Riley came out of the family room, rubbing his eyes. “Bran? What’s going on? It’s only three a.m.”
“Hyenas crossed the perimeter an hour ago and attached the Pride house,” Kate explained.
“That’s impossible!” Riley said, his eyes now wide open.
“If Elias wasn’t the breach, then who else has betrayed the pack?” Riley said softly.
Pack members had woken up and were gathering behind Riley.
“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out,” Bran said.
“We’ll have to take your car, Caleb. My truck is still at the clinic,” Kate said, heading to the door.
“Riley, keep the pack in the house unless you hear from us. Run a patrol only as far out as the property line,” Bran said, following Kate out the door.
The drive to the clinic was quiet. Kate felt waves of tension coming off Bran.
“Bran, we’ll figure it out,” Kate started.
“How? How, Kate? If you know of a way, please tell me,” Bran said sharply.
Kate sucked in her breath.
“Bran, back off, man,” Caleb said, placing a hand on Bran’s shoulder.
Kate could literally see the stress and anxiety melt away as if Caleb was siphoning it off through their bond. Bran unclenched his hands on the steering wheel.
“Kate, I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just don’t know what to do,” Bran said.
It nearly broke her heart to hear him admit it out loud. She had a feeling that, had Caleb not come into their lives, Bran would never have been comfortable sharing his fears. He would have tried to stay the strong one. Kate sent a silent prayer of thanks to Fate for her choice.
“We’ll find the breach. We have somewhere to start now. We can check the Wade house to see if there are any indications he was working with anyone.” She reached from the backseat to also lay a hand on the back of his neck. Bran met her eyes in the rearview mirror and he gave a wan smile.
“We’re going to end up owing everyone in the lion pride for protecting the boys,” Caleb said.
“You don’t owe anyone when they are your friends and family,” Kate said.
“I guess I’m still learning about that,” Caleb admitted with a rueful smile.
“We can show you,” Bran said. Caleb nodded.
They pulled in front of the clinic and Bran parked next to her truck. They got out and headed inside. The lights were off and it was quiet. They had just stepped inside when a low growl was heard from the right.
“Aleks?” Kate said, wishing she could turn on a light. All the bears smelled the same to her.
“No, it’s Connor. What are ya’ll doing back here?” He turned on a small office lamp. When he did, Kate saw cots set up in the waiting room. Low growls were heard from the beds’ occupants. The Arkadion boys were waking up. Ma stepped through the double doors.
“What on earth are you three you doing back?” she asked.
“Ma, hyenas crossed the perimeter about an hour and a half ago and went after the boys at the Pride house,” Kate said.
Ma gasped and brought a hand to her chest. “The boys? Liam?” she asked quickly.
Kate shook her head. “They’re fine, slept through the whole attack. Evidently the lions had fun. Liam was more concerned about getting body parts off his lawn than the actual attack.”
“Wait, you said they crossed over the perimeter an hour and a half ago?” Ma asked. Pa had come up behind her to wrap an arm around her shoulder.
Kate nodded.
“Sweet Fate! Elias wasn’t the breach,” Ma said.
“If we don’t find that breach, they will keep coming in and someone is going to end up dead,” Aleks said, walking into the room, Rebecca right behind him.
“We’re planning on going back to the Wade house to see if we can find any clues as to what they were doing,” Bran said.
A boy’s voice was heard just inside the double doors.
“Let me go!”
A second later Ashby appeared, holding a struggling Ethan by his collar. Ashby brought the boy forward and passed him to Ma. Beverly and Arthur followed close on his heels.
“What is going on? Why did you grab Ethan?” Beverly demanded, going to the boy and pulling him into her chest.
“He was trying to sneak out the back,” Ashby said.
All eyes turned to Ethan. Caleb stood in front of the boy and turned him around in Beverly’s arms. His eyes were kind and he smiled gently.
“Ethan, will you tell us why you were trying to leave? We promise to listen and not get mad.” Caleb took the boy’s hands, which were dwarfed by his giant ones.
Tears streaming down his face, Ethan looked at Caleb.
“It’s my fault! I asked them to come in. The hyena man promised to kill my dad so he wouldn’t hurt my sisters anymore.” He started to cry, hard sobs shaking his thin frame. Beverly snatched him and held him close. Caleb stood and looked to Bran, his eyes wide. Everyone stood in shock, staring at one another.