Rian held both boys close as their little lips began to quiver at the sight of their father’s fury.
Riley entered the nursery, dragging a struggling Arthur Raymond. Bran spun and took two steps, crowding the older man.
“I will only ask you once. Did you invite hyenas into Arkadia and onto pack territory?” Bran demanded, getting in the other man’s face.
The other man shook his head. “No, Alpha I would never endanger our pack. How could you think such a thing?” he asked.
“How could I?” Bran bit off each word and backed Arthur into the wall.
“Because you have done everything in your power to undermine Kate’s position here. Because, if you were truly loyal to me, you would never disrespect my mate.”
Caleb came around from Bran’s left and lifted Arthur up by the throat with one arm.
“You dare disrespect my mate,” Caleb said, his voice nearly unintelligible as his wolf strained to break free.
“Alpha, who is this cretin that you are allowing to abuse my mate, who is one of your most loyal followers,” a shrill voice demanded from the hallway.
Kate’s swung around to the well-dressed woman who took one look at Kate’s shifted eyes and backed up a step.
“That cretin is my other mate, bitch! And, if I find out that your mate is in any way responsible for the attempt on our sons, I will personally gut him myself!” Kate said, stepping forward.
“Bran, some advice,” Ma said calmly from where she stood next to Rian soothing the boys.
Bran’s looked to Ma and gave a sharp nod.
“I would, for their safety, of course, sequester the Raymonds to their quarters. Take tonight to calm down and look at this fresh tomorrow,” Ma said.
“Since when does our Alpha take orders from a bear?” Beverly Raymond asked.
Ma raised an eyebrow. “If I find out that you or your mate has invited the hyenas into town and negated the protective perimeter when my daughter is pregnant with my first grandchild, you will beg for what Kate has planned,” Ma said, almost sweetly.
“Riley, take Arthur and Beverly and lock them in their rooms. No one in, no one out. That includes Cecelia. Then organize a crew to clean the nursery.” Bran took a deep breath.
“As you command, my Alpha,” Riley said, placing a fisted hand over his heart. It was an ancient acknowledgement rarely used, but Riley’s way of showing he was loyal. Bran placed a fisted hand over his heart and nodded in return.
“Thank you, my friend,” he said.
Caleb threw the older man onto the floor with some force.
Riley helped Arthur to his feet then led him and Beverly out of the room. Bran placed a hand on Caleb’s shoulder as both of them tried to get their breathing under control. The sound of a tiny hiss had both of them turning to Rian, who was looking down at Landon in surprise. In response to his brother, Lucas threw his tiny head back and howled. Landon, not to be outdone by his brother, joined him in his howl.
Kate felt a burble of laughter start in her chest and move upward. She couldn’t help it. She started laughing and couldn’t seem to stop. Ma joined her laughing. Rian was shaking his head.
“Ya’ll are cats, boys, cats. Don’t worry, Uncle Rian will teach you how to hiss and roar,” he said as both boys continued to howl and growl at each other.
Caleb and Bran were laughing so hard tears were coming down their cheeks. There was a look of pride clearly written on both of the men’s faces. Rian smiled and bounced both of the noisy boys on each hip, his blanket tied around his waist.
It was as if the laughter was a release for the incredible amount of stress they had found themselves under. Bran pulled Kate into his arms and Caleb wrapped one arm around Bran’s shoulder and one around Kate’s. Bran gave each of his mates a squeeze before stepping over to Rian and taking Landon. Caleb stepped up beside him and took Lucas.
“Rian, we have no right to ask. You’ve done so much already. But, with the exception of Riley, I trust you over everyone else in my pack with the boys. Could you stay the night and watch them again tomorrow?” Bran asked.
“Try and keep me away! Is it okay if I call Damian over?” Rian asked.
Kate nodded, she felt better with someone outside the pack to act as his backup. Rian raced into the sitting room and came back with his tattered pants and began to reach into pockets and pant legs trying to find his cell phone and wallet.
“Ma, Riley told me we have a perimeter breach,” Connor said, stepping into the nursery
“I sent a text to Aleks and Liam. Aleks called our sloth to his house to guard Rebecca and Liam is setting up patrols in town.” He paused, took a deep breath and then growled low.