watched the expression on Calum’s face change and turned to see Kobie coming over.
“I wanted to ask—” she looked from one to the other, then frowned, “what’s wrong?”
“They found your brother.” Jesse received a look from Calum that said he should have waited to tell her.
Kobie sucked in a breath, “he’s all right?”
The men looked at Shaelan, Blair felt like he was passing it off to her, but honestly didn’t know how to tell her.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Shaelan gave her a gentle look. “He’s in very bad shape. I spoke to Devin and honestly, it’s a miracle he’s alive.”
Blair swallowed so he could force air into his lungs past the lump of apprehension forming in his throat.
“Did they just find him? Maybe it’s not as bad…”
“They found him when we were leaving the mountain,” Calum told her abruptly.
Blair closed his eyes and wondered why he would tell her that. Opening them again, he turned to see her facing away from them now.
“You knew?” Kobie spun toward Blair and glared at him.
How did she figure that out? Blair caught the cautious look Calum gave him as he guided Shaelan and Jesse in the other direction. He looked down at the angry dark eyes locked on him. “I knew they found him, and his condition was bad enough that they weren’t sure he was going to make it.”
Her eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have—”
Blair leaned down and lowered his voice, trying to keep this under control. “That’s why. You would have wanted to stay, then the others would have wanted to stay.” She didn’t look convinced, “we almost lost Daisie.” He said it slow, reminding her of how it felt when it had happened. “Priority was to get all of you out of there to somewhere safe.” The angry look changed little, but there was a quick flash in her eyes that told him she was reasoning with what he’d said.
“You still should have told me.” Her tone was less hostile.
Blair took a deep breath and straightened. “I had to get you to safety, Kobie.” He glanced at the door, then back to her, “I couldn’t take a chance and wait around to see how soon he could be transported.”
She bit her lip, her eyes still searching his face. “It’s bad?”
Blair looked at the door, wishing Shaelan would magically appear again. Nodding his head slowly, he gave her a soft look, “it’s bad,” he motioned to the door, “Shaelan was just going to explain what the doctor told Jesse.”
She took a ragged breath and hugged her waist. “I’m sorry.” She nodded, “you’re right, I would have stayed and put everyone at risk.” Closing her eyes, she just stood there.
Blair rubbed his hand over his chest. He wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. His cat was silent inside him, not knowing what to do either. Just knowing she was upset. “It’s your brother, I get it,” he didn’t really, “we also wanted more information before we told you.” He watched her open her eyes slowly and look at him again. He could see the pain in them. “I didn’t want you losing your mind not knowing a thing about his injuries.”
She nodded, then looked at the door. “Were any others found?”
Blair tucked his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t hug her. “No.”
Kobie blew out a loud breath, “Jay has to be okay.” She motioned around them, “if my dad didn’t make it, he has to be Alpha.” She wiped a tear off her cheek, “I’m the only other relative left and I think my reaction a few moments ago proves I’m not Alpha material.”
His cat brushed against him, prodding him to comfort her. “Hey,” reaching over, he lifted her chin, so she’d look at him, “you got them out of there. Most wouldn’t have managed that in this situation. Daisie is still here because you were right on their heels when they took her—”
“Blair.”
Dropping his hand, he turned to look at Calum standing there.
“One of the cameras at the back of the property has picked up movement.”
“Fuck. They can’t have gotten here before us.” He started walking.
Shaelan came outside. She gave Kobie an understanding look. “Come in and have some tea. I’ll explain what’s happening with your brother.”
Blair paused and watched her go inside. He pulled his shirt over his head. “Tell the guards not to shoot me.”
Calum chuckled. “Us. Not to shoot us.” He looked over at Jesse, who saluted and walked toward the guards’ house.
After running the property three times, he met up with Calum, still in cat form. From the way he was looking around and checking the air, he found nothing as well. They both turned and ran back toward the house.
Pulling his jeans up, he turned to see Calum scowling.
“I got nothing,” Blair said and picked up his shirt and boots.
They rounded the corner of the house to see Kobie sitting on the step.
Blair blew out a breath and looked around. “Where are the guards if she’s out here and there was a potential intruder?”
Calum made a soft growling noise. “I’ll go ask them,” he motioned to the small building across from the house. “You go explain why she shouldn’t be outside.”
Blair stopped and watched him keep walking. “And find out what the camera’s picked up? Was it a bird, an animal, or what?”
Calum lifted his hand to acknowledge he’d heard and kept going.
Blair turned to see Kobie coming over to him.
“What was it?” The concerned look on her face made him a little less perturbed she was sitting there possibly putting herself in danger.
“We couldn’t find anything.” He stood there, refusing to give in to his cat’s prompts to go comfort her worry. “You shouldn’t have been outside,” he looked around, “alone when there was a possibility of someone being on the property.”
“I was worried about you.” She stopped in front of him and hugged her arms around her waist.
It thrilled his cat to hear this, he was annoyed that he was happy to hear it and thus it softened the lecture he planned to give her. “While I appreciate that, thank you, it still doesn’t change the fact that they will do anything—anything,” he enunciated clearly, “to get to you and your clan women.” He nodded slowly as her expression changed, “if there’s a threat, you’re inside—locked inside with lookouts.” His resolve ended abruptly when she looked at him with an almost hurt expression in her eyes. “Help me keep you guys safe?”
She inhaled slowly, then nodded.
“Blair.”
He turned to look at Calum leaning out the door of the little building. “It was a person.”
“Bull shit.” Blair started stomping over. “A person with no scent?” He paused and turned back to Kobie. He motioned with his head for her to come over.
Jesse stood there with Calum now.
“Does your little alcohol stunt purge the smell completely?” He shrugged, “is it a temporary stall technique or is it washed away forever?”
Kobie looked confused, “I checked it out thoroughly before using it, there’s no scent forever.” She shook her head, “I mean, if you miss a foot placement or something you touched, it’s there, but once it’s sprayed on it’s gone.”
Blair turned to see Calum standing there with his hands on his hips.
Jesse nodded when he looked at him. “Increase the patrols?”
“Yeah,” Calum motioned to the back of the property, “every half hour, every other body out goes in a different direction. Nothing predictable.” He turned slowly and looked all around them, then pointed, “find me some binoculars,” he pointed to a hill that was higher than the landscaping around them. “Blair and I are going up there for an aerial look-see.”
It surprised Blair he was taking him, but if Calum could teach him a few things that he’d need to keep these women safe, he’d take it.