While everyone settles in again, Saint finally approaches Kas. “There’s my guy.” Kas holds out her hand for Saint to sniff. He bypasses the gesture completely and sets his head in her lap. “Something’s wrong with her. Can you feel how scared she is?” Saint whines to me. “I can feel it. I’m not sure why, though. Just follow what the Doc said. Be patient. She might change her mind and if she does, it’s okay to step back and give her space.” I calm him before he gets too worked up. Saint’s worry eases when Kas removes one of her mittens and runs her fingers through the collar of thick fur around his neck. Even without a mate bond, just feeling her close is a relief. “Saint, I have a lot to talk to Bronx about. Not right now, but I’m sure he’s listening. We need to figure out a time in the next few weeks. For now, could you just sit close and stay on guard for me? Just… um, just in case.” Saint takes his place at her side and watches as Delilah turns the sky turn into a beautiful s
I take the newly minted Swagga to the storage hut where the cupboard is, so we can shift and put on fresh clothes. When we get back to the clearing, the crowds are thinning. The pack members who see me greet me with handshakes and introduce themselves to Klay. Codi stops playing with sticks on the ground when sees me and runs over so I can pick her up. I lift her high in the air, making her giggle, then give her a raspberry on the cheek. “My Codi girl! Uncle Bronx has missed you. Have you been behaving for your daddy?” Codi hugs me around the neck and nods against my cheek. “Uncle Bonx, what? I haf a kitty now.” “Oh, you do? That’s awesome.” I smile and look at Klay out of the corner of my eye. “What’s your kitty’s name?” “He a tiger and he dis big!” Her eyes go big as she spreads her arms out as wide as she can. Behind her, Klay gives a silent chuckle, “And he let Codi give him a big hug!” “I’m happy you made a friend, Codi, but you didn’t tell me his name.” I raise my eyebrows
“I just need to check on Kas first.” I look down the road at Milo’s tail lights. “It won’t take long.”“Alpha Regent Bronx Mason, I saw what happened. Are you alright?” Delilah’s thick French accent comes from beside me. She approaches slowly, holding her enormous belly, tentative to get too close.“I’m fine, Delilah. Thank you. We're going down the hill so I can get checked out now. I’m more worried about Kas. I don’t know what happened.” I look at her stiff posture and remember that I haven’t seen her in months. I put her under house arrest, but even after I pardoned her, I didn’t have time to speak with her because I went to rehab. “Reaper just went to shift. James can give you a ride if a couple of you will sit in the bed of his truck?” Delilah tries to grin at me, but she looks distracted.“That would be much appreciated, Ms. Delilah… Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t know your last name.” Arrow holds out his hand.“Just Delilah is fine.” She nods politely, but does not shake his hand in r
Saint’s POVHe’s really gone off the deep end. This squirrely bastard went to rehab to get his mind right. Instead, he went insane. He’s hearing voices. I’m not talking about my voice. He always hears me. There’s nothing else there… well, maybe a few dust bunnies.“The Doc is going to die if we don’t do something, so unless you have a better idea, fucking BLOCK ME!” Bronx barks at me.“Fuck my life.” I shake my head. I don’t want to be stuck in his body’s form, but I don’t have a better idea. “Fine. Nighty night, Bronxy.”I grip my claws into his consciousness and yank as hard as I can. It’s almost impossible at first, like I’m trying to pull on two minds. It’s never felt like that before. I dig my claws in and pull harder. It feels like something cracks loose and I’m able to shove him in the little box in my brain. The feeling of pushing forward is different now that he isn’t there.When I am in control, I let go of her neck and hold my hands up in surrender. In the thirty seconds it
“Saint, are you out of your mind?!” Milo’s eyes bug out of his head while he yells at me in Bronx’s office.“First of all, watch your fucking tone, Milo. I’m not Bronx and even if I were, things are different now. Show some Goddess damned respect to your Alpha or get the fuck out.” I let the growl rumble. “And no, it’s the only idea I could think of. If you have any better ideas, we’re all ears.”“She killed Lenora. You’re all okay with this? Bringing her back here again?” Milo looks around the room at Reggie, Ashley, Arrow, Psyche, Klay, and Musu. “You told Bronx what happened was an accident. Have you changed your mind? Because we just spent, like… two fucking months at Doctor Khe’s ranch trying to accept that it really was.” I cross my arms and stare him down. “She will do anything to keep Kas safe.”“Will she though? Why do you think that? And what about the rest of us?” Milo looks at his feet.“I think that because she loves Kas more than her own mother. Kas has spent centuries
Kas’s POV“Get away from that filthy beast, Iokaste!” I can practically still hear her words ringing. “He’s not worthy of your admiration!”It felt like she was trying to take over my body, but I remembered what Lex had told me. I’m stronger than her. I could fight her off, but doing that made it feel like I got struck by lightning. It seemed like the electricity hit Bronx too. I hope he’s okay. No one would tell me if he was or not. The pain faded before we made it to the packhouse. After a few questions and a hurried exam, the doctors told Milo and Ashley to bring me upstairs because other emergency cases were coming in. It’s a relief for everyone’s attention to be on pack members who need it more than I do.“Kas, Tyree mindlinked and said he’s on the way. That guy Arrow is bringing Delilah. Something happened to her. Tyree is bringing Bronx cause he got sick after we left too. I don’t know what kind of attack this could be if it got through the wards Delilah put up earlier today.”
Saint holds Maya closer and leans down to take in her scent. He looks at her in awe, but speaks to me. “They said I’m not allowed to touch you. Just in case it happens again.”“Okay. Um, you can sit in the chair. I’ll stay on the loveseat. I’ll bring the bottle for you.”Saint looks around the room. “Bottle?”“Yeah. Since I was sick when they were born, I’m not able to feed them with my milk.” I tilt my head to the side and watch him try to understand. “So they have a formula I prepare and give them in a baby bottle.”“Show me how… Please.”“Show you, what?” I suppress a smile. “How to prepare the bottle of food?”“Yeah. You can show me so I know how to do it.” He stands a little taller. “I can help since I don’t know when I’ll be able to unblock Bronx.”I look at Saint’s expression. I can’t tell if he’s overwhelmed or irritated. Maybe both? I’m happy he wants to help, though.“Alright.” I pick Dre up and cradle him in my arm, then lead Saint to the kitchenette to show him how to prep
“Oh, Delilah, he’s just perfect!” I coo at the newborn in her arms. Alexander looks up at me with his little grumpy face. His amber eyes shine in the soft lights of the room. I shake my head when I touch his balled up hand. His energy feels serious and commanding. I can already tell he will be just like James and demand excellence in everything he does and from those around him. He and Inez are going to make a formidable couple. “Except for his eyes, he looks just like James. I’m so happy for the three of you.”“Thank you, mon ami. We were wondering what color his eyes would be since he is a hybrid, but it really doesn’t matter. I can use glamor when we are in public until he can do it himself. Then he can decide how he wants to present himself to the world.” She looks tired, but happy, as she admires her son. “You know, I never thought I would say I’m grateful for Leticia, but things could have been terrible if she had not put up wards to protect the packhouse. She came to see me thi