Thoreau - Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Ayla
Azure and I were nearly at the diner to meet Princess Rhys when Bridger suddenly screamed, "Reau's at the diner!" through the whole pack link.
What the hell's his problem? I linked my mate with wide eyes.
Bridger had been quite a troublemaker before he reformed himself for his daughter, so I didn't think he was playing a prank, but using the whole pack link was forbidden unless there was a major emergency, like an... invasion... of... hunters...
You don't think—
Hunters at Roger's Diner! Alpha Cole's bellow interrupted me.
Shit! Azure and I hissed at the same time and hit the gas, hunkering low on our bikes and rocketing toward the diner.
Ayla, get your ass home! My mate's delicious dominant voice gave me the usual shivers and made my belly quiver, but now was not the time, and I surged past him.
Not only is Reau in danger, so is one of my best friends! I told him in a sharp tone. Princess Rhys was brave and powerful, but even the bravest and strongest could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. And Goddess only knew how poor little Reau was coping. If I can help, I will.
Dammit, woman! You'd better not get hurt! he barked.
I'm not a fighter, and I'm not planning to suddenly become one, I assured him. Instead of fussing at me, spend your time getting some intel from that gamma brother of yours before we get there.
I'd already tried linking my big brother Tristan, but he said he couldn't talk and would get back to me later, then cautioned me not to do something stupid before closing the link.
Me?
Do something stupid?
It was like he didn't know me at all!
What do you think I've been doing? Azure grumbled. The Hall twins, Roger, and Princess Rhys are fighting them inside the diner, but the hunters are using tranq darts. The witches are fighting outside, but that infernal creature is there and disrupts whatever they throw at him.
Why are the hunters using tranq darts? I asked, confused. Aren't they here to kill?
Looks more like they want hostages. The witches can see two trucks out front. One has the back door open, and there are cages inside and— Oh, shit!
What?! I demanded as I swerved wildly at Azure's sudden volume, then overcorrected and nearly went down before I got my bike back under control.
Some of the hunters are dragging the princess, Roger, and the Hall twins out of the diner and over to the trucks!
Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. My heart sped up and I struggled to keep my breathing even. Getting upset now wouldn't help anyone.
Then we rounded the last corner, and I didn't need his play-by-play any longer. I could see with my own eyes what was happening.
A group of about twenty people - probably the hunters, to judge by the guns and the fact that they were carrying unconscious people - were hustling toward a white box truck in the front parking lot. The witches stood in a line facing them, but a tall man with the skin and eyes of a crocodile acted as a barrier between the two groups, his hands raised and a shimmering wall before him.
Crocodile Man smells like the infernal being. He's probably making a magic barrier, Potoo said, and I nodded in agreement with my wolf.
Azure and I came to a stop behind Roger's big SUV, hoping to stay hidden until we saw an opportunity to jump in and provide a distraction so the witches could get a clear shot. Those hunters worked fast, though, and had our friends thrown into cages before we could do anything. Then they hopped in the back while one ran to the driver's side of the second truck, and I could hear the witches raising holy hell.
Yanking off my helmet, I tried to hear what they were shouting, but Crocodile Man suddenly smirked and shoved his magical barrier forward, and all the witches fell on their asses in sync.
"The fuck you did!" Sara Myers leapt up and pushed her sleeves back to her elbows and wound up like a major-league pitcher.
She unleashed some kind of shockwave, and Crocodile Man stumbled and went to one knee. At the same time, Beatrix Maxwell, her hair billowing on invisible heat waves, began slinging one fireball after another at the bastard while Ariel Harrington and Maria Rose used their air magic to try pulling the cages out of the truck's open back door.
Then everyone's attention went to one last hunter, who came pelting out of the diner with a skunk tucked under his arm.
Oh, my fucking Goddess, Azure breathed, and our mate bond reverberated with his shock before it turned to anger mixed with fear.
Az? What is it? What's with the skunk? My whole face twisted into confusion. I'd never heard of a skunk shifter before!
For some reason, the witches hesitated for a tiny moment, and that was all Crocodile Man needed. He pushed out another wave of power, this one stinking like mold and rot and making me gag, but it did worse to the witches. All four of them keeled over and puked their guts out.
That last hunter threw the skunk in the back of the truck, yanked the overhead door down, and locked it, then bolted for the driver's door. Crocodile Man trotted over to the passenger side and climbed in, then the truck was in motion, the second one following right behind it.
Ayla, I've been linking everything to Rio, and he and the other gammas are coordinating with the alphas. Azure knocked his knuckles against my helmet, which I still held in my hands. They're almost here, but they're going to be too late to follow these trucks, so we need to.
No, we need to go inside and look for Reau! He must be so scared! I started to swing my leg off my bike, but my mate laid his hand on my thigh before I could, and I swiveled to stare at him.
Baby. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before telling me, The skunk was Reau.
What? I blinked at him, staring into his cornflower-blue eyes and hoping the boy wasn't dumb enough to try a joke right now. If he was, he was going to become best friends with an ice pack and the couch.
Reau was the skunk, Ayla. You know that platinum ring he wears with a wolf's head on it? He told me and the boys all about the witches giving it to him in case of an emergency.
What? I repeated.
I'll tell you more on the way, but we've got to go. He nodded toward the two trucks, which were pulling out of the parking lot. For now, we're going to follow them until the alphas can coordinate a better tail.
But, Az, I've only got about fifty miles before I'm going to need gas! I said with desperation, afraid of letting my friends down.
Then we'll ditch the bikes and shift. Our wolves can run right down the center of the highway if they have to. He squeezed my thigh and sent me a jolt of comfort and resolve through our bond. We cannot let them out of our sight, baby.
And we won't. With a determined nod, I shoved my helmet back on.
So we took off and caught up to them quickly, then stayed carefully hidden in their blind spots as Azure linked our movements to his big brother and I linked with my big brother, who was with the other betas guarding Luna Posy.
She's demanding we take her to the diner, Tristan told me before we'd gone ten miles. Alpha Jay linked her that Bridger's in a bad way, so of course we're on our way there now.
Oh, my. I swallowed hard. I hope he'll be okay! And Reau. Tris, I'm so worried about him!
We all are, sister. Emerson is a freaking wreck, but luna keeps reminding all of us that Reau is tougher than we give him credit for.
We all know he's tough. We all know how much he can survive because he did it before, but it hurts to think of him suffering again! I blinked back tears.
I know. He sighed, then a little smirk pulled up one side of his mouth as he shook his head. This luna is something else. We're in Tyler's car, and she just ordered him to call Queen Lilah on 'the bluey tooth.' Apparently, no one's moving fast enough to suit her, so she's going around the alphas to have the queen prod the king into motion.
Well, she is the queen's bestie. I smiled a little, then asked, What does she want King Julian to do, anyway?
Combine his royal troops with King Brioc's fae warriors to - and I quote our sweet luna -"burn their world to the ground and get our people back." She also ordered all of her mates to - and again I quote - "let Quartz wreck anyone who so much as harmed a curl on my sweetie's head."
I snorted a little at that.
Forget our five alphas. Our badass luna was about to show these idiot hunters that they messed with the wrong wolf pack.
Briar Tate
As soon as Bridger screamed that Reau was at the diner, I sprinted over there as fast as my fine fat fanny could manage.
I wasn't a warrior, but I'd be damned if I didn't do everything I could to save my little brother!
When I got there, I was right behind the alphas and gammas, and I shoved my way through them, stepping over one mangled body after another and silently thanking the Goddess that they were all hunters and not pack mates.
Unfortunately, dead bodies were all I found until I reached the kitchen and spotted Bridger lying on the floor by the refrigerator, blood coating his shirt and the tiles around him, and I dropped to my knees in it without a second thought.
Fuck white pants when one of your friends is dying in front of you.
It took me less than a second to find the injury in his neck, and I quickly pinched my fingers where I needed to. They weren't as good as a metal clamp, but that was all I had and it would do until I could get something better.
"Need a delta over here!" hollered Alpha Jay, who'd run into the kitchen after me with alphas Ash and Cole hot on his heels.
Alpha Jay crouched next to me and laid a hand on Bridger's head, adding his own moon magic to mine, but I knew we wouldn't be enough. Alphas had very little healing ability, and Bridger was too close to death for mine to make much difference.
"Need more than a delta, alpha!" I snapped. "We need luna! He's almost gone!"
"I thought it was just a tranq dart. Leaves a hell of a bruise, but shouldn't be fatal." Alpha Ash sank his fingers into his dark brown curls and tugged them.
"From what I can tell, one hit him in the jugular," I explained. "Might have been okay if he hadn't pulled it out as the needle itself was probably sealing the hole it had made. To be frank, he's lucky he hasn't bled out already. I can only guess that Max started to heal him, but knocked out before he could finish. Wouldn't be surprised to find they laced the tranqs with the bane."
Or the wound might have reopened when Bridger hit the floor, Koel suggested.
"True," I agreed, then looked at Alpha Jay. "Look, we can transport him to the clinic and give him some transfusions, but if my fingers slip even a tiny bit, he'll be dead in seconds."
Alpha Mason hurried into the kitchen, took one look, and gave me a curt nod.
"Posy's on her way."
"What?!" Alpha Cole shouted. "It might not be safe yet! We haven't finished securing the area or—"
"Go ahead and try to stop her." Rolling his eyes, Alpha Mason turned on his heel and left.
"Yeah, Cole." Alpha Ash patted his shoulder. "I'm sure that couch in the living room sleeps just fine."
"Hey!" I barked. "There is a severely injured person here! One with a small child at home! I understand that levity is probably the way you deal with trauma, alpha, but it's not working for me when my friend is—"
My voice cut out without any warning, and I fixed my burning eyes back on my fingers, determined that they would not move a millimeter no matter what.
"Ash, Azure and Ayla Graves have been following the hunters' trucks," Alpha Jay said. "Go coordinate with the patrol leaders and organize something better before their bikes run out of gas."
"On it, bro." Alpha Ash saluted and ran out of the kitchen.
"And Cole, your brother needs you right now."
"Dad and Wyatt are there," Alpha Cole mumbled, but Alpha Jay wasn't having it.
"They aren't you. Wayne is in the middle of a panic attack, and Arch is halfway to crumbling. He needs his big brother."
With a heavy sigh, Alpha Cole left, and I quietly thanked Alpha Jay. While I normally enjoyed the alphas' antics and silly banter, my nerves couldn't take it right now. Not when I was literally holding Bridger's life between my fingertips and Reau was missing, taken by hunters to Goddess knew where for Goddess knew what purpose.
"We'll get him back, Briar," Alpha Jay said quietly. "Him and all the others."
"You can't promise that, alpha." I shook my head and swallowed hard.
"No, I can't promise. All I can do is tell you the facts. We have a visual on their trucks. Mase already called the king, who's calling Princess Rhys' father as we speak. That's two royal houses who are going to move hard and fast against these hunters. They won't stand a chance."
"I hope so," I managed to push out
"Plus, Emerson's been linking his mate, and Gelo says his contacts in New York City know who these hunters are. He's certain they're heading his way, and he's ready for them. They're as good as dead, Briar."
"Damned right they are," I said through gritted teeth.
If there was one person I could count on to destroy those bastards and save my little brother, it was Angelo della Morte. He did not allow monsters to live any more than he tolerated a threat against his family.
Sounds like New York's about to get lit up, Koel snorted.
Yeah, I agreed, but bit my bottom lip. I just hope Reau doesn't get burned in the fallout.
Wayne
When we arrived at the diner, we found dead hunters inside and out, a bunch of tranq darts in the walls and ceiling, and the shredded clothes of those who'd shifted or half-shifted to fight.
Unwilling to believe my baby boy had been taken, I frantically searched for him until my nose led me to his shoes and the rose-gold ring he'd made from Princess Rhys' hair.
She'd given him a single strand on the day they met, and Briar had helped him make something called a nest ring by winding it around and around his index finger. He was so damn proud of it and never took it off, so finding it now convinced me he or, more likely, Spring had shifted to join the fight and been captured.
Picking it up, I carefully slid the ring on my pinkie as far as it would go.
But why didn't he use his other ring? The magic one the witches made for him? He could have turned into a skunk and hid or run away! Why did he think fighting was a good idea?
He might have used it. You don't know, Ocean muttered. If he did fight, it was because Spring took over and did what he thought was best.
Best?! I thundered. When would fighting ever be for the best when Reau was around?!
Don't know, Wayne, but I trust Spring. He made the decision he felt was right for the situation he was in.
Well, that decision might cost Reau his life! I snarled.
As my own words hit me, I dropped to my knees and the world faded around me.
Reau could die.
Reau. Could. Die.
And I wasn't here anymore. I knew my body was shaking and my lungs weren't working right, but my mind was far away, lost in some gray space.
"Wayne. Calm down," my oldest brother Wyatt's voice swirled through the fog in my mind. "Take a deep breath and let it out slowly."
I tried, but I couldn't. I couldn't get my lungs to let in more than a sip of air at a time. A heavy weight pressed down on my chest as sweat beaded up on my forehead and my heart beat faster and faster and faster and—
"Come on, Wayne." I felt Wyatt's calloused hands holding my face. "Take a deep breath. You can do it, brother. Breathe in. There you go. Good job. Now breathe out."
I did what he said and was able to suck in a little more air now and didn't feel so detached from my body. My eyes were able to focus a little better, too, and they darted around until I found Arch. My heart still a wild thing in my chest, I reached for him like a baby making grabby hands for his mommy.
Next thing I knew, I was sitting in his lap on the floor. One of his hands ran up and down my back in slow, measured strokes. The other hand held my head against his chest so I could hear his heartbeat, just like we did with—
Come back to me, love. Listen to my heart beating for you and come back to me.
Arch? I whispered after my heart rate slowed to match his.
I'm here.
I'm sorry I'm being selfish when you're upset, too—
Don't! he growled.
But—
Don't. I mean it, Wayne. Don't apologize. Just ... let me hold you.
I nodded, but didn't lift my face from his hard chest. Letting out a shaky sigh, I slipped my arms around his waist and hid my face in his neck as my grief and worry and anger came out in harsh sobs.
"Where is he, Arch?" I wept. "Where is our baby boy?"
Archer
I put my hand on Wyatt's shoulder and asked him to let me do it. While he was making progress with Wayne, I knew what my boy needed.
Me.
He needed me.
Once I got Wayne calmed down, he started to apologize, and I shut that down real quick. He knew better.
As his shaking body slowly relaxed in my arms, I buried my face in his soft blond hair and breathed in the scent of him, hoping to calm down a little, but I knew I wouldn't.
Not until I had both of my mates in my arms.
A sharp shudder ripped down my spine as I thought about how terrified our baby boy must be. And what if he was hurt? There was a lot of blood in the diner, and not all of it came from the hunters. If Spring had been shot full of tranquilizers, he wouldn't be able to heal him.
We failed him. We failed to keep him safe.
My molars ground together and my fingers tightened into fists as that thought repeated in my mind, and I had to fight hard to push back the red clouding my vision before I shifted and did something violent or stupid or both.
"Where is he, Arch?" Wayne's voice was pain made sound and worked better than just about anything to ground me. "Where's our baby boy?"
"I don't know, love, but we're going to find him, okay?"
"I want him back!" Wayne sobbed. "I want him back safe and sound in our arms!"
"We're going to find him," I repeated to convince us both, "then we're going to rip the throats out of everyone who had a hand in taking him from us."
"I just want him home," my boy whimpered and hid his wet face in my neck. "Please, Arch. Please. I need our baby boy home."
And my heart broke just a little bit more.
It had cracked right down the middle when Bridger shouted that Reau was at the diner during the attack, and little pieces had been breaking off ever since. I didn't know how much more damage it could take, or what would happen with the last piece shattered.
"I know." I closed my eyes and tried to stop shaking so he would. "I know, love. Me, too."
I'm their rock. They need me. Wayne needs me to comfort him and Reau needs me to find him. I can't crumble. I can't— I can't— I can't ... fucking ... breathe ...!
Then my big brother Cole's long, strong arms wrapped around both of us and held us together, and I finally let myself fall apart.
Squidge
For the love of the moon! How could they have allowed this to happen?!
In my rage, I could not determine who was more ridiculous at the moment: The wretched wolves for not being able to protect one measly boy, or myself for growing tender-hearted toward that same boy.
But I had, and now I would have to involve myself to save him.
Not personally, of course.
Oh, my, no!
I was too distraught to put a paw out of bed. I couldn't even find the strength to pummel the feather on a spring that Reau had thoughtfully clipped to my cat tree.
The poor boy believed it might provide some small amusement for me in my lonelier hours, and I couldn't disabuse him of the innocent notion by admitting I often pictured Wayne Black's face as I battered it mercilessly.
With a sigh, I knocked the metaphorical rust of the link I hadn't used in years, then opened it with determination and summoned the one I wanted.
There was more than one way to skin a cat, as those nephilim hunters were about to discover!
Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in! Whatcha need, Pops?
Oh, Goddess, where had I gone wrong with this one?
Excuse me?! I spat as I flicked the end of my tail in irritation. If I had wanted to talk to my son, I would have used the family link. However, I do believe I used the royal one.
Most abject apologies, sire. What humble service might I provide?
Better. Acknowledging him with a nod, I returned to the task at hand, desperate to have my special boy safe again. Call in our marker with the tigers.
Aw, Pops, he groaned. What did you get yourself into this time?
Tybert—
Don't tell me you finally managed to catch that witch in bird form.
Tybert—
She was the perfect retirement home for you, Pops! Why couldn't you just accept that and live there peacefully?
Tybert—
But no! You had to eat her because you just can't resist a bit of fluttering feathers!
Tybert—
And now you've called down the wrath of Angelo della Morte! Well, you can handle it on your own, Pops. I'm already busier than a one-eyed cat watching two mouse holes, and the last thing I have time for is to play cat and mouse with the Angel of Death!
Tybert! I swear by the moon, if you interrupt me once more, you'll find yourself one life shorter! I meowed, my voice rasping with authority. Now listen carefully!
Yes, sire!
Tybert snapped to attention and saluted, then waited in silence for my orders.
The green eyes he'd inherited from me were alert and steady, and the keen intelligence in them silently reminded me of why - out of all my numerous offspring - I'd named him my heir before donning gray tabby fur and resigning myself to a life of obscurity.
Admittedly, a life full of comfort and ease and all the tuna I could eat, but obscurity nonetheless.
Thankfully, once a king, always a king among the fae, and the cat-sìth would follow my decrees regardless of who currently wore the royal black coat with its pure white spot emblazoned upon the chest - and my son was wise enough to know that.
I guess wanton cats really do make sober kittens, I mused to myself.
Well, Pops? Cat got your tongue? Tybert snickered and twitched his whiskers at me when I didn't respond fast enough for his liking.
I gave him a glare that snapped his mouth closed, then explained the situation and what was needed. Tybert sobered quickly as he realized how important this was to me.
I'll contact Khan Jasper Nanda immediately, he said, then hesitated.
Don't pussyfoot around! Just speak your mind.
Are you sure this is the wisest move? I know the khan owes us a serious debt, but is he honorable enough to pay it?
All we can do is set the cat loose among the pigeons and see which way he jumps. If he breaks his sacred vow, the Moon Goddess will have her retribution. If he keeps it, he'll be our paw. Let him expend his troops to bell the cat.
All right. If that's how you want it. As they say, what's sport to the cat is death to the mouse, and it sounds like these mice more than deserve to die. Tybert nodded. As if sensing I was about to close the link now that my mission was accomplished, he hurried to add, Pops, before you go, the kittens miss you. Swing by and say hello to your grandbabies once in a while.
Ah! Speaking of kittens, find me an orphan, the younger the better. She must have—
Oh, my Goddess, Pops! I know you miss Mother, but that's just obscene—
She's not for me, idiot! I yowled. She's for my boy! He wants a pet cat with gray fur and blue eyes!
Oh. I'm sorry—
Yes, you are! I growled at him. Make sure you find one with the sweetest, gentlest disposition who likes cuddling. Can you handle that without making a cat's cradle of it?
No need to have kittens, Pops. I'll take care of it. He rolled his eyes at me, and I batted the link closed with a scowl.
Settling down deep in my pillow, I laid my chin on my paws and sighed. All I could do now was pray to the Goddess and hope that Thoreau landed on his feet.