Devin followed Lena down the hall, but gently grasped her wrist before she reached the entryway. He stepped in front of her and flung open the door. A steady, cold rain fell, the wind whipping through the yard. Unfazed by the storm, Dante and Xander walked naked across the yard. The sight of them alone meant only one thing.
They’d lost another female.
Lena shoved a pile of clothes at him. He took the sweats and tossed them onto the porch. She tried to squeeze past him, but he tucked her, face first, against his chest so she couldn’t see the other males’ nakedness.
“Can’t breathe,” her muffled voice called out.
He eased his hold and slid his hand into Lena’s hair to hold her still until both males were covered.
Dante stepped next to them and pulled Lena from his arms. Devin offered no resistance.
With Dante’s short black hair, hard black eyes, and harsh expression, Dante looked every ounce the predator he was, yet the gentle way he enfolded Lena in his arms showed the side of his personality he reserved for family. Anyone else who found themselves in the same position usually died. Assassins were like that, though. They used any means to take out their prey.
“Welcome to the family, sister.”
Dante released her after giving her cheeks a kiss. Hands on her waist, he lifted her and held a dangling Lena in front of him. The sight of Lena’s wide eyes and open mouth tore a chuckle from Devin’s throat.
Dante leveled his icy stare on him. “Problem?”
Devin shook his head and took his female, setting Lena on her feet next to him.
“No, just forgot how much I’ve missed my little brother.” Dante was the only other member of his birth pride besides Mira that Devin spoke to. Of course, that was probably because he’d left their pride lands shortly after Devin and Mira had. “It’s been much too long since you’ve visited.”
“I’ve been busy.”
Lena glanced between them, questions in her eyes, but what came out of her mouth killed the joy seeing his sibling brought. “You were too late. Weren’t you?”
Vader skidded down the hall before Dante could answer. “Where’s Gwen?”
Dante, in his usual bluntness, said, “She’s dead.”
Lena groaned. The tears he’d seen simmering in her eyes all morning fell. Devin cradled her against his chest. He turned his attention to his brother and Xander. “What happened?”
“We found where they’d most likely”—Xander closed his eyes—“killed her.”
“Are you sure?” Vader asked.
“Yes.” Xander nodded. “I scented Gwen’s blood and the stench of death.”
“The Winchester alpha’s right. It’s a good assumption without actually witnessing the act.” Dante shrugged. “Although there were other humans in the warehouse. It could’ve been one of them who’d died, I suppose, but Gwen’s blood coated the mattress we found.”
Lena scrubbed at her tears. “Did you find her body?”
Dante shook his head.
“Then”— Lena straightened—“she could still be alive, right?”
Dante sighed. “The amount of blood—”
Lena buried her face against Devin’s shirt and choked on a sob. He rubbed her back and glanced at Dante. “No body means she might still be alive.”
Maggie stepped into the hall with Molly’s cub form in her arms. “The place was deserted, I assume.”
Devin inwardly cursed. “Molly shouldn’t be—”
“Yeah.” Dante cut Devin off. “We scouted the area, picked up their trail, but it ended abruptly. They must’ve gotten into a helicopter or plane.”
“Then there’s hope.” Lena tipped her head back. “Right?”
Devin ran a finger down her cheek. “Yeah, there’s hope.”
“Did you check out the site where they’re building the safe house?” Maggie asked. At Dante’s nod, she tapped a single finger against her chin. “Hmmm, what about the old mining village?”
“I didn’t think of it. Nobody’s lived there for years.” Anger tightened Dante’s expression.
“Exactly.” Maggie nodded. “Makes it a perfect hideout for criminals. Wouldn’t you say?”
“Yeah, it would.” Dante walked toward the phone on the hall table. “I’ll make a quick call to the Shifter Council to let them know we have the kid, then I’ll head out there.”
Lena stiffened. “Maggie, please take Molly upstairs.” Lena waited until they were out of sight then slowly turned her head and glared at Dante. “And why would you do that, brother?”
Dante narrowed his eyes, leveling a look on her most humans would cower under. “There are protocols to follow, sister.”
She shoved out of Devin’s arms and stepped closer to Dante.
“No. Those elders of yours sold her. If it wasn’t for Devin, she’d be gone.” She poked one single finger at Dante’s chest. “I don’t care if we have to lie and pretend that Molly is just a regular lioness. We’re keeping her. Hidden and safe. Nobody will ever threaten her again.”
Devin rested his hand on her shoulder. “Of course we are. Dante just didn’t understand the situation before. He does now.”
With his gaze locked to Lena’s, Dante nodded. “So I do.”
Vader pushed past Dante. “I’m going after Gwen.”
“No. I am.” Xander shoved Vader back.
The two males glared at each other, lips lifted in matching snarls.
“This is no time for your alpha bullshit. If you’re so concerned about Gwen, then we both go.” Vader challenged his alpha.
“Fine.” Xander stepped out of his pants, then jogged into the woods with Vader at his side.
“Fighting wolves. This’ll be fun.” Sarcasm dripped from Dante’s words, but he followed behind them.
Devin faced Lena. “I’m going too. Kade will protect you.”
She kissed him, a quick peck on the lips. “Bring my sister home.”
He squeezed her hand instead of answering, then ran after Dante and the others. Devin refused to lie to his mate and the odds they’d find Gwen alive were slim. Dante’s judgement of the amount of Gwen’s blood soaking the mattress was probably a good indicator of her fate.
Devin picked up the bloody gauze and sniffed it. Gwen’s scent clung to it. “Why bandage her wounds if they’d planned on killing her?”
“Killing her might’ve been an accident,” Vader answered.
Devin surveyed the abandoned cabin. On the table in the corner sat a nearly empty bottle of vodka, more bandages, and a broken piece of wood.
He walked toward the display and picked up the snapped tree limb. The bark had been stripped from it and the impression of teeth showed in the soft wood. He ran his fingertip over the indentions. “They tried to help her.”
Vader snatched the piece of wood. “How badly was she hurt?”
“I don’t know, but at least they’re tending her wounds. It’ll give us time to find her.”
“If she doesn’t bleed to death first.” Vader fisted handfuls of his hair. “Why would she get into a car with a shifter in the first place?”
“She probably thought that with Molly’s scent masked they were safe.”
Vader dropped the gnawed piece of wood and picked his way through the debris littering the floor. “And if the bear didn’t notice Molly’s shifter status, he would’ve picked up my scent and known they were important to a Royal.”
“She didn’t know she was your beloved human?”
With his fingers gripping the edge of the door, Vader froze. His claws slipped free and embedded into the wood. “No. She didn’t know anything. Gwen avoided me as if I carried the plague. I figured she hated me for getting involved with her sister.”
“You’re drawn to her.”
Vader snorted. “You can say that, but like I said, she didn’t feel the same, so I let her go.”
Devin sighed. He didn’t bother telling the other male that he should’ve pursued Gwen if he’d wanted her. What was done, was done.
“Come on, let’s catch up to Xander and Dante.” They’d split up before reaching the abandoned village. They’d seen smoke billowing in the distance and had gone to investigate.
“When I find her, I’m telling her everything,” Vader announced in a determined voice.
“Good. Gwen might be angry, but she deserves the truth.” Devin leapt the length of the porch and jogged down the rutted street, avoiding the puddles.
Xander emerged from the tree line as they approached. One look at his ashen face and Devin knew. Vader wouldn’t get the chance to explain anything. They were too late.
“The plane crashed.” Xander swallowed hard. “It’s still in flames.”
Devin closed the door to Lena’s bedroom softly behind him. Lena slept on her stomach, her silky hair spread over her back. Moonlight cast a faint glow over her, making her look ethereal, more an angel than a siren. He drank in the sight of her.
His mate was everything he could’ve asked for. She was fearless and brave. A survivor. He respected and loved her for that, and he hated that he would destroy her with his news.
He stripped on the way across the room and sat on the edge of the mattress, facing the open window. He didn’t know how long he stared at the swaying tree branches but the bed creaked and a delicate hand pressed against his back.
“You didn’t find her.”
He hung his head, letting the regret wash over him. Another squeak and Lena laid her cheek against his back. Wetness trailed down his spine. He turned and pulled his mate into his lap. With her cradled in his arms, he said, “Gwen’s dead.”
Lena didn’t argue, didn’t yell, didn’t say anything. She cried, pitiful sobs that broke his heart. He held her, rubbed her back, and let her grieve. When the tears finally slowed, he kissed the trail away. He crawled onto the bed and curled his body around hers.
“I’m sorry, angel.”
A long moment passed before she whispered, “The Leon spirit was right.”
“He spoke to you?”
“A couple of months ago. He told me not to get on the plane, that it would destroy me. Once I realized he wasn’t talking about a plane crash, I’d assumed he’d meant what I overheard on the plane. That had hurt. Made my heart ache.” She traced his pecs, idly as if she needed to do something, while her gaze was locked on some distant point across the room. “I was wrong. It’s this. Learning I’ve failed my sisters.”
“You can’t blame yourself. You—”
“Devin?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to talk any more. Will you just hold me?”
He kissed her temple. “Of course.”
Devin settled behind her on the bed and held her tightly. There wasn’t anything he could say while she choked on guilt. He understood that. He’d listened to countless attempts over his lifetime as his loved ones tried to help him cope with his guilt. None of those conversations had helped. He’d only pretended they had so his friends and family wouldn’t suffer with him.
Only Lena had guided him past the crippling effects of his guilt. He’d do the same for her.