“Can I tell my mom? Gina will want her there. My mom is like a second mom to her,” Cecelia said.
Kate hesitated for only a moment. She knew that a woman who doted on her daughter as much as Beverly Raymond did would never do this to Gina.
“Yes, now hurry. Do not stop the car for anything. Literally drive up to the front door. Do you understand me?” She grabbed the girl and looked her in the eye.
“Yes, Alpha!” Cecelia said.
“Good girl, now go and be safe!” She said.
She watched the red car speed away from her as she turned the truck west toward town. Driving with one hand, she dialed Liam’s cell.
“Chelllo, Katie Belle, to what do I owe this honor?” Liam said cheerfully.
“I just found Gina Wade strung up in a tree in the woods on pack lands nearly drained of blood. I sent Cecelia Raymond to the Pack house to tell Rian to bring the boys to you. I am asking for you to guard my sons, Liam Lewenhart,” she said formally.
“I will personally watch over them and guard them with my life, Alpha Kate Edwards of the Arkadian wolf pack,” he said, finishing the formal response.
“Fuck, Kate! Is there anything else I can do?” he asked. She could hear him barking orders in the background to start locking down the Pride house.
“You have the most important job already in my opinion. I am trusting you with my children,” she said.
“I won’t let you down, Katie. I am sending you Beau and Kaden. Be careful,” Liam said.
“You, too.” She hung up and then called Bran.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Bran said. She could picture his relaxed smile.
“Bran,” she started and her voice broke. Just hearing his voice made her want him next to her.
“Kate! Kate, where are you? What’s going on?” he yelled into the phone.
“I’m on the east road heading into town. I have Gina. They got to her, Bran. I’m heading straight to the clinic.” She looked up. She could see the lights from the town.
“I can see the town. Meet me at the clinic.” She threw her phone in the console next to her.
She drove straight down Congress Avenue and skidded to a stop in front of the clinic. She nearly stripped the gears as she put the truck in park, the back tires still coming to a stop. She jumped out and was met by Dr. Claybourne. She opened the passenger side of the truck, very gently lifted Gina out, and passed her to the doc. He immediately ran inside the clinic and disappeared behind the sliding double doors. Kate followed and found herself standing alone in the waiting room.
“Kate! Oh thank God!” Bran strode into the waiting room. He spun her around and pulled her into his arms. She immediately felt Caleb behind her, pressing his body into hers. Both held her as if afraid to let go.
“Kate! What happened?” Rebecca said as she and Aleks came through the doors, followed by Ashby and Ma.
“Cecelia was right. We found Gina hanging from a tree on pack lands a few miles from her home. She had been stripped and it looked like she had been beaten then drained.” Kate pulled her head from Bran’s chest.
“I hate to think how long they had her or how long she had been hanging in that fucking tree,” Kate said, her voice breaking.
“Thank God you didn’t listen to me,” Aleks said, looking pale.
“Kate, I’m so sorry for not listening to you,” Bran said, closing his eyes.
“I was so concerned with keeping the pack safe I let this happen to Gina.” Bran kept his eyes closed as if he couldn’t face her or the others in the room.
“You didn’t let this happen. If you’d known it was happening, you would have stopped it. The hyenas and the hyenas alone are responsible for this.” Kate rubbed her hands up and down his upper arms.
“She’s right, Bran. You’re not God. What we have to concentrate on right now is making sure we do everything we can for Gina and find these bastards,” Caleb said, his voice filled with emotion.
“Where is she!” a penetrating voice said from the clinic doorway minutes later.
Kate looked up to see Beverly Raymond breathing hard, her husband and daughter close behind her. Cecelia had been able to get her parents released given the severity of the situation. Beverly’s hair was undone and sticking out in every direction and her normally well-pressed blouse and pants were creased. Kate moved away from Bran.
“Ms. Raymond, Dr. Claybourne is with her now. I’m sure he’ll come tell us something as soon as he can,” Kate said, stepping toward the older woman.
“My Beverly told me what you did, what both you and the Alpha Mother did to go look for Gina. Thank you, Alpha. Thank you for what you have done for Gina. Her mother was my best friend. I failed her and I have failed to look after her children, but that stops now. You have my full support.” She placed her fisted hand over her heart. Kate stared in shock. With a shaking hand, she returned the gesture. That final gesture seemed to take the last of Ms. Raymond’s strength. She crumpled in front of Kate, who caught her as she fell forward.