Chapter 172 Chapter 172
When they got back, Kobie assessed quickly what was happening. The tailgate of one of the trucks was down, a barefoot was visible. Beside the truck, Shaelan and Devin leaned over someone. Kobie picked up the pace, despite the stones cutting into her feet. Shaelan had to keep that man alive.
Devin stood up and nodded. “Run in and grab an IV bag from Jay’s supplies.” He told Rayne. “He’s going to pull through.”
Kobie huffed out a breath, letting her shoulders slump forward.
Blair walked by her, half carrying, half dragging the other man, and then just let go when he was near the truck. The man slid to the ground and just lay there. “His side might need a patch, Shaelan.”
Standing up, Shaelan glanced at him. “Okay, just let me get the IV going here.”
Devin moved back to stand beside his father, where they spoke quietly. Seeing them reminded her. She walked over and dropped the mud-covered pelt beside their feet.
“Oh,” Devin looked at it then, pointed his finger at her while grinning at Calum.
Calum frowned. “Did you find it on the way back?”
Kobie shrugged, “No, it was in the muddy bog right near where I met up with you,” she jerked her head at the man lying on the ground, “before all this. I found it when I came back for help but wasn’t stopping to get it then.”
Gage was grinning from ear to ear now and nodding his head as he looked at Calum.
“Shit, I knew it was right around there,” he spun and looked at Blair, “in the mud? That’s a new low.”
Blair shrugged, “I was only making it fair for you, my man,” he reached over and pulled Kobie to stand beside him, “my girl can scent things through perfumes, oils, and god damned ointment, so leaving it out in the open would have made you lose in a heartbeat.”
Calum laughed, then turned to look at Kobie and bowed to her, his arms spread out from his body. When he stood up, he pointed at her, “you have a job any time you want it.” He scoffed, “having someone else come out to help me track people down that is good at it,” he looked at Gage, “would be more than welcome.”
Shepard started clapping. “While they’re cleaning this up,” he motioned to the men on the ground, “and taking them over to Ed’s shop,” he pointed to Calum, Blair, Devin, and Noah, “we’re having a discussion.” He smiled at me, “and Kobie has just earned her place at the table.”
Frowning, Kobie looked around. Everyone was looking at her. Her clan, Blair’s clan, and every other person there.
Shepard motioned to the door, “shall we use the kitchen here?”
She realized he was asking permission to use her home. Her home. Then jolted and nodded, “Absolutely.”
Curious glances were being exchanged as the five men sat down at the table. Kobie’s heart was racing, she didn’t know what this was about. Giving herself a few minutes to stall, she grabbed some bottles of water and put them on the table and then opened the cupboards and pulled out a bag of jerky and a package of cookies and added them to the table. All of them needed to replenish. She slid into the nearest empty chair, “sorry, it’s the best I have on short notice.”
The men were already helping themselves.
“Food is food,” Blair said and winked at her.
Taking a bottle of water, she opened it and took a sip.
“As far as I can tell, they left a tree overhanging the border.” Calum turned to Shepard, “it’s easy enough to climb, stay off the camera’s and not trip any alarms.”
Devin picked up his phone, “I’ll send Jake and Cale back to cut anything away.”
Kobie was trying not to crush the bottle of water in her hands.
“No need to look nervous,” Shepard told her.
She nodded. Kobie was sitting at her table with the king, the prince, and one of their top warriors, of course, she should look nervous. She continued to watch Shepard as he glanced around the table at the others. He was a big man, it was hard to believe he shifted into a wolf. How big was his wolf? She wondered. There was no mistaking Devin was related to him, they had the same streaked brown hair. Only the King had some grey in there too and combed his neat whereas Devin’s just did what it wanted.
Blair’s hand touched her knee under the table, and she almost jumped, only remembering at the last second they weren’t alone, she didn’t want to look like a skittish fool. Turning her head, she looked at him to see a reassuring expression on his face. He could feel how nervous she was, which meant the rest of the men probably could too.
“Are you going to tell us why we’re here, Dad?” Devin grabbed a cookie and took a bite.
“I am. I was just pausing to look at my new team.” His father gave him a look, “minus you, of course, you’re more like the coach and not going to be doing the work.”
Devin raised an eyebrow and looked at his father and then turned to Calum, “you know what this is about.”
Calum nodded, and then took a drink.
“Jesse is also part of this and a few others, but you here,” he motioned around the table, “are the start. I need outstanding fighters, trackers, and,” he looked at Calum, “ones that can think on the move.”
Calum sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “You know I’m in, Shep, but,” he looked at Blair and then at Kobie, “they need to have some serious discussions.”
“How do you mean?” Blair frowned.
“One of you will be Alpha of this clan,” Shep said quietly. “You need to decide if Alpha and mate are both going to be going to help the Alliance and stop Tomas, or if one stays behind.”
Kobie leaned on the table. “I’m not sure what we’re talking about.” She didn’t want to be the dumb female, but they were talking around something and she needed clarification.
Shep motioned to Noah, “Noah was a captive of Tomas’ for fifteen years. Between his knowledge and Rayne’s we have a list of addresses and places we know people are being held,” he paused and glanced at his phone.
Kobie studied Noah for a second and then turned to Blair, who nodded.
“Sorry about that,” Shepard put the phone back down, “Jesse is just keeping me up to date on a few things.” He cleared his throat. “Within the next week or two, we’re going to liberate as many captives as we can.”
Kobie’s sped up. She clasped Blair’s hand under the table.
“Keep in mind this isn’t something that can be done in animal form. A lot of these locations are in cities,” the King leaned forward, a serious expression on his face, “can you track just as well on two legs? With all the other scents and distractions?”
“I don’t know,” Kobie said quietly.
Calum made a weird noise. “You found the damn pelt when we had intruders and still remembered where it was afterward.”
“I can still track, but I’ve never tried in a city.” Kobie blew out a breath, “I’m willing to try.”
“It could prove useful if we lose sight of some of Tomas’ associates.” Shep nodded his head slowly and then looked at Blair, “we need another warrior like you, Blair.”
Blair lifted his chin. “You know I’ll help.”
Nodding in a thoughtful way, he glanced at Kobie before speaking to him again, “and you’re okay with your mate being involved?”
Blair looked at Kobie, she couldn’t make out what he was thinking with his expression, then he looked away saying nothing. It was starting to feel like a hundred discussions she had with her father. She was good enough for sport, but when things turned serious, it was best to let the men handle it. Where did that get you, Dad?
“That’s up to Kobie. She’s my mate. I’m not her ruler and I don’t give her orders.” He shrugged, “I’ll lead the clan if that’s what they want, but she’s beside me, not behind me.”
Devin and Calum exchanged a quick look.