Chapter 14

The kids were up and dressed, but tired and cranky. Alvin shushed them and tried to get them downstairs when he heard a creak. He stopped and listened, then heard it again. His heart beat rapidly in his chest, sweat broke out over his skin, and he reached out to Eli, uncertain if could respond due to fighting their enemy.

Eli? Please tell me you're downstairs.

What?

There's someone in the house. I'm just about to leave with the kids, and there is someone downstairs. It isn't you, is it?

No. I can't get there. Hide, Alvin. Hide.

Alvin gasped, then slapped a hand over his mouth. He ushered the kids into the back bedroom and closed the door. "Alison, help me push the bed. We need to be quiet."

Alison's bottom lip quivered, but she nodded. It was a single bed, so they pushed up over the carpet, which Alvin was more than grateful for since it muffled the sound. When another sound reached his ears, he held his hand up. There, on the stairs. Whoever was in their house was searching for them.

Alvin spun in a circle, searching for a weapon when he remembered. The man who was supposed to be their father had a double-barreled shotgun in the attic. Rushing over to the closet, he opened it and looked up, seeing the hatch.

"Here," he whispered. Moving the small ladder he used to access the attic, Alvin stood on it and opened the hatch.

"It's dark," Alison whispered.

Alvin could hear the tremor in her voice and held his hand out to her. "I'll be with you. You get up first, then I can pass the twins to you and then I'll be right up after."

Helping Alison into the attic, Alvin passed her the twins, grateful they were being quiet for once. Maybe they could sense the danger closing in on them the same as Alvin. He could feel it in the air, the hairs on his neck standing on end, his senses heightened.

Once they were in the attic, Alvin pulled the small ladder up—not an easy task, as he had to bend over the edge and drag it up. Once it was up, Alvin slowly closed the hatch and pulled out his phone, switching the light on. He searched the attic until he found the chest that had been placed up there years ago for storage. He crawled over to it, then pushed it over to the hatch. Once it covered the hatch, Alvin searched for the gun.

He knew it was up here somewhere, along with the cartridges it used. It had been locked away, but Alvin was certain he would be able to use it if he had to. His dad had thankfully given him lessons when he was younger. Searching, he found the gun cabinet and scurried over to it.

I'm in the attic with the kids. I have my dad's old gun.

Don't engage anyone or anything.

I won't.

I'll be there as soon as I can.

Eli! I love you too.

Stay safe, mate.

Alvin broke off contact when he heard a door hit a wall. Straining to hear, Alvin held his breath and pulled the shotgun out of the cabinet and found the box full of cartridges. He had no idea how long they had been in there for, but he only needed one shot.

Loading the gun, he crawled back over to the kids and urged them behind him. No matter what came at them, they would have to get through him to hurt the kids. The doors to the closet opened, and the gun in Alvin's hand trembled.

He tried to regulate his breathing, but he struggled. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck. His skin was itchy, and he jumped when he heard a strange chuckling sound drift up from below. Why would whoever was down there be laughing?

I think whoever is here is insane.

What?

I can hear laughing.

Alvin. Do not let that thing into the attic. It will kill all of you.

Alvin swallowed, his breath catching, chest tightening. It's one of those creatures.

Sounds like giggling or chuckling, and your skin feels like something is crawling over it.

I'm scared.

I'm coming for you. Just hold on a little longer.

No. Protect Morefield.

You are my mate. You are my family. You and the kids come first.

Something hard it the hatch, and Alvin jumped. He crawled over to the chest and sat on it, feeling it move up slightly when hit from beneath. The kids cried out, and Alvin lifted a finger to his lips and shook his head. The chuckling sound came again, and Alvin bit his lip to stop from crying out. He scrambled to keep hold of the gun, his hands clammy.

"You can do this. You can do this," he whispered to himself like a chant. "You can do this."

The hatch moved up an inch or so it felt, then dropped down again. Alvin whimpered and chanted to himself again. His hands moved on the gun, and he wiped one, then the other on his jeans. Closing his eyes, Alvin tried to breathe normally, but it didn't help.

The hatch moved again, the thud of impact from beneath it loud, and the kids screamed. The chuckle sounded again, followed by another thud on the hatch. Blinking his eyes, Alvin ignored the tears that fell. He blinked again, trying to clear them when the hatch lifted a good three inches next time it was hit.

Whimpering, Alvin checked the gun, making sure it was ready to be fired should he need it. His body shook, constant tremors shaking it. His legs felt weak, and he shuffled on the hatch. Fuck, he was terrified, but he wouldn't let that stop him from protecting his family.

Almost there.

It's found us. It's trying to get into the attic.

Aim for the eyes if it gets through.

Hurry!

I'm coming for you. Hold on a little longer.

Alvin gasped when the hatch rose, and the kids screamed, pointing beneath it. Alvin tried to jump on the chest, hoping the shock would make the thing let go, and eventually, it closed. He wouldn't be able to keep the thing out for much longer.

Muffled shouts, then the sounds of gunshot reached Alvin, and he lowered his head, sobbing softly. He didn't move though, and was glad he didn't when a loud pitched screech sounded. Wincing, Alvin jumped when more thuds and grunts and gunshots came from below.

Then there was silence.

Alvin, open the hatch.

It's dead?

Yeah, it is.

Alvin scrambled off the chest and shoved it off the hatch, then lifted it, peering down into the eyes of his mate. He cried out and reached a hand down, which Eli took. "I… ladder." He crawled over to the ladder and dragged it back, then gave it to Eli. Once Eli took it, he beckoned the kids over. "Eli's here. We're safe."

Once the kids were down, Alvin followed and fell into Eli's arms. He buried his face in his mate's shoulder as Eli's arms held him tight. "I can't stay. Get everyone in your car and go to the community center. You'll be safe there."

Eli picked the twins up, and Alvin took Alison's hand. He gasped when he saw the dead creature. He covered Alison's eyes as he guided her out of the bedroom and ran downstairs. Once outside the house, he could hear shouts and cries, gunshots, and explosions. "Eli?"

"Full on attack. I have to go back and help."

"Be careful. I love you."

Eli kissed him. "I love you too." Eli helped him strap the kids in, then kissed him again. "Go." He tapped his head. "Let me know when you're safe." Another explosion lit up the night sky, and Eli pushed Alvin to the car. "Go," he shouted.

Alvin jumped in and drove away, one eye on the rearview mirror, watching Eli leave. He drove through the streets until he reached the Village center and found cars parked everywhere. He found a spot and parked, then hopped out and grabbed the kids.

"Alison, run to the community center. I'll be right behind you with the twins." Alvin dragged them out of their seats and carried Sylvie on his hip. She was the slower of the two, and he took Slater's hand in his and fast walked, slow jogged with him. The center was up ahead, lights blaring inside and all around it, and Alvin could see men guarding it. He didn't recognize them, but as he approached, one saw him, ran to them, and picked Slater up.

"Let's get you inside."

The door opened ahead of him, and he was ushered inside, along with Alison and Slater, and the door shut and locked. A guard inside moved furniture in front of the door, and Alvin turned, seeing mostly families and children inside. He craned his neck, searching for someone he knew and saw Rush in a corner, cradling his twin girls.

Moving around people, Alvin guided the twins and Alison to Rush and sat next to him. "Who are they?"

"New shifters. Moved here last week, but they hadn't been put to work. Deac likes to give them a week or so to get settled."

Rush hadn't turned to face him, so Alvin looked over at what had Rush's attention. A man, tall and broad, who kept looking back at him. "Shit," Rush muttered.

"What? Who is he?"

"Nah, not who, but what."

"Huh?"

"Demon. Some of the guards inside and out are demons. Indy's mate sent them over, and the one over there took one look at me and did the whole ‘mate' thing."

"He's your mate?" Alvin squinted at the man…er…demon, not seeing anything demon-like. "He looks normal."

"Yeah, he is, and yeah, they do until they shift. Not seen it happen, but I've heard some whispers." Rush soothed one of the twins, rocking her in his arms. "I'm worried." The demon turned and looked at them, and Alvin was certain he'd heard Rush. "He's looking again. Damn."

"If he's your mate, he will look. Shifters, vampires, demons all want their mate. It's something we dream about."

"Nice hickey."

Alvin's face heated, but he smiled. I'm here, safe inside the community hall.

We almost have things under control. Stay there until I come to you.

I will. Love you.

Love you too.

He tapped his head. "I like that we can talk this way. Eli said they have the situation under control."

Rush bit his lip. "But at what cost?"

Alvin shook his head. "I don't know." He hoped they hadn't lost any people, but he knew realistically they wouldn't survive this unscathed. There would be casualties. It was a question of how many and if any had died.

"When will we find out?"

"When the shooting stops." From where they were, they could still hear the distant sounds of gunfire and explosions. They were lessening, which Alvin hoped was a good sign, but he wouldn't feel confident until his mate told him. "What's his name?"

"Who?" Rush furrowed his brow, then his eyes widened. "Oh, you mean him. Said it was Raden or Rayden or something. I wasn't paying attention. The girls were crying."

"He knows they're yours?"

"He asked, so I answered."

Sylvie burrowed into Alvin's side, and he reached over, picking her and cuddling her. Slater was on Alison's lap, and she was leaning on Alvin. He lifted his arm and wrapped it over her shoulders. "We'll be home soon." Remembering the condition his house was in, he added, "Or we can stay at Eli's house."

"Monster."

"Eli took care of the monster. We're safe."

Rush nudged him and mouthed, ‘monster?'

"One of those creatures was inside my house, trying to get to us. Eli came just in time."

"I wonder if it caught your scent on him and then came for you."

"How would it know where I live?"

"They've been watching us, so they'll know that you're important to him, and then one scented you on him." Rush shrugged. "I could be talking shit too."

"Or not, but it doesn't matter." Alvin closed his eyes. "I just want this to all be over with. Some days, I wish I'd never been born a shifter, but then I wouldn't have my family or Eli."

"You shouldn't be targeted for who or what you are, and I know they'll stop these people. They wouldn't be attacking like this if we weren't causing them damage."

Alvin nodded and leaned his head back against the wall. One day, this would all be over. He hoped that day was soon.