"Hey! That's not fair, you wouldn't let me pay for lunch either." I huffed.
"Well you're going to just have to deal with my chivalry."
Gene laughed at us and checked us out. I huffed at him again but couldn't help smiling. He was right, I was going to have to get used to his chivalry. I was used to being in control of everything in my life; well, financially anyway. It would take some adjusting to set that aside.
As we stepped out the door, I turned back to wave to Imogene and accidentally bumped shoulders with a woman who was heading into the shop.
"Sorry. Excuse me," I said as the woman grumbled on the way past.
Just as the door swung shut, I heard Imogene greet Ann. I stared at the door in hope of catching a look at the woman. In my distraction, I stumbled off the curb and nearly tumbled into the street before Mal caught me around the middle.
"Whoa there," he said and set me back on my feet.
"Sorry I got distracted." I bit my lip and held onto his arm.
"Let's get you home, my little calamity." He chuckled. "I hope you're not as accident prone as my sister."
"You have no idea how true that statement is," I said as we hopped into the truck.
Mal's mobile phone rang just as he set the engine into a roar.
"Caden, what—" He paused. "We're on our way," he said and hung up abruptly.
"What's wrong?" My heart sunk into my stomach as Mal's demeanor suddenly changed.
"Another disappearance. An eighteen-year-old girl. She's a Breeder who belongs to one of the packs within the Sept. Hank's son knows her," he said and tossed the truck into gear before peeling away from the curb. I gulped.
"Did anyone see anything?"
"No. Her parents reported her missing just an hour ago when she didn't come home from her job at the coffee shop."
"The shop just down the way? We were right there." I gripped my chest. How could we have missed that?
"I know," he said and sped home toward the cabin.
Chapter Twelve
By the time we got home, the kitchen was full of people including several men and women that I didn't recognize. The potent odor of angry wolves wafted through the front door as I opened it. It caught in my throat and had me sticking close to Mal. Along with the strangers, Hank had brought all eight of his children with him as he awaited Imogene's arrival. I hesitated to enter but Mal took my hand and led me inside.
The kitchen table had ten people sitting around it, all squished together. Hank was seated at the head of the table with Caden and Xany to his right. An empty chair to his left held a place for Imogene. A few of the faces glanced to Mal and me as we entered. Immediately I noticed the arrangement of male-female couples. The Alphas and Alpha-Breeders of each pack under Hank's Sept were gathered in our kitchen, in a meeting known as a Clash. Clashes only happen when there is a global threat to the Sept. Caden looked to Mal then me. Suddenly his voice thundered through the center of my body like an internal broadcast of highest priority.
I've warned Vanessa not to bend in, his voice boomed. I gripped my shirt in surprise. It wasn't like hearing Mal's voice inside my head. Caden's voice was more like a punchin-the-chest reverberation. I looked up at Mal, my eyes wide. I'd never experienced Caden in such a way before. It was official and freaky. Mal's soothing voice rolled into my mind soon after.
Don't be afraid. When Caden speaks that way, our entire pack can hear it. He reminded me of the Alpha's ability to communicate internally to his pack family. We couldn't talk back to him but it was enough to soothe my worry. I nodded and squeezed his hand.
At least she'll be safe away from here. Who called the Clash? I asked Mal as he shut the door behind us.
None of the people at the table acknowledged our presence as we moved into the main room. They sat silently, stoically, waiting for something to happen. Their eyes were fiery, some flashing red and yellow as they waited. It sent shivers down my spine. Hank's children were scattered about the living room, observed by two teenage boys who kept them quietly entertained.
Barron. Mal pointed out a tall, dark-haired Caucasian man seated at the opposite end of the table next to a fair-haired woman. It was a Breeder in his pack who has gone missing. Her name is Alice.
Imogene walked through the door a moment after Mal and me. She took her spot beside Hank then glanced to me as she cradled her youngest baby. I looked at her oddly for a moment before a jolt of remembrance struck me. I let go of Mal's hand and went over to her. She held the baby to me with a sly smile. I embraced Isabelle and brought her back to Mal. It was the Beta-Breeder's duty to keep watch on the cubs when the Alpha-Breeder was a part of the Clash. Mal lifted a brow at me.
Hush up. I said before he got a chance to speak. He grinned.
You see that woman there? Mal nodded toward a woman with short purple hair, spiked wildly. She had a man sitting beside her who had gauged piercings in his ear and a tattoo of a paw print on his neck. I nodded and lifted Isabelle onto my shoulder. She nuzzled her face against my neck and breathed little puffs of hot air. I couldn't help but smile.
She's an Alpha. Mal sat on the arm of the chair where I settled with Isabelle. He watched the kids play with backpacks, books, and pencils from their shopping trip earlier in the day.
Really? I thought Hank was a more traditional type leader.
He's more flexible than he thinks. June is a very strong dominant. She earned her rank honestly. His voice sounded giddy and full of pride at admitting he had a female Alpha in his Sept.
Hundreds of years ago, women held high ranks in packs. It was more common for them to be the Alphas than the men. However, through the last few centuries, the role of women changed and the Alpha position became a primarily male honor. Times are changing again though, as is the balance of male-female power in the pack, and in the world in general I suppose. Breeders, both male and female, are also more respected nowadays than they used to be, though some are still treated like baby-makers.
As everyone settled into their places, a sense of sudden power struck through the room. Voices boomed from the kitchen. The children remained quiet as if they experienced big meetings like this every day. It was a testament to how Imogene and Hank raised their cubs—traditional and respectful. Cote made his way over to me and climbed in my lap as I held his sleeping sister. I smiled and nuzzled him as I listened to the Clash. Cote rested his head on my shoulder and I rubbed his back. Children never made me nervous. They were the easiest people to be around. They didn't judge or hurt. They just loved.
"We are in agreement that this is not an act of human corruption. All in favor?" Hank's voice was stern and lacking his usual accent. His eyes scanned the faces at the table.
Everyone nodded once, except Xany. She was looking around the room with bright eyes, completely entertained by the politics of the wolves. All eyes fell on her as they awaited her vote.
"Oh, me? Yes," she said, her voice perky.
Hank couldn't help but smirk and so did I. Caden chuckled as he looked back to the others. Suddenly the atmosphere at the table loosened and people began to speak freely.
"My Beta and I will return to the scene of her disappearance and follow any scents we find," Barron spoke as he gestured toward Foster, a tawny-haired man to his left. I recognized him immediately as the waiter from the restaurant where Mal and I had our date. Hank nodded. Foster looked paler than he was the last time I saw him, his fingers digging into the tabletop.
"There is word that the young boy who was taken is also a Breeder," June, the female Alpha, spoke up.
"Is that a fact?" asked a young man with long brown hair.
"It is, Manny. He goes to school with Eagan. He may have been a Lost One," June said. Manny offered her a firm nod.
"Is there any suspicion that the others are Breeders as well?" Caden asked.
"Steven is lookin' into it. Since Alice is gone, he's been goin' an' interviewin' the family members of the others. He can sense their bloodlines much like Caden." Hank
nodded to Caden. I looked at him and lifted a brow. Clearly I wasn't the only one who knew more than I let on. I remembered the first time I met Caden and Mal and the look of affirmation on his face when he saw me. He knew from that moment that I was a Breeder, glyph or no glyph. I wondered how his sense worked. Maybe it was smell.
"Shawnee said that she thought there was something fishy about the disappearances because of how quick they were taken," Xany chimed in. I gulped when I heard my name and looked to Mal. He was listening, but didn't seem particularly concerned with Xany's comment.
"Is that so?" Barron said as he looked at Xany, his eyes boring into her.
"Of course it's so," she said, her tone a bit put-off.
"Shawnee," the woman named June said as she scanned the room. Her eyes fell on me in the living room. Cote sat up when he heard her say my name. He looked over to June.
"Shawnee's magic!" he said as he pointed to me. Several people tried to hide their chuckles while I wanted to hide under the sofa. June pursed her lips. I wasn't sure if she was trying to avoid smiling or if she was annoyed by the cute kid.
"I want to hear what your Beta-Breeder has to say," June said and drew her eyes to Caden.
"Of course," Caden said and waved me forward.
I swallowed the knot in my throat before setting Cote down and handing Isabelle to Mal. All eyes were on me as I went over to Caden. As I glanced around the table, I could sense the power emanating off the Alphas. It made my knees tremble. My stomach churned and my tongue felt tingly. Please don't freak out.
You won't. This isn't a trial. Mal responded to what I thought were my own private thoughts.
You weren't supposed to hear that.
Well, think more privately then.
I glanced over my shoulder at him and he smiled.
"Don't be worried, darlin'. This ain't no stonin'," Hank said as he held his hand out to me. I stood between him and Caden and scanned the faces at the table.
Barron looked tense, as did the woman at his side. Even though wolves were notoriously meticulous planners, they still knew the passing of time meant it would be more difficult to find the victims. June looked at me and nodded once for me to speak. Caden put his arm around my waist as I stood beside him. Normally, I might shy away from him, but right now I didn't mind.
"I um... Like Xany said, the speed of the disappearances on top of the lack of trace evidence makes me think that it really is a supernatural occurrence rather than human-born. I don't think it's a coincidence that Alice was taken, or that one other person might be a Breeder as well. And we all know that humans can serve as a means for reproduction, too, even though Breeders are preferred," I said and bit my tongue to prevent myself from rambling on. There was a murmur of voices in response as they discussed amongst themselves what I shared. Caden looked up at me, and gave me a firm nod. Mal looked on with a proud smile.
"Nee? What do you think it is?" Xany asked. I looked around the room as the eyes returned to me. Barron's eyes narrowed as he spoke.
"Yes, what are you thinking?" he asked.
"Well, whenever Breeders go missing in clusters, I can't help but be suspicious. I think that...that collectors might have invaded the area. My mom used to call them Those Who Collect," I said and glanced to Caden. I'd chewed a fair amount of flesh from the inside of my mouth. The metallic ooze of blood on my tongue had his nose twitching. He lifted a brow at me and shook his head very faintly. My stomach squeezed. The scent of blood in the room full of angry wolves was not a good combination. I kept my mouth closed tight until the bleeding stopped.
"Those Who Collect? What does that mean?" Manny asked and looked around with a frown.
Hank's posture suddenly changed. "It is the Tainted Ones that collect and hoard our Breeders for purposes of reproducing against their will," he informed the rest of the Clash.
The room suddenly erupted with movement. Barron's anger surged and his mate tried to comfort him. The talk became loud as people rustled through the newspaper clippings for evidence of this. Chairs shoved back and people stood up. I stepped closer to Caden. My words had caused the reaction. What if I was wrong? What if they blamed me for not saying something sooner? The force of Caden's power wrapped around me, his protective gesture telling me he understood my fear.
"How can this be?" June's voice was so harsh she nearly spat. She looked right at me, demanding an answer. I stumbled over my words for a moment. I had to say something and fast.
"We—you've all been patrolling for days. There's no trace evidence from the police because as you know, humans can't track us very well. And, if we were tracking, we wouldn't necessarily follow the scents of our own kind. We'd most likely be looking for leeches or Tainted Ones that carry the scent of spoil. Not ones that are morally tainted," I explained.
The room got louder and Barron began pacing. "We must take this into consideration!" he nearly shouted and turned to Hank. Barron's brow was furrowed so tightly that beads of sweat dripped from his sideburns. Hank stood as well and he looked to the room.
"Agreed. We must keep our Breeders close and the children closer and treat it as Miss Shawnee has suggested. It is the safest way," Hank said.
"We're wasting time. All in favor?" Barron said as he surveyed the room. Every single head nodded. Hank frowned at Barron and caught him in a stare that visibly caused his shoulders to slump. Barron's worry for his pack mate had driven him to overstep Hank.
"It is in agreement," Hank said and drew his eyes away from Barron when he submitted. "We will set out tonight in search of Alice, in shifts of four. Each taking one direction and moving inward," he said and used his hands like a compass. "Steven will scent the others. Alice is our priority." Hank's words were final.
Everyone stood as the Clash ended. June took the tattooed man by the hand and disappeared the instant she walked toward the window. Barron, Manny, and their Alpha-Breeders exited through the front door. Hank and Imogene lingered behind. I watched everyone leave then looked to Caden.
"Boy, Nee, you sure know how to clear a room." He chuckled, which made Xany laugh at me. I gave her a swat on the shoulder.
"Caden, why couldn't you have just asked me and then you tell them?" I asked.
"It's better from the source," he said and patted me on the shoulder.
"We listen to our families 'round here, Miss Shawnee," Hank said as he put an arm around Gene. "Yer opinion is as important as the rest of us."
"But what if it's not collectors and it's just something random?" I asked and looked over to Mal, who had Hank's eight-year-old son dangling upside down. "What if I'm wrong?" Mal grinned at me before dropping the boy playfully on the couch.
"Then we've lucked out." Hank shrugged. "It's better ter be safe, ya know?"
"I hope I'm wrong." I took a deep breath.
"We all kin' hope, we kin' hope," he said and shook his head.
"We best get the kids home, Hank," Imogene said. "So you can head out with the others."
"Aye, yer right as usual, love," he said. "I may take Henry with me." Gene nodded and started gathering up the kids.
"You have a son named Henry and your name is Hank?" Xany asked with a giggle.
"We all need a lil junior now don't we!" He chuckled as he helped Gene usher the kids out the door and into their trucks. "Caden, you an' Mal should join the dusk shift."
"Agreed," Caden said and shook Hank's hand. "Keep us updated."
Hank nodded as he ducked out the door. Finally everything was quiet.
"You better call Vanessa, Nee. She was not very happy with me at all," Caden said. I could only imagine Vanessa's response to a request to stay away. I would bet there was a hole in another wall somewhere other than my room. I grabbed my phone and dialed her number.
"Do you think the Clash would have attacked her?" Xany asked as she began reorganizing the kitchen while Mal straightened up the living room.
"No, but I think June might have. She is not fond of cats," Caden said.
"She's
a raging bull, that one." Xany huffed.
"But a good Alpha," Mal said.
"Very true." Caden chuckled at both of them.
"What happens to Breeders who get collected or hoarded or whatever, TB?" Xany asked in her usual quest for more information even though she already knew as much as she needed to. I kept the phone pressed to my ear while I listened to them. Vanessa answered and hung up before I even said anything. I knew she'd appear a moment later.
"Why don't you ask Shawnee," Caden said as I pocketed my phone.
"She already knows the answer, Caden." I watched my bedroom door and sure enough, Vanessa appeared out of my room. She was wearing her usual green velvet dress and her hair was down long and damp from a shower. She hissed at Caden as she walked over and wrapped her arms around me.
"Sorry, Ness. We had unexpected guests," he said. She hissed at him again for good measure before burying her face against my shoulder. Her lips brushed my skin and I couldn't stop my brain from wandering to the events of the morning. I pulled her closer to me and she gave my jeans a possessive tug.
"What happens to the Breeders who get collected, Nee?" Xany pressed. I frowned at her as I guided Vanessa into the living room.
"A lot of bad stuff," I said. Vanessa sat on the sofa and pulled me into her lap. Mal sat beside us. I slid backward so that I was sitting between them, leaning against Mal with my legs across Vanessa's lap. He draped his arm around me and Vanessa caressed my legs.
"What's going on?" Vanessa asked, her lips curved into an uncharacteristic frown.
"It seems we have some Tainted Ones who are collecting Breeders, Red." Mal put it much more simply than I ever could.
"It's just a theory," I said. "It could be wrong."
"It could be right, too," Xany said then pressed her question again. "What happens to them, Nee?" I glared at her.
"You know what happens, Xany."
"I only think I know, you know for sure," she said and huffed at my resistance. I clenched my teeth at her in frustration.
"Typically..." I started with a sigh. "The Collectors have like a nest. Sometimes it's underground like in a basement or a bomb shelter, or in a house that's boarded up. They keep them like a leech, I mean vampire, nest. They brainwash them if they have time to, then get them pregnant over and over again. If they don't have time to brainwash them, they'll hold them captive and rape them and when the babies are born, they keep the baby and kill the mother. Then collect more. They will collect male Breeders, too, though, and force the males to impregnate willing female Changers." It took every ounce of reserve I had not to attach emotionally to the words that came out of my mouth. I leaned into Mal but kept my eyes on Vanessa's long crimson hair as a distraction. Vanessa purred quietly and rubbed my jean-covered legs until she spotted something tucked into the pocket of my sweat jacket. She reached in and yanked out the little leather doll. Her brows flicked upward and she turned it over in her hands. I could tell she was uncomfortable with the talk, too.
Birthrite (Legacy Series Book 2) Page 12
