Chapter 18

Carrying the coffee, he really didn’t need, but had needed to stall for a moment, he stepped into the room. It wasn’t a large room and now, with nine people crowded around the bed, it felt like there wasn’t enough room to breathe.

“What’s going on?” Jay asked in a quiet voice.

“Blair has something to tell us,” Kobie said but didn’t make eye contact with him when she said it.

Everyone looked at him. Was spontaneous stage fright a thing? Because something was happening he’d never felt before. His chest was tight, his heart was racing, he had to work to keep his breathing under control and he wasn’t sure, but it felt like his fricken cat was pacing inside him. Clearing his throat, he bent down and set his cup on the side table. “I spoke to the King of the Alliance a while ago,” he glanced around at the hopeful faces watching his every breath, “he’s approved moving all of you to a property not far from where my clan is.” He cleared his throat again, “it’s a huge property, a great big house, more than big enough for everyone.” He stopped there and looked around, trying to gauge the opinions.

“Will we be safe there?” Daisie asked.

He gave her a reassuring smile, “yes,” he looked down at Jay, “it’s easily defendable, easy to patrol.” He was being as respectful as he could to the only male left in this clan, the one that if he hadn’t been in the state, he was in would for all purposes already be the Alpha. “And my clan is close by, you’ll always have help.”

Jay looked at him for a moment, then moved his eyes and looked at his sister.

“How will we support the clan? We left everything we had behind.” Torrey hugged Kasia against her side.

“The Alliance can afford to help, so don’t worry about that right now. Details like that can be sorted out later on.” He knew it was the truth. He’d find a way to get what they needed.

“When are we moving to it?” Nichelle kept her voice quiet, respecting the seriousness of the conversation.

“A few days from now.” He glanced at Jay, his expression was hard to read because he was still watching his sister. Blair was willing to bet that he sensed the trouble their earlier conversation has stirred up.

“There’s a catch,” Kobie said quietly.

“No Alpha,” Jay said in a small voice.

Blair nodded, “it’s not an issue right now, with everything you’ve been through.”

“But it will be?” Cortney was sitting beside the bed with Daisie in her lap.

“It’s part of the Alliance’s pact that no clan is left without a leader.” He looked to see Jay was looking at him now. “For everyone’s safety.”

“It makes sense,” Franki said. “You can’t have clans out there running amok and doing whatever, they could endanger all shifters.”

Blair gave her an appreciative look for saying that.

“I can’t be Alpha,” Jay said slowly. A few of the women gasped at that. Jay turned and looked at Mika for a second, “I can’t lead when I can’t even move, Mika.”

She blew out a scant breath and nodded briefly.

“So what happens then?” Annamarie asked, looking only to Blair.

“There are a few options.” He said slowly and looked at Kobie, trying to get a sense of how much he was to share. “Merging with another clan, but no specifics have been figured out regarding that.”

Torrey looked at Kobie, she shook her head.

“Kobie has never been after a leader’s position,” Jay said to the room.

Daisie jumped up from her mother’s lap. “Blair can do it.” She looked very excited. “He got us here.” She nodded, “he helped Annamarie, and,” she looked at Jay, “he let me ride on his back up the mountain when I was tired.”

Blair rubbed his hand along the side of his jaw as he looked around at the others. “No decisions have to be made right now.” He finally said as ten pairs of eyes studied him with great scrutiny, “I just wanted you to know that you have a safe place to call home.”

“Thank you,” Jay said and then glanced at Kobie again. “I’m quite tired.”

Those sitting stood up.

Blair wasn’t sure if he really was or if he was throwing him a little help in a crazy-tense situation. Picking up his cup, he backed out of the room and went out into the kitchen.

Annamarie came out and looked at him. “I agree with Daisie.” She gave him a serious smile, no flirtation at all. With that, she walked outside.

Nichelle came out and smiled at him. “Thanks, for looking out for us.”

Blair lifted his cup to her, but couldn’t think of a thing to say that didn’t sound boastful.

Daisie and Kasia came out and darted out the door. Right behind them was Cortney. She paused by the door. “Any word?”

He knew what she was asking. “The king still has a team down there looking into it. He’s hopeful they’ll have some answers in the next few days.”

She nodded and then looked over her shoulder checking on the others. She came over quickly, “do you know if they were all…” she broke off, tears in her eyes.

“All they know right now is, they took six unharmed.” He didn’t know if it was unharmed, but he couldn’t bring himself to say six were alive.

Cortney inhaled loudly through her nose and then nodded. “Okay, that’s more than I had. Thank you.” She touched his arm briefly and then went outside.

The others came out, Kobie was last.

“Blair, Jay wants a second with you.”

Setting his cup down, he went over to the door.

“He needs to sleep.” She whispered as he went by her.

He nodded and went in and closed the door.

“I couldn’t back you,” Jay said quickly, “in front of my sister—not with the waves of anxiety coming off her.”

Blair nodded, “I get that.” And he did. That same sister was pissed at him right now, so he understood that her brother would know all about his sister’s wrath.

“But I do.” He whispered. “The girls have been telling me things you’ve done.”

Blair tucked his hands in his pockets, unsure if he was meant to say something or not.

“When Daisie was taken,” Jay gave him a look that said he’d understood those two were no longer among the living, “what you did for Annamarie earlier.” Jay moved his head slowly like he was trying to nod, but it was just too much effort to follow through. “They’ve lost all their menfolk, Blair,” his voice cracked with emotion, “they need a strong one to get them through.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He said, meaning it completely.

“I know,” Jay looked at him again, “but you have to convince my sister that you are what she needs.” His voice was getting quieter and quieter, “just,” he coughed breathlessly, “if you’re one of the Alliance’s warriors, make sure you’re on the same page with her and her with that.”

Blair nodded, even though Jay had closed his eyes again. “Get some rest.”

“Yeah.”

She’d done it. Avoided Blair for the rest of the day. Her mood sucked for it, her cat was pissed right off with her, but she’d managed it. Kobie just needed time to think, she needed to figure out how she felt without the mating draw involved. She couldn’t think when she was around him, or saw him, or scented him. Opening the door quietly, she peeked inside.

“I’m awake,” Jay said with a hoarse voice.

“I wasn’t sure.” She went in and closed the door.

“When we get to that new place, can I get a room with a view?” He gave her a bored look.

Kobie looked at the ceiling, “that’s not entertaining enough?”

He snorted, then groaned because it hurt. “I’d just like to see outside.”

Kobie sat down. She understood. Honestly, she didn’t know if she could cope with not being able to be outside for long. “We’ll get you a bed with wheels and I can roll you outside.”

“That works.” He turned his head and looked at her. “How are you doing?”

She opened her mouth and then closed it. “I don’t even know.”

“Have you talked to Blair today?”

Shaking her head, she got up and went over to the window and looked out it. “I needed some space.”

“You needed to analyze and try to figure out a way to work around him. He’s your mate, Kobie, I’m injured, not fucking blind.” Her brother stated in a flat tone. “I’ve never seen you watch someone the way you do him. And he only sees you.”

Kobie shrugged, “it’s just a lot, Jay.”

“You are probably the only shifter in history that doesn’t want a mate.” He chastised. “Fate decides this shit, Kobe, not you.”

“I know.”

“So, is he ugly to you?”

She felt her cat brush against her at that question. “No.”

“Is he white with black or black with white?”

Kobie inhaled slowly, “white with black.”

“Your opposite.” He stated.

“I suppose.” She shrugged, but still didn’t turn around and look at him.

“Is he forcing the issue with you? The mating?”

She hugged her waist, “no, he’s been very respectful of giving me time.”

“He doesn’t strike me as dense.”

Finally, she turned around and gaped at her brother, “why would you even think that?”

Jay smirked, “I’m just trying to figure out what the problem is.” He tried to shift positions and then winced in pain.

Kobie went over and helped him move and stuffed a pillow under his shoulders, so his head wasn’t at an uncomfortable angle. She sat on the bed in case he needed more help.

He took a moment to catch his breath and then nodded, “everyone else comes in here going on and on about him and you’re treating him like he’s the plague of the earth.”

Kobie snorted. “Exaggerate much?”

“What’s going on in that head of yours, Kobe, really?” He rested a shaking hand on her leg.

“He told me about his real clan.” She picked at the blanket beside him.

“He wasn’t raised with them.”

She shook her head. “No, his mother sent him away when he was two when his father was killed.” She looked at him. “His father was the Alpha.” His eyes widened. “He told me about his brother.”

“He did?” He licked his lips, and then motioned to the water beside the bed. “I told him not to.”

Taking the glass, she held it out to him. “Why would you do that?”

He rolled his eyes, “because I know you and didn’t want him to give you ammunition to use against him.”

She stuck out her tongue at him, then sobered. “I can’t hold that against him. He doesn’t even remember any of them.”

“Okay, so what are you holding against him?”

“He was in love with someone else’s mate.” She blurted out.

Jay was quiet for a moment, “well, he’s alive, so I’m guessing nothing happened there.”

She knew that. Blair was too honorable to move on someone’s mate. “He goes and helps girls when they’re in their cycle.”

Jay smirked, “and how is that bad? You’ve said it yourself, it’s the worst fucking uncontrollable thing you’ve ever experienced.” He blinked a few times, “so he’s evil because he won’t let someone suffer that?” He opened his eyes wide, “unless you tell me it’s like all the women in his clan,” he smirked, “then he’s just my fucking hero.”

“Uh, you are so gross.” She snarled at him, “and I can’t even smack you right now.”

“Look, as your older brother, I need you to hear me out…”

“You’re like six minutes older than me, you dork.” She sighed, purposely being dramatic.

“Just listen,” he gave her a serious look, “you’re trying to find reasons because you think you need to be alone to be the best you. I think he’ll let you be who you need to be.”

Kobie sat there, some of that was true, but she wasn’t going to admit it out loud.

“Give him a chance, Kobie.” He cleared his throat, “we’re going to be on his turf tomorrow. If there’s something truly wrong with the guy, it will come out where he’s most comfortable.”

She drew in a breath slowly and weighed his words. “Okay.” Leaning over, she kissed his forehead, “now get some sleep. You look awful.”

“Yeah? I feel pretty fucking awful too.”

Getting up, she smiled down at him. “I’m glad I got you back. You, dork.”

He smiled and closed his eyes.

Going outside, she turned to look around, she wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to go for a run but didn’t like asking permission to do things.

“Hey.”

She turned to see Rayne and Shaelan walking toward her.

Rayne motioned to the guardhouse. “We just got the thumbs up from the powers that be that we could go for a run.”

“You should come along.” Shaelan smiled at her.

Kobie nodded, “I was just working up the courage to go beg for that.”

Rayne laughed. “I don’t ask. I get to tell.” She nodded slowly.

Turning, Kobie saw Calum and Devin standing beside the small building.

Rayne motioned between the three of them, “girls run only, guys, sorry.” She blew a kiss to her mate.

Blair came out of the building. He stopped and looked Kobie up and down. “What’s going on?” He glanced at Calum.

“The girls are going for a run,” Devin told him in a tense voice.

Blair looked at him for a moment, then to Kobie. “You know the boundaries, make sure they stay in them.”

Kobie smiled, “you know it.” She saluted them and started walking toward the back of the property.

Shaelan and Rayne caught up to her.

“What magic was that, and how do you do it?” Rayne asked. “I have to use pouty lips and bat my eyes at Devin to get a few minutes alone.”

“Cal doesn’t argue, but I can see the words going through his head when I ask,” Shaelan said.

Kobie shrugged, “I’m a hunter and tracker, so I guess the time we spent in the mountain he understands I’m good at it.”

“Show us some of this hunter stuff.” Shaelan grinned, “going for a run without him trailing me, is a never before happened thing.”

“My only run without Devin involved escaping our captors and tearing through a forest with Kelsey after she climbed the trees as a tiger to see which way to go.”

“You were taken? By those people of that Tomas guy?” Kobie undid her shirt as they walked.

Rayne nodded as she shrugged out of her jacket. “We had to climb a cliff and hide there until the men found us.” She smiled at Kobie, “if it wasn’t for Blair, I don’t think they would have found us.”

“I still can’t believe she climbed the tree in tiger form.” Shaelan asked, “that’s got to be hard. She’s really big when she shifts.”

Rayne nodded, “I don’t know the first thing about a tree, in any form, so it was that or wandering in circles forever.”

Turning, Kobie checked they were far enough they could strip down.

Rayne touched her arm. “Blair is one of the good ones, in case you need any testimonies.” She smiled and then stepped over to the tree and took off her top.

Shaelan pulled the tie out of her hair. “I don’t really know Blair, but I know Calum thinks highly of him and that says a lot.” She nodded, “I’ve never met a man with rock steady morals like Cal’s.”

Kobie nodded, not having any words to say to any of that. “I think I just need time.” She pulled her shirt over her head. “So much has happened, I can’t even process.”

“Of course you do.” Rayne slid her slacks off and folded them neatly, adding them to her shirt on the ground. “No one expects you to decide right now.”

Shaelan smirked, “as someone who has been through the weirdest life, ever, I agree, take all the time you need. Do what you need to do.”

Calum paced to the center of the yard again and stood there.

Blair turned to see Devin watching in that same direction.

“You two need to tone it down—the tense vibes are suffocating me.”

Devin turned to look at him, “why aren’t you freaking out?” He motioned in the direction the women had gone. “Were you placating her with what you said?”

Blair grinned. “Nope. If they run into any trouble, Kobie will get them back here.”

Calum blew out a breath, “he’s right, she is good in a bush.”

Blair nodded, “I think you should go against her when we get them back to that property.”

Frowning, Calum rubbed the back of his neck for a second. “I think I’ll pass on that.” He shrugged, “I have a rep to protect, and if she beat me…”

“I would broadcast it to the whole fucking planet,” Devin said.

Calum motioned to Devin. “That.”

“Fair enough, but you two need to get back in here and go over the routes with me.” Blair opened the door.

Devin looked back at the trees.

“If you’re standing there pacing when they come back, they will not be happy.” He motioned in the door, “and we have screens in here from the cameras all over the bush.”

“Fuck.” Calum shook his head and went through the doorway. “Why didn’t you remind us of that sooner?”

Blair chuckled, “and here I was going to ask you guys for advice on wooing a mate.”

Devin laughed out loud. “Don’t look at me, I botched that up completely.”

“He did.” Calum went over and leaned on the table, checking the screens. “And I’m no help either, I was chained to a wall, literally, when I marked Shaelan without intending to.”

Blair frowned and looked from one to the other. “Shit. You guys are no help.”

Devin leaned over Calum’s shoulder to look.

“There’s something you don’t see every day,” Calum said, sounding amused.

Blair went over and looked.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black tiger before,” Devin said quietly.

“I was referring to a black tiger, blonde wolf, and midnight black jag running through the bush together.” Calum looked at Devin for a second, then back to the screen.

“They’re moving so fast the camera can’t keep up in spots,” Devin said quietly.

Blair didn’t care about speeds or anything other than watching the sexy black tiger doing what she loved. He watched her pause and then nudge Shaelan, so she’d go in another direction.

“She is keeping them within the boundaries,” Devin said.

Blair smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. His heart felt like it was going to burst as he watched her look out for the other two women blowing off steam.

Jesse came in carrying a mug and looking like he just woke up. “How’s the planning going?” He stopped and looked at the table and then at the screens. “Are you spying on your mates?”

Devin snorted, “yes.”

Backing away from the screens, Blair turned and motioned to the table. “The other route wasn’t going to work. Too many populated areas and delays in construction zones.

Jesse glanced at the other two men not paying attention. “Okay, let me ingest some of this and bring up some routes on my laptop. We need fast, smooth for Jay’s sake, and the fewer stops and traffic cams, the better.”

“I think we should split them up.” Blair crossed his arms and looked at the papers scattered across the table.

That got Calum’s attention. “Like a few vehicles instead of all of them in one?” he shrugged, “Jay is going to have to travel in a separate one.”

Blair nodded, “Yeah, we’ll all stay connected through the phones, and if there’s any trouble we can split off and still be in touch to know what’s happening.” He jerked his chin toward the door, “that van will be like a beacon if that car that followed us before was one of Tomas’.”

Devin turned and leaned on the desk. “Rayne and I could ride with Jay and one guard.”

Calum rubbed his hand along his jaw as he thought. “It’s a good plan. He motioned to Jesse, himself, and then to Blair, “there’s three of us to drive, we could take three each.”

Jesse nodded, “I like the idea of breaking off if anything goes down. I was nervous as shit hauling all of them in one vehicle.”

“Yeah, it was too tense to breathe,” Blair admitted.

“Okay,” Devin motioned to the door, “go find Cale and see which vehicles here will work for that,” he smirked at Calum, “you’re not going to squish three people in your back seat, are you?”

Calum scowled at him, “No, but you better get my car sent to Gage’s without a scratch on it.”

“Fine.” Devin smiled again then looked back at Blair, “make sure Cale gases them all up too.”

Blair nodded and went to find Cale. He was the only guard whose name he knew. He liked his quiet style too, he always stood back and observed, he was good with that. Glancing to check if the women were back yet, he rubbed his hand over his hair. Maybe he’d see if Cale wanted to come to help him keep a watch on the girls until they got some defenses hammered out. His cat wasn’t too happy with that, which confirmed the other man was a cat shifter and likely tiger variety, or he wouldn’t be tensing up inside him right now. “We need the help, so suck it up.” He said out loud.