Chapter 10
Malcolm watched as the man walked over, handing Clare back her phone. Malcolm knew the look on his face well—a mix of rage and helplessness. Malcolm had worn that look many times.
“I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for my sister,” Brock said, looking down at Clare.
“It’s what I do,” Clare said, and Malcolm noticed her quick glance toward Garrett and Dell before her focus returned to Brock. “Did you not know?”
“If I had known, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.” Brock ran his hand through his dark hair. “She never told me, and when I did talk to her, everything seemed to be fine.”
Clare nodded as if understanding. Malcolm glanced at Jamie, who looked his way with sadness in her eyes.
“She didn’t want to involve you because she didn’t want you to get hurt,” Jamie said, her gaze still holding on to Malcolm’s.
Even though Malcolm didn’t see the physical abuse, he at times did see the mental abuse. Whenever he tried to intervene, Jamie would stop him.
Brock glanced at Jamie and then sighed. “That’s what she said, but I’m her brother, and it’s my duty to protect her.”
“That duty goes both ways. The only blame goes to the abuser, no one else.” Jamie finally pulled her gaze away from Malcolm after that statement, which he was sure was directed at him.
“Can you tell me where she is so I can go?” Brock looked back to Clare.
“I’ll take you,” Clare replied, walking over to grab her bag. “I want to talk to Tammy more about the shelters that refused her.”
“Wait a minute.” Dell, who had been silent, broke in. “You aren’t going anywhere alone.”
“She won’t be alone,” Brock replied, looking toward Dell. “She will be with me. I will make sure she is safe and returned safely.”
Malcolm felt a growl build in his chest but kept it silent. He sure as fuck would not let Clare leave alone with this man who was an ex-Alpha from a Shifter pack he had never heard of. He didn’t give a shit that Dell was in charge. Devon had filled him in on what they had learned while he was inside with Clare, and he didn’t like it. Clare could be in deep trouble.
“Um, I can handle myself,” Clare said with a frown. “I”ve been doing that for a while now.”
Dell turned his glare to Clare. “Which is something we will be talking about.” His attention snapped from her to Brock. “As a former Alpha, I think you know I will demand answers from you and your pack.”
“Former pack.” Brock corrected him with a frown. “And I agree. I will tell you everything you need to know as soon as I know my sister is completely safe.”
Malcolm saw Dell observe the man closely before he nodded. “Good.”
“Can we go now?” Clare sighed, glancing at her phone. “The longer we stand here, the greater the chance that Tammy’s ex will find her. This is her fourth time trying to escape him, and I’m going to make damn sure it’s the last time. I should have been there an hour ago.”
“You were going to go alone?” Malcolm growled, not liking the thought that she was putting herself in danger, and wondered how many times she had done this.
“Yes,” Clare said as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“Let’s go,” Dell said, then started for the door, but Malcolm saw Clare’s frown as she shook her head.
“Tammy is terrified right now. I can’t ride up there with a bunch of strange men she doesn’t know.” Clare stated, looking annoyed. “I will take Brock, get Tammy and her son, then come back here.”
“No.” Every male said in unison other than Brock.
Clare huffed. “I am not going to frighten this girl any more than she already is. I have been doing this for a long time. I know what I’m doing?”
“Then why did you look shocked when you found out she was a Shifter?” Malcolm asked with a cocked eyebrow.
Clare didn’t answer right away as she looked at everyone. “Because I told myself that if I happen to come across a woman in need who was a Shifter, I would bring the issue to Dell and Garrett. Not that I wouldn’t have helped her, because I most certainly would have. But I know the Shifter way is different in these circumstances, and I would never bring harm to your pack. It just never happened until now, and I just found out.”
“That’s because things are handled differently in our world,” Jamie said. “As a Shifter woman, I can tell you that outside help is rare. I’m not surprised Tammy was refused help in the…human world.”
“Well, that needs to change,” Clare said, her voice firm.
“Is this asshole part of your former pack?” This came from Hunter.
“She won’t tell me?” Brock frowned, looking as agitated as Clare.
“Dammit.” Dell cursed, glancing at Garrett. “You ever hear of the Nightwalkers?”
“No.” Garrett frowned, glancing at Brock. “The only pack I know in Wolf County at this time is Shadow Hounds.”
“Can we please talk about all this later?” Clare threw up her hands. “Seriously, the longer this takes, the more danger Tammy is in.”
“Devon, you take Clare and Brock,” Dell ordered, then looked at Malcolm. “You follow them.”
Malcolm nodded even though he had planned on going before the order was given. His overwhelming need to protect Clare made that decision.
“How far away is she?” Dell turned to Clare. “The rest of us will be here ready just in case backup is needed.”
“She’s at the Shady Side Hotel off Old Kentucky Highway,” Clare informed him. “Thank you. I just don’t want to traumatize her or her son any more than they already are.”
Malcolm started to follow them out but stopped when Dell stopped Clare. He knew what Clare had done was dangerous for the whole pack, but he respected her for what she was doing. He wished that Jamie had someone like Clare when she needed help.
“We need to talk as soon as this is taken care of, Clare,” Dell said, his voice low but was heard by everyone.
“I know.” She responded with a nod as she walked out.
Malcolm shared a look with Jamie as he walked out, and he knew that, without a doubt, his sister was going to stand up for Clare when that time came. And at that very moment, he knew he would also. Maybe it wasn’t too late for him to make a difference in someone’s life, even though he had been too late with his own sister.