Page 58 of Feral
It hit me then that both my parents were dead. I’d never really know what happened in the past, if it was my father who had killed Leandra Adler, or even if she was really my mother. But it felt true in my soul. It all fit too perfectly that it was hard to find a shred of doubt in there.
The guys left me with my thoughts on the way home. Maybe I’d take the cubs to her grave after they were born. I didn’t think her soul would be lingering around or any of that crap, but it felt like a tribute in its own way. I could feel the rush of warmth and love from down my bonds, all of them easing my pain as much as they could from far away.
We were almost to the border of Packlands when I looked out to the north. Near where my cabin was. I thought about asking Merrick and Murphy to drop me off, maybe take a bit of time. But the more I stared, the more something looked… wrong.
“Can you stop the car?” I called, then thumped the back of the seats. “Seriously, stop the car!”
Merrick slammed on the brakes and I climbed out, tipping my nose to the wind.
Cold fear slithered through me. Oh no.
36
DARIUS
Iwasn’t ashamed to say I was lying under the aircon like a beached whale.
“Stop being so dramatic, D. I’m fairly sure I have a bigger stomach after too much Mexican food,” Bonnie teased, rubbing my exposed belly like I was some kind of good luck charm.
“Yeah, but your burrito doesn’t spend its time kicking you in the bladder,” I grumbled, making her laugh. Jerk.
The kids were down for their nap, and it was one of those random times when Bonnie and I just got to hang out. Usually, we were passing like ships in the night, especially lately with the whole Omega thing—me getting a female one, Bonnie becoming one. But sometimes, I just missed my best friend.
“Bonnie, there's something I’ve been dying to know…” I gave her a serious frown. “Dominic has all that big dick energy. Does he have the goods to back it up?”
Bonnie snorted, but waggled her brows. “I’ll never tell,” she said with a wink. I laughed, and my whole stomach jiggled with me. That wasn’t something I’d ever get used to.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to do when I have the cubs? You can’t run this place by yourself.”
She shrugged. “Courtland has talked about just subsuming them into our household and adopting them all.”
My jaw literally swung open. “He wants to adoptallthe kids?” My respect for Courtland went through the roof, but on the other hand, I also thought he was insane.
Bonnie smiled. “He’s a lot softer than people think. The kids come over for dinner a few nights a week anyway, so they’re all comfortable. We have the space, we have a whole houseful of kids anyway, and they all get along. It makes sense. Taylor will probably want to move out soon, and we’ll help him get an apartment, if that’s what he wants.” She looked at me. “Will you be sad without the Sanctum? You can come and babysit anytime, I promise.”
Would I be sad without the Sanctum? Absolutely. I loved this home that we’d built for the kids, but what Bonnie was offering them? That was a family, and I wanted that for each of them more than anything else.
“Sad, yes. But happy as well.” I sighed. “I guess I’ll be busy too though.”
She grinned, patting the belly again. Definitely an Omega trait, the touchy-feely stuff.
I lay back and reached for my connection with Kitten. She’d been sad earlier, which had torn at my heartstrings. Either she’d found nothing, or what she did find wasn’t what she’d hoped. I’d ask her about it tonight, hold her while she cried the tears I could feel her bottling up inside.
I was dozing off when a sudden jolt of her fear had me rocketing upright. Bonnie jumped to her feet. “Darius? What's wrong? Is it the cubs?” She was in front of me, looking me over for injuries or pain.
“No, it’s Kitten. She's panicked. Scared.” I scrabbled for my phone and called her, but she didn’t pick up. Fuck. I tried Merrick, but it was Murphy who answered.
“Darius!” he yelled, and it sounded like he was panting.
“What’s wrong? Is Kitten okay?”
“She’s fine, but we have a massive fucking problem. A wildfire’s started just outside the north-western border of the Packlands. Fuck, this wind is bad. Darius, I need you to start getting the Sanctum ready to evacuate. I’ll get your girl back to you as soon as possible. I have to go.”
“No, wait—” But he’d hung up.
Fear like I’d never known spread through me. Bonnie stood in front of me, her face pale. She would have heard all of that. She shook her head, the panic being replaced by cool determination. “I’ll call Courtland. Or Radic. Let them know if they don’t already, and find out the fire plan.” She froze. “Oh no. Rosa is out with the damn goats, clearing undergrowth. Shit.” She pulled her phone out and started frantically calling.
Fuck, we needed to get shit together. I raced to the hall cupboard and pulled out a couple of suitcases. We needed to pack supplies for the little ones. Everyone's documentation would be needed from the office filing cabinet. All the car seats, blankets and some pillows, just in case. Food and water.
