Talons

Chapter 55: The Instinct

Larks POV

Me and Emma have been enjoying our time together while B watches our son for us. She has been suffering from momma bear syndrome, and while I love seeing how protective she is over Drake, I know it isn’t healthy. However, convincing her to leave Ducky with B wasn’t hard at all. 

My sister is good with children and is one of three people Emma will leave Ducky with. She tells me that B has maternal instincts, which I find ridiculous since B has no children and is like a child herself, but she was backed by my mother, so I lost that argument.

It has been just under a week, and I’ve already noticed improvements in my mate’s behavior. She’s at ease because B and the baby are in a fortified room; the door is thicker, so it will take longer to break down. We make sure she remembers to lock up every night before bed, and we patrol before going back to the main territory.

Emma and I skipped our morning visit with B and the baby because she and I were busy enjoying one another. We cuddled and spoke for a while, and my mate admitted to feeling insecure because there are women in the pack who she knows I’ve had dealings with.

There are a few, but none of them are crazy enough to hurt my pup, and the one that might have been an issue left the pack when she heard I found my mate.

After we get that conversation out of the way, which really should have been had before we had Drake, I suggest for Emma to call B and make sure the baby doesn’t need anything before we get there. 

My sister is worse than my mate; Ducky had a diaper rash once, and now she insists on changing him whether he is wet or not. She also allows his ‘butt to breathe’ for two hours every morning by removing his diaper completely and using just his onesie to cover him. 

That results in lots of soiled clothing, and I want to make sure we don’t need to bring her a new supply. 

I start picking up a few things, reading the label to make sure they are pure cotton because B insists. She told us that when she was unable to move on her own, the hospital gown she wore was hard and itchy. She likens that experience to being an infant, and I must admit that Ducky does sleep better when he is wearing something ‘B approved.’

“She didn’t answer,” Emma says, and I begin to panic although my mate is calm. That is unlike B, who knows that Emma would be worried if she didn’t answer our call.

“Call again.” My mate listens, but still B does not answer.

“She is probably changing the baby, let's give her a few minutes.” I’m amazed with how relaxed my mate is. B cannot link us, and I have a feeling that if our son were with anyone else, Emma would have shifted and sprinted to the cabin by now.

I, however, am on edge. I quickly grab a bag and start heading to the orchards. My parents and grandparents are deep in the fields, so linking them is useless. At a certain point, I see Luke, who immediately takes notice of my agitation. 

My mate is chasing me, and it's only at that point that I realize I’m jogging. It's not long before I shift and break into a full sprint, with my mate quickly following suit.

When we get to the orchards, I smell blood, lots of blood. I link my beta, and he and Robin claim to be right behind us with reinforcements.

When we come across the first cluster of rogues, I’m shocked by the number of them. The omegas who work in the fields have done well in fighting, but they can’t shift and can only do so much. Many of them are severely injured or dead, and I grow enraged. 

I turn to see my mate tearing someone to shreds as she starts making her way toward the cabin. We know our son is in a fortified room, but even if B was able to get the door locked in time, there is a good chance he is still in danger.

Rhea’s POV

I cannot fight another rogue, but I’m conflicted. My grandparents haven't made it to the fortified room, and I’m scared to leave them alone, but at the same time, I know there is nothing I can do. 

With a heavy heart, I start to close the door, but someone starts trying to push it back open. I abruptly release the door, and the woman comes crashing inside.

Knowing I don’t have time, I pick up the wire from the lamp I broke earlier. 

The end that was attached to the bulb is sharp and when the rogue turns to look at me, I whip it toward her face. It catches her eyes, and she stumbles back tripping over a body. I didn’t mean for that to happen, but I jump at the opportunity, and wrap the same cord around the rogue's neck. 

Instead of trying to scratch or pry me away, she instinctively scratches at her own neck, trying to restore her ability to breathe. When I see her strength weaken, I let up, moving faster than I ever have to snap her neck. Only this time, I use more strength than I had to, and her head falls limp against me.

I scramble to my feet, ignoring the sick feeling and broken glass that is puncturing my skin. I need to lock the door and I can only hope that my family can forgive me if something happens.

Just as the door is about to close, I hear Emma’s voice.

I scream for her, and she shows up in the room completely naked. Lark is the second person there, and he too is completely nude. They are both covered in blood, and I avert my eyes out of respect for them. Luke is the third person to arrive, followed by Robin, who while coated in blood has managed to find a shirt somewhere.

“Where is my son?” Emma growls. Her eyes are dark, and I throw up my hands, knowing that I'm not just dealing with my brother's mate, but her wolf as well. I open the closet door, and a collective sigh goes out.

Emma takes a step forward, and I quickly pick up a blanket and toss it at her. She looks down at herself and only just seems to notice she is naked and dirty. At the same time, she looks around the room before staring at me in confusion.

“You did this?” she asks, and I nod. 

“I didn’t want to lock my grandparents out.” Emma rushes me and I flinch, thinking she is going to attack, but she pulls me into a hug and starts scolding me instead. 

I cough, and blood comes out of my mouth, making Robin’s eyes go wide with worry. Luke has at some point disappeared, but when he comes back, he does so with shorts on and something for my brother and his mate to change into.

“Are you injured?” My brother asks, and I point out the most serious injuries. I have nail punctures all along my arms; they are bleeding, but they are not as serious as my ribs, which Sylvia says are fractured.

“Where is Wela?” I ask, and I dislike the look that gets exchanged between the people around me.

Ignoring my own injuries, I push past everyone, but Robin tries to stop me. I glare at her, not really meaning to scare her, but she takes on a frightened expression and lets me go.

As soon as I exit the cabin, I see my grandmother being treated for a gash on her arm, while my grandfather is laying on the ground, covered in a blanket. He is groaning in pain, and I know it's because he has shifted.

After a certain age, shifting becomes painful and dangerous. It can lead to paralysis or even death, and my grandparents are at that age.

I start running toward them, but a pack helper intercepts me, pushing me hard enough to make me fall backward. I’m not weak, but I wasn’t expecting the contact.

“This is all your fault,” the man shouts. “Your scent is all over this orchard and you drew them to us. You’re already causing this pack so much trouble, isn’t everything the alpha does already enough?”

“Shut up,” Lark orders, and someone drags the man who pushed me away.

I ignore them all, crawling to my grandfather’s side and gripping one of his hands. My grandmother is close, so I’m also able to hold onto her ankle. Her bleeding has been slowed, and we are waiting for the medical transport to arrive for them. 

I’m livid, but I don’t know who to be angry with; I'm sad but I can’t cry, I am exhausted, but my body is forcing me to keep moving. I feel Sylvia pushing forward, wanting to express herself in a way she has never done before, but I hold her back.

I don’t know what’s happening to me or my wolf. She and I have never been aggressive, and I’m worried we are losing our sanity. We are only able to calm ourselves when my parents arrive, also covered in blood, but fortunately not naked.

My mother takes one look at me and screams. She starts running toward me, scooping me into her arms before demanding to know what happened. With her touch, I’ve gone completely weak, and all the sadness and uncertainty that were bubbling within me starts to push forward.

I break down crying, which sends me into a coughing fit before a tight pain in my chest blurs my vision, and everything begins to go dark. I gasp for air, and I hear my family frantically asking how much longer the transport will take.

My mother keeps asking me what’s wrong, and I grab at my chest, sending Robin into action. She has studied enough about anatomy to have an idea of what the problem is. She tells our family that I have fluid buildup around my lungs, but I can tell she is having trouble convincing them.

“Are you sure?” Luke asks. I can’t see, but I imagine my sister nodding at her mate.

I hear Emma call out that she found a pen and before long I feel something sharp poke into my ribs. Almost immediately the pressure is relieved, and I’m able to breathe, but my eyes remain closed, as I fade into darkness.