I look up at the sudden sound and notice Malik’s eyes crinkle around the edges. I don’t remember the last time I have seen him this happy and relaxed.
“You can eat all the apples,” he agrees.
It has been so long since we had children in the pack. Everyone watches and wants to come to meet them, but it’s clear that the pack members stay back out of fear of scaring the children away.
“I will get you some clothes,” Vince announces and turns around to walk back.
Ten pack members jump up from their seats and rush off. Others make room for the kids around the fire as Malik holds his hand out to Jonah.
“Go on, he won’t bite,” I encourage, and Jonah steps toward him.
They hesitantly walk over to the group of my men, who instantly start plating food for them, scraping as much as they can onto the plates, piling every inch with food.
The she-wolf refuses to shift back, her eyes watchful of everyone as she guards her siblings. Malik walks over to her and drops a plate of pork next to her, nudging it closer with his foot. “You’re safe here. They are safe here, we aren’t monsters,” Malik assures her. His voice is unusually calm and gentle. It’s clear he is trying his best to show he is no threat, that we are no threat.
I see a few of my men rush back with blankets, clothes, and bottles of water. They approach the kids and hand the things to them.
Jonah carries his basket and flops down next to the fire. He is still sopping wet, so he tries to warm himself next to the flames.
He seems the most trusting, maybe because he is so young, while the others are wary, but the food offered is too much for them to pass up. They’re bunching closer together as I walk back to the packhouse.
I place my hand on the panel, the door unlocks, and I slip inside. Sage is still crying and I can’t help but sigh as I see her and Zane crouched next to the fireplace. He’s trying to calm her, the scent of her blood is everywhere, and droplets are scattered across the ground.
At the view, I quickly turn around and look at the door. The metal is dented, and blood is on the door.
Andrei
Donnie whimpers loudly in my head. We both know she has hurt herself.
“Stop, Sage, he will be back soon. He will calm down,” Zane tries to assure her.
“I’m right here,” I announce coming up behind them, and Zane jumps.
It’s clear he’s so overtaken by trying to help Sage that he doesn’t hear me enter the house. Sage looks around him, her eyes all puffy and her face blotchy. Her eyes are bloodshot, and she sniffles.
“Did you? Did you find them?” she whimpers, her voice breaking mid-sentence.
“I did,” I agree, she drops her head in her hands.
Zane sucks in a breath as he stands up and steps aside. I slowly crouch beside Sage and place my hand on her shoulders while Zane watches us worriedly. “They are outside the front of the house,” I explain.
Her head snaps up. “What?” Sage’s eyes are wider than I have ever seen before.
“They are children except one of them. You should come out and meet them.” I suggest to her, as softly as I can. Sage’s eyes dart to Zane worriedly.
“They’re alive?” Zane asks, and I frown at him.
Does my entire pack really think that little of me to kill innocent children?
“We have killed hundreds of people, Andrei,” Donnie reminds me, and I swallow, staring at Sage.
Tears run down her cheeks as she waits for me to answer. I cup her face in my hands and wipe tears from her face with my thumbs. “They are alive, but they are scared,” I admit.
“They’re really alive?” She repeats, looking at Zane and then back at me, and I nod.
“Yes, I would never hurt children,” I insist, and she grabs my hands, kissing the inside of my palm when she turns her face into it.
“How many?” Zane asks.
“Come see for yourself,” I tell him, standing up and pulling Sage with me.
Opening the front door, I look down at Sage, who wipes her eyes on her jumper sleeve.
“I should never have locked you inside. I am sorry. It scared me, knowing you were so close to the borders,” I confess, and she nods.
“I’m sorry for not telling you,” she apologizes, and I kiss the top of her head.
“What are they cooking out there? It smells.… ah, mouth-watering,” Zane groans, and I sniff the air but can only smell rogue and the fire.
We step into view of everyone ambling over when I hear a growl behind me, making me stare back at Zane. He is staring over my shoulder, and I twist around to see what has his attention. The she-wolf stares at him before her tail slowly starts wagging and getting faster until she is almost bouncing on the spot.
A high-pitched, whimpering noise leaves her before she runs at us. I growl, shoving Sage behind me and covering her when I hear the rearranging of bones.
Zane makes a noise that almost sounds strangled, and I spin around only to find the she-wolf is no longer a wolf but back in her human form, clutching onto him.
Her face is buried in his chest as she sobs, clutching onto him. Zane looks between shocked and crying as he clutches her back, his hand in her hair, holding her to him.
Everyone stares, shocked, and Paige gets up, looking at her sister in fear.
“I got you. You’re safe now,” Zane whispers to her. I clear my throat, seeing all my men’s eyes locked on them in shock and awe.
“Ah hm,” I motion to the girl in his arms, and he looks down, realizing his mate is naked.
“Ah, shit, um,” Zane turns her and shoves her toward the entrance and out of view.
Everyone starts laughing while Zane frantically rips his shirt off to cover her. Sage giggles beside me, and the girl looks around Zane, her eyes widen like she hasn’t even noticed Sage standing there.