“So, do I, my friend. So do I,” Bo said as he and White Eagle left Remi to return to their home, knowing not much time was left.
* * *
It took three stories and some warm milk for Anna to finally fall asleep, but she was now out like a light all snuggled in her new room with a bit stuffed kitty and the dolly Shelly’s men had given her. When they had gotten home, Argo had thrown Shelly over his shoulder while Buck did the same to Anna, telling her that she was new to the family too, so she needed to be carried over.
Anna had giggled the whole time and laughed outright as he threw her on her new bed. She had then touched every toy in her room, shocked at it all. It had taken Shelly two hours to fully reassure her that everything was all right, even with the lights flicking on and off.
“How is our little princess?” Bo asked, coming up behind Shelly and placing a kiss on her cheek.
“She’s good, though a little scared. She kept asking if they were down here. Anna was trying to wait up for you.” Shelly turned in his arms and looked up into Bo’s handsome but worried face. “How bad is it?” she asked.
“It will be soon. When were you going to tell me about this gift you have? Why did I have to find out about if from others?” Bo asked, almost sounding hurt.
“Bo.” Shelly sighed, resting her head on his chest as he lifted her into his arms and moved to their room, where the rest of her men waited. “I’ve always had a way with children. I’m able to help them when they’re hurt or stressed out. I think this planet enhanced that gift, just as it did with Anna and her connection to the animals,” she said as Bo popped the buttons off her blouse, not wanting to waste time unbuttoning them, apparently.
“You’ve got too many clothes on. We need to touch you,” he said as Buck came in behind her and unhooked her bra, then helped her out of the rest of her clothes.
“Tell me about these meetings with the other women,” Bo said as he started to move away, then stopped. “What’s wrong?” he asked as she moved to sit on the bed and glanced toward Anna’s room.
“It’s going to be a long night.” Shelly got up and moved to the dresser, where she pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. “I need to go to the orphan house, Bo. The children are having a hard time. I think our little Anna is up too.” She slid her clothes on and headed back to Anna’s room as the lights flickered.
“Any idea what is going on with that? Something isn’t right. And you’re mad because we had meetings? You have meetings all the time; this is no different,” she said, looking around for Anna, who wasn’t in her bed. “Anna, where are you, sweetie?” she said as Bo and Buck moved into the room.
Bo got down on his knees and smiled. “Aww, baby, come here,” Bo said, holding out his arms for their little girl.
Slowly she peeked her head out looking around as the little puppy next to her growled. “They’re down here with us,” Anna said.
Shelly’s knees gave out and she would have fallen to the floor if Argo hadn’t come up from behind and wrapped his arm around her. “We need to go to the orphan house now. I’ll stay there tonight,” she said, holding on to Argo’s arm.
“We all will till we find out what the hell is going on. Anna, grab your dolly and kitty. We’re going to spend the night with the other children,” Bo said. “White Eagle, find out what’s going on and meet us at the orphan house. Make sure the den is locked down and let everyone know where we are if anyone needs us. Let’s go, and be safe, White Eagle. Don’t engage anyone by yourself,” Bo said looking at him as he picked up Anna.
“It will be done,” White Eagle said before placing a kiss on Anna’s cheek.
“Be careful, and I want to see you there soon,” Shelly said, reaching up and squeezing his arm. “I love you, White Eagle.”
His eyes lit up and he shook his head. “Now you tell me,” he growled, moving toward the door as they followed them.
As they moved down the tunnel, Argo walked in front Bo, Shelly and Anna, and Buck walked behind them, keeping them protected.
“Now, tell me. You and the other women have been learning things about this ship? How it works and such?” Bo asked, taking a quick glance at her.
“Valda maybe, but I don’t know much. I know I don’t like the den being so far from the others. Maybe that has to do with the fact that the orphanage is so important to me. You know, we really need to come up with a name for it. Anyway, your den might be different, but we need the others too, but then, you knew this. We talked about ways to help each other, but that’s about it,” she said.
Bo frowned and stopped walking as Argo moved around the corner to check if the way was secure. When he returned and nodded, they moved forward again.
“I wonder if it’s like the wedding vows. How we knew what to say without knowing the words?” Buck said behind them.
“I never really thought of it that way, but then why didn’t Iceman tell us? Well shit, he probably thought we would see that information, like they do,” Bo said, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Shelly. I think we’re going to have to speak with Iceman. He told us that you women have been learning all about the planet’s defenses and weapons. I mean, why wouldn’t we also be shown—Wait. What if we have been, but we can’t access the information?”
“What? Really? You’re right about the vows; they came when I needed them. But could you actually see Jaycee with massive weapons knowledge?” Shelly asked, laughing. “She can’t manage food. Well, I can’t say that now. Cecilia is helping her learn basic cooking techniques, and she’s gotten quite good with canning; we all have. But with Cecilia ready to deliver any day now, her men have put a halt on her helping, which I understand.” Shelly stopped moving and stared at Bo’s back. “Wait, you thought I kept that all to myself? That’s why you were upset?” She growled. “I can’t believe you thought I wouldn’t tell you, Bo. Even when I was hurt and furious with you, I told you everything that was going on, even when you didn’t listen,” she said, stomping her foot.
Bo moved up to her. “I’m sorry, Little Wolf.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. “I should know better by now. I swear I can’t wait till all of this is over and we can begin to build our lives without having to worry about this threat hanging over our heads,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. “Let’s go see if we can help these children.”
Shelly nodded, but didn’t say anything. “I’m tired, Bo. So damn tired. I’ll be glad when we can relax and get on with our lives,” Shelly said as they came to the commons. Carl and his wife were there with their children.
“I saw White Eagle and he told me what was going and thought we could help with the children.” Carl said.
“Thank you,” Bo said as they moved toward the home, where the Whitefields were waiting for them. Darla had tears rolling down her cheeks, and her husband held a shotgun.
“What’s wrong?” Shelly asked, making her way up the stairs.
“Cecilia stopped over with some goodies for the children, and she’s in labor. The doctor is with her now, but we’re waiting on her men. Tug is here, but the other two went with Owen—something about a security breach. That’s when the children all started to cry,” Darla said, following them, “Thank God for Trish; she’s been a godsend with the little ones.”
“Well, we’re here to help and we’re all going to stay the night. I thought we’d have a sleepover. Maybe we can give them some warm milk to help them settle down,” Shelly said as Suzanne and Jaycee came around the corner, carrying a child each and followed by another group of children. “Bo, something must be really wrong if all the children are so upset.”
“Take Anna while I go help them get the children inside. Go check on Cecilia, and we’ll start making beds for everyone. Carl, see if you can find blankets and bedding in the storage unit. If your wife could help Darla get some hot drinks going, that would be great.”
Shelly moved into the living area and saw Cecilia there with Tug and the doctor. “Anna honey, why don’t you go tell Trish w
e’re here and that the little ones can all bring their pillows and blankets down here? I think we’ll all camp out in the commons. We’ll have them close it off for now,” she said, looking back at Argo, who nodded.
“Great idea, Little Wolf. Don’t leave the room; I’ll be back,” Argo ordered and moved back outside as Buck came in carrying a child.
“Buck, have them start making beds out in the commons. We won’t have room in here. Argo is going to get the tunnels closed so we can rest out in the commons where we’ll have more room.”
“Great idea,” Buck said, turning around to talk to Bo as Jaycee and Suzanne entered the room and headed right for Cecilia.
“How are you doing?” Jaycee asked.
“Your little ones are ready, I see?” Suzanne said, rubbing her hand over Cecilia’s stomach as she glanced at the doctor, who nodded.
Rory and Clayton came running in. “You couldn’t stay home?” Clayton growled.
“Hey, knock it off, she’s fine, but she sure doesn’t need you growling at her,” Shelly snapped as Cecilia moaned through a contraction.
“It’s…okay, Shelly. He does that…when he’s nervous. Kind of cuteeee,” Cecilia puffed in and out.
“I see the head. Close the doors there. We don’t need the little ones to see Cecilia giving birth,” the doctor said nodding to the dining room pocket doors.
Shelly nodded and pushed Clayton and Rory into the room, then she and Jaycee shut the door. Suzanne always stayed with them when they had children. She had a gift for easing the pain.
“Where are my brothers and Remi?” Shelly asked, helping the children move outside. Anna was right beside her, holding another little girl’s hand.
For the next hour, Shelly went around tucking the little ones in as the men made sure everything was locked up. Remi, Dane and Mark had shown up with their children and camped down with them. But what had really shocked Shelly was the fact that half of Bo’s den had joined them, surrounding the children, protecting them.
Shelly glanced to the tunnel that led aboveground on the north side. Something was close and it scared the crap out of her. She rubbed her arms as she sat down near Anna, noticing four of the puppies sitting at the closed doors leading to the tunnel, staring at the doors.
“How are we doing over here?” Bo asked, sitting next to her and pulling her into his lap.
“Did you see the puppies?” she asked Bo, who nodded.
“Dominic, Owen and Burr have joined Iceman and are searching the tunnel.” He hugged her tight. “You need to rest, Shelly. You carry two little ones in here,” Bo said as an infant screamed.
“Cecilia just delivered her son. Did you know even in the womb, the little guy insisted on coming out first to make sure it was okay? It seems even in the tummy you guys are bossy,” she teased, earning a giggle from Anna.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Bo growled and nipped her shoulder before turning his gaze on Anna. “And you, little princess, should be sleeping, just like your friend behind you.”
Anna glanced at the little girl named Julie. “She’s my best friend.” Anna frowned. “But she got hurt when she tried to stop them from taking me to that scary home.”
“I’m sorry, Anna, I didn’t know that,” Shelly said, frowning. “Bo?”
Argo laughed as he joined them in the corner, as did White Eagle and Buck. “So, we’re going to get another little girl?” Argo said, looking over at the sleeping child. “She needs to eat; she’s too skinny. As a matter of fact, both of them do.”
“Really? Julie can come home with us?” Anna asked, sitting up.
Bo moaned. “I think I’m going to need a shotgun,” he grumbled. “It’s up to you, Little Wolf. we have plenty of love to give out.”
“That we do. I love you guys. Yes, Anna, Julie can come home. I’ll speak with Darla in the morning, but you know Darla and her husband will need help since all the children are now under one roof. What do you think about having Carl’s wife and a few of the other females from the den helping out? They’ve been great tonight with the children, and I think it would help them focus on something.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. We’ll speak with them in the morning, but lie down, Little Wolf, and get some rest,” Bo said, curling up next to her, his gaze turning toward the tunnel. “Argo, wake me for my watch.”
Shelly sighed. It had started. She prayed that whatever happened next would happen quickly and that Gourd had found his mate as she closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted.
“Sleep and quit worrying. We’ll be fine,” Bo whispered to her, hugging her. Argo rubbed her back while he stayed awake, protecting her and their children.
While in her gut Shelly knew that this last battle was going to affect each and every one there, the real nightmare that Halloween was made for was about to settle upon them and there wasn’t a damn thing they could do except to fight. Yes, tonight was a night for comfort and for everyone to spend with their families.
* * *
“Eralony, you know they’re going to kill us on the spot, right?” his partner said as they moved through the tunnels of the underground city they had been told of.
“We both agreed that what we did to Valda was wrong. What our kind is doing to the human population is wrong. We have to inform them of their traitor. It’s the least we can do before we leave, now that we know our Valda has found her true mates.”
“That’s right, and I’m one of them,” said Burr, who had heard everything the creatures had said. He and Owen stepped out in front of the creatures while Dominic and Nikola behind their enemy.
“We mean you no harm. We just wanted to inform you of the traitor you had and warn you of the attack that is coming,” Eralony said.
“How do we know you won’t tell where we are? Or that you were sent here to destroy our home?” Owen said. “I say we fry them.”
“No, they’re telling the truth,” Iceman said, appearing in front of the creatures. “They wouldn’t have been allowed in here otherwise. I’m called Iceman, and this is Owen and Burr, Valda’s true mates. You can understand why they would be upset with you being here, not to mention what your presence will do to their woman.”
“My name is—”
“Bime,” Valda said, coming up behind them and pissing Burr off. He growled and pulled her behind them.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Owen told her.
“I needed this closed, and if they are speaking the truth, we need to know as much as possible, no matter how uncomfortable I am. That’s why you were searching last time you were here,” the woman of his heart said.
“Yes. I’m sorry to have to say this, but don’t trust the one you call your father. He is the one who told us about this planet and the other one. He’s working with Baneshadow, his brother by joining.”
Iceman hissed. “Are you sure? My brother’s mate is mated to Baneshadow’s sister?”
“They have four children already. He was hoping you would be mated to us, but we knew it wouldn’t work,” Bime said, and Burr struggled not to kill them where they stood.
“Where are you going to go now? They’ll know you were here eventually,” Valda asked.
“There is a planet we were welcomed on. We’ll settle there. We are the second generation. Our mothers were human, and even though we couldn’t do anything about their deaths, we can make sure we don’t allow that to happen to any other females,” Eralony said.
“How do we know you won’t expose us?” Owen asked.
“They won’t,” Nikola said. “I’m Nikola, and I know you know what I am. I’m afraid I’ll have to make sure you don’t remember your visit here, but I’ll make sure you head right toward your destination. That is the least we can do for you for coming to warn us. Can you give us a time frame or any other information?”
“Yes, but we can’t stay long. It would draw the others to you,” Bime said.
“Good, then come. We’ll talk and see that you are on your way safely without the others
of your kind knowing,” Iceman said, leading them through a door.
Owen turned and wrapped his arms around their mate, growling at her. Valda tilted her head to the side, hugging him. “I’m sorry, Owen. I just had to know something,” she said with tears in her voice.
“What was so important to risk your life, our lady love?” Burr asked before kissing her shoulder as Owen bit down on her neck.
“I needed to know my judgment wasn’t so screwed up in here.” Her watery eyes met his as she placed her hand over his heart.
“Baby,” Burr said, and he knew Owen and the others would forgive her. How could they not? All of their women had been hurt so badly that he didn’t know how they’d survived. “Love you, Valda. Let’s go home.”
He hoped their new world would survive the attack that was coming. Tomorrow they would learn what Iceman and the others had found out.
The war was at their front door, and he for one didn’t like the fact that his woman would be putting her life on the line to save them. Would these five women ever be safe? Or would threats follow them wherever they went?
An excerpt from Finding Hope
Book Ten of the Running in Fear Series
Chapter One
The Heliokiller scanned the ruins of downtown Winona, Minnesota, before lifting his nose to the air and sniffing. He was at least six feet long with the wings of a bat, boils covering grayish-yellow skin, and four eyes. Any creature would be terrified of this thing, but not Hope Catcher.
At 5’2”, Hope was small, but fierce. Since the age of 12, she’d learned the ways of the wild fast. These creatures had murdered both of her parents, and her instincts had taken over. No one had believed her story until these monsters had swarmed the cities, destroying the buildings and taking women, but by then it had been too late to stop them. Now Earth lay in ruins around her. A new wilderness had been born, more dangerous for any female.
No one was ready for this kind of destruction on their own turf, but Hope. She’d studied and hunted them day and night, preparing for the worst. Her home was a fortress against them. She’d placed traps all around in case they ever stepped foot near her place.
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