Chapter Four

Glass

It took me a second to process what Apollo had just said. Then I spun around to discover my brother struggling like fury as two men dragged him toward a car, the doors wide open. I flung the leather collar and bag to the floor in my desperation.

"Red!" I reached towards the screen as if I could get through the monitor and yank him to safety.

Crimson!

I bellowed her name through the link as Apollo bolted for the door, yelling for Maximus.

What's wrong, Glass?

Monsters are trying to abduct Red.

I broadcasted it to the town, but only Crimson's voice came through loud and clear.

Where is he?

I squinted at the screen. Behind the pumpkin patch, to the right of Stalk Street. I can see him on camera 3. There are—fuck—four monsters, maybe more. I can't see where they're coming from as a truck is blocking my view and they're trying to shove Red into a Toyota. I think it's a Camry.

I could just about make out the Toyota badge, but I wasn't sure on the model. Having never left Valentine, I'd no need of a car and knew very little about them.

"Where is he?" Apollo asked from the doorway.

I repeated the instructions to him, adding directions from here. The pride didn't know the town as well as we did.

I heard shouting from below, but I didn't pay any attention. My eyes remained glued to the struggling figure of my brother. I wanted to run to find him, but our orders were clear. Whoever was monitoring the screens didn't take their eyes away from the attack.

Even with the poor resolution, I could see Red looked terrified. Fear rushed through me.

"Come on, come on," I muttered. "Red, hit them and run!"

He was a big rhubarb and strong, too. I knew from experience. He could fight, but could he outstalk the monsters? He wasn't an alpha.

I never took my eyes off the monitor. Red wasn't going down without a fight. I cheered as he smacked one monster in the eye with a right hook. They wrestled him to the ground, and I flinched as the monster he had punched kicked him hard in the side.

Red curled up in agony. I didn't need to see his expression when I got a sudden burst of his pain as if it was my own.

"Bastard!" I shouted at the monitor, my fury matching my fear.

Red, help is on the way! I hoped he could hear me through our link.

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder, and Apollo was there, standing behind me, offering support.

"Maximus, Leonidis, and Gordon are on their way. The rest are coordinating roadblocks with your town so they can‘t leave with him."

"I should be with him," I said brokenly, hating that this was happening, and that I had no control.

"You're needed here," Apollo insisted, squeezing my shoulder.

"But—"

"Red needs you here. I need you here," he insisted, his voice firm. "I wouldn't have known where he was without having to look it up, which would have wasted time."

Despite my worry, comfort washed through me at my omega's touch. I leaned back and inhaled his scent, even as I watched the horror play out in front of me. I refused to even blink in case I missed anything. Apollo wrapped his arms around me, grounding me, his warm breath blowing across my ear.

"They've gotten him into the car," I growled in panic, my gaze following Red in amongst the monsters. "Where is everyone? Dammit all, they need to stop this."

If they got Red in the car…

I swallowed hard. Please, not my brother.

"Maximus is almost there," Apollo said soothingly, holding me so tight I could barely breathe, but I needed that strength.

I watched the screen, continuing not blinking as Red continued to put up a hell of a fight. He wasn't going down without a struggle. But there were more monsters, and they had height and weight on him, and I could see he was tiring.

"Almost isn't good enough," I snarled when it looked like Red was done for. "I'm going myself."

I sprang to my feet, forcing Apollo to let go, but before I could take a step, he grabbed my arm. "Look!"

I witnessed Maximus and Leonidis leap in front of the camera and drag the monsters off Red. They fled into their parked car when Tartie, Ricky, Tim, and five other stalks crowded around Red, protecting him. Gordon was the one to crouch and wrap his arms around Red, pulling him off the ground, supporting him. The car and truck with the monsters drove off so fast they didn't have time to shut all the doors as gravel kicked up behind them.

Red buried his face in the crook of Gordon's neck, clearly a mess after the beating he'd just taken.

"Why do they keep going for Red?" Apollo asked, as if the thought had just registered and popped out of his mouth.

"I've got no idea," I admitted, rubbing at the back of my neck. "He's a quiet stalk. He doesn't bother anyone."

It was all over in minutes, yet it felt like an eternity while I was watching. Now everyone on the street stood looking in the direction the vehicles had disappeared in.

I saw Crimson join them. Is Red okay?

Yes, he's safe, I'm sure the nice goat will take good care of him.

I breathed out, letting the tension go, knowing my brother was safe.

Apollo encouraged me to look away from the screen and brought me in close, holding me against him. I let him take my weight, needing comfort. We stayed like that for long minutes. When I raised my head and stared into his beautiful eyes, there was only one thing I wanted now, and he was holding me. "Mates?"

"Mates," Apollo agreed, his lips curving into a smile for the first time since we'd met.

I leaned forward, needing a taste of his full, plump lips.

"Put him down, Apollo," Burke said from the doorway.

Apollo lifted his head, but he didn't pull away from me, his gaze wide and intense. "No, I don't think I want to do that."

Shoving Burke to one side, Tim grinned at us. "You guys have finally pulled your leaves out of your roots. Well done."

I glowered at my younger brother, but then we hugged each other like we never did, and maybe crying a little, because our brother was safe.

"Where is Red?" I asked, when we'd calmed enough to think.

"Gordon took him to his bed to recover," Burke answered, looking a little perplexed.

Two stalks and a lion turned to stare at him.

He furrowed his brow. "What?"

"Gordon took Red to his bed?" I asked slowly.

"Yeah, he needed time in the soil to recover."

Red's bed. Oh… right!

I can't wait to have a chat with Red about that, Tim murmured in my head.

I grunted in agreement.

"Ricky and I can take over your shift," Burke suggested.

To my surprise, because I wanted to get my mate alone, Apollo shook his head. "You guys go. Glass and I can finish up here."

"If you're sure," Burke replied, one brow arched up as if Apollo should reconsider his answer.

Apollo shooed them out, and I was sure I heard ‘If you wanna be my rhubarb, custard is our friend,' through my mate's link.

Then the room was empty. It was just him and me, and Valentine was blessedly quiet.

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want to spend time with me?"

Apollo swallowed hard and pursed his lips. "I'd like… to see… what else you've got in your bag."