Chapter 826 Chapter 826
Rory leaned against the railing and sipped the tea. Jake had been right. Eating helped a lot. She felt better. She glanced at him, standing on the other end of the porch, talking to Gary. He was a quiet man, but her interest wasn’t in him at all.
Her body wasn’t aching, and her focus was clear. She still felt bad about shifting to Beth’s house, but no one seemed bothered by it.
Kelsay flew out of the house. “Jake, we have to go, " she said as she ran down the steps.
Jake and Gary both headed in her direction. “What’s going on?” Jake called to her.
Kelsey stopped beside the truck. “It’s Annamarie. First shift.” She grinned. “McKenna, too. Blair wants fast runners.” She pointed to him. “That’s you.”
Jake nodded and then looked at Rory. “Want to come?”
She set the cup on the railing and hurried down the steps. She’s never seen anyone else’s first shift.
He went over and opened the passenger door for her. When she got in, he closed it and then climbed into the truck’s box.
“I’ll watch her in case they get away from you,” Gary called to him.
“Not a chance,” Jake answered with a big grin on his face.
Kelsey already had the truck in motion. Rory gripped the dash so she wouldn’t be tossed around in the seat. “What did Gary mean?”
Kelsey kept her eyes on the road. “First shifts, the animal can be unpredictable.” She smiled. “I went up a tree.”
“A tree?” Rory looked behind to see Jake was taking off his boots.
“Yes. Gage was not happy with me.” She laughed. “Climbing seems to be my thing.”
Rory slid in the seat as the truck went sideways when she turned out onto the road. Kelsey had it completely under control, though. “You’re a tiger, right?”
Kelsey nodded.
“And you climb trees?”
“Mmhmm.”
They went speeding by Blair’s laneway.
“Where are we going?”
“They’re at Noah’s. Annamarie was over helping with lessons.”
Jake tapped on the window. Kelsey reached back and unlocked it so he could slide it open. Jake stuck his head inside. “McKenna hasn’t shifted before?”
“I guess not. Noah was a little vague when he called.”
Rory looked behind them. Another truck was coming up fast. Kobie was driving. She turned back just in time to brace herself as Kelsey slid the truck into another laneway. She had to admit one thing: Kelsey could handle a vehicle in ways Rory never could.
When the truck slid to a stop, a few boys stood by a fence pointing. Jake hopped out and jogged in that direction.
“I’ll take this side,” Kelsey called after him. She turned and looked at Rory. “You’re going to want to go with him.” She got out and looked back in at her. “They act all macho, but the way they help with the first shifts is amazing.”
Kobie and Blair ran by the truck.
Rory got out and went in the direction they had. A woman was following behind them, picking up clothes as she went.
When she reached the backyard, she paused, trying to take in what she was seeing. Noah was standing by a gate wearing only jeans. Beside him was a dark orange tiger. The way he kept looking at her told Rory that it had to be Emersyn.
There were a few others wearing little clothing, but she didn’t know who they were.
A woman came out of the house carrying two small cloth bags. She went over and set one in front of Emersyn and then walked over to the man who was pacing and looking at the two girls nervously.
On the ground, twenty feet apart, were Annamarie and the other she assumed was McKenna. They were on their hands and knees with a blanket hanging over them.
Blair was in front of McKenna. He was almost face to face with her, talking quietly. Rory moved closer but didn’t want to be in the way.
Jake was on the ground with Annamarie. She had her head dropped down, and Rory could see the deep breaths she was taking.
“Just breathe and let your cat do all the work,” Jake said softly.
Annamarie nodded.
“It’s going to freak you out, but don’t panic, okay? Just let it happen.” Jake moved back a bit. “That’s it, slow your breathing and reach for her. She’s right there waiting for you.”
Annamarie groaned, and then Rory heard the popping. She glanced at Blair, who was backing away from McKenna.
“You’ve got this, Annamarie.” Jake was on his knees now. “Just remember. No water.” He stood slowly but still leaned toward her.
Rory felt her animal move closer to the surface. There was no pain with it, almost like her cat wanted to be part of this. She put her hand on her stomach and breathed out slowly. Not this time, she thought, we’re amateurs.
McKenna shifted fully, and as if Annamarie didn’t want to be left behind, she did quickly as well.
Rory glanced over to see Noah wasn’t standing by the gate now, but a large male tiger was.
Looking back, she saw a black tiger, and beside her was a large white one, and realized it was Kobie and Blair. It wasn’t the time for fanciful thoughts, but Jake’s saying she was the prettiest cat he’d seen meant more now.
McKenna took a few careful steps and then shook her whole body. Rory remembered that first moment. You felt so unbalanced. So scared.
When she looked back at Jake, he had also shifted. He sat in front of Annamarie and gave her a few prusten to encourage her. Annamarie stood up and then stretched her long body low to the ground. Getting up, she swung her head and looked at the gate. Emersyn chirped at her and after a few hesitant steps, Annamarie bound over to the gate and went out it.
Jake was right behind her, and then Emersyn with Noah followed.
Behind McKenna were Kobie and Blair and one of the men that had stood there waiting.
“It’s something, isn’t it? The togetherness.”
She turned to see an elder woman walking over to her.
“That’s my McKenna.” She smiled, and Rory could see the pride in her eyes. “You’re Rory?”
Rory nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m Judah. You’ve come to the right bunch if you’re looking for a new start.” She nodded. “I’d all but given up when Noah and Blair came and found our clan.”
“Found?”
Judah motioned to a bench. “Mind if we sit and wait for them? This dampness makes all my bones ache.”
Rory nodded. “Not at all.” She followed her over to the bench.
Judah sat down and looked at the gate for a moment. “For years, our clan was held by the son of our Alpha. We moved from one awful place to the next so they wouldn’t find us.”
Rory sat down. “They?”
“The Alliance.” Judah’s eyes filled with unfallen tears. “Lindon, the son, didn’t want us found.” She nodded slowly. “He killed his father and mother. Would have killed the baby brother too, but his momma had the good sense to send him somewhere he couldn’t get to him.” She looked at her. “She sent him to Ed.”
Rory looked at the gate and then back to her.
“Blair was the boy. Twenty years later, he caught up to Lindon, put him down, and came and found us. He gave us a new life here.” She smiled. “My McKenna never stopped trying. She called the Alliance and left messages until they came and found us.” Judah looked around. “Now I get to live out my days here, safe and cared for.”
Rory watched another woman come out and look around. She smiled at Judah. “I’m going to get some food ready. The kids are too excited to focus on lessons now.”
Judah nodded. “I’ll be in to help in a moment, Nora.”
Rory touched her arm. “You stay and wait for McKenna to return. I’ll go in and help.” She stood up and followed the other woman inside. Blair had killed his brother and rescued his clan? He didn’t look like a killer. She glanced at Judah as she closed the door. Then again, it seemed like that Lindon needed to be dead. She didn’t know everything they had gone through, but the haunted look on the older woman’s face told her enough to know that Blair had done the right thing.