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Theo
I hate leaving Tristan and Rebby injured and alone, but I have to make sure everything is under control. I have no idea when my brother will be able to leave the Reserve to join us here. I yawn as I walk down the steps. Every light is on in the house, but the sun is just starting to brighten the sky.
“There you are!” A growl punctuates the deep voice and I have to stop from rolling my eyes as the two shifters assigned to guard Tristan and I walk up the steps. “You were told to stay with us.”
“Sorry. The door shut and then a tunnel opened. We smelled Rebby and our wolves took over.” I continue down the stairs. “I’m assuming the fight is over and the compound is secure?” If not I might have their heads for acting so nonchalant. I might report them to Bane, anyway, just because they grate on me.
“Yes, though a helicopter left before we could take it down. Bane and the van arrived not long ago.” The other man says. “He wants to speak with you.”
I nod. “Let’s find him then.” Entering the main hall, I see one of the shifters from our pack. “Hey, Jessie! Can you find some water bottles and food and run them up to Tristan? Enough for two shifters. He was shot and is resting in the first room on the right of the stairs.”
“Sure, Theo. I’ll do that right now.” Jessie heads towards the back of the house to do as I asked. Knowing that Tristan and Rebby will be cared for, I can focus on what needs to be done here.
Nathan leads me outside to where Bane stands in the middle of the compound near his van. “Bane, we found him.”
Bane turns to level his gaze on me. “I thought I told you to stay with your guards.”
I shrug, not looking away from him, a power play in action. “Things happen. Get over it. Now what are we looking at? How many injured? How many lab shifters are there?”
Bane glares at me a few more minutes, then looks down at his tablet. “Our losses were much fewer than theirs. Team one is all accounted for with two injured- bullets to arms and legs. Nothing life threatening. They took out four hostiles in the compound center.
“Team two is all accounted for with no losses. They took out three hostiles that were in the lab. Team three had one loss and took out seven hostiles. Team four and five had one loss and took out another seven hostiles.
“In what is being called the zoo, we found forty-three captive shifters. The Master, Arlin and his daughter got away. We were able to find one lab technician to interrogate. He is being held captive in the cells at the bottom of the lab until we figure out what approach to take.”
“Have you heard from James? Reported in to him?” I ask.
“Yes. He will be here in three hours. He is bringing some of the Nerds to start pouring through the data here.”
“And the captive shifters, what has happened with them?” The compound is full of people moving around, but they appear to either be from my pack or the Elite.
Bane clears his throat. “Well, we left them in the zoo, contained. We don’t know if they are all friendly. Some might have volunteered, then not changed how they wanted to. How do we know if we are letting someone out who would cause problems?”
I growl, “Come! They are people not animals.” I stalk toward the building we had identified as the zoo. Walking in the main door is horrible. A small entryway leads into a wide hall with cage after cage of shifters, all in their human forms. They pound on the glass, yelling at us. Some of them have taken blankets and tied them around their bodies. “How do we get them out?”
“Each door has to be opened individually. There is a hallway along the back of the building.” Bane says, hands behind his back. “I have to advise- ”
“No! You did your job, now it is time for me to do mine,” I growl. I see Nathan and Sean behind Bane. “Bane, please inform your men the lab shifters may have the use of all the property, but may not leave. I want a guard on the gates and the basement entry. Sean and Nathan, I want these men and women out of these cages and out in the fresh air immediately.”
I watch as the men rush to do my bidding. I greet each person as they emerge from the doors on either side of the small entryway, reassuring them that they are safe, and we will help them. When the final shifter is let out, I breathe a sigh of relief. Turning, I head back to check on Tristan and Rebby.
It takes at least fifteen minutes to make it to them. Everyone seems to have a question for me. Is this what James deals with on a daily basis?
I can’t hear them talking, just the slow beats of their hearts, and breathing. Quietly, I push the door open and have to smile. Tristan is on his side of the bed, lying flat on his back. Rebby has curled into him, one leg slung over his hip, her hand on his chest. Tristan’s arm holds her close as they both sleep.
Yawning, I realize that it is seven in the morning and I haven’t slept. I glance at the small couch that is in the corner of the room and turn away. I could barely fit my body on that little thing. Instead, I curl up behind Rebby, spooning her. I’m too tired to even have the toddler in my pants come to life at the feel of soft female ass against it.