Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Nathan

I didn’t hear what Aiden was hearing, but his senses were better than mine. I waited, poised to take action, until the sound of the helicopter finally got close enough for me to hear it. I felt conflicted about letting them get closer. On the one hand, I wanted Finch and his buddies to face the consequences of what they’d done. On the other, I wanted to deal with them myself. They were the reason I was broken. They put my family at risk. They deserved to die for that.

Aiden’s gaze shifted to me, his expression soft and reassuring. “It’s not your job anymore, Nathan. You aren’t the killing machine they tried to make you to be.”

That made me hesitate. I never wanted to be like this. I joined the military to help people, not hurt them. With some therapy, I could’ve gotten over my time before joining the enforcement unit. Taking lives wasn’t easy, but I was protecting people. I was keeping innocents safe. It was only when they made me into a killer that I broke. I didn't have to be the one to do it anymore.

Relief swept through me, surprising me. I didn’t realize how much I didn't want to go through with this. I would, to protect Runa and my cub, but I didn’t look forward to it. These men used to be my unit. My brothers in arms. I didn’t want to be the one to take their lives. Even if they were the ones who broke mine.

Finch shook his head rapidly. “No. We didn’t do anything wrong. We’re doing our jobs!”

“If that’s true, then the enforcement team will see that for what it is. But given the look on your face, I don’t think you believe that for yourself. Do you?”

The energy of the unit changed as the team realized how far they’d gone to reach this point. Weapons lowered and they glanced at each other for confirmation that what they were doing was right. None of them could make that assertion alone.

“No!” Finch screamed as the helicopter came into view. “We’re the good guys! We’re protecting people!” He swung around, baring his teeth at me. “I’ve been watching you! You’re paranoid and a risk to our people! You know you should be put down! That’s why you ran!”

Taking back my skin, I stood and faced him head on. “I didn't run. I left to make a better life for my family. I moved away from the city so I could get better away from people.”

Oakley’s brows snapped together. “You did?”

I could hear the accusation in his tone. He wanted to know if it was working. He should’ve known the answer to that already. If it wasn’t, he would’ve already been dead for coming anywhere near my mate.

The wind rustled as the helicopter hovered over our heads. Beckett’s voice echoed as he shouted, “Stand down! That’s an order!”

The four who had been ready to follow that order froze when Finch countered with an alpha order of his own. “No! Take out the problem shifters! They’re trying to turn us against each other!”

My shift was immediate and I barreled forward, knocking into the guys closest to me. Ignoring an alpha order was almost impossible, and I didn’t want to give them a chance to hurt the people who actually had my back.

A shot rang out and my heart stuttered, but an explosion of power tossed us before I could figure out if someone was hurt. Jackson came out of nowhere, knocking me away from the guys I’d attacked and nudging me hard toward the forest. I didn’t understand why until Aiden expanded and a series of pops filled the air. He was shifting and we were way too damn close. Once Jackson knew he had my attention, I hurried after him into the safety of the trees, watching in fascination as a red dragon filled the clearing and roared so loud, I thought I’d go deaf.

A team of enforcers rappeled from the helicopter, going straight for the unit frozen under Aiden’s intense gaze. From the clicking sound coming from him, I would bet good money he was seconds from burning them all to a crisp.

Only Finch fought the enforcement team as they were handcuffed and dragged away. He kept screaming about how he was doing the right thing and how I was dangerous. He had to be sedated to get him to the helicopter, and they couldn’t land until Aiden shifted back.

We joined Aiden when the last of Finch’s team was strapped into their seats on the helicopter. Beckett jogged over, shaking hands with Aiden.

“Thanks for calling. I know you could’ve handled it differently, but it would’ve been a hell of lot of trouble if you did.”

Aiden’s gaze flicked to me, then back to Beckett. “We only put down those who are truly a threat to our people. The subordinates stood down and saw reason. Only their alpha demanded more.”

Beckett scowled, dominance and irritation coming off him in waves. “This is why we don’t allow unit members to swear fealty. They need to be able to think clearly no matter the situation. Being ordered to fight in a situation that doesn’t call for it is dangerous.” He sighed, shaking his head. “We’ll handle them. They’ll go to the institution for now and we’ll see if we can break that bond before treatment. So long as Finch thinks he’s right, he’ll continue to taint his crew.”

He glanced at me and frowned. “I’m sorry to say there will need to be an investigation. I heard you were let go from the unit, but they put in the paperwork to deem you unstable. An evaluation will be necessary to clear your record.”

Aiden didn’t look happy about it, but I answered honestly. “No need. They’re right. I was erratic and paranoid. Still am, sometimes. I’m working on it. I don’t deny that I belong on that list, but the difference is that some shifters can get better. I want to get better.”

Beckett’s frown softened and he nodded. “That’s good. The eval will give us an idea of how best to do that. Thanks for your honesty, Nathan. I’ll be in contact after I handle this lot.”

Aiden stayed to give his statement on what happened, but I’d been away from Runa for too long. When the crew said they were going back, I joined them. I needed to get home to my mate.

When Runa wasn’t where I’d left her, I almost panicked. My automatic assumption was that the crew had been right and Finch’s team had split up to come after her. Dad needed to talk me down while leading me through the trees to a clearing with a lake in the middle. And in the water was Runa, coaching a lioness shifter through her birth. She wasn’t alone, the whole crew was there, including the other woman who had given birth the same day. She stood watching with a strained expression while her mate cuddled their newborn in his arm. The whole crew watched as Runa spoke low and quiet and the mother screamed from the effort.

Taking in my mate’s appearance, I frowned. She looked exhausted, and I wasn’t sure if it was water or sweat that beaded at her temples. The wind rustled, nudging me closer, and when I stepped into the water, it felt like I was being pulled in by the tide.

“Nate?” Dad called me back. I ignored him. Runa needed help. Martha said being near her mate helped. I needed to help her.

Sinking to my knees behind Runa, I kept my eyes averted from the parents, wrapping myself around Runa’s back. With my forehead pressed against the back of her neck, I took deep breaths, wishing I could give her my strength and energy to support her better.

Runa took a deep breath, surprised. “Nathan…”

“I’m here. Keep going,” I murmured.

She hummed and started chanting again, calling the spirits to help her. I felt the energy draining from her, doing her best to help the mother get through the hard part, but with my help, it wasn’t so intense. It eased into a slow trickle, and the tension in her back dissolved a little.

“That’s it. A few more pushes. You can do this,” she encouraged.

Not alone, she couldn’t. Runa wasn’t the only one who was exhausted. I could hear it in her breathing. And her mate wasn’t doing much better. I lifted my head, looking over toward the group standing on the shoreline. Slowly, one by one, they stepped into the water, surrounding the couple and me and Runa. For once, my tiger didn’t protest the crowd, and when hands touched my shoulders, I didn’t flinch.

Runa’s voice steadied and the slight tremble in her hand settled. All three breathed a little easier thanks to the crew’s support. And with one last scream, the baby was born. Runa pulled the little thing from the water, settling it on it’s mother’s chest, and put her hand against its back.

“Breathe,” she whispered.

It felt like the world went quiet for a moment as we all waited. Runa’s body twitched, like she was fighting to keep herself from using more magic than she’d already given. But before I could tell her no, the baby took a deep breath and cried out, wailing into the quiet night air.

The group as a whole let out a breath and Runa’s shoulder’s slumped. She leaned back against me while the crew offered words of support and congratulations to the couple. Pulling her a little closer, I murmured in her ear. “Good job.”

I heard the smile in her voice when she replied. “I think that’s the first time someone has said that to me since my family left this world.” She turned in my arms, resting her forehead against mine. “Thank you, Nathan. You’re a good mate.”