by Tl Reeve
“I thought I heard you got a substantial donation from Charisma’s father?” Mrs. Martin glanced up at her.
“We did. Long term though we’re going to need more,” Danielle said. “Way more.”
Mrs. Martin leaned forward, resting both forearms on the table. “I think if Keeley and you were just yourselves, you’ll do fabulously.”
Keeley walked toward the table. She’d been paying more attention to the cup in her hand than the step in front of her. The toe of her shoe kicked at the lip, and Keeley stumbled, almost dropping the cup and wiping out.
“You mean like that?” Danielle gestured to her giggling sister as she stopped at the table.
Mrs. Martin laughed. “At least she didn’t spill my hot tea. She would’ve surely gotten a nasty burn.”
Danielle leaned her elbows on the table and buried her hands in her hair. “This was a stupid idea. Keeley will most likely wipe out the food tables with her clumsiness and I’m liable to say something epically stupid.”
“Nah. Not you. It’ll be Kal,” Keeley quipped as she sat beside Danielle. “I’ll have to bring some duck tape to close his big mouth.”
Danielle lifted her head. “Are you kidding me right now? It’s duct tape. Not duck tape. Correct me if I’m wrong. Don’t you have some sort of genius-level intelligence?”
“I believe she’s punking you,” Mrs. Martin warned.
Danielle heard her sister’s laughter in her head. Punking us?
Danielle snorted and replied. Who knew Mrs. Martin was so hip.
Keeley rolled her eyes. You’re as bad as Mrs. Martin. Get a grip, cupcake, no one uses Punked or hip anymore.
Danielle moaned. See, this was a stupid idea. The Gala is going to fail, and it’s going to be all my fault.
The waiter stopped by their table, dropping off new drinks for Keeley and her. “Oh, stop the pity party, Dani. The Gala isn’t going to fail.” Mrs. Martin raised her paper cup and took a sip.
Keeley’s eyes widened. No freaking way Mrs. M could hear us.
“Like I didn’t know you girls were doing your mind talk thingy. I know the signs. I’ve observed Kal and Caden enough times over the years. I also know you’re doubting yourself. It’s going to be such a success, I promise. You’re going to want to do one every year!” Mrs. Martin exclaimed.
“Have you been holding out on us, Mrs. M? You’ve got some secret abilities you’ve never told us about?” Keeley hazel eyes twinkled in amusement.
“With age comes knowledge, my dear,” Mrs. Martin affirmed. “What can I do to help?”
“Help?” Danielle arched a brow.
“Did you know, at one time, I used to plan the festivals? All of them. It was the alpha female’s job.” The retired alpha female glanced at Keeley. “I should have given you the books for everything dealing with the town last year, but considering the situation both of you were in, I didn’t think it would be wise. I believe you are ready, Keeley, my dear.”
Keeley gasped. “I...I don’t know what to say.”
The demands of pack and family were great, add in being the Alpha female, the matriarch of their small community, well, Danielle knew her sister would be overwhelmed. Add in the twins and Kalkin and, well, her sister would be running on fumes sooner rather than later.
Danielle sighed. Even she had little time for anything else. “If you’re available, we’d love to have your help, Mrs. Martin.”
Mrs. Martin beamed. “I knew you both were smart and would come around. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
I think we’ve just been suckered, Keeley said.
Who gives a shit? We need help, and she’s willing to give it, Danielle shrugged.
True.
Danielle wrote copious amounts of notes as Mrs. Martin thumbed through the three-ring binder holding all their plans. She offered her input and suggestions. Made changes here and there, but never overstepped some imaginary line between a former Alpha female and the new one. An hour later, Mrs. Martin closed the book with a snap. Dani looked up from the notepad and noticed the glazed, lost expression on her sister’s face.
“I think Keeley would have fallen asleep a half hour ago if I hadn’t kept nudging her awake,” Mrs. Martin teased.
Keeley yawned. “Both babies were fussing last night. Between being hungry and teething, they couldn’t get situated. All they wanted was me and my boob. I’m tired and sore,” Keeley said.
Danielle busied herself, putting the finishing touches on her notes, so neither woman could see the longing she felt and the jealousy she harbored against her sister. It wasn’t Keeley’s fault Danielle couldn’t nurse Nicolas.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Danielle looked back at her sister when she gained a modicum of her emotions.
“The plans needed to be finalized.” Keeley pointed to the table. “This crap wasn’t getting done by itself.”
“Growth spurt,” Mrs. Martin stated. “Every pup goes through it.”
“They just had one,” Keeley uttered.
“Nicolas is going through the same thing,” Danielle added. “Caden has been helping with getting up at night to feed him.”
Truth be told it was nice. Danielle didn’t even have to ask, the moment Nicolas gave his first whimper, Caden was out of bed, changing his diaper and feeding him. At first she felt guilty for missing the time with her son. However, she quickly realized Caden had missed so much of Aiden’s life and the beginning of Nicolas’ young life. It was good for all of them to have Caden get involved and form his own bonds with their children.
Mrs. Martin just shook her head. “Stop thinking like a human mom. They’re shifter pups. Growth and development will be different than humans. They may also start shifting more and staying in their wolf form longer. Kalkin should encourage it as it’ll help with control when they get older.” The pack elder slid her gaze toward Danielle. “Has Nicolas shifted yet?”
Mrs. Martin worried about her young son and his inability to shift. “Yes. He has. It seems only his father can get him to do it and stay in his wolf form.”
Mrs. Martin clapped her hands together. “Excellent. I knew the young pup just needed the correct encouragement. Speaking of Caden. His scent is all over you. Has there been a change in status?”
Keeley perked right up. She watched Danielle with keen interest. Before she could even utter a word and lie to the older woman, Keeley spoke, “According to them both, there has been no change.”
“Mmhmm. Interesting to say the least,” Mrs. Martin said.
“Right,” Keeley said. “I personally think they’re lying.”
“You two realize I’m sitting here, right?” Danielle gathered all the paperwork on the table, shoving it into the bag she brought with her. She’d regret it later when she’d have to spend an hour righting it.
Keeley pouted across the table, and Mrs. Martin chuckled.
“No one will tell me if they smell a mating on her. Not even Kalkin,” Keeley huffed, crossing her arms over her breasts.
Brat.
“You haven’t been the most supportive of this budding relationship, Keeley,” Mrs. Martin admonished her sister. “Rumor has it Kalkin put out the word you were supposed to stay out of it.”
“He did,” Danielle answered, her gaze never leaving Keeley’s.
“He hurt you, Dani,” Keeley argued.
“I know he did. I was on the other end of it. It was me he hurt. Not you. He’s making an effort. Working to make amends to me and our sons.” Danielle tapped at her chest. “We’re safe here, Kee. Kal and his brothers made sure of it. It’s time for you to step back from being my protector and let me learn to spread my wings and fly. On my own. I know you picked up that shield years ago and have done it for so long you’ve forgotten who and what I am and what I’m capable off. You forget, I’m the older sister, who knows what she wants out of her own life.”
Keeley’s bottom lip quivered. Tears welled in her eyes before spilling down her cheeks. “It’s
hard.”
For a split-second, Danielle thought about dropping the conversation. Problem was, she had done way too much of this during the last year—drop stuff. It had been easier to walk away than to face it head on. It was why she lost so much weight. Why she could barely get out of bed. Why she walled herself off from the rest of the world. Taking the easy way didn’t mean it was the correct way to live.
“I know it is. It shouldn’t matter if I forgave him or what my relationship with Caden is. It has to be independent of what yours is with him. Caden is Kalkin’s twin, your pup’s uncle and Beta of your pack.” Danielle reached across the table, laying a hand over her sister’s. She gave it a firm, comforting squeeze. “I love you, Kee, and for so long it was just us against the world. I’ll always love and appreciate you for what you did. But, I’m asking—no, telling you, as your older sister, back off and keep your nosy ass out of my love life.”
Keeley cleared her throat. “I think I just got my ass spanked.”
Danielle smiled. “In a much nicer way than if Kalkin did it.”
“Sure enough,” Mrs. Martin stated.
“Love you too, Dani,” Keeley said, placing her other hand on top of Danielle’s and giving it a squeeze.
“You two are going to make me cry,” Mrs. Martin fussed at the girls.
The air inside of Yo-Jo’s shifted. A crackle of electricity skittered across Danielle’s flesh seconds before a loud explosion in the distance had the front window of the coffee house rattling then crackling. The splinters in the glass spread across the pane, leaving an intricate pattern in its wake.
“What the hell—”
Several more blasts accompanied the first. They were relentless, one right after another. The screams of the patrons in the coffee shop clogged Danielle with their fear and terror. She couldn’t blame them; however, they were suffocating her. Keeley stood, took Danielle’s hand, and cut a path through the small crowd. Danielle could hear her sister talking but couldn’t make out exactly what she was saying. The situation became mentally crushing within a matter of seconds.
Stay with me, Dani. Keeley squeezed her hand. Block it out.
Trying. I’m a little rusty. Danielle imagined the shield construct in her mind, lifting it layer by layer. She breathed a sigh of relief when she could finally think without the torrential emotional onslaught by those surrounding them.
Danielle peered out the front door and saw a plume of dark grey/black smoke lifted into the sky. It was massive and appeared to be coming from around the Sherriff’s office. Too close for comfort in her mind.
Caden. She squeezed her sister’s hand, staring out over the town in disbelief.
We’ll find both of them, Keeley said.
Caden had slipped from their bed that morning, kissed her forehead, and told her to try to go back to sleep for a bit. It was too early for the boys or her to get up. “We need to go. Now.”
“Go where?” Keeley asked. “We don’t even know what is going on or if it’s safe for us to go out into the open.”
The front door flung open and Sage Abbott, one of the new deputy’s Jace hired last summer, rushed in. Her gaze scanned the room, only stopping when it landed on Keeley and Danielle. “Everyone okay?”
It was clear to Danielle; the other woman had been closest to Yo-Jo’s and had been sent to retrieve her and Keeley or she’d been serving as a bodyguard neither one of them knew about. “We’re good.”
“What’s going on?” Keeley demanded.
“There has been an explosion,” Sage hedged.
“Well, duh. We felt it and can see the smoke. Where is it coming from?” Danielle challenged the deputy’s vagueness.
“Fuck it,” Keeley snapped.
“I don’t thin—”
“I’m out of here.” Keeley turned to Danielle and held her hand out. “You coming?”
Danielle’s skills as the town vet and resident healer could be used, plus she needed to make sure Caden was okay. “If we’re doing this, we have to go now.”
“I can’t get Kal, so I know he’s in the thick of it. I’m not staying here with my thumb up my ass.” Keeley wrenched the door open.
“You can’t leave.” Sage attempted to block the doorway. “It’s best for you all to stay here. It’s safer.”
“Safer?” Danielle snorted. “We’ve never safe. This is what we do.” She stepped to the deputy. “We can and will be helping. You can either come with us and watch our backs or sit here and cower.” Danielle had been unwilling to remain hidden and safe while others were risking their lives to help secure the area of the blast.
Sage shook her head, refusing to move from her position. “Kalkin said I—”
Keeley bristled beside her. “Sage...”
You have the right and power to order her to let us leave, Danielle reminded her sister through their connection. With her protection, of course.
Static from Sage’s radio broke the silence, and they heard the chatter of the officers yelling for additional assistance and relaying damage done to the Sheriff’s station. One of the deputies requested Fire and EMTs immediately. Danielle could hear the approaching sirens from the ambulances as well as fire and rescue in the distance.
“I’m invoking my status,” Keeley said. “As the Alpha Female of this pack, I demand you let us pass.”
“Fuck.” Sage growled. She moved away from the door, allowing them to pass without running her over—something Danielle would have done if the other woman didn’t move.
The thick, acrid smell of smoke hit her in the face, making her cough. She couldn’t imagine what it was like on the scene if she could already smell and feel the effects from the fire.
“I want you two to stay close,” Sage ordered. She practically herded Danielle and Keeley down the street at a slower pace than either of them would have preferred.
At every corner, the female deputy stopped them, glanced around the corner, surveyed the area then urged them forward. The typically under-five minute walk took ten.
Danielle gasped, and Keeley whimpered when the Sheriff’s building came into view. The roof was in danger of collapsing. The inside had been engulfed in fire. The orange flame danced along the blown-out window carcasses. When one spot was extinguished, another popped up, stronger than the first, giving the firefighters a run for their money.
As hard as they worked, it didn’t matter. The building was destroyed and would have to be re-built from the ground up. At least a half of the police cruisers were burning, and Danielle saw the soot-covered deputies running to those not yet touched by the flames, trying to move or push them to a safer area. The immovable ones, officers tried to remove whatever equipment they could salvage.
Danielle scanned the growing crowd. Her gut twisted when she didn’t immediately see Caden or any of the Raferty brothers. No matter what, Caden would be beside Kalkin, in the thick of it until everyone had been accounted for and the town was safe from the threat of fire.
Keeley elbowed her, pointing toward the left. There an ambulance waited with open doors as they loaded someone inside. “There they are.”
Danielle’s gaze found Caden, standing in the crowd. His clothes appeared dingy, covered in soot, and she didn’t want to think what else. Danielle didn’t care though. The knot of fear which had been growing in her belly, in not knowing if he was hurt or worse, dead, released, allowing her to breathe.
He was alive.
She didn’t wait for Keeley or Sage. Danielle took off across the street. She weaved her way through the budding crowd of people, who were just as shocked at what had transpired in their small town. Those responsible would be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, Danielle had no doubt of it.
A man Danielle had never seen before stood beside Caden, as did Rapier. He claimed the pack had a traitor, and even with not knowing him or the facts, Danielle had to agree. The Raftery brothers were tough, always on guard, except with those they trusted and those within their pack. Only someone who
pretended to be a friend could have done this type of damage.
Rapier asked, “Where are your mates?”
“Right here,” Danielle said, hesitating outside the half circle of men surrounding Caden.
“Don’t stop now, pumpkin,” Caden encouraged her. His voice had been tight with pain and gruff thanks from the smoke he must have inhaled.
Danielle didn’t even think. Instead, she ran toward him, launching herself into his arms. He caught her midair and tucked her into his body. She ignored the cloying scent of death and fire, instead focusing on him. She sent him short bursts of healing waves, trying to ease stinging pain from his burns.
“Stop it.” A warm puff of his breath floated across her nape.
“No,” she replied, burying her head in his chest.
She only eased back when she could feel his pain slowly start to dissipate. It was abundantly clear to Danielle she could have lost her mate today and her boys their father. Right now, though, she had to keep her shit together. Later, when no one was around, she’d allow the tears flow.
“Would you two mind doing this lovey-dovey shit at a later date? We have a crime scene to fucking process,” Kal growled.
Caden untangled her arms from the death grip she had on his neck. His gaze found hers and held it. “I need you to go with Sage. She’s going to take you to Kal and Keeley’s house. Royce is there with Steele, Charisma, Marie, and Penelope. They’ll protect you till I come for you.”
Danielle nodded, unable to speak due to the emotions clogging her throat. The danger was far from over; she could feel it in her bones.
“Caden—”
“I know, pumpkin. I know. As long as you and my pups are safe, that’s all I care about. I’m coming home to you.”
Danielle grabbed his hand, holding it in a death grip. “Promise me.”
“I promise, baby,” he replied before capturing her trembling lips in a quick kiss.
Chapter Thirteen
By the time Caden returned home, it was after midnight. All the lights were off. The only person still up and moving around had been Logan, who left as soon as Caden walked in the door. Good thing too. The moon was full, and since the explosion earlier, the need to claim his mate rode him hard.