Chapter 31

Blair stood with Calum and Shaelan as the clan members were reunited with their returning men. He honestly didn’t know if he should be front and center or just stay out of the way, so he’d elected the latter.

Kobie was standing with Jay, who had insisted he be in the chair, and wheeled around to the driveway when they arrived. Blair had to hand it to him. He was one tough son of a bitch. How painful it had been to get in the chair showed clearly on his face.

He turned back to see Daisie talking fast to her father. Robbie was nothing like he’d pictured. He was tall, as most tiger shifter males were, but the strawberry blonde hair had surprised Blair. It had never occurred to him that Daisie got her looks from her father. Whatever his daughter had just said to him had the man look over at Blair. He studied him for a moment and then looked back down at his child.

Blair watched as he moved a few feet. The cane illustrated just how bad his hip was, he also seemed to be favoring his other shoulder, but that could be from the large bandage that went from his jaw to beneath his shirt. He’d have to talk to Shaelan later when things settled down. “Think he can do the stairs?” He said quietly.

“It will help with rebuilding the muscles,” Shaelan answered without looking at him.

Blair exchanged a look with Calum, his expression mirrored what he was thinking, that it wasn’t really an answer to his question of if he could do the stairs.

When he looked back over, Daisie was practically dragging her injured father toward him. He glanced to Cortney, who was looking nowhere but up at her mate. Robbie moved slow but didn’t falter in his step. He kept glancing down at his daughter, the expression of a parent’s love plain to see.

Blair didn’t want to see him have to come to him and started to take a step when Calum put his hand on his arm and gave him a look telling him to stay there.

“You’re the Alpha.” He said so quietly, even with Blair’s hearing he barely caught it.

Inhaling, Blair blew it out and stood there. It felt wrong, but he knew that if anyone could steer him in the right direction with this new status it would be Calum. He spent more time around leaders and the king than any other shifter Blair knew of.

Robbie stopped about five feet in front of Blair and stood there.

“Blair,” Daisie bounded over to him, barely able to contain her excitement. “This is my dad.” She bounced back over to her father, almost dancing. “I told him how you got us and I almost fell and you saved Kobie and let me ride when I was really tired.” She hardly took a breath, “and stopped Nichelle from drowning and I have a phone.” She waved the phone around.

Blair couldn’t help smiling at her for a second and then sobered and looked at her father.

“I’ll have Cort tell me all of that again, later.” He touched the top of Daisie’s head for a second and then looked back to Blair. “I owe you a huge debt.” He inclined his head, “thank you for looking out for them.”

Blair wanted to wave it off, but didn’t, “they’re an amazing group.” He said earnestly.

Robbie nodded his head slowly. He looked tired.

“You should rest after the trip,” Shaelan said quickly. “I want to check the dressings once you’re inside.”

Robbie looked over at Jay and Kobie and paused. “I just want to speak to Jay, then I’m all for some rest.” He gave Blair a slight nod and began moving slowly toward Jay.

Blair looked over to see the expression on Jay’s face. The last time these two men had seen each other, many had died, including their Alpha.

“I’m going over to lend a hand with Niles,” Shaelan said softly.

Turning, he watched as Cale, the driver, and two other men helped to lift the reclined chair out of the van.

“Fuck.” Calum said under his breath.

Blair blew out a breath, having no words to describe how seeing the state Niles was in made him feel. The fact the three men were alive and here was a miracle. He couldn’t even imagine what they’d gone through. He looked to see Nichelle stood out of the way, her hand over her mouth. Not caring if it was breaking some sort of Alpha protocol, he strode toward her with long strides.

The other women were standing out of the way with Kasia. Mika made eye contact with Blair and looked quickly at Nichelle. She looked relieved he was coming over. Later, when the young shifter wasn’t close to a breakdown, he’d have to find out why none of the others had stepped forward to offer her assurance and comfort.

Reaching her, he put his arm around her shoulder. “It’s going to be rough for a bit, but,” he leaned down so she’d look at him, “he’s here.” He added quietly. She nodded her fist almost in her mouth. Blair looked over her head toward where Kobie stood, she had an odd expression on her face too. What was going on? He sent her a quick look to let her know he’d be asking later.

“Where’s Jay?” The man in the chair growled out quietly.

“You can see him in a minute,” Shaelan told him without hesitation. “This one dressing has blood on it.” She nodded to the men and motioned to the house, “get him inside, please so I can look at it.”

Blair stepped over, almost having to drag Nichelle with him. The man was large, with coal-black hair. At first, he wrote off the hard expression in his eyes to the amount of pain he was in, then realized as those dark eyes looked at his niece that it wasn’t pain at all, it was personality.

“Why do you have your arm around my niece?” The man growled out.

Blair raised one eyebrow and glanced over at Calum who now stood looking unhappy beside Shaelan. Keeping his expression neutral, Blair stepped over closer, “she’s just a bit overwhelmed to see you again.”

The man snorted in disbelief. He didn’t even look at her. “I need to see Jay.” He said again, glancing at the driver.

The man looked at Blair, then to Calum.

“You are going to be in the same room as Jay, so you can catch up all you like.” Shaelan motioned with her hand to take him inside.

Blair gave Nichelle’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “Maybe you can keep Daisie out of the way while Shaelan checks them over?”

Nichelle nodded her head again.

When he went to step away, she hugged him tight. “I’m glad you’re here.” She released him and went quickly toward where Daisie was.

Blair rubbed a hand over his hair and turned to Calum. “The hell was that?”

Calum shook his head, “I’m not sure, but we need to find out a few things I’m thinking about this clan prior to the events that brought them here.”

Blair nodded and looked around at everyone. He didn’t feel right asking any of the other women. Turning, he looked back to Kobie, tilting his head to the side in hopes that she’d get what he was asking. She held up her hand, telling him just a minute.

When Blair looked back to the other women, they weren’t there anymore, they were going in the house. “I feel like someone forgot to mention something.” He mused.

Calum patted him on the shoulder and gave him an abrupt nod. “I’m going to make sure Shaelan isn’t alone with that asshole. I’ll be right back.”

Blair stood there, looking around for a moment. Two of the new guards, he needed to find out names, were still out checking the property. He pulled his phone out and checked to see a message from Gage telling him their patrol was clear. Stuffing it back in his pocket, he blew out a breath, he was still going to hold everyone to taking turns running on Ed’s property. He clenched his jaw and looked around the yard. He still didn’t know how they had gotten off the land, but until he did, he wasn’t taking any chances.

“I was hoping he’d be mellower on his return.”

Kobie was right beside him. “So that’s not a one-off?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “No. He’s been like that as long as I can remember.” She chewed the inside of her cheek for a second. “His wife died a long time ago, then his sister, Nichelle’s mom, disappeared about five years ago. He’s eternally pissed off.”

Blair digested that for a second.

Calum came back. “Did he ever challenge your father?” he asked without preamble.

Kobie opened her mouth, then closed it and shrugged, “not that I’m aware of, but they kept a lot from me.”

Calum turned to see Jay was still sitting there talking to Robbie. “My gut tells me he has.” He motioned toward her brother. “Let’s go ask.”

Blair caught Kobie’s hand as she went to walk away. Lifting their hands, he placed a soft kiss across her knuckles. Despite the new arrivals, he still wanted her to be clear about where they left off. “Want to go for a run after dinner?”

She glanced up at him.

“At Ed’s.” He clarified.

She smiled. “Yes.”

Gage rubbed a hand over his jaw and looked over at Calum. “So he challenged the rightful Alpha and was still part of the clan?”

Calum shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. “They postponed resolution until they returned.”

Cale sat in the solo chair outside the little building he’d claimed as his own. “What happens now? The challenged Alpha didn’t return.”

“I don’t know. This is a question for Devin or his father.” Calum said quietly.

“Did the women know?” Gage asked.

Blair shook his head, “Kobie had no idea. I don’t think the men of the clan shared a lot with them.” He looked up the lane toward the house. “The mated ones may have known.”

“It’s not like he’s in any shape to challenge Blair right now,” Cale said getting up.

Calum nodded. “The tension it’s going to cause is more the issue right now.”

Blair snorted, “yeah cuz it’s bad enough they survive and manage to get back to the clan and find out some guy took over in their absence.”

Gage grinned at him and then gave Calum a look. “You haven’t taken over yet…”

Blair glared at him, “don’t start.”

“Oh, come on, you rode me hard for years about Kelsey, I’m due some payback.” Gage looked at Calum again.

Cal lifted his hands in defeat, “I’m not getting involved.” He walked by Blair. “He was a dick to me too after Shae.”

“You guys are no fun,” Gage stated.

Blair glanced to Gage, then quickly followed Calum. “Any suggestions?”

Calum didn’t even hesitate. “Put him in his place, quickly, but with respect.”

“Sure. And I do that how?”

Gage and Cale caught up with them.

“No idea.” Calum glanced behind them briefly. “I’m going to find my mate so we can go for a run.”

“Here or Ed’s?” Gage asked.

Calum was silent for a moment. “Ed’s. I want to do a run here when we get back.”

“I’ll go with you.” Cale piped up. “When you get back.”

Blair looked down at the ground. He needed to talk to Kobie about this, to see if she had any ideas on how to put Niles in his place without pissing him off more. He blinked. Was that even possible? The man was filled with so much rage it oozed from his every pore. Blair didn’t blame him, losing his wife then sister, he would be pissed off too, but he had Nichelle and should be put her first now.

“Don’t burst anything important while you’re thinking, there,” Gage said with a grin.

Blair blew out a breath. “I’ll try.” He stopped and looked around. “I’d just like one day where I didn’t have to figure out how the hell to do something.”

Gage smacked him on the shoulder. “You need to spend more time in the shop.”

Blair nodded. “I plan on it as soon as this tidal wave of issues is gone.”

Calum stopped and pulled out his phone. He answered it, then frowned. “Mari?” He looked surprised. “Well, no, Devin can’t do…” He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut, “you can’t just stab everyone with the fork, Marilyn.” He nodded, “I know. I will tell Shae to call you later and then we’ll get to the bottom of it.” He grinned, “no. I’m sure you’d make a wonderful great-aunt, but that’s Shea’s call.” He opened his mouth and then looked down at his phone.

Gage chuckled. “We need to get that fork away from her.”

Calum sighed, “it seems Dev’s been ducking her calls.”

“Who gave her a phone? She wants to use the fork on him?” Gage grinned.

Calum nodded, “yeah. I better go fill Shae in.”

Blair looked at Gage after Cal walked away. “Who is Mari?”

Gage laughed, “I hope you get to meet her soon. It’s Shaelan’s aunt and probably the scariest woman I’ve ever met—in a fun sort of way.”

Blair opened his mouth, then closed it having no idea what to say to that.

“He doesn’t look happy.” Cale motioned to the house.

Blair looked to see Robbie standing there. Alone, looking back at him with a hard expression on his face.

“I’m going to say he’s been filled in,” Calum stated quietly.

“I’ll go grab you a beer.” Cale jogged toward the house.

“Make it two,” Blair told him before he was inside.