Chapter 289 Chapter 289
Deacon moved out of the van and stood beside it. He touched his ear. “Shaelan, we need you up here.” He was looking toward the back van.
Gia got out of the van and leaned close to him, she didn’t want to talk about the woman right in front of her, but also to check what she thought her brain had smelled a minute ago. “Are there water clans?”
Deacon looked down at her, the hard look in his eyes softened, “yeah. I don’t know the first thing about them though.”
Gia nodded her head slowly, then turned and opened the passenger door, and grabbed the radio. “Terah Matthews. No clan—, she looked at Deacon as she spoke, “that she’s aware of.” She cleared the lump out of her throat, “she needs to be near water.”
“We’ll take her to the campground.” That was Rayne’s voice on the other end.
“Kynlee Molina and her son, Ari, Lane Cohen, and her son Ronan, all from Kobie’s clan.” Blair’s solemn voice came over the radio.
Deacon turned and jogged to Shaelan, probably telling her that she needed water.
“Is she hydrated?” Shaelan came running over and climbed into the van. “Hi, I’m a healer and going to help you be more comfortable for the trip out of here.”
“Am I really free?” Terah asked in a hoarse voice.
“Yes. Yes, you are.” Shaelan answered as she opened the bag. “I want to start an IV and get you hydrated. it will help you a great deal until we can get you to water.”
The woman nodded and leaned over in the seat, so she was propped in the corner.
Shaelan glanced out at Deacon, “tell Cal, we’re riding with you.”
Deacon nodded and turned to watch others coming out. “Cal, Shaelan needs to ride with Giana and me.”
Calum came out the door, a gun pulled as he escorted two men down the walk. He nodded at Deacon, telling him he heard.
Seeing the gun, Deacon pulled his as well and stood there, blocking the open door of the van and Gia from seeing those they were taking to the van Nox was in.
“Averie Little from Kobie’s clan,” Noah said over the radio.
Shaelan paused and looked at Gia, her eyes glistened with tears.
Just seeing that made Gia turn away and look at the house as the others came out. Eight. They’d freed eight of their kind from this horrible life. Deacon jerked his head around and looked at her, she didn’t need words to know he was wondering if she was okay. She swatted at the tear on her eyelash and nodded her head. She looked over to see Blair and Noah carrying out a man.
“These two are covered in so many scars, it’s terrifying.” Bear’s voice broke through her thoughts as the radio in her hand spoke.
“They all still have to go to the refuge until we know if they can be trusted.” Devin’s voice came over the radio. “They’ll get full medical assessments and anything they need.”
She looked over at Deacon.
“They’ll be interviewed,” he gave her a soft look, “some have been in servitude so long they can’t deal with life on the outside.”
“I didn’t know.”
Deacon took a step toward her, then stopped and backed up again. “Noah was one of them, it took him months to be able to function again.”
She turned to see Noah carrying another unconscious man, by himself down the drive, the pained look on his face said it all. He was reliving what he’d gone through. Jesse was practically running alongside him. He put his hand on his arm to slow him as they got closer to the van.
“Shaelan is there something in the kit we can put on their necks?” Jesse motioned to the man in Noah’s arms. “We can’t take the collars off until we are not in a moving vehicle and their necks are raw.”
Shaelan put the medical tape on Terah’s IV and then turned to look at him. “The ointment won’t do much until they’re off. Give them all a shot and keep them comfortable until they reach the facility.”
Jesse nodded and then turned to run after Noah’s long strides.
Gia put her hand over her mouth, not wanting to cry like her heart was telling her she should be.
“Last one coming out,” Calum announced.
Gia turned back to look at the house to see Nox and York carrying a large man out. Calum was right behind them.
“Send the clean-up in. There’s a lot of paperwork in the one room, save it all.” Calum growled.
“I’ll relay the message. Everyone, get moving. This took too long.” Devin’s voice was clipped.
“Dev, there’s one for the campground, she needs the lake,” Calum said in a hushed tone.
“Get her to the chopper.” That was the reply.
Gia jumped and went around to the driver’s side. She opened it and got in. By the time she had the van started, Calum and Deacon were in with doors closed.
“I know the route for the chopper to the campground,” Calum said quietly.
Gia waited for Asher to move his van and then backed out. “Just give me enough warning to turn.” She glanced in the mirror to see Terah’s eyes were open. Even in the low light of night, she could see they were such a true-blue color that they were almost glowing in the night.
“I want you to try to eat this and then get some rest,” Shaelan said quietly. “It’s going to be quite a long trip.”
Gia kept her eyes on the road. Her heart was racing inside her over what had just happened, but more than that, her animal was now quiet and contemplative. Their mate was sitting beside them. Their mate. Could the timing be any worse? She didn’t think so. Her animal better behave, she didn’t need to be distracted while she was driving. She had to get that poor woman behind her to safety.
Deacon looked over and caught her glancing at him. He took off his hat brushed his hair back and then put it back on the right way. The expression on his face told her so many things. He was happy with how things had gone down and there was pride, and she could only think it was for her somehow. Did he know? Had he figured it out just a few minutes ago when they’d been so close too? Terah said something to Shaelan, and it snapped her attention back to the road. Worst timing ever.