Chapter 15
Janie waited while Delilah wrapped up her phone call with Tessa.
When she was done, Delilah smiled as she slipped her cell phone into her pocket. “I’m happy that she’s made some friends she enjoys.”
“Me, too.”
“I didn’t think she would. She’s got a strong personality, you know,” Delilah said.
“That’s part of her charm. Just like you,” Janie answered.
“It is, isn’t it? How nice of you to say so.”
Janie nodded, but it was clear she was still not herself.
Delilah turned on Janie, intentionally stepping into her personal space. “So, tell me why you lied to Bane.”
“What?” Janie asked. “I didn’t lie.”
“You weren’t truthful, either. I scented a bit of deception. You’re not okay, but you didn’t want to tell him.”
“I’m okay. I promise.”
Delilah regarded her for a few moments, and Janie stared directly into Delilah’s eyes, giving her the opportunity to determine for herself that she wasn’t lying.
“Fine. Then who isn’t alright? What is keeping you from feeling settled. You said today is the first time you’ve envied being a shifter able to defend your child. Why would you say that?” Delilah asked.
“I’m not sure.”
“You’re confusing me, Janie.”
Janie walked a few steps away, then all of a sudden turned and faced Delilah, deciding to just let out everything she’d been holding in. “I think someone hurt Daisy, and I wish I could find out who and track them down and make them pay.”
Delilah’s brows raised and she straightened her back a little. “Oh, really. Tell me…”
“I can’t. She won’t tell me, and she obviously doesn’t want any of our generation to know anything at all if there is something. But she’s obviously been nursing wounds that aren’t physical. She’s got no interest in completing her degree though it’s only a few classes that she needs, and while she’s not as outgoing as some of the others, she’s never been one to hide herself away, and that’s exactly what I think she’s been doing.”
“Who does know what’s happened?” Delilah asked.
“I’m not sure. I know all of Brandt’s clan know something’s off, but I’m not sure that any of them really know what’s going on. I do know that Analise spent a lot of time with her before she and Havoc worked everything out, and she seems to be a little better at least, but maybe Analise knows. Maybe I’m just being an overprotective mother and Daisy is just burned out and needs a place to make a soft landing and regroup. I don’t know,” Janie said, falling tiredly into the deck chair behind her.
“Well, seems to me there’s only one thing to do,” Delilah said.
“What’s that?”
“We have to figure out what’s happened so that we can figure out who we need to kill.”
“Delilah!” Janie exclaimed.
“What? You said you envied shifters because they could get revenge on those who hurt their children. You’re not a shifter. I am. We’ll work together on this.”
“What if she gets upset that we’re pressing her on it? I don’t want her any more stressed than she has been. She’s finally beginning to smile again.And not just that, none of them are really including us in their issues anymore.”
“I know,” Delilah said. “It’s very hard to sit on the sideline after so many years of mothering. But, we can find a way that she’ll never know.”
“And it’s not just that. I’m afraid if someone did intentionally hurt her, Brandt will demand to handle it. And he’ll get upset if we go around him. So that’s another problem,” Janie said. “Not only is he her brother, he’s her Alpha.”
“I see the problem. And while I do love and admire Brandt, he is her brother and Alpha; he’s neither to me. My own Alpha knows better than to try to corral me.”
“That is true,” Janie said, thinking of all the times Kaid and Delilah had gotten into it over something she wanted to do and he didn’t want her to do.
The door opened and Valerie stepped outside. “What are y’all talking about?”
“Avenging our children when they’ve been hurt,” Delilah said with a smile.
“Not necessarily. We’re also talking about how to know when our children are hurt, or even need us at all since they don’t tell us anything anymore.”
“I think it’s because now that they’re adults, they want to handle their own issues. Which is admirable. And I respect that,” Valerie said. “But damn I hate that I’m not allowed to take care of them anymore.”
“Same,” Janie agreed.
“Something’s going on with Hellen, and no matter how much I question, she just keeps saying, ‘I’m fine, Mom’. I’m not sure if I want to box her ears in frustration or follow her so I can find out what her issue is and protect her from it,” Valerie said.
“Same, but for Daisy,” Janie said.
“Seems to me, we’ve gotten lax. We just need to make ourselves more of a presence in their lives.”
“Maybe Tempest knows what’s going on with all of them,” Janie said.
Delilah nodded. “If she doesn’t, I’m sure she can find out, and rather easily at that.”
“You’re both missing something here,” Valerie said.
“What’s that?” Delilah asked.
“She’s Brandt’s mate. She’s the Alpha’s mate. She wields power like you do with Kaid.”
“And?” Delilah asked.
“She’s not going to sell out any of her clan mates. She’s not going to be in cahoots with us, if what we’re asking for is information that our own kids haven’t offered us. It’s a matter of trust.”
Delilah scowled, then that scowl softened into a smile. “We’re not asking her to tell us anything she shouldn’t. We’re just inviting her to brunch with us, and a little harmless gossiping,” Delilah said.
“I think I’m staying home,” Janie said.
The front door opened and Ronan stuck his head out. “Emmalyn’s waking up!”
All three women hurried back inside, their conversation on how to get more information on their children forgotten for the moment.
~~~
“Momma?” Emmalyn said weakly.
Bam, Everly, Analise, all turned their eyes to her.
Barron’s head popped up from where he’d been resting it on Emmalyn’s bedside.
“Em!” Barron said, holding her hand in both of his. “Em, you’re awake,” he said, doing his best to maintain his composure as his voice cracked with emotion.
Emmalyn turned her hazy unfocused gaze on Barron. “’S okay,” she said, her lids falling closed again. “Where’s Momma?”
“I’m right here, Emmalyn,” Everly asked. “Can you hear me?”
“Mmhmm,” Emmalyn answered, though her eyes stayed closed.
“I’m here, too, Em,” Bam said, looking down at his youngest as tears streamed down his face.
“Daddy,” she whispered.
Barron squeezed her hand, then brought it up to kiss.
She forced her eyes open to try to see Barron.
“Love you,” she whispered, letting her eyes close again.
“I love you,” Barron answered, letting go of her hand with one of his to run his fingertips over her cheek.
Analise sobbed, unable to hold her emotions in anymore.
Emmalyn’s brow wrinkled and she opened her eyes once again. “Stop that,” she whispered. “’S okay.”
“You already said that,” Analise pointed out, trying to get more of a rise out of her sister as they always did to each other.
Emmalyn flashed a brief smile, despite her closed eyes.
“Do you need us to do anything? Do you want anything at all?” Everly asked.
“So…” she said, taking long, slow breaths between her words, “tired.”
“You rest. We’re right here. Nobody’s going anywhere,” Barron said. “You’re safe, Em.”
Emmalyn didn’t say anything, but her hand squeezed Barron’s several times.
“We’ll be right here when you wake up again,” Barron promised, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
Emmalyn clung to Barron’s hand as she let herself fall back into a healing sleep. She wasn’t sure about much of anything except that her family was here with her, and Barron’s hand anchored her to the only place that really mattered to her — home. And somewhere deep inside of her she finally understood that Barron was her home.
Once she’d settled and her breathing indicated she was sleeping soundly again, Analise opened the bedroom door to let everyone know she’d actually spoken to them, but everyone already knew. They were all crowded in the hallway outside Barron’s bedroom and had heard everything.
“She spoke to us,” Analise said.
“We heard,” Avaleigh said.
Delilah swiped at her eyes, then leaned into Kaid’s embrace. It was a difficult thing to watch your child struggle through the possibility of losing their mate. Thankfully, she’d pulled through.
There wasn’t a person there that wasn’t relieved and sending up little prayers of thanks to whatever entity they happened to believe in.
Standing just inside the living room alone out of sight of everyone crowding in the hallway outside Barron’s bedroom, Brandt held Tempest in his arms as they stood quietly, listening to Emmalyn’s weakly spoken words, then everyone’s response to knowing she was okay.
“She’s very lucky,” Tempest said, smiling softly as she rested her head against Brandt’s chest. “I feel terrible that all this happened to Emmalyn.”
“It’s not your fault. You had to take a step back when you started feeling off balance.”
“I know, but still. Maybe if I’d stayed more in tune with everybody, I’d have known she needed help.”
“You have to do what’s best for you right now. And if that means turning off some of your abilities for the time being, then that’s what it means. Besides you can’t accept responsibilities for all of us and every little thing that happens. We’re all adults here, and we were taking care of ourselves all our lives.”
“Yeah, but now you’re my people.”
“And nothing is gonna change that. But there’s always another way. If not, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“I’m really glad to hear her voice, though.”
“Me, too.”
“I don’t even want to imagine what would have happened if we hadn’t found her when we did.”
Tempest lifted her head and rested her forehead against his. She shrugged slightly. “I’d have tried to bring her back.”
“You can’t do that,” Brandt said.
“Maybe, maybe not. I’ve never tried. I’ve always believed that if nature decides it’s someone’s time, it’s their time. But it wouldn’t have been nature deciding this. It would have been a mad man, and I couldn’t have let her life just end that way.”
“Tempest…”
“I’m just being honest.”
“And the baby?”
“Luckily we didn’t have to find out.”
“I need you to take extra care of yourself. I know there are things you can do that nobody should be able to do, but you have more to think about than just you. It’s me, and it’s the baby. I need you to be cautious, take extra care.”
“I am. But this is an unusual circumstance.”
Brandt sighed and pulled her back into his arms. “No more of all your little wispy things. Just let me do all the heavy lifting for now.”
“Heavy lifting?” she asked laughingly.
“You know what I mean, the more dangerous things.”
“I’ll try,” she said, still grinning.
~~~
Later, after most everyone had gone home, Analise sat on the sofa with Harley sleeping across her lap. Havoc sat beside her, with his arm draped across her shoulders. Brandt and Tempest were on the love seat. The bedroom door opened and Bam and Everly walked out.
“How is she?” Brandt asked.
“Still resting. Seems to be more peacefully than before,” Everly said.
“You should go home and get rest, Mom. We’re headed that way ourselves,” Analise said.
“I’m not going anywhere until she can sit up and talk to me,” Bam said.
“Barron does have the extra bedroom. You two should rest in there. That way you’ll be here and able to help if he needs something,” Tempest said.
“We just might do that,” Everly said. “You two should go on home and put that baby to bed.”
Brandt and Tempest quickly looked up at Everly, then both seemed to realize she was speaking to Analise.
“We are. I just needed to be sure she’s stable before I left,” Analise said.
“She’s going to be fine,” Everly said.
“Alright, well I’ll be back first thing in the morning so you can run home and do whatever you need to do. I’ll stay with her and Barron until you get back.”
“I’ll see you then,” Everly said.
Havoc got up and lifted Harley into his arms, freeing Analise so she could stand and tell her parents good night. Analise kissed Everly’s cheek. “I love you, Mom.”
Then she hugged Bam. “I love you, Daddy,” Analise said.
“I love you, too,” Bam said. He was still holding Analise in a bear hug when he lifted an arm and pointed at Havoc. “Do not let her out of your sight for now.”
“How about forever?” Havoc answered seriously.
“I like that even better,” Bam said.
“She’ll be safe, Uncle Bam. You know how I am. She’ll always be safe,” Havoc said.
“I can help y’all get home,” Bam said.
“No, that’s not necessary. Tempest and I are going home and if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll see them home before we go home,” Brandt said.
“’Cause I need you to walk me like I can’t handle shit myself,” Havoc scoffed.
“Bam, honey, there is no more danger. It’s been eliminated. I can attest to that personally.”
“I know, but I still feel like… I don’t know, like I need to do something!” Bam said.
“It’s okay. The threat is gone. Y’all all go on home and get some rest. We’ll still be here in the morning,” Everly said.
“I’m just a thought away,” Brandt said, to everyone, not singling anyone out.
“Same,” Havoc said, ushering his mate and daughter out of the front door.
The door clicked closed behind them and Bam patted Brandt on the shoulder. “I’m going to tell Emmalyn goodnight one more time.”
Everly watched as he turned and walked back into the bedroom Barron and Emmalyn were in, then she smiled at Brandt and Tempest. “So, when is the baby due?”
They both sputtered denials. “What? What baby? What are you talking about?”
Everly hugged Tempest. “That’s fine. Keep your secret until you’re ready to share. But congratulations. If you need anything at all, let me know.”
Tempest and Brandt shared a look, before Tempest decided to come clean. “How did you know?”
“I saw the way you both looked at me when I told Analise and Havoc to take Harley home and put her to bed. You thought I meant the two of you. Pair that with the way Tempest didn’t jump right in to heal Emmalyn, instead boosting the healing abilities of Bam and Daisy, and it just made sense.”
“I wish I could have done more,” Tempest confessed.
“You did all you could, and that’s what matters. You can’t help everyone else to the point that you harm yourself, or your babies. Thank you, Tempest for all you did for my Emmalyn.”
“You’re welcome,” Tempest said, holding Everly tight when Everly leaned in for another hug.
Everly let go and stepped back. “And now, the two of you should go home and put your baby to bed. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I’m so excited to meet your little one when they arrive.”
Brandt kissed his aunt, then led Tempest toward the door. “If you need anything at all, just reach out for me, Aunt Everly.”
“We will, Brandt. Thank you.”