Kalina ~ Book Four

“That’s it, Bea. Just lie it on its side now and backfill the row.”

Sylvie smiled encouragingly as Bea helped her plant some seedlings she had been growing on the windowsill of Amira’s cabin.

The sunny spot behind her house was warm and sheltered enough, with sandy-loam soil giving Amira’s herbs the best chance at thriving.

Her students flitted around the forest edge with their parents preparing for their first shift. The waxing moon looked only three or four days from fullness, so Sylvie gave the children time off with their families in anticipation of the colossal change.

All Bea knew was they were preparing for a camping trip, and Sylvie hoped by then she would find her family so her shifters could train, shift and live in peace.

“Now press firmly- Perfect. Thank you.”

“Welcome,” Bea’s gritty voice barely pierced the air between them. Sylvie tried not to react, but her heart nearly leapt into her throat.

If she came on too strong, she’d scare her off. The voice she used was hardly a whisper.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

Bea didn't reply but craned her head back and blinked at the clear sky. It was always a beautiful day there, the crispness of autumn a bearable cold for the shifters, and even Sylvie had grown numb to it. Bea, though, all wrapped in sweats and a thick jacket, puffed an icy cloud from her lips.

“Cold,” she rasped.

“Yeah, it is cold. After this, I’ll make you a warm drink. Would you like that?”

Bea turned to peer at her under thick lashes, the hollow of her cheeks growing as she sucked them between her teeth and nodded.

“Anything but tea.”

Sylvie couldn't stop the laugh that poured out. Bea was startled by the sound at first, but her face slowly morphed into a slight grin.

“Fine. Hot chocolate or coffee?”

“Chocolate,” she breathed.

Sylvie wasn’t sure if she was answering the question or simply marvelling at the offer of chocolate. Bea’s cheeks flushed, and she finished the last two seedling replants in record time, earning another chuckle from Sylvie.

With a smile, Sylvie headed inside and returned with two steaming mugs. Despite the absence of Rowan and Kian, she found contentment in the pack.

Her students and their families were busy, so she began studying Amira’s journals that the healer so lovingly offered a few days prior after Bea refused the tea reading.

Sylvie flicked through some pages as Bea read her own book, a young adult fantasy series and sipped the sweet chocolate drink.

Elias hovered, near enough to flit in and save her if the need arose, which she loathed, but the time with Bea was peaceful.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Elias appeared at the edge of their picnic blanket, his eyes squinting at the harsh sunlight. Their icy blue hue morphed into a tinge of crimson before he blinked it away.

“I need to drive into the city. Invite Rosie for a sleepover.”

“Okay?”

From his tone, Sylvie knew there was no room for argument or questions, at least not in front of Bea, and she stood, leaving her half-full mug precariously on the grass.

“I’ll only be a few hours. Home by sunset,” he said.

Sylvie placed her hand on his shoulder and guided him out of hearing distance. She wanted to hug him, kiss his tightly pressed lips until he relaxed, but Bea was watching, and in her mind, Rowan was Sylvie's ‘boyfriend’.

Monotony tended to be preferred in humans. Not always, but often.

Though Sylvie had been raised by humans, after over a decade of rediscovering her heritage, she had never felt less human.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too, Kitten.”

“What happened?”

Elias's jaw twitched as he angled his body away from the picnic blanket. “Unauthorised firings. And Penny didn’t show up to work.”

“Your admin lady?”

“It’s been three days.”

“Is she missing- missing?”

“No one’s seen her. Even family.”

“Fuck.” Sylvie rubbed her arms as the cold settled into her bones. “Do you think this has to do with the new guy? Grey?”

“Not a fucking clue, but he’s the first person I’ll see. I knew hiring a human to take my place was a fucking mistake.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Wasn’t your fault.”

“I know, but it sucks. I’ll see you tonight and find out what happened to Penny.”

Elias nodded and glanced over her shoulder, probably at Bea.

“I will. Call Rosie over.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You’re lucky we have an audience, or I’d spank you right here.”

Sylvie grinned and gave him a flirty wink before he turned and headed out. She waved as he drove off in the new Jeep he bought after his Lexus got scrapped —pure black with tinted windows and brand spanking new. Once he got back, she’d give it a spin.

She returned to the garden and smiled at the girl cradling her hot chocolate mug.

“Bea, I’m just gonna make a quick call; I’ll be right back. You want a sandwich?”

“Yes, please.”

With a nod, Sylvie jogged up the back steps and headed for her office. The set-up was modest and tidy, with a desk in the centre of the room with a monitor, computer tower, and laptop.

All her files, research, Amira’s notes and curriculum info for her kid's schooling lay in neat piles on the shelves to the left of her black ergonomic chair.

She climbed into it, annoyed she couldn't slump back on the glorified rocking horse and punched in Rowan's cell number. He picked up on the third ring. “Yeah, baby?”

He must’ve been alone.

“Where’s Kian?”

“Finishing the last section of wards. We’ll be home by tomorrow morning.”

“So, how’d it go? It was the cops, right?”

“Yeah, claimed they were hiding minors onsite and suspected Fraser of abusing them.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Wish I was. There are two seventeen-year-old turned shifters, but they have no family besides the pack. Kian just wiped the human's minds of everything. Everyone’s home safe now.”

Sylvie’s heart swelled with pride at the kindness of her mates. If Fraser didn’t believe Rowan's motives were for good, this had to prove it. Wolves and Lions could be allies.

“I’m proud of you.”

“I know.”

“You can feel it?”

“Like the feeling was my own. It’s very distracting when you’re getting pleasured-”

“Rowan!”

His warm chuckle on the line made her skin tingle and skin flush.

“Why has Elias left you alone, by the way?”

“Work shit. It’s fine. I’ll invite Rosie for dinner, and he should be home after that.”

Sylvie could almost feel his discomfort through the phone.

“How are your kids?” Rowan asked, smartly changing the topic.

“Fine. Preparing. They’re very excited for your return.”

He hummed before an annoyed click of the tongue hit her ears. “What is it?”

“Humans.”

“I thought you said Kian wiped their memories.”

“He did. Talk soon.”

“Okay, bye-”

The call ended without Rowan’s farewell, and Sylvie scowled at the phone. What the fuck was that? She focused her annoyance for a moment until her screen flashed with a text.

‘Sorry, Sweetheart, emergency.’

She sighed and dropped the phone beside her keyboard, typing in her password: EKRcradlesnatchers.

The screen immediately brought up her last site used, missingpersons.org, and she typed in Penny’s name. Immediately, the search had three results that took her to different websites. One was a news article, and the others were social media posts, each tugging at her heartstrings a little more.

Poor Penny. She deserved better.

Her mind returned to Bea still waiting outside from her, and she jumped up, heading for the kitchen—another person who deserved better.

She made a quick sandwich and returned to the girl, silently observing her as she rounded the house. She lay on her stomach, reading her fantasy book and swirled a blade of grass between her fingers.

The change in her from the day in the forest till now was unbelievable, and Sylvie wasn’t arrogant enough to claim it was all her doing, but she felt good knowing she could help her in some way. For once, she could be the person she had needed as a teenager. As a child, too.

She handed the sandwich over and lay beside her, reading Amira’s book and basking in the sun.

The day was as good as it could get.

The day was as bad as it could get without anyone dying. Rowan blocked the armed police from barging through the front door of Fraser's packhouse and used his Alpha energy to make the humans yield.

For another shifter, the result was always immediate submission. For these humans, it only worked at activating their stress hormones to an almost unbearable level. Not enough, apparently, the fucking humans continuing to be a nuisance.

One male officer pushed to the front, his pheromones filling Rowan’s nose with the stench of terror. “Move aside. We know the suspects are here.”

How would he know?

Rowan had sent Fraser inside the second the gate guards mindlinked him of the disturbance and hadn't moved from the stoop.

“You've already told me you don't have a warrant to search this house. You aren't coming in. Back off.”

“If you continue to stand in our way, you will be arrested for obstruction.”

The weapons were drawn but not yet in Rowan’s face. They were smart enough to let their instincts warn them of that terrible action. Even if they didn't understand their fear of Rowan, they knew subconsciously not to push too far.

He wasn’t one to participate in mindless violence, but a threat to those he cared about was enough of a reason. Now Fraser was Alpha to many of his people, and the pack was officially his Ally; the police gave him all the reasons to use deadly force.

Sylvie wouldn't like it, though, so his patience extended.

“You are not entering this property. Leave now.” He just had to wait for Kian. The wards had to be done by now; they had almost been complete when Sylvie called, and it had been at least ten minutes since he accidentally hung up on her.

He had shut off some of his emotions through the bond as the dozen unmarked police cars and vans pulled up, lest he had a distracting tug of worry from his beautiful mate.

“Fraser Young. Come out with your hands up, and we won’t arrest the rest of your cult for aiding and abetting.”

Wisely, Fraser didn't step out. Instead, Rowan let the full extent of his aura tear out. His wolf was dying for a kill, but he reigned him in just enough.

The officers staggered back a step and looked at each other uncertainly. Would they let their egos get the better of them, or would they leave peacefully?

A sudden wave of energy from the side of the house sent the officers careening back another few feet.

Finally. Kian.

“There is no one here,” he crooned. “This land is barren. This land is void. There are no people here.” He spoke a few more words in ancient Fae and repeated the chant.

Soon, the officers said the words to one another, backing away. Kian staggered to the steps where Rowan stood and buckled from exhaustion.

“Shit.” As he fell, Rowan grabbed his torso and hoisted him up the steps, guiding him inside out of harm's way as the humans regrouped, the power bearing down on them dwindling as his attention split.

This time, when he turned, a gun was in his face, clasped in steady hands, and in the background were inhuman grins and empty black eyes.

In an instant of violence and fury, everything went to hell.