Lion Conquers All by Krystal Shannan
13
COL
Col was outside before Ryder cut the engine. The truck had been driving too fast on the gravel. Even the stop had been noisy, spraying the small rocks against the wheel wells and against the front skirt of the porch.
Ryder flung the door open and jumped out.
“What’s wrong?” Col’s tone was impatient.
“There’s two teens missing on the mountain.”
The door behind Col opened. His mate stepped out and walked up beside him. Naomi’s sweet scent filled the air along with the individual scents of his children. “Children are missing? We have to do something, Col.”
“We will.” He turned back to face Ryder and Ava now both. “Come inside. Naomi, would you call the others. We will wait for them to arrive before you fill us in.”
“We can’t wait.” Ava pointed at the sky behind the cabin. “Tor and Dawn and the others in town should meet us at the sheriff’s office. Aarav is getting everything set up there to start the search.”
Col’s heart broke for the parents of the teens. He couldn’t imagine the pain and anger and frustration they were experiencing. If something ever happened to his children, he’d tear the literal mountain apart until he found them.
“Does Aarav have a plan yet? Any idea where they might be?” Col spoke, his words quick. Action needed to be taken and he would be the first to jump into motion.
“Yes.” Ryder answered. “There’s about twenty hunting blinds to check first. Then he said we’d have to start grid searching, acre by acre.”
“You’re going to go try and find the boys? They might not be nearby.” The young trio of wolves came around the cabins every few weeks, but Col hadn’t seen or scented them recently.
“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let them know. As long as they hang in the shadows and background, try to stay out of sight, it should be fine, right?” Ryder looked past Col to where Naomi stood. The wolf-shifter male looked for her approval because she used to be human.
Naomi thought about things from a very different perspective than Col did. It was helpful, but he was also glad she was a dragon now too. He didn’t worry nearly as much about her safety when he knew she could breath fire and smash buildings all on her own when needed.
“Yes. But they need to be careful. Connie’s right about the town watching us. I feel it when we’re in public. It’s not bad. But it’s there. They are curious and that could be just as dangerous.” Naomi put a hand on Col’s arm. “You can’t shift. Neither can Kann or Tor. There will be too many people out. The wolves are the only ones that can somewhat pass as natural. But honestly, if anyone gets a good look at them, they will still be freaking the fuck out because of their size.”
It wasn’t anything he didn’t know, but the truth was always hard to hear. If they could use their abilities freely without fear of being shot or discovered, things would be so much simpler.
He cupped his mate’s face and kissed her forehead. “I know, love. We won’t. But we will do everything we can to help.”
“I know you will. I just know that your everything likely includes risks you shouldn’t take. Think of our kids. I want you to see them grow up. I don’t want to move. I like it here. This is our home.”
Col breathed deeply and hugged Naomi. “I want all those things too. I won’t endanger our home. And I won’t endanger the Tribe.”
She released some tension from her shoulders and hugged him tightly, burying her face against his chest. “You’re amazing. You know that.”
He hugged her tight and watched Ryder disappear into the forest on four legs.
Ava was on her phone, leaning against the side of the truck. The rest of the tribe would be on the move soon. The way the women texted still baffled him. He wasn’t slow with technology, but he still preferred actually speaking to a person instead of messaging.
“You’ll stay here. Penny can come over and you can be together.” He glanced at Ava again. “You stay with Penny and Naomi as well. Call Saul and Lorelei and tell them to come here too. We may be gone late.”
“Yes, Vraka. Of course, but I could help—”
He glared hard at her. She was pregnant. The announcement hadn’t been made yet, but she was far enough along that she should be aware of the pregnancy. The she-bear was stubborn. Just like her brother.
“Yes, Vraka.” She bowed her head, accepting his choice without more arguing.
He kissed Naomi, reveling in the blessing she was and had bestowed in his life. The Reyleans had come through the portal with nothing. He’d lost everything. And then there she’d been, a beacon of light to his soul. A chance a new beginning. They had come so far. All of them had. Now there were children. Their tribe was growing and strong.
“Stay safe.” He whispered the blessing into her hair.
“You too, big guy. Keep the flames to a minimum.”
He laughed from deep in his belly. “Will do.” Then headed down the steps and around to the side of the cabin where their truck was parked. “Let Aarav know I’m on my way.”