Page 63 of Breathe Again

Kyle laughed as we headed back out to the kitchen to join the others. Despite the potential gravity of the day, everyone was in high spirits. After all, we were there for a celebration.

When the time came for the official transfer of Alpha, Elizabeth and I stood proudly beside Thomas and Lily. I was surprised to see many faces confused by my presence. I had assumed that Zach had immediately sent out our mating announcement, but clearly that hadn’t been the case. I filed it away to discuss with him after the ceremony.

Then he took the podium. “Thank you, each and every one of you, for joining us in this celebration. I know many of you are surprised by my decision to step down, but Thomas’s wolf has proven strong, capable, and very ready for this next chapter in life. It is only a matter of time before his wolf will begin refusing to submit, and I will not put my son through that. He has spent the last six months training and learning for this moment with the grace and patience of one far beyond his years. I urge each of you to give your allegiance, knowing that I have always done what I felt was best for Collier Pack, and in this moment, that is Thomas.”

The crowd went wild, cheering. Many Colliers, maybe even all of them, I couldn’t be sure, bared their neck to the stage, to Thomas.

Zach waved for the crowd to calm down. “Before we get started, there is one last bit of official business I must complete before passing the torch. I know rumors have already been flowing freely around town and I’m here to confirm many of your suspicions. Elizabeth has taken a mate.”

Her eyes went wide as she turned to me, a slight blush creeping across her face. I reached for her hand and squeezed it, looking down at her adoringly as the crowd cheered. Zach turned and motioned towards us both. “Now, many of you have known Lizzy since she was just a small child. Active. Opinionated. Stubborn.” The crowd roared with laughter in agreement. “So it should come as no surprise that her mating has been just as complex as my daughter. I will not go into the details here, but with the Grand Council’s approval, there will be no mating challenges. If you have an issue or concern regarding this, please schedule time to discuss with me or Thomas at a later date. Today we have much to celebrate.”

And just like that, the official Pack announcement was made. Even knowing we were exempt from the challenges, it brought me great relief to hear him inform everyone else. For much of my life I had felt like the orphan, the outsider, the guy with no family that others pitied. But looking around me, I realized that was all bullshit.

I did have a family. Maybe it wasn’t the one I’d been born into, but they were mine. As if to prove my point, Mary cried and waved her handkerchief at me proudly. Jason Westin stood next to her, beaming with pride for me. Kyle and the other Westin kids were the brothers and sisters I’d never had. And looking down the line of Colliers sharing the stage with us, I knew that in the few short days since I’d arrived they’d become family, too. And because of Elizabeth, standing happily at my side, I’d never be alone again. Not that my family had ever truly allowed me to be.

It took some time to calm the crowd down, and as Thomas went to take the stage, the family moved to sit in a designated area. That meant it was time for Elizabeth and me to make our exit. We didn’t join the others; instead we kept moving, escorted by one of Silas’s men. At the edge of the church, Kelsey met us and passed off the boys. Little Jason was asleep, and Zander looked freaked out, but was putting on a good front.

Elizabeth hugged Kelsey. “We’ll protect these boys with our lives,” I heard her say before I scooped Zander up into my arms and we fled the scene to the awaiting car.

Silas’s man joined us. I didn’t even know his name. He drove us to the safe house, a small cottage a few miles outside of town. There was a hidden safe room in the subfloor under the living room, should we get word of its need. I looked around and they seemed to have thought of everything. There was even a crib awaiting the young pup, and coloring books and crayons set out on a small table for Z.

While Elizabeth situated the boys, I pulled the rug back to expose the entrance to the safe room. I wanted it ready, just in case, even if the possibility of an impending threats had lessened severely overnight. I lifted the hatch and a light automatically came on. I could tell it wasn’t a large space, but it would do in a pinch. Satisfied, I closed the door, but left it exposed.

“I’m going to patrol the area, sir. If there is any sign of trouble, get your mate and the pups into the hole,” the man said.

I held out my hand, “Cole, thanks for this.”

He shook my hand and nodded. “Gary. If there’s anything you need, just ask.

Gary stayed with us guarding the perimeter. We all thought it was overkill. After all, they’d gotten two dens and were following a third. The escape mission seemed to have been aborted, and an hour later, as the ceremony was wrapping up, there’d still been no signs of disturbance.

“Are we clear?” I asked the man, checking my watch for the millionth time. I think Zander had more patience with the situation than I did.

“Almost, sir, just awaiting final word. It shouldn’t be much longer.”

I heard the pop before the window next to me shattered. My heart was thumping in my chest as I instinctively ducked for cover. Elizabeth was already running for the boys, covering them both with her body when the next round of bullets whizzed past.

“Shots fired. I repeat, shots fired. Secure the Alphas,” Gary yelled into his headset.

Everything moved in slow motion. I slid across the floor to the exposed hatch and lifted it. Elizabeth had the boys tucked around the corner in the hallway. I waited with baited breath as a larger rain of gunfire headed our way, praying for safety.

When the next lull came, I motioned for Elizabeth to move.Come on, sweetheart, you can do it, I coaxed her through our bond.

She carried the baby close to her chest with Zander glued to her leg, looking wild-eyed and scared, but not crying.

“You’re doing great, Z. Just hang in there a little longer,” I praised.

“Quick, hand me the baby. You have to go down first, then I’ll pass the boys to you,” I told my mate.

She nodded hesitantly but obeyed. I heard another round of shorts and turned just in time to see blood splatter from Gary’s chest as he took a direct hit and fell to the ground. Blood immediately began to pool around him. I tried my best to shield the boys from the gruesome scene. Elizabeth froze halfway down and screamed.

After a moment of shock passed, she sprang into action, jumping down the remaining rungs. I helped Zander at the top of the ladder and encouraged him to move quickly until he was low enough for her to grab him.

Just as I was about to pass down the baby, a different sound assaulted our ears as glass exploded and a bottle with a fire-lit rag stuffed inside thudded nearby. I tossed the baby into the hole and rolled into it, grabbing for the hatch as the room erupted into bright blue and orange flames.

I felt the heat followed by searing pain and smelled the stench of my burning skin as I threw myself down the hole, hanging onto the hatch for dear life and praying it closed in time.

I heard Elizabeth scream and the baby crying as my vision began to darken.

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