Chapter 766 Chapter 766
Zain sat down and leaned back. They’d done it. He still couldn’t believe it was real. This was more like something that would happen in a dream, not reality. They had Aiden Tomas. They actually got him. Not only that, but they’d freed any shifters that were being held, including Shepard. He’d sounded so weak. He hoped he was all right.
The door opened, and he jerked forward and almost right out of the chair. Illias grinned. “Sorry. I guess I should have done that slower.” He motioned over his shoulder. “We’re setting up a call to Shepard over here.”
Zain got up.
Oaklyn came out of the bathroom. She’d changed into her normal clothes. She looked just as good in regular clothes as she had in that dress.
He remembered what he was wearing, shrugged out of the jacket, and pulled off his tie. “How is he?”
“He’s the one that wants the video call.” Illias shrugged. “Come on. Let’s go get our answers.”
Zain nodded and held his hand out to Oaklyn. She came right over and took it. He was more nervous about this than he had been walking into that party. He still couldn’t believe he’d been a part of that. What was he going to do if the answers he was looking for weren’t good ones? What then? He glanced at Oaklyn as they walked across the hall. He had her to consider now. She’d been in hiding since she’d left her clan, he couldn’t ask her to do that again. She wasn’t going to be happy sitting in an office either, that much he knew.
They walked into Illias’ room, and he stopped. Calum, Devin, and Rayne were the only ones here.
Calum was over by the window on the phone.
Zain wasn’t even sure what time it was. He wasn’t tired, not with the adrenalin still coursing through him. He went over to the small loveseat and sat down. Oaklyn sat close to him. His wolf was more than content to sit here beside her and do nothing else.
Calum hung up and looked at Devin. “Shae says she’s staying for a few more hours to make sure everyone is settled. First assessment is all will recover. Healthwise.”
Devin was sitting on the arm of the chair, watching Illias on a laptop. He looked over at him. “I couldn’t go down and look.”
Calum nodded. “The pictures were bad enough.”
Zain hadn’t seen the pictures or gone down the area they’d kept others from their world. The idea that someone could do something like that was bad enough. He didn’t need to see it too.
“Are you sure he’s up to this?” Calum jerked his chin at the laptop.
“Mom explained what happened, and he insisted on it.” Devin looked at Zain. “I’m glad he did. I want answers as much as you do.”
Zain got it. It was Devin’s clan, the one he was supposed to lead when his father stepped aside. He didn’t blame him for wanting to know what he was dealing with when that time came.
Oaklyn leaned closer. “Stop worrying.” She whispered. “We have each other no matter what.”
He turned and looked at her. The conviction of her words was reflected in the determination in her eyes.
“No matter what.” She said again softly.
He nodded, offered her a half smile, and then leaned down and kissed her forehead. Taking her hand in his, he held it tight and turned back to look at the others.
Rayne smiled at Oaklyn and went and sat in the chair where Devin was. “I have an idea.” She looked at her mate.
He cocked his head to the side and looked at her for a moment and then turned and looked at Zain and Oaklyn. Devin gave them a serious look. “We know his organizational skills are up to the task.” He looked back at Rayne. “I approve of your idea.” He leaned down and kissed her quickly.
Zain looked from one to the other and then turned to Oaklyn. She looked just as curious as he felt.
“The new headquarters?” Calum crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Devin.
The prince nodded.
Calum smiled and looked at Oaklyn. “I know they can pull it off.”
Zain raised his hand. “Are we supposed to know what you’re talking about?”
Calum’s grin got bigger. “The Tomas building is going to be the new Alliance Headquarters on this side of the border.”
Zain nodded. Oaklyn had told him that much and how Rayne was going to burn things. He saw her in a whole different way now.
“We need someone to run it.”
“Not alone,” Rayne said softly. “Someone else will run the shelter in the basement.” A look of disgust crossed her face. “Once it’s been completely gutted and remodeled.”
“There’s enough rooms in that building that displaced clans could stay there until somewhere more suitable is arranged.” Oaklyn nodded. “There are goin’ to be a lot of them here. Trust me on that.”
“See.” Rayne turned in the chair so she was facing them both completely. “I think the two of you should run the US headquarters.”
Zain knew his eyes were bulging from their sockets, but he couldn’t help it. “Us?
Rayne smiled. “Yes. No one can bring together supplies and plans like you do, Zain, and with Oaklyn’s knowledge down here, I think the both of you would make great progress.”
Zain blinked and then looked at Illias. He was standing there, grinning at him. “Just the two of us?”
“We’d set up security down here, bring down some of the teams to train others.” Devin looked at Illias. “Get you some tech support and things wired up.” Illias nodded. Devin took a deep breath and then blew it out. “We got Tomas, but that’s just the beginning. There is a lot to do before every clan, everywhere, is free from being hunted.”
“I agree, son.”
Everyone jolted and turned to look at the monitor.
“Oh, right. Video’s up.” Illias grinned and stepped back.
“Dad.” Devin stood there looking at the monitor.
Zain had never seen Shepard look the way he did right now. Growth on his face was almost reaching beard status. His eyes looked hollow, and he appeared exhausted.
His mate leaned down so she was in front of the camera. “Ten minutes, Devin. I want him to lay down and rest and let Shaelan put in an IV, but he refuses until he’s talked to Zain and Illias.”
Zain moved forward on the cushion. “If you’re too tired…”
“I’ll do it now, Zain.” He coughed. “But I do agree with my lovely daughter-in-law. I think Zain and Illias deserve to not have to hide any longer.” He smiled briefly. “And from what I’ve heard about Miss Oaklyn, she’s needed to help run a new base in the US.”
Oaklyn squeezed Zain’s hand. “I would be honored, sir.”
Shepard smiled and then started coughing again. “Irene filled me in. Any blank spots, I asked Jesse to help with. About that wolf, Zain…” He coughed again and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he looked more like the man Zain knew. “There was a fire all those years ago—I was told he perished in the fire.”
Zain released Oaklyn’s hand and stood up. “Who told you he did?”
Shepard watched him. “That person died of natural causes a few years ago, so that is a dead end.”
“What about the young one, sir?” Illias jammed his hands in his pockets.
“I’ll get there in a moment.” He turned and looked at someone off-screen and then leaned forward. He took a drink and then looked back at the screen. “I never would have put either of you in danger again.” He nodded slowly. “I can’t believe he’s alive.”
“You know who it is, right, Dad?” Devin’s tone was low.
“I do, son.”
Devin lifted his hand toward the screen. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Shepard scoffed. “There is a lot I haven’t told you, but I see now I’m going to have to if we’re ever going to clean up the mess and watch over our people.” He coughed. “All clans, not just ours.” He rubbed a hand over his eyes, and Zain felt guilty they were keeping him from resting. “Before I get to that,” He looked at Zain. “Will you take the position?” His smile was slight. “With your mate?”
Zain stared at him for a moment. How did he know that? He turned and looked over at Oaklyn. She was watching him. Her eyes were pleading with him to accept. He smiled at her, held out his hand, and then tugged her closer when she took it. “Are you okay with it?”
She gave him a look that relayed that she thought he was an idiot. “A chance to go from homeless to lookin’ after girls in every clan. Hell, yes, I am okay with it.” She smiled at him.
Zain huffed out a breath and turned back to the screen. “We’ll do it, sir.”
Shepard smiled. “Don’t be surprised if I call you a lot to locate things for me.”
Zain grinned. “I know you will.” He glanced at Illias. “Can I have Illias down here for now to get us set up right?”
“You can pick anyone you need, Zain.” He coughed, and this time, it was deeper and sounded painful.
“Three minutes, you guys.” Shaelan leaned in front of the camera. “He needs fluids and rest.”
“I’ll just be a few more moments, Shaelan,” Shepard told her. He turned and looked back at the screen. “Devin, you better sit down for this next part, son.”
Zain looked at Devin, who was staring at the screen. He glanced at Calum, who was scowling at the screen. He didn’t know what was going on. “Should we leave…”
“No.” Shepard nodded his head slowly. “All leaders will need to be brought in on this. You three are now leaders in the US Headquarters.”
Illias gave Zain a shocked look and then backed up so he was leaning against the wall.
Zain looked at Oaklyn and then guided her back to the loveseat and sat down. Rayne and Devin stood there staring at the screen.
Shepard continued. “We have a lot to clean up, son. Take a seat. This is going to hit hard.”