“Please, God, let her be okay.” Kate could hear the steady repetition of words coming from the older woman.
“It’ll be ok, Mama,” Cecelia said and took her mother from Kate’s arms.
“Shush, Mama, Kate will take care of everything. She and our Alpha Mother will keep us safe.” Cecelia moved her mother to one of the chairs.
“Bran, we have ten pack members that I trust out here. Just say the word. We’re ready to hunt,” Riley said from the doorway.
“If you’re here, then who is guarding the boys?” Caleb demanded, turning to Riley.
“Kate sent Rian and Damian to Liam. They have the Pride House on lock down. Liam has given his word of honor to protect the boys,” Riley said, his eyes showing his disbelief. It wasn’t often that another shifter group would take in another’s young and swear to defend it to the last dying man of that group.
“Thank God!” Caleb said, running his hand over his face.
Bran looked at Kate. “Liam agreed to this?”
“For me, he did,” she said simply.
Rebecca had somehow closely woven their small town together. Before her arrival everyone stayed close to their pride or pack. It was as if her arrival helped others see beyond their animal and helped them become friends. Kate smiled when she realized that she hadn’t even hesitated in calling Liam.
Dr. Claybourne came through the double doors. He looked up and went to Kate.
“She’s not doing well. If and it’s a big if, she survives the night, she’ll still have a rough next couple days. She’s been beaten and then drained of blood. Our normal rapid healing has been slowed to a crawl. She had bruising on her inner thighs. I administered a rape kit, but results are inconclusive. She will need a lot of support in the next couple weeks and months it will take her to recover,” he said slowly and carefully.
Kate looked over to Beverly Raymond.
“She’ll be coming home with us, Dr. Claybourne. God only knows her father is useless and would not be of any help to her,” Beverly said with disdain. She turned to Kate.
“They die,” she said.
Kate nodded. “Every last motherfucking one of them,” Kate said, blinking hard.
“Alpha Kate, Alpha Liam sent us,” a familiar voice said from the clinic door. Kate looked up to see Beau Thompson and Kaden Barnett waiting on her.
She went to take a step forward toward them when a wave of dizziness swept through her. She wrapped her arms around her body as her teeth began to chatter. She was cold, so cold. She felt her knees give out and suddenly, she was blinking up into Bran’s frantic face. She saw his lips moving but couldn’t hear him. So cold. She knew she was shaking and couldn’t stop. Then, from the distance, she heard a faint voice.
Alpha Mother, help me.
All at once, sound and motion returned. She sat up.
“Nicholas!” Her screams echoed with Ashby’s and Rebecca’s. She turned her head and saw that they, too, lay on the floor. Kaden was holding Ashby and Aleks hovered franticly over Rebecca.
“Bran, Caleb, Kaden, Beau, Riley, take the men and go! The Grind, save Nic! Hurry!” she yelled. Her voice acted as a release and the men sprang into action. Bran gave her one last look before standing and running out the door.
Kate tried to crawl to Ashby and Rebecca, but her arms gave out. Gently, Arthur Raymond picked her up and carried her to where Ashby now lay cuddled next to Rebecca on the floor. Arthur set her down on the other side and they waited. In the background, she heard Dr. Claybourne barking out orders to get a second trauma unit prepped to receive Nicholas.
They didn’t have to wait long. Less than twenty minutes later, Caleb barreled into the clinic carrying Nic’s unconscious form. Ashby cried out in anguish. Caleb carried Nic back to where the doctor waited behind the double doors open. A few minutes later, Dr. Claybourne came rushing back out.
He pointed to Ashby and Rebecca. “You and you come with me. Hurry!” They scrambled to get up and ran into the room. Kate followed without being asked. She walked in as Dr. Claybourne was explaining his treatment.
“Rebecca, he will benefit from your bond so lie as close to him as possible. He also needs a blood transfusion. Ashby, surprisingly, you are also O negative. He’s lucky. O negative is a universal donor but can receive only O negative. It’s extremely rare among shifters. Lie down and I’ll get the transfusion started. ” He pointed to the bear-sized bed where Nicholas lay. Ashby and Rebecca jumped into bed with Nic. Nic moaned and buried his face into Rebecca’s neck. Ashby snuggled up behind him.
“It’s okay, Nic, you’re going to be okay,” Rebecca said.