Saving the Beast(57)

Clara hugged him first, then Logan.

“So good to have you back,” Logan said. “How’re you feeling?”

“Better,” Zane told them with a smile.

“Fever?” Logan asked.

“Not gone,” Zane admitted, feeling the truth in his veins. “But sated at the moment. I was going to search for you two.”

“Diane said as much when we saw her,” Clara said.

“Zane.”

The quietly spoken voice of his Uncle Orsai had Zane glancing over and walking toward the porch. Orsai met him at the bottom and they wrapped their arms around one another and held tightly.

“I was waiting for you,” Orsai said.

“I’m so glad to see you,” Zane told his uncle. “It’s been too long.”

Orsai held him another long moment before stepping back. “Now, tell us what news you bring.”

Zane didn’t ask if Diane had said something to Orsai, as well. She wouldn’t have had to. It wasn’t a big surprise to Zane that his uncle already sensed there was something in the air. Orsai had been doing that Zane’s entire life. It was as if his uncle had a sixth sense about things.

“Diane and I met with some others in the woods on the way here.” His glance went to Clara.

“My uncle?” she demanded, stepping forward.

Zane shook his head and hated the disappointment he saw in her eyes. “Three shifters. One injured. Two men. One woman. The leader said his name was Gideon.”

“Long, wavy black hair and blue eyes?” Clara asked.

“A few inches shorter than me,” Zane said with a nod.

“That’s Gideon. He’d have Ariel and Griffin with him,” she said. “He’s here? They’re here?”

“I’ll take you to them. I had to be sure before I brought them here,” Zane said.

Clara nodded and practically bounced on her feet.

“Smart call,” Logan said. “How far are they?”

“Not far,” Zane said. “We’ll make quicker time if we take the ATV’s.”

“Who’s hurt?” Clara asked.

“Gideon,” Zane told her.

“How badly?” she asked.

“He was shot with arrows.” His glance went to his uncle. “They think they were poisoned with something, but there’s no scent of it. He’s not healing all the way.”

“Shit!” Clara cried and turned to her mate. “We have to go to them.”

“We will,” Logan assured her, turning to Murphy. “Pull either Vic or Holt, whoever you see first and have them go with us. You, Clara and I will head out, as well.”

“I’ll take you to them,” Zane offered, but Logan shook his head.

“You should head in to the Professor for a full work up. You said yourself the fever isn’t gone, yet. Tell me where you left them. We’ll find them,” Logan said.

“I’ll go with them,” Orsai said. “Take a look at Gideon and see if I know what was on those arrows. Did he have one of them with him?”

Zane shrugged. “I didn’t ask. I was more concerned with getting my mate safely home.”

“We’ve got it from here,” Logan said. “Let Reno know where we went and why. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”

Zane nodded and stood watching as they walked away. Murphy came back with a grumbling Vic beside him.

“Great,” she muttered. “More of you grouchy bastards to add to the mix. Maybe we could find a few more humans. I’m starting to feel outnumbered here.”

Zane grinned. Man, he’d missed them, all of them. No matter what lay ahead, this group was his family, and he planned to stay with them, him and his mate. He knew without asking that Diane felt the same way. He’d seen it on her face when they’d arrived and she’d gone to check on Abby. They belonged here.

He went up the steps and opened the door just as a baby’s wail filled the house. The baby was here. He hurried down the hall, seeing Reno pacing outside Tah’s bedroom door while Amia leaned against the wall, one foot tapping on the floor.

“Zane,” she said as she peeked up and saw him. She pushed off the wall and met him, embracing him. “It’s so good to see you.”

Reno was next in line, wrapping Zane in a hard hug. “I’m glad you’re back,” he said.

“Glad to be back,” Zane said.

They all turned toward the door as it opened and the Professor stepped out. He wiped his eyes and cleared his throat.

“Everything okay?” Reno asked, and Zane felt as tense as his friend seemed at the thought something might have gone wrong. Tah would go ballistic, and Diane would never forgive herself.