Chapter 11
After a wild start to the day, Fallon left Avi to rest from his overnight shift and took his place in the garden working with Zara. In the main garden, which had loads of fall vegetables ready to be harvested, they worked together to find ripe pumpkins, squash, and zucchini.
“I’m thinking a nice vegetable medley on the grill for dinner,” Zara said.
“That sounds yummy,” Fallon said. “What would we have with it?”
“Pork loin, maybe. Or chicken. I’ll have to see what’s in the freezer.”
“What’s the plan for the pumpkins?”
“Baked goods for the freezer. Tris likes to bake up a bunch of pumpkin pies for winter, plus she’s got a kickass pumpkin bread with a cream cheese filling recipe.”
“I’d love to help.”
“I’m sure she’d be thrilled.” Zara sat back on her heels.
“It’s amazing how the soulmates for the herd members are just what is needed to help run the farm.
It started off with Tris coming to be the caretaker.
Nancy helps, but Tris was mostly running things on her own.
And then I came along and have gardening and foraging expertise.
Then Tatum is a research machine—anything we need to know, she can find it.
And then there’s you coming in with sewing knowledge and kitchen know-how.
Crew said the farm really feels like it’s running well for the first time since they’ve owned it.
Even with all the problems with Colton and his herd, the guys know that we’ve got the house taken care of and they can focus on the farm work and keeping everyone safe. ”
“It’s amazing how we’ve come into each other’s lives at just the right time.”
Zara smiled. “For sure.”
Fallon lifted a medium-sized pumpkin and twisted it from the vine, setting it on the rolling cart with the others. She paused and looked around, thinking about how much safer she felt knowing the cameras that Colton had planted were gone.
“I’m going to run the pumpkins to the back porch for Tris before the cart gets too heavy to push.”
“I’ll be here, elbow-deep in zucchini and yellow squash.”
Fallon stepped over the rows of pumpkin and pulled the heavy cart to the edge of the large garden. As she pulled it behind her toward the farmhouse, the sudden roar of an engine filled the air, disrupting the calm she’d just enjoyed in the garden.
A van barreled down the road, turning sharply and smashing through the gate. Gravel flew, the van rocking as the tires spun for purchase in the dirt. Fallon froze as the van headed right for her, and then Zara screamed her name.
“Fallon! Run!”
The van’s tires screeched as the driver braked hard and the passenger jumped out, racing right for Fallon. “Cameras or not, you’re coming with me!” he yelled as he ran toward Fallon.
Snapping into action, she jumped behind the cart and kept it between her and the male, who looked wild-eyed and frantic.
“Crew! Help!” Zara shouted. “Weston, you fucker, get the hell out of here!”
Zara joined Fallon, throwing squash at Weston as he tried to grab Fallon.
Fallon ducked as a gourd sailed past her head, smashing against Weston’s shoulder with a dull thud.
He snarled and lunged, shoving the cart toward Zara and knocking her down, and grabbing Fallon’s wrist. She heard the sound of pounding feet and knew the herd was coming to help, but she had to get free of Weston before he dragged her into the waiting van.
“No!” she shouted, twisting her arm hard.
He yanked again, jerking her toward him. She kicked out, aiming for his nuts but getting his knee instead. As he grunted at the impact, she tore free of his grip and stumbled backward.
Ford shouted, “Fallon! Zara! Run!!”
She turned and sprinted toward the barn, grabbing Zara’s arm and pulling her along. Her heart was pounding and dirt was flying as they raced to the barn. Weston shouted for them both, his footsteps following close behind.
Then—a second engine roared.
Fallon looked over her shoulder just in time to see a car barreling through the broken gate and heading right for the van.
Weston skidded to a stop, eyes wide as the car slammed into the van with a deafening sound.
The van shot forward into Weston, crashing into him and throwing his body into the dirt yards away.
Fallon ducked, shielding her head from the dust and debris that rained down on them.
The air stilled.
Coughing, she looked through the haze and saw the car’s driver-side door open.
A female stepped out.
“Mom?”
* * *
Fallon’s knees buckled and she nearly dropped right into the dirt.
“Fallon!” Sera shouted as she jogged toward her.
Fallon’s legs finally caught up to what she was seeing and she ran toward her mom until they caught each other in an embrace, crying and laughing at the same time.
“How are you here?” Fallon asked as she hugged her mom tightly. Then she eased back and studied her. She looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes, but she was there, in the flesh.
Sera cupped her face and kissed her forehead. “Oh, it’s so good to see you! I have so much to tell you. But first, who was trying to grab you?”
Fallon’s brain registered the fact her mom had hit the van with her car and the van had hit Weston. As she leaned past her mom to look at the male on the ground, she saw Avi racing out of the farmhouse toward her, with Crew, Ford, and Grey already with Zara.
“I think you killed him,” Fallon said. He didn’t seem to be moving. But good riddance to bad rubbish, as her grandma would say.
“Well, he wasn’t a good guy, right? I just…as I was coming up to the farm, I saw him grab you and I could practically feel your panic, so I just gunned it.”
“Good job. He was definitely a bad guy.”
Sera chuckled and tears spilled down her cheeks. She hugged Fallon again. “Baby girl, I’m so happy to see you.”
“Fallon?” Avi asked as he slowed his approach. “Are you okay? Who is this?”
“It’s my mom.” She held out a hand to Avi and he took it, drawing close to them. “I’m fine. Mom saved me by using her car as a battering ram. Mom, this is my soulmate, Avi. This is my mom, Sera.”
Her mom’s brows rose. “Well, that’s amazing news! It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. Thanks for saving Fallon.”
“I’m glad I could.”
There was a ruckus behind them and they turned to watch Crew and Ford pull the other male out of the van, who was hollering for mercy.
“Who is that?” Fallon asked.
“Asher, one of Colton’s guys,” Avi said with a derisive sniff.
Fallon gasped softly. “Weston’s your cousin.”
“Wait, he’s a bad guy? Your family?” Sera asked.
“That’s a long story,” Avi said. “Suffice it to say that this male is definitely an enemy of the herd.”
“Herd?” Sera asked.
“We’re stallions.”
“Wow, now that’s pretty neat.”
Fallon couldn’t get over her mom being the one who saved the day. Talk about good timing.
They joined the others, watching as Crew threatened to kill Asher because he’d attempted to harm one of his herd members.
“Avi! Avi, come on, man,” Asher said, making eye contact with him. “Don’t kill me!”
“I don’t even know you,” Avi said. “You’re not my family and you’re not my herd.”
Crew let out a low snarl. “I don’t want to kill in cold blood. But know this, Asher. If I see you again, I will take it as an act of war and I will stop your heart where you stand. Are we clear?”
The male nodded vigorously, wincing as Ford gripped his shoulder tightly.
“Get Weston and get the hell out of here before I change my mind,” Crew said with a low, deadly voice. “And tell Colton that he would be wise to bury his brother and move on. The Little River Herd will never be his.”
Ford gave Asher a good shake and the male let out a stifled sob. When Ford let go of his shoulder, the male hurried to Weston and dragged his body to the van, hauling him into the back and rushing to jump behind the wheel.
As the tires peeled out and gravel and dirt sprayed behind them, everyone shielded their faces.
“So,” Crew said, turning to face them. “Thanks for coming to Fallon’s rescue. You two look a lot alike, so I think you’re her mom, Sera?”
“Yes, I am. I’m sorry that I killed him, I just kind of panicked when I saw Fallon’s situation.”
“Don’t apologize. They knew if they set foot in our territory they would pay the price.”
“Who knew the price would be paid courtesy of a vehicle?” Grey quipped.
Avi snorted and hugged Fallon. “I’m so glad you’re okay, sweetheart.”
“Trust me, I am too.”
“Let’s go inside and talk. I think Sera has a story for us, and then we need to repair the gate and fence.”
They headed into the house, but before they walked inside, Fallon faced her mom and Avi. “I’m so glad to see you, Mom. I was so worried.”
“I’m glad to see you too. I feel like it’s been ages since we’ve been together, but it’s only been a week and a half!”
“Let’s go inside, I want to know the whole story,” Fallon said.
Avi nodded and opened the door for them.
At the big kitchen table, Zara and Tris passed around drinks for everyone. Fallon sat between her mom and Avi, feeling like the most blessed person on the planet. And the luckiest.
“So, Otto has been gone for a few days, along with his high-ranked males. He left males from our prowl in charge, but they were lazy and not really beholden to him once he was out of sight. I watched carefully for a few days and figured out their schedule, and then last night, I packed a couple things in a shoulder bag, strapped it on myself, and shifted. I ran for an hour until I reached a town that had a rental car business, and I rented a car and came here. I’m really thankful I got the insurance, since I dented the heck out of the fender. ”
“How did you know I was here?” Fallon asked.
“I called Sunny on a burner phone in case someone was tracking my old phone, and she told me that her friends believed Otto was watching the park, and that it wasn’t safe to come there. She gave me your address and I drove here. Just in time too.”
Crew drummed his fingers on the table. “I’m glad you made it here safely and also saved Fallon from being taken. But the question is, why did Weston and Asher bust through the gate like they did?”
“Maybe they decided to escalate because we took down the cameras?” Ford offered.
Avi hummed. “Weston was always impulsive. If they were watching the farm, they might know that someone was always in the garden in the morning, that it would be Zara and Fallon and me, and he could have just taken a chance and busted in to take whoever was there.”
“He did mention my name, though,” Fallon said, recalling his words. “He might have planned to kill whoever was there and grab me.”
“I’m not sorry he’s dead,” Avi said. “But I am a little worried about this making Colton full-blown insane.”
The table was quiet, and then Grey said, “What if we reach out to the park and ask if they can spare some security team guys for a few days? Just until we see if Colton will retaliate.”
“They do have a big group of security team members,” Tris said. “Khyle and I both stayed there at one point, and the wolves and lions all helped with security, and even some of the bears too.”
“The alphas said they’d help if we needed it,” Crew said. “I think a couple of extra people around would be a good idea.”
“Where can my mom stay?” Fallon asked.
“We’ve got empty bedrooms on the second floor,” Zara said.
“I’ll put fresh bedding on the one closest to yours and Avi’s room, Fallon,” Tris said, pushing back in the chair and rising to her feet. “Crew, are you going to call Dexter and Khyle, or would you like me to?”
“I’ll reach out since we need help with the fence repairs.”
Tris nodded and left the kitchen, and the others made plans to get back to work.
“Are the keys in the car? I can move it and then we can make arrangements to get it picked up by the rental car company,” Avi said.
“They’re still in there, and the paperwork is in the glovebox.”
He nodded and kissed the side of Fallon’s head, then disappeared.
Letting out a deep sigh, Fallon leaned back in the chair and said, “Holy crap, Mom.”
“I do like to make an entrance,” Sera said with a chuckle.
“Mom, I’ve missed you a ton.”
“I missed you too, honey. Now,” she said, turning sideways in the chair and giving Fallon a curious look. “Tell me everything. How you came to be here. Avi. The herd. All the tea.”
“Well, it started with an explosion in the park…”