Page 58 of The Rabbit's Foot
Ivan leaned in, his face near Alp’s. “We failed our leader. Because of us, his family died. It is something we can never make right.”
“How did it happen?”
A whimper slid out of Teddy’s throat, and he squeezed his eyes shut tight.
Ivan wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulder and pulled him in close. “Teddy and I were guarding the perimeter. We watched throughout the night and never knew anything had happened until the alarm was raised. By then it was too late.” He sighed. “We were dragged before our leader, who accused us of dereliction of duty. The thing was, we weren’t. We never strayed from our post, and we were vigilant throughout the night.”
“He had us stripped,” Teddy whispered. “Then he forced us to shift into our human forms and beat us. Neither of us cried out or asked him to stop. Our lives were forfeit, and we understood that. He didn’t kill us, though. When he tired of the beating, he had his people lock us away in a small room. After what seemed like several days, he came back and ordered them to drag us behind the truck, then dumped us in the forest. We lay there as snowflakes covered our naked bodies, waiting to die. That was where the First’s made found us.”
“She is a goddess,” Ivan said, clutching his brother’s hand. “After she made sure we mended, we told her what we’d done, and she said it didn’t matter, we were hers now and we were safe. She protected us. She gave us purpose again. She trusted us to look after her sons, her mate. We cannot fail her, not like we did our own people.”
“I keep telling you, brother. Cece said we did not fail.” Teddy peered up at Alp. “We heard later that someone in our sleuth, angry over something our leader did, snuck in at night and attacked his family. We never detected an enemy because he was one of us.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Teddy moaned, burying his face in Ivan’s chest, weeping. “They still ended up dead, and there is no way for us to erase that stain from our past. Cece and Damon have been good to us. They treat us as part of their pack. We owe them our lives.”
“I don’t think Cece sees it that way,” Alp said. “As shifters, we are supposed to care for each other. No shifter, from the tiniest hedgehog to the largest whale, is better than another. That’s the lesson she was trying to impart.”
“No,” the men said together. “We owe them, and we will serve them for as long as we live,” Ivan finished. “This is a debt of blood and honor.”
“I would never try to tell you otherwise,” Alp insisted. “But maybe talk with Cece to see what she expects from you. What you’re doing is good and decent, but what about finding someone to love? Raising families of your own? How does that fit into the lives you’re planning on living?”
The men looked at each other, and Alp could see the pain and indecisiveness in their expressions.
“Talk to Cece,” he said. “Don’t put your life on hold for no reason.” He gestured toward the front of the truck. “If nothing else, this should show you that tomorrow is never promised, so you need to make the most of what you can today.” He stood and patted their shoulders. “Just think about it,” Alp said, before going back to his seat.
He watched for a few moments as they talked, gesturing to each other. Alp had no idea what would happen once they got to the labs, but he had given some good advice. He told Mal he loved him, and that was enough. If he had to go meet the Maker, he’d do it knowing he had been a good person—mostly—and lived a—mostly—good life.
And that was enough.
Chapter 19
The nervous energy that rolled off Alp was enough to make Mal’s stomach churn. He could feel every bit of the fear that Alp did, and it showed Mal once again how strong his bunny was. If Mal’s heart was hammering the way Alp’s was, he’d turn tail and run as far and as fast as his legs would carry him. Not Alp, though. Even on the brink of a full-blown panic attack, Alp stayed, and pride swelled in Mal’s chest.
“It’s nearly time,” Cece whispered. “Damon is hidden behind the shack. As soon as the door opens, he, Ivan, and Teddy will go inside to ensure they can’t lock us out. Once they’re done, we will all rush in and….” She peered at Alp. “Do what we need to.”
“Kill them,” Alp snapped. “Don’t try to sugarcoat it. That’s beneath you.”
He put a finger in his mouth and nibbled on the nail. Mal took the hand in his and held it tight.
“Alp? Sweetheart?” Cece cooed. “No one here wants to do this. I know you think we’re all slavering beasts who can’t wait to rip the throat out of these people, but that’s not us. We’re the mother who is willing to lay down her life to ensure her pups will grow up safe. We’re the father who is willing to kill to protect his family. We’re the bears who seek redemption for a crime that wasn’t theirs. Don’t you think we’d all rather be home, curled up in front of the fire with our families? Micah has a thing at school tonight, and I’d much rather be in the audience listening to him sing. He’s not talented, but he is enthusiastic.
“And that’s what I’d be doing if I wasn’t here. Wrapping my arms around Micah, telling him how much I loved his voice. Instead, I’m here, ensuring that his voice will continue to be heard for years to come. I don’t kill indiscriminately, but to protect my family, the one I’ve created from our pack? The one that you’re now a part of? Yes, Alp. I will doanythingfor them, including ending the lives of those who threaten them.”
Mal shivered to hear the coldness in Cece’s voice. He’d never known her to be so strident.
“Cece? What’s wrong with you?”
She glared at him “Wrong with me? Not one goddamn thing iswrong, Malachi. Do you mean about how different I am? Let me tell you, and then you can say you don’t understand. When Micah was born, I held him in my arms. I peered into those beautiful eyes of his, and I vowed I would do whatever the hell I had to in order to keep him safe. Wiley? He’s going to be the First, which means he’ll have advisors and the shifter council looking out for him. Micah? As the second son, he has me. I’m the one who is going to stand between him and the world, reminding him that his destiny isn’t linked to his brother’s. That he’ll forge a future of his own. And it’s not just Micah. I’ll do it for any of my pack. I don’t care if they’re wolves or bears….” Her gaze drifted to Alp. “Or bunny rabbits. Tell me you don’t understand.”
Her words gripped Mal. Until that day in the woods, he’d never killed a human. Beat the shit out of them, sure. That night, knowing he had to protect the rabbit? He didn’t feel a single twinge of regret or remorse. He’d never even wondered why. Now? What Cece said told Mal everything. He was the one meant to protect Alp, to stand for him when the world let him down. The one who would slaughter every human in that lab because they’d dared to touch what was Mal’s.
“No, I do understand,” he ground out, his throat scratchy. “And I’m good with going in there and doing what we have to. I don’t like it, but you’re right. We’re protecting what belongs to us.” He reached out and stroked a hand over Alp’s head, centering himself. “I’m sorry, Alp. I won’t let them ever hurt you or anyone else again. Like Lydia said, we didn’t go after them, they brought it to us, and we have every right to protect ourselves, by whatever means is necessary.”
Alp gave a terse nod. “No, you’re both right. I’m not meant for fighting. I’d prefer to run and hide away. That’s what I was trying to do the night Mal found me. I was so goddamn scared, because I knew I’d die here. I would never see my parents again or be with any of my family. Now, after hearing what you said, I realize that the others in there have to be feeling the same thing. They need protectors who are willing to make the hard calls and do what’s necessary to ensure they can get out of there and see the fucking sunlight again.” He winced. “I guess my mom was right. Make it hurt.”
“No,” Cece said, slipping her arms around Alp’s shoulders. “We’re not here to inflict pain. We won’t make anyone suffer needlessly. We’ll do our best to make their deaths quick. Unlike them, we’re not psychotic sons of bitches.” She grinned. “Well, okay. Damon is a son of a bitch, I guess. So are my boys.”
And the chuckle that slipped from Alp made Mal more certain than ever that this was what he needed to do for his mate. Cece was right. They were shifters, but they weren’t as cruel as some humans.
