The yard wasn’t in any better shape than the small home. Weeds were everywhere and the grass was high. Kate could see a pile of toys in the back that looked as if they had been thrown out the back door. These children had so little. How could Elias throw away what little they did have?
What was probably the saddest sight was a single rose bush that looked as though it had been well tended. It had been tied back with shoestrings and hair ribbons and sat in a pink pot which read “Happy Mother’s Day.” The Wade children had done everything they could to protect this one rose bush, the only thing of beauty in an otherwise bleak home.
Kate shifted to human and eased her way to the window where the curtains were pulled back on one side. She looked inside and had to cover her mouth so that her gasp wouldn’t be heard.
The Wade children were huddled together in the corner of the front room. The oldest boy, who looked to be about twelve, sat in front of his younger brother and sisters. He was staring at the disheveled man sitting by the fireplace holding a shotgun with flat hatred in his eyes. The two small girls were crying. The old man swayed in his chair, a macabre grin on his face. Kate stepped back and motioned to Bran and Caleb. The men shifted and met her on the edge of the property.
“The children are in the front family room. Wade is in there with a shotgun and he looks the way humans do when they’re on drugs. His eyes are glassy and he’s just sitting there giggling to himself,” Kate said.
“The children are the priority,” Caleb said.
“Get them out to us and we’ll take them to the clinic,” Kaden said and Beau nodded.
“Getting them out is going to be the problem. I think he’s so far gone he’ll shoot the kids,” Kate said.
“I’ll head to the porch and draw him outside away from the children and then we’ll rush him,” Bran said.
Kate’s heart was in her throat. Bran was strong, but Wade was holding a shotgun and that could do some real damage, even to a shifter.
Without waiting, Bran walked up to the porch and navigated the three broken stairs and walked past the screen door hanging from one hinge to knock on the front door. Kate made her way to the window, watching as Wade struggled to stand and lurched forward toward the door. When the door flew open, Bran sprang forward and grabbed the gun. Kate ran forward as a shot went off. She jumped up on the porch in time to see Bran throw the gun into the yard. Kaden and Beau moved forward into the house, scooped up the kids, and carried them outside to the porch. Kate walked over to stand beside them.
“Are you going to kill my father?” the boy asked in a lifeless voice. Kaden looked over his shoulder to where Bran and Caleb were standing over the man.
“Yes, Ethan, we’re going to kill him. He has hurt a lot of people,” Caleb said.
“Good! He killed my sister, Mr. Caleb,” the boy said, tears making two white streaks down his dirty cheeks.
Kate leaned over and wiped his tears away.
“Cecelia came to me when Gina didn’t show up to class. We got to her in time, Ethan. She’s going to be okay,” Kate said, her hand cupping his cheek.
Those words seemed to crack the brave façade that the boy had been holding in place for his sisters. He buried his face in Beau’s chest, his tiny body shaking with sobs. Beau looked over to where Mr. Wade sat between Caleb and Bran and he let out a long hiss. Ethan’s head snapped up.
“You’re a lion?” he asked, his eyes wide with wonder. Beau simply nodded.
“Cool,” he said, sniffling. Beau smiled. Kaden loaded the other small boy and the two little girls into the truck.
“We’re going to the clinic. Even Liam would agree that children’s safety take priority. We’ll meet you there. We still have hyenas to kill,” Kaden said.
“The hyena man said they were going after the Alpha Mother then the babies,” Ethan said.
“Kaden, your cell!” Kate asked, holding out her hand. He immediately handed it over and she quickly dialed Liam’s number.
“Kaden! What’s wrong? Is Kate, okay?” she heard Liam ask.
“Liam, are the boys okay? Ethan said the hyenas might be heading your way,” she said.
“We’re fine, Kate, completely locked down. The boys have had dinner and Rian has them watching an educational video. Landon is yawning,” Liam said and she could hear the smile in his voice.
“Thank God! Gotta go, gotta call Rebecca.” She hit the End button and dialed Rebecca’s phone.
“Hello?” a deep male voice answered.
“Aleks, it’s Kate. Ethan, one of the Wade children, said that the hyenas said they were going after the Alpha Mother. How are things there?”