If we were to believe that Alpha Walker was near death—and I didn't know how even Delia would manage to fake something like that—there was no one standing in the way. The elders were supposed to stand up in times like this. The pack was accustomed to looking to them during moments of crisis. No one was second-guessing their motivations.
Except us.
I'd like to think Paul, and maybe even Tyrone, were on our side too, but they'd pledged their loyalty to the pack. We couldn't ask them to break that pledge.
The squeal of the megaphone sounded as a warning. "Send out Riley, or we will be forced to come in and get him." Delia's magnified voice echoed in the small room. "The majority of you have pledged to be prospective members of our pack. You've been enjoying our services. Now it is time to show your loyalty. We aren't going to hurt him. We only want to discover who is to blame for poisoning Alpha Walker. The doctors say there is still time, if we hurry."
Forgetting for a moment that none of us were responsible for this, Delia had managed to find a line she knew very well that the others wouldn't cross. We'd never send Riley out. She knew that. Which meant her true goal here had nothing to do with avenging Alpha Walker or trying to get him any help.
"They aren't getting in," Branson said.
"What if they run their truck through the wall?" Riley asked.
I grabbed Kansas's hand and squeezed, knowing he was now imagining that exact thing.
"We need to tell her something," Aver said. "Why don't we say we are willing to be questioned as long as we can remain together? That's fair."
No on disagreed, so Aver and Nana returned to the front door. This time, we waited in the living room. I didn't want or need Kansas to see.
"You're safe," I told him. He had to know that even if every shifter stormed our walls at the same moment, I'd keep him safe.
He gave me a weak smile. "I know. It's still stressful."
"Phin, didn't you get a new card game you wanted to try?" Nash suggested, pulling out his phone.
Aver returned with Nana. No one asked them how it had gone.
"She's refusing. Either Riley comes out, or they storm in," Aver said. "And I got a better look. More representatives came in from outside packs. There's over two hundred shifters out there."
That was a figure I could've done without Kansas hearing.
More rumbling sounds came from outside, followed by what sounded like balloons popping.
"They're slicing our tires," Branson said.
I didn't think they would stop there either. Our vehicles would be shells when we got back to them.
"I've got my investigator on the line," Nash said, setting his phone down on the coffee table in speaker mode. The rest of us crowded around. "Go ahead, Zane."
I'd only heard of these guys in passing. This was the first time I'd heard a name. "Like I was telling Nash, we're still on the east coast, but we've got buddies in the area, nomads we've worked with before." His voice was low and gravelly.
Worked with? What did these guys do? As far as I knew, they'd helped Branson and Nash with digging up information, but the man on the phone didn't sound like some tech guy slaving away in a fluorescent lit office somewhere or cramped in a dark basement. He sounded like someone the predator in me should be wary of.
"You need to be aware you may be going against council law by helping us," Branson said.
"I'll be sure to let them know," Zane said without sounding like he was worried in the slightest.
Outside, a loud engine roared.
"Are you all going to be okay long enough for them to make it to you? They could be miles out," Zane asked.
"We'll make it," Branson answered. "Just get them here."
Nash hung up the phone.
"How is that going to help?" Riley asked immediately after.
"These guys are a different breed," Nash replied, his voice lowered with respect. "Zane and his buddies are all mercenaries—"
"For the council?" Riley asked.
"No, freelance. If he says his nomad friends can get in, they can get in."
That meant we waited. How long would the crowd outside wait before demanding to be let in? "Then we fight our way out?" Kansas asked.
My growl was low. "No, you all sneak out with the nomads and leave us to deal with a problem that should only be ours in the first place."
Riley, Phin, and Wyatt looked to one another.
Julie returned with Phineas, both holding bottles for the babies. At least they'd been playing unaware. Though, with how observant baby Bran was, I didn't doubt he understood something outside of normal was happening. The twins were happily gnawing on a Lincoln log. Until they spotted the bottles. Then both started to bawl.
"Paul's out there in this mess," Riley said, looking at his phone.
"Ask him if he knows anything about Alpha Walker's symptoms," Aver said. "If we can start figuring out what's wrong with him—"
"So you don't think it's me?" I barked.
"Not this time, no," Aver replied without a hint of remorse.
Riley typed out a reply message while Nash returned with an armful of game boxes. "In case we need to entertain ourselves for a while," he said to Phineas.
"I don't think I want to taint my Munchkin game with the memory of this night." Nash sat down next to Phin.
The minutes ticked on, and while Branson, Aver, and Nash spent much of it huddled in one corner talking quietly, I stayed with the mates and children, all of us doing our best to not let it seem there was a reason to be scared. All the babies were looking around more often than normal, probably wondering why the only lights came from the emergency LED candles Aver had set up around the room. I went with Nana into the kitchen to rummage up some food, which we passed out to the room so everyone could continue what they were doing.
When the twins started yawning, I left Kansas's side again to collect some blankets. "Without knowing what's in our future, we should get some sleep. I can take watch."
"I want to watch with you," Kansas said.
I frowned. My preference was for him to sleep, but honestly, I'd feel better with him by my side too. "Okay, if that's what you want."
Branson, Aver, and Nash weren't going to sleep. They migrated to the foyer where their words would be muffled while Nana helped Riley spread the blankets out. After a round of diaper changes and several books, they had the children asleep in a pile on the floor.
"Wouldn't it be better to bring in their cribs?" Kansas whispered, sitting beside me with our backs against the wall, offering a view of the living room and the front door.
"Look at them," I whispered back, plopping my arm over his shoulder.
He did as I asked, watching the group of bodies in the middle of the room. Nana had shifted; she so rarely did these days. Her silver, white, and black fur was long and wavy almost to a curl. She'd lain down in the space over the twins' heads while my mom was curled protectively in her human form, separating the babies from the window. She had her phone out. The faint blue glow illuminated the tight lines of worry on her face, and I wondered who she was talking to. Mr. Boots took residence on her hip, deciding if he fits, he sits.