Chapter Nineteen

Jemma stayed at Caleb’s side, working side by side with Jensen to staunch the flow of blood. She could see Caleb’s bear healing him. His wounds looked better, and it made her wonder how close to death Caleb had actually been.

“His shoulder’s out of socket,” Jensen told her as he probed at the joint, pulling a groan from Caleb’s lips. “Sorry. This is going to hurt like a bitch, but it needs to be done before your bear tries to heal it the way it is.”

Jensen gave no further warning. He went from probing the joint to grabbing Caleb’s arm and moving it back into place.

“Fuck!” Caleb snarled, eyes squeezed tight.

“You’re welcome,” Jensen said. “Thigh’s getting better. Your father did this?”

“Fucking bastard,” Caleb snapped.

“You’re sounding better already.” Jemma noted he was able to put together words now. Not the pieces he’d been doing when she and Brock had first arrived.

Caleb blew out a shaky breath.

“I need to know what’s going on,” Jensen said. “My brothers are out there with the rest of the den. What are they facing?”

“Told me Titus killed Roco. To avenge my brother.”

“How would Titus Walker kill Roco?” Jensen challenged. “Titus was in Washington. Roco was here in Wyoming.”

Caleb flushed. “Didn’t think of that. Let my anger have control.”

“Not very smart,” Jensen informed him with a hard look. “You almost killed an innocent man.”

“I know. Matheus told me that last night,” Caleb conceded. “My father said he’d given them something to make them sleep.”

“He came to get you?” Jemma asked.

Caleb snorted. “He came to kill me, his weak son who’s such a disappointment. The one who should have died instead of Roco.”

“Why does he think Roco is dead?” Jensen probed.

Caleb closed his eyes, but this time, Jemma thought it was to lock away his emotions.

“Because he killed him.”

“What?” she exclaimed.

“Why?” Jensen asked.

“I don’t know,” Caleb admitted. “I attacked him before he could tell me.”

“You attacked him?” Jemma gave a pointed look at Caleb’s healing wounds.

“Forgot I couldn’t shift. Bastard didn’t have the same problem. Took his bear form and tried his best to kill me.” He blew out another breath, gingerly moving his leg. “I thought he had.”

“We’re missing something,” Jensen warned. “Why would he kill Roco? And how? Roco was an enforcer under my dad. I can’t see him being caught unaware.”

“I don’t know,” Caleb said again as he tried to stand. His leg gave out underneath him and started bleeding again.

“Sit still and don’t be stupid,” Jensen ordered. “Think. What was going on right before your brother went missing?”

“Dad was gone a lot. I teased him about it. Asked if he was sneaking off to meet someone. He was pissed. Hit me so hard he broke my nose. Roco intervened. Warned dad to keep his hands off me.”

“Where was your dad going?” Jensen pressed.

Caleb shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Did Roco try to find out who he was meeting?” Jensen continued, questioning him.

“He didn’t say but probably,” Caleb offered.

“Was this before or after Matthew Holloway was murdered?” Jemma asked, and both men snapped their gazes to her.

“Before,” Caleb whispered.

“What would your father gain from the death the alpha?” Jemma demanded, because Matthew Holloway had been the alpha at that time.

Caleb shook his head again, but she could tell by his expression he was thinking. “He wanted Roco home. Wanted him to mate and start a family. Roco wanted to be here with the Holloways. With Laramie and Koby and the other enforcers. He respected your dad,” he told Jensen. “Wanted to be like him. My dad said the alpha had stolen his son.”

“What if he knew what Lawrence planned to do? What if he helped in some way?” Jemma hated what she was thinking. It meant there was another traitor amongst them. She couldn’t fathom betraying a member of her den. “Do you think it’s possible Roco followed them and tried to intervene?”

“God.” All the color that had just returned to Caleb’s face leached away.

“Jensen, I can’t reach Brock.” She’d connected with him earlier. Why wasn’t it working now?

“You were both shifted. Your bond is still forming. It’s not as strong when only one of you is shifted. It’s better right now when you’re both shifted or both not.” He clasped her shoulder when she went to stand. “Let me reach them.”

He sat still for a moment then growled.

“What’s wrong?” Jemma asked.

“We’re under attack again,” Jensen snarled. “I need to go.” He stood, pacing as growls fell from his lips. “I can’t leave Matheus and Milo here unconscious or Caleb still injured and unable to shift.” He glanced at Jemma. “My brother may kill me, but I need you to shift and get to them as quickly as you can. Brock might have warned them about Oaks, but they don’t know the things we do.”

She nodded, already heading toward the hallway.

“Jemma,” Jensen called. “Stay safe, little sister.”

She knew it hadn’t been an easy choice for Jensen to ask her to go. She figured he’d weighed the pros and cons of leaving her alone with the wounded or sending her into battle. Most likely, he assumed she’d be safer surrounded by the den than alone and essentially on her own.

She hit the porch at a run, shifting mid-step, a skill she’d only recently mastered, paws flying across the earth as she locked on to her mate and made for him.

Jemma!

I’m on my way! Do you see Oaks?

He’s here.

Don’t let him out of your sight, Brock. We think he plotted with Lawrence to kill your father, and Roco got killed trying to stop it.

His pulse of anger saturated their bond and added a burst of speed as she drew closer to him. His roar filled the air, echoing along their connection until she felt it in her bones. It rattled her enough she didn’t notice the first hunter who charged her. A big brown bear cut the man off and took him to the ground, the hunter’s scream ending instantly. She wasn’t sure how she knew it was Titus Walker, but she did. He moved instantly to her side, staying with her as she worked her way toward where it appeared the heaviest fighting took place. She found Brock first, saw him attack another bear who had to be Caleb and Roco’s father before they were separated by those waging battle around them. She headed directly for them with Titus sticking close to her.

She wasn’t sure where he’d come from, but she realized he was just joining the fray, as well. They took out two more hunters as they worked their way to where Brock and his brothers were engaged. A huge black bear was with them. Jemma would bet anything it was Malachai. She knew both Jaeda and her twin, Sidia, were black bears. She’d never seen Xandra shift but figured all the Blackstone siblings would shift into the same type of bear.

Adrenaline flooded Jemma as she fought. She was determined the blood covering her during this attack wouldn’t be hers. She wasn’t alone this time. She had her mate and den beside her. Protecting her as she protected them. She lost track of Brock a few times, but she felt him, knew he was unharmed, though the rage within him hadn’t diminished. She didn’t expect it to.

She wasn’t sure how long the skirmish lasted. Minutes or hours. All she knew was they were all standing while the bodies of those who’d attacked them bled into the ground around them. Laramie roared, and the den echoed it. It was an alpha’s call. One of triumph. Yet, it was followed by another bellow as Laramie’s Kodiak grizzly charged toward the bear Brock circled. Laramie reared up on his hind legs then came down, claws slashing at who had to be Oaks, tearing through fur and leaving bloody gashes in his wake. As he roared his anguish for all to hear, Brock attacked, slashing Oaks across his back. Another grizzly moved in, then another, until Jemma realized at some point both Jensen and Matheus must have joined the fray. The brothers didn’t stop until there was nothing but a shredded mess strewn across the ground. She wasn’t sure how Matheus had regained consciousness, but she was glad he had. She hoped the two of them being present meant Milo and Caleb were nearby, as well.

Almost as one they shifted. Jemma followed suit, running for her mate, feeling his pain and needing to offer him any comfort she could. Brock caught her to his chest and held her tight. She wrapped around him, squeezing back while she poured her love for him through their bond. Slowly, the rest of the den shifted back to human. She knew they all felt the alpha’s pain, though she doubted they were aware of the cause yet. Laramie gave another roar that had everyone going to their knees as they stared at him.

“Today, we are robbed of justice. Lawrence Walker was attacked when his guard was pulled away by those who invaded our home. He’s dead. His blood spilled by another.”

Roars of denial filled the air.

“Today, we are hit with the truth that another traitor slithered among us,” Laramie continued. “Clancy Oaks betrayed us. Not only did he play a role in the murder of my father, our former alpha Matthew Holloway, but he killed his own son, Roco, and tried to do the same with Caleb.”

Stunned silence descended over them. She wasn’t sure how Laramie knew all of that, but there was no doubt in his voice. It was obvious they’d discovered more after she’d left. She knew her mate would fill her in later. For now, all she wanted was to hold him, feel his breath on her skin, his heartbeat against hers. To know he was alive and they’d survived another attempt to take out the den.

“I love you,” she whispered in his ear. Brock turned his head and caught her lips with his, showing her how much he loved her with every kiss.