Final Extraction by Julie Trettel

Vada

Chapter 18

 

 

 

I had assumed that similar to the Raglan, Silas’s group would round us all up for questioning and take us back to some building for holding. I expected harassment and interrogations because, for the last many years, that was the life I knew and sometimes it was hard for even me to remember true compassion.

This team did none of that.

While the others were taken to a holding location in a big empty airport hanger, by the time we arrived, people were sprawled out everywhere. They had been given real clothes. There were tables of food and drink awaiting us and enough seats for nearly everyone to sit comfortably. It was the most luxury I could remember any of us having.

I looked around and saw smiling faces, sheer relief, and far less fear.

A small group including Lucy and little Vada were being escorted away.

My stomach dropped and I left Silas’s side and ran to them. In that moment, I didn’t care one bit about the consequences of my actions.

“Vada!” Lucy yelled over the noise of the crowded room where everyone was talking freely.

I hugged her.

Silas followed me without a word, though I could feel his presence easily.

I turned on him. “Where are you taking them? What are you planning to do with them?”

I knew right then that I’d just traded one prison for another. I could only hope that this new one continued to be far more compassionate than the others, but I hated the idea that they were already splitting us up.

I screamed at him as my hands fisted. I pounded him in the chest, but he made no move to stop me. The only slight acknowledgment to my actions was a sad, confused look on his face.

“Vada,” Lucy said, softly stopping me in my tracks. “It’s okay. They’re taking us home.”

My head whipped back towards Lucy. “What?”

She smiled with tears glistening in her eyes. “We’re going home. Go get in line. Tell them anywhere you want to go, and they’ll take you there.”

I shook my head. “It’s a trap. That’s not right.”

Lucy’s face dropped as she hugged little Vada closer to her chest.

Silas sighed. “It’s not a trap. I have dozens of planes lined up to escort all of you home. It may take a few days or even a few weeks, but we’re getting these people back to their families.”

“You’re not even going to interrogate them?”

He shook his head. “We already know enough.”

“There’s a place to give your statement and tell your story,” Lucy added. “It’s voluntary though. See the long line wrapping around the room? That’s the line. They want the Force to know, Vada. But no one is pressuring anyone to talk about it. Isn’t it wonderful? They gave me a phone.” She held it up proudly. “I’ve already called my mother and spoken with her.”

Lucy sobbed and I started to cry too.

“What is the Force?” I asked her trying to regain some control.

“I am,” Silas surprised me by saying. “The majority of the men and women you see here working hard to right this wrong, we are Westin Force.”

“You did this? Why?”

A girl walked up to us and put a hand on Silas’s shoulder. My gorilla stirred uncomfortably as she tried to surge for attack. I gasped.

“Oops, sorry,” the girl said. “I’m no threat, I promise. I’m Taylor.” She pointed to a man over in the corner that was wrapping a wound on a man who was laughing as they spoke. The picture warmed my heart and softened my gorilla. “That’s Grant. He’s my mate,” she added, assuring me that she was not after my own mate.

It was all very overwhelming. Having Silas so close only seemed to make it worse as my emotions surged whenever he was near. I was more possessive; I cried more; and I felt safer than I could ever remember.

“I have a mole shifter here. She said her family moves around a lot. She’s been in for about three years and has no idea where to even start looking for them now. She’s quite scared and doesn’t know what to do.”

“They are always welcome to return to the Lodge with us. Patrick has already cancelled every reservation for the next six months siting a kitchen fire.”

I gasped. “There was a fire?”

He chuckled. “No, but the Lodge is a stream of income to the Westin Pack and often houses humans. The humans were given that story as a way to cancel their reservations and free up as much space as possible for anyone we can’t relocate right away.”

“We’re handing out cell phones to everyone with one-year pre-paid plans to assist in transition, but many of them don’t remember phone numbers of their loved ones to even call. It could take months to track down some of their families, especially for the migratory shifters,” Taylor explained. “Which is why I’m interrupting you. Sorry about that,” she surprised me by looking directly at me while saying that. “I want to reach out to Archie to help track her family down.”

“Who’s Archie?” I blurted out. It was so out of character for me that my jaw dropped in shock. “I’m sorry, that was out of line.” I was making rookie mistakes. I knew better than this. I kept a low profile unless I was keeping the heat off someone else. I observed and mentally documented everything.

Silas smiled calmly. “Mate, you can ask me anything. Archie is head of our IT and surveillance team. He is also a mole shifter.” He answered my question patiently before readdressing Taylor. “I think that’s a fantastic idea, T. If anyone can find her family, it’ll be Archie.”

“Thanks,” Taylor said.

“Otherwise, how are things going?”

“Great. We’ve got two planes ready for takeoff. Speaking of which, you’re Lucy, right?”

She nodded.

“They are holding the flight back to New York for you and this cutie. I can show you the way if you are ready, or rebook for the next flight out if you prefer.”

Lucy looked at me with excitement in her eyes. “We’re ready,” she told Taylor as she hugged me tight. She slipped a piece of paper into my hand. “That’s my new cell number. Please keep in touch.”

“I will,” I managed to choke out and, just like that, she turned and left.

I stood there frozen as I watched them walk away. It felt like my world was being torn apart. I’d just gotten them back and now I could feel them slipping away again.

“If you are concerned, mate, we can personally escort them there so you can see that they are safe,” Silas said sweetly.

“You really mean it, don’t you? You just want to help?”

“I would never lie to you,” he said.

“But why?”

He smiled. “I’ve been after the Raglan for a long time now, even more aggressively since I first felt your presence back on a mission in New York, just before New Years almost two years ago. Before then I never dreamed there was a mate waiting for me out there. I had assumed it would just be me and Painter for the rest of my life. I stepped up the hunt then. We tracked down every lead and followed their trail, disbanding one encampment at a time. When you told me you wanted to stay and save the others, I was mad. I was upset. I’d finally found you and you didn’t let me save you,” his voice drifted off as he looked around. “But you were right. This is bigger than me, than us.”

I didn’t know what to say or how to act around him. Instinct had me wrapping my arms around his waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As I leaned my head into his chest, I breathed in his woodsy scent and let it comfort me.

I had no idea what the future would hold, and it scared me. While in captivity, I knew what to expect day to day. There was solace in that. The unknown terrified me, but I would not show my weakness, not even to him.

Instead, I would take things one day at a time. I’d stay close to Silas and learn everything I could about this Westin Force. I still feared there was more to it than they were showing us.

Another woman approached us. “Silas, I need at least a corner of this place cleared and cleaned.”

“What’s the injury report?” he asked, suddenly gruff and all business.

“No injury, we have an incoming. Mother looks to be about eight months pregnant. She’s in active labor and this baby is coming quickly.”

“I can help,” I volunteered. “I’ve delivered many of the children in here.”

She looked hesitant, but not at me, she was watching Silas. “The medics are scattered thin right now, big guy, I could really use the extra hands.”

I turned to him ready to plead with him to let me help. I would have promised nearly anything just then. Nothing restored my hope and determination to make this a better place for shifters than witnessing the birth of a new life.

“I have rounds to make,” he said, and my heart dropped with disappointment. “Vada, this is Clara. She’s on loan to us from the Verndari, but she is a shifter as well, a wolf.”

“What’s the Verndari?” I blurted out silently cursing myself for doing it again. It would seem I had no filter when near Silas Granger.

“They are a human faction that watches over and protects…”

“History lesson later, I have a baby to deliver. Are you helping or not?” Clara asked me. It did not escape my notice that she was talking to me directly and not through Silas. I looked up at him for permission a little confused as to why she was asking me.

His forehead wrinkled. “Vada, you can stay with me if you want. It’s really up to you.”

“You’ll allow me to help?” I asked.

His face blanched then his jaw tightened. “You are not my prisoner,” he said harshly. “You are my mate.”

Then he turned and walked away as I stood there in shock.

I didn’t know what to do or what to make of things.

“So are you in?” Clara asked.

I nodded.

“Great, come on. I don’t think we have a lot of time.”

I could hear Silas barking some orders and three men dropped what they were doing and started clearing a corner of the room. It was sterilized and a makeshift curtain was erected to actually give the laboring mother some privacy.

“You look like you’re going into shock. Are you okay? I thought you said you’ve done this before,” Clara said as she stacked some blankets on the floor and helped to lower the new mother down gently.

I snapped out of my trance with the first scream and the adrenaline kicked in. I worked side-by-side with Clara for the next six hours helping the girl manage her labor pains and prepare for birth.

“Clara, she’s crowning.”

“Okay, Mandy, I need you to push now.”

The girl cried out as she bared down and pushed. My joy at witnessing the birth ebbed as I saw the cord was wrapped around the child’s neck.

“Stop pushing,” I said more calmly than I felt.

Clara looked up at me in confusion as I discreetly pointed it out to her while not wanting to worry the mother.

“What’s wrong?” Mandy asked bordering on hysteria despite my efforts.

“Nothing, we’re just preparing things. I know it’s hard, but try not to push until Clara tells you to.”

“Okay,” she whined as sweat dripped from her forehead.

Clara was able to clear the cord. She smiled. “Okay, Mandy, give me one big push now.”

“It’s a boy!” Clara announced

I had a towel ready to wrap the baby in. Clara received him and then passed the little boy to me. He was still in my arms and not crying. Mandy was starting to panic.

“Let me see my baby. Why isn’t he crying?” She was bordering on hysterics.

I began to stimulate his tiny body. I could feel the life draining from him as he struggled. I moved quickly as I tilted his head back and then turned him upside down. Clara stared in horror as I smacked the babe on his bottom.

My heart stopped, and then he cried, or more like screamed.

I grinned. “I think his lungs are just fine.”

I cleaned the child off as he squirmed in my arms and then laid him on a clean towel and swaddled him before passing him to his mother.

“He’s beautiful,” I said smiling down at her.

Clara and I left the two of them alone to get cleaned up. Once out of earshot she grabbed my arm. “Thank you. I didn’t even see it from where I was sitting. That baby wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you.”

I shrugged like it was no big deal. In truth, it wasn’t the first difficult birth I’d assisted with and most of the time I didn’t have an experienced doctor helping.

“He’s alive because of us, not just me.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Vada. Not only did you spot the cord, but then you moved swiftly and calmly to clear his airways. Probably not the most modern way to handle it, but given our resources, you were amazing back there.”

Clara hugged me. I hesitated and hugged her back.

A man approached us. “How’d it go?” he asked, leaning down to kiss Clara.

“Great, thanks to Vada.”

I blushed. I wasn’t one that handled praise well.

“Vada, this is my mate, Gage. You should have seen her back there. She’s a natural. Have you ever considered being a midwife? You’d be fantastic at it,” Clara gushed.

I scoffed. “I don’t think something like that is really in the cards for me.”

“Why not?” Gage asked. “Clara doesn’t dish out high praise like this often.”

Why not? Because I was a prisoner. I’d traded a life of captivity to that in service of a man. Silas didn’t have to tell me what my life would be like, I already knew. I’d witnessed it with dozens of other women, and yet, Gage seemed genuinely proud of Clara, and she was happy. There was no doubt in my mind, yet she had a mate.

I had been resolved to my fate since the moment I had first sensed Silas’s presence, but he wasn’t like I expected. Sometimes there was that stern, gruff man that would rule over my life, but if I were being completely honest with myself, he had never been that way to me. I’d only seen glimpses of it as he interacted with others.

“Vada, are you okay?” Clara asked.

I nodded slowly. “I’m fine,” I told her. But was I? Yes, just very confused.

I stared across the room watching my mate in action. He was strong, handsome, and commanding, everything a good silverback should be. I should be proud to be his mate, and I was. From what I’d witnessed so far, he was kind and caring even. He would give me a good life. The fact that I was ridiculously attracted to him only helped.

Still, I hated the unknown and couldn’t even begin to imagine what my life would be like in my future.