When things finally settled down, Calum stood back, wrestling with his own personal demons. It had been hard to stand back and watch Shaelan touch other men, even though he knew they needed her help. Her gentle looks in his direction was the only thing that prevented him from going full berserker mode. He needed to get a better handle on this if he was going to make it, and he didn’t want to be arguing with his mate every other day.
It had taken a good hour, maybe more, for Nona and Shaelan to get Chad patched up and comfortable. As strong as his new-found abhorrence to sedatives was, he knew the longer they kept Chad drugged, the easier it would be on him. Over one hundred stitches, Nona had counted, they had put into him. He was too weak and swollen for her to clear him to shift, because until the swelling went down, she didn’t know the full extent of his injuries. That, and she was afraid in his debilitated state he’d get stuck halfway through a shift and be stuck that way. He couldn’t even imagine that. There was man and cat, no pausing in-between. Eyes, sure or some claws from time to time, but half-shift. Damn. As he stood there helplessly as the women tried to help Chad as best they could, Calum decided then that Jerome deserved no mercy.
Marc and Dale both had cuts and bruises all over, open sores from the cuffs and collars. Sitting on the cold floor that long hadn’t done them any favors either, but Nona expected in a few days they’d be running again. Both were going to be okay, physically at least. Marc was always going to have that scar to remind him, but he supposed the mental ones were much worse. Hell, he hadn’t gone through anything similar to what they had, but a man being chained like that…it left its mark, where no one could ever see.
Glancing around, he saw that Gage and Devin had finally settled down and were sitting with Marc and Dale. It was a small comfort that Dev and Gage were having just as hard a time with all of this as he was. He hadn’t seen Gage pace this much since he’d realized he had a mate he couldn’t have years ago.
Sighing, he went over to sit with them. Shaelan wasn’t leaving Chad’s side anytime soon. Her skill for healing was astonishing though, he admitted, even if it nagged at him that she may be a little too smart for her own good, and his comfort.
Sitting down, he looked at Dale’s drawn appearance. “How are you feeling?”
He shrugged. “I’m good, it’s nothing a half a side of beef, long run and…” He stiffened and sat straighter.
Calum turned to see what he was looking at. Billie was standing in the cave entrance.
“That’s one of them,” Dale said quietly. “That…that I was with.”
Calum realized the trials of the day weren’t over yet. “Yeah, I was going to give you a few hours to recoup before we talked about that.”
He glanced to Devin who was cringing as well.
Dale snapped his head back to him. “What? What do you mean?”
Calum rubbed the back of his neck and tried to think of a way to say it gently but couldn’t come up with one. “She’s pregnant.”
Dale’s face paled even more than it had been. “With…ah…” His eyes didn’t leave Calum’s.
He nodded. “Yours.”
Blowing out a loud breath, Dale swallowed. “Is she mated?” He looked around quickly. “Should I be expecting some big ox to come rip my throat open?”
“She’s not,” Devin assured him.
Dale looked at her once again then back to Calum, an anger burning in his eyes. “So…so what, they just get young women knocked up and leave them to go through it all alone?”
Feeling like he had weights on his shoulders, Calum leaned onto his knees and looked over at Billie. “I don’t know…with the other women, she would have help, I guess.”
Dale swore. “That’s inhumane.” He looked at the ground and swore again. “It was…I can’t explain how…how bad it was…is she okay?” His head snapped back in her direction. “Did I…”
“She’s physically fine,” Gage said in a voice that held an undertone of rage.
Dale huffed out a relieved breath. “Does she hate me?”
Calum glanced over to see Shaelan coming out of the cave and was walking toward him. She looked tired and upset. “No, she knows it wasn’t your fault,” he answered when he realized Dale was staring at him.
Rubbing a hand vigorously over his dark, brush cut hair, Dale stared at the ground for a moment before looking back to him. “Do you think she’d talk to me? I mean we are going to be parents…”
Shaelan came over and stood by Calum. “I think with some time, things will work out. Billie…”
Dale turned to her. “Her name is Billie?”
Shaelan offered him a gentle smile. “Yes. She’s kind of crazy at times. I’d know—she’s my best friend, but she’s a very loving person.”
Nona cleared her throat and they all turned, not even realizing she’d been standing there. “I know this is the last thing on your minds right now, but Mari and I talk to the women that you fellas were…with. They’ve agreed to talk with you, meet you…considering what happened with Shae and Calum, they just want to be sure.”
Dale groaned. “Fuck, wouldn’t that be a new cruel punishment?”
Calum gave Dale a curious look.
Dale shrugged. “Meet my mate and have a baby with another woman…”
Nona chuckled. “We can hope that isn’t a fact.”
“Fuck hope, pray for me.” Dale groaned again, then looked to Nona, his eyes wide. “I’m sorry for my language…”
She waved a hand at him. “If I’d been through what you have, I’d have invented a whole volume of cuss words by now.” She glanced to Marc for a moment, then to Calum. “The other two fellas were only with one woman, so…”
Marc snorted. “Small blessings where I can get them” He nodded, like he was having some sort of internal conversation. “I swear when I get back to the farm, I’m never leaving again.” He growled and looked at Devin. “I can give you a description, down to the guys’ shoes, the one that sent us ‘hiking’ up here.” He growled in a hoarse way. “Had a lot of time to think about him.”
Devin nodded, his jaw twitching. “The alliance will deal with him”
“I’ll track the bastard myself,” Calum spat out.
“So…” Dale rubbed a hand down his face. “It sounds so bad out loud, but who else was I with?” He puffed up his cheeks for a moment then exhaled. “I can vaguely see a face, but have no name and that makes me feel…”
Shaelan nodded slowly. Calum knew she’d had that feeling too. “Natalie,” she said, looking to Dale. He stared off over her shoulder for a moment then nodded. Shaelan turned her head and gave Marc an inquiring look. He looked like a deer in headlights for a moment, then gave her an apprehensive nod. “Marcia.”
It made it so much more real, Calum thought, putting names to it.
Shaelan tucked her hands into her pockets. “Chad was with Madison.” She glanced toward the cave. “We’ll tell her what’s happened to him.”
“And Gene?” Marc asked as he looked from Devin back to Calum.
Calum shook his head, his heart hurting. “They don’t release their captives and set them free.”
“So, if you hadn’t gotten us out…” Dale’s expression went blank. He dropped his hand over his chest and looked at the ground.
Devin nodded, a grim expression on his face.
“Fuck me,” Dale hissed.
“What about Gene?” Marc asked with a pained voice. “Is there a pregnant woman here carrying his…”
Nona nodded and clasped her hands against her chest. “Brooke, she knows, and is coming to grips with it.”
With everything else happening, Calum had forgot to ask about all of this. It wasn’t like him to not get all the details and know all the facts.
“That baby is one of ours, Cal, the clan will look out for her and the child,” Dale said firmly.
He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. This needed to end. He opened his eyes and gave his clanmates a stern look. “We will. I’ll talk to my uncle, but I’m sure they’ll bring her there and see her through this, if she consents.”
“Help me get to my feet.” Dale held out his hand.
Shaelan shook her head. “Dale, you should eat and rest for a…”
“I want to talk to…Billie,” he said glancing in her direction.
Sighing, Shaelan touched Calum’s shoulder lightly. “I’ll go tell her.”
Dale glared at Calum. “Help me get over there, I don’t want to do this in front of everyone.”
He helped him over to where Shaelan now stood with Billie. Dale moved away from him, even though he wasn’t steady, wanting to be standing on his own two feet as he met the mother of his child. Calum paused in thought, how messed up was that? Shaking his head, he stepped back and put his arm around Shaelan. She glanced up at him and he realized she wasn’t sure if they should stay or leave them. He’d follow her lead on that.
“Hi.” Dale took a shaky step and held out his hand. “I’m Dale.”
Billie looked at his hand for a second, then shook it quickly, before clasping it with her other one. “Billie.” Dale swayed, and she inhaled sharply. “You should sit down.” She reached out, then pulled her hands back and motioned to the wall by the cave entrance.
Nodding, Dale moved over and sat down, then looked up at her. He motioned to the other side of the entrance. “Please.”
Billie sat down and pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them. “I’m glad you got out,” she said her eyes flicking from him to the ground and back. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” He cleared his throat a few times. “Are you okay?”
She blushed, then huffed out a breath. “Can I get back to you on that?” Looking back at her feet, she continued in a quiet voice. “It’s been a…uh…rough few weeks.” She glanced at Shaelan then briefly to Dale. “I find out I’m a shifter, have my…I’m going to be a mom.” Her voice cracked. “I’m just processing.” She nodded then looked back at Dale.
He nodded a few times. “So…”
Calum realized Shaelan was tugging on his arm to go. He glanced at her then back to Dale before following her. She smiled up at him and he hugged her to him.
“They’ll be okay,” she said quietly as they walked back toward where the others were sitting.
“As first meetings go, awkward is the norm around here.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m going back to check on Chad, so Rayne and Kelsey can have a break from watching him.”
He nodded. “Think he’ll be alright?”
She pursed her lips for a second before answering him. “It’s too soon to give any definitive answers.” She offered him a sad look, then turned to go back inside.
Swearing under his breath, Calum walked over and sat down.
By dusk, Calum was craving a run. A real run on four legs, fast and long. So much anxiety, sadness, anger and just about every other emotion possible was grating on his nerves. If he didn’t run soon, he was going to snap. His cat was assaulted with the emotions he was, picking up from everyone else, and at times was rubbing so hard on the inside Calum was sure if he checked he’d see worn patches on his body.
“The tension here is crushing me,” Devin mumbled quietly. Turning, he looked to track his mate with his eyes. “Rayne, she’s got that look again—the one that means I’m going to be adding more cabins to the campground and bringing in more people for her to mother…or we’re going to be moving here indefinitely.”
Gage, who was sprawled out on the ground beside him, turned his head and looked at him. “Maybe you should make her an actual mother.”
Devin looked down at him, shaking his head. “I don’t even know if I’d live through her going through that.”
Gage grinned. “I don’t know if I would live through a miniature version of you.”
“Here’s hoping they take after mom.” Calum glanced around. Kelsey was standing smiling and talking on the phone. How was it she got a signal anywhere, and everyone else had to wander around and waved their phone in the air? He looked to Gage and motioned to her.
Gage lifted his head and looked at her, then sighed and lay back, rubbing his hand over his face a few times before he spoke. “She’ll be talking to Blair.”
“I was a bit surprised when he didn’t come with you…”
Devin snorted. “We wanted someone left alive.”
Calum shrugged. “Just as well I suppose. How’s he dealing with Kelsey being mated, finally?”
Gage propped himself up on his elbows. “Did everyone know but me?”
Calum grinned. “Probably, you’re not the most observant man.”
Gage lifted his lip in a half snarl at him. Then, he sighed. “He’ll be going to help Bruce out, once we get back.” He glanced back to Kelsey. “She keeps trying to find a way to be mated and keep him close.”
“Good luck with that. I have my own problems.” He looked at Devin. “So where are things with Tomas?” He needed anything to take his mind off the insane things swirling around in his head. Insane, as in they could get him severely maimed or killed.
“We’ve gotten several out. It’s going to be a long-term recovery for most of them.” Devin glanced to Rayne. “The campground is now a hospice for those in trouble, recovering, scared or just worn out.”
Calum couldn’t think of a thing to say that could make Devin feel better about that. The fact that Devin, the same guy that had been alone for years by choice, had accepted that, was shocking. Finding his mate had changed him. He wondered if it was going to change him. Aside from not being able to focus on anything longer than two minutes before he thought of Shaelan, he hadn’t noticed anything different, yet.
Gage sat up. “Noah is doing better, but I don’t think that he’ll ever be a normal guy.”
He didn’t know who Noah was, presumably someone they rescued. Calum realized he had a lot to catch up on. That’s what I get for traipsing around strange mountains. He thought of Shaelan, and a mate, he’d gotten her too.
Devin nodded his head to where Shaelan sat, a book open on her knees.
Calum turned to watch her for a moment. Rubbing a hand over his chest, because he was sure his heart jolted when he looked at her. “Yeah, she’s practically got the book memorized now—she’s trying to figure out how to connect the names and people that are still living—together.”
“What do you mean?” Gage frowned at him.
“Devin said the alliance will have names of those missing, she’s going to backtrack them from birthdates to times of conception, so we can confirm the names of some of the men that never went home…She thinks people have a right to know they have a blood relative here on the mountain. Also, thinks it will give the families that have been left wondering about missing members some closure.”
Devin leaned closer, lowered his voice. “She’ll be looking for her father’s family too?”
Calum nodded slowly. “Yeah.” He rubbed a hand over his heart again. “Not looking forward to that emotion-fest.” Both her and her mother were going to be a whole whirlwind of feelings when that happened.
Gage got up and brushed off his jeans. “You have any missing male relatives over the years?”
Turning Calum gave him a blank look. “Why?”
Gage smirked. “Just what if…” He lifted his eyebrows and glanced to Shaelan.
Scowling at him, “I will kill you, if I have to,” he said in a quiet voice, only half meaning it.
Gage and Devin both started laughing. Calum growled low.
“If you don’t stop rubbing your chest and sending out waves of sappy emotion, I’m going to hug you,” Devin complained, “Go soothe your mate and get away from me.”
Getting up, Calum nodded. “Fine, then. I will.”
Before he could get two feet, Marilyn came jogging up the hill.
“Whew! I keep running up that every day and this ass…” She patted her backside. “Might be firm again.” She laughed, nodding as she looked around before turning back to Calum. “I couldn’t come sooner. It’s like a contagious madness in the village.” She pursed her lips together for a moment, then sighed. “Might have something to do with the herbs I used in the stink bombs.”
Gage sat down. “This, I have to hear.”
Nodding, Calum motioned to the rock he’d been sitting on. “We’re trying to let Chad get some rest, so we’re parked out here for now, until we’re ready to sleep.”
“How are they?” She shook her head as she sat down. “When Brock told me about that poor man, well, let’s just say Faye had to stop me from getting the fork.”
Calum debated on asking but let it go. “He’s in rough shape. A lot of healing to do.” He sat on the ground.
“When Nona told me he shouldn’t shift…” She shook her head. “I knew how bad it was.” She motioned to the cave. “The other two doing okay though?”
He nodded, then turned to watch Shaelan come over. She sat down in front of him, leaning back against him.
“I have to ask,” Gage said with a smirk. “Why do you smell like a perfume factory?”
“Heh, I may never live that one down.” She nodded to Shaelan, “Faye and I were busy today. We made stink bombs, gave them to most of the women…” She fanned her face excitedly. “Let’s just say when they were lit up all over the place…” She sobered ip. “On the sly of course, so no one could get blamed.” She clapped her hands together lightly. “The whole place was puffs of smoke all over.” She frowned. “We should have asked Nona for help with our selection though, half of us were hyped up like happy squirrels, and the rest wanted to lay down right where they stood and hum a lullaby.” She exhaled loudly. “It’s why I’m late in coming, it had to wear off.” Shaking her head, she grinned. “By the time we were done, no nose there could have tracked a thing.” Inhaling slowly, she gave a small laugh. “Still can’t smell a darn thing.”
Despite the somber tone, there wasn’t one person present without a smile after her story, Calum noted. He didn’t want to halt the only reason they’d had to smile today, but he needed to know. “Did they find the guards?”
She gave her head a quick shake. “No and they won’t either. The entire village is in on keeping them hidden.” She opened her mouth looking completely animated for a moment, then looked to Shaelan. “That Brock, he’s storming around with your…Leroy, his chest all puffed out, stomping around. He’s such a hoot.” Nodding, she grinned wide. “Saying he’s checking homes personally while Leroy stands there pacing like a rabid animal…” She chuckled. “Then he stomps out and off they go to the next one.” She laughed loudly. “I tell you, if we get out of this alive…” Her head bobbed a few times. “I’m sending him to that place I read about.” She smiled wide. “That Hollywood Loss Angeles, so he can be a famous actor.”
Devin put his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide. Gage tilted his head to the side, smirking. No one even attempted to correct her, it would just take too long. Calum figured.
“What about mom, she can’t stay with Leroy….” Shaelan asked with a shaky voice.
Calum straightened and was ready to take off to the village when Marilyn waved him off.
“She’s at Nona’s. Told Leroy those nasty herbs made her real sick.” Scowling, she huffed out a loud breath. “That man don’t care if she’s ill, so he won’t even care where she is.” Looking around, she turned to Devin. “Your alliance get here yet?”
Devin shook his head. “No. I got a message from my father, and they should be here by tomorrow afternoon.”
Her eyes widened. “Then what happens?”
Calum exchanged a glance with Devin and Gage briefly, he’d been meaning to talk to them earlier, but with one thing after the other happening, there just hadn’t been a moment they could plan without interruption. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what he was thinking, so voicing it wasn’t going to be easy. “I don’t think we can wait until then.” Gage looked at him and frowned. Calum shrugged. “The fact that they haven’t thought to look in the most obvious place this long, is surprising.” If it were Calum looking for people, the first place he would have looked was the areas they weren’t supposed to be in.
“I was wondering on that too,” Marilyn said quietly. “I don’t know where else to move you though, I’ve been thinking on it. I know Brock is distracting him from coming this direction a lot, but Leroy goes for runs and he’s going to think of here one of these times.”
Calum felt Shaelan tense, could taste her fear. He looked to see both Devin and Gage watching him carefully, as if they knew what he was going to say next. It was the only solution he could find. He was the only healthy male present the same species as Shaelan’s clan. It had to stop. Stalling, one way or the other, wasn’t going to change it.
Unless Devin’s father came riding in on a tank, it was going to get messy before it got better. Those people didn’t know him or know what was the truth or lies regarding the alliance. They didn’t even know what it meant to be in a functional clan. He exhaled slowly and looked to Devin as he spoke. “I’ll challenge Leroy.”
Shaelan was on her knees, in his face before he could take his next breath. “What? No.” She shook her head. “You mean fight him?” She looked at the others. “Isn’t that to the death?”
“In most cases,” Devin answered quietly.
Her head snapped back to look at Calum. “No. You can’t. He killed the true alpha…”
“That wasn’t no fight,” Marilyn said with disgust in her voice. “Leroy had Jerome shoot your momma’s man in the back with a tranquilizer as it started.” She shook her head slowly. “It was over before it begun.”
Devin growled and jumped to his feet. “So, this lunatic didn’t even take over the clan in a legal way?”
A sadness came over Marilyn. “No. Anyone that said a word about it, or against him…” She looked at her hands. “…disappeared.” Her voice was barely audible. “Enough vanished like that, and people toe the line…” She glanced around at them. “…you know?”
Calum felt his cat roll over his skin, the animosity very easy to pick up. He looked at Shaelan and cupped her face gently. “It’s the only way to free your people.” He glanced at his mark on her neck. “Our people.”
Kelsey came over. “What is?”
Shaelan dropped back onto her heels and looked at her. “Calum is going to fight Leroy for alpha.”
Kelsey’s eyes went huge, she looked to Gage, then back to Calum. “Your what?” She shook her head. “We don’t even know how big this man is. Or…or…” She looked to Gage, then Devin and covered her mouth with both hands.
Calum stood up, his hands on his hips, purposely avoiding eye contact with his mate. What her clan had gone through, for years…it had to be stopped. He could see no other way. The only decision, as far as he was concerned, was if he was walking boldly in the front gate or sneaking in the back door.
“You haven’t seen Calum fight,” Gage said in a serious tone, as he got up to go to Kelsey. “If Leroy picks cat form, he’s dead before he lifts a paw and on two legs…” Gage blew out a breath. “It’s not any less painful.”
Devin nodded then paused to watch Dale walking over.
“Couldn’t sleep, woke up needing air.” He stopped and looked at everyone. “What’s happened now?”
“Calum’s going to fight the alpha.” Shaelan sobbed as she got up and ran toward the trees behind the cave entrance.
He exhaled slowly and watched her go.
“Oh shit. Sucks to be the alpha,” Dale said.
Turning, Calum looked back at Devin, who motioned with his head to follow her. Shaking his head, he went after her.