Page 12 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“I need you to meet me at my place. We found some cubs, and we need to look them over. A magic user was involved, Dad. It’s…not good. They seem okay, but I want to double check to be sure.”

His dad’s breath caught in his chest. “Multiple cubs?”

“And different breeds. I know we have a bear and a fox. Three wolves. I think one of them is a magic user, but I can’t separate the scent of his magic from the magic at the house. We’re getting their stuff together now. Rachel is bringing food. I’m calling Meshaq next. This is bigger than us.”

“Definitely call the hellhounds. Multiple cubs,” Stuart repeated, clearly as stunned as Vaughn felt. “Mom and I will be there when you get home. Anyone injured?”

“Some bruising, from what I can tell. Probably a bit of malnourishment.”

His dad growled again, the former alpha ready to tear into anyone who mistreated a cub. Vaughn understood his feelings well. He was hanging on by a thread, and it took every ounce of his control to not follow after the poor excuse for a human being who’d done this and rip her to shreds.

He couldn’t, though. These cubs had been without an alpha for Goddess knew how long, and it would be horrible for them to be without him right now. He knew better than most what trauma could do to a young cub, his role as a doctor for their kind having shown it to him more times than he cared to remember.

“See you in a few. You have plenty of backup, yes?”

“Half the pack came. We’re good.”

“Good job, son.”

They ended the call, and Vaughn opened his contacts again. His thumb hesitated over the name in question. There weren’t many men who intimidated Vaughn. He was sure in his alpha power and knew he was one of the strongest of his kind. But next to Meshaq, he might as well be a cub as helpless as Ollie.

He dialed the alpha of the hellhound’s number, though, because no matter what happened next, no one would hurt these kids again. And if he had to bring out the big guns to guarantee it, he would.

“Alpha Jerrick,” Meshaq said into the phone. Vaughn could hear the noise of the other alpha’s bar in the background, music playing and glasses clinking. He’d always found it amusing that the strongest, scariest shifter of their kind chose to run a bar frequented by humans.

“Alpha Meshaq, I could use some assistance.”

“Hold on a sec,” Meshaq said. The noise dimmed and Vaughn could tell that the other alpha had stepped outside. “What’s going on?”

“I found some cubs who were being held captive by a magic user. She was abusing them, Meshaq. I’ve got three wolf cubs, a bear, a fox, and what I believe is a young magic user. The kids called her Mrs. Foote, and she left without a fight, but I’m worried. There’s only so much I can do against magic users.”

“How bad are they hurt?”

The other alpha’s voice had bottomed out in anger, and Vaughn nearly trembled in fear. No one wanted a pissed off hellhound after them, but he drew comfort from the fact that he’d be able to keep the cubs safer with the hellhounds involved. “I don’t know for sure. Nothing serious that I can see, but I’m taking them to my place now. Dad and I will look them over.”

“Is there a ward around where you are now?”

Vaughn growled. “Shit. I don’t think so. The littlest cub escaped and made his way to me. There are bars on the windows and—”

Meshaq’s enraged growl silenced him. “I’ll be there momentarily. Do not take the kids out of the house until I arrive.”

The line went dead, and Vaughn let out a rumble of approval. He had no doubt the kids would be safe, and he downright pitied the magic users involved. There was a reason the hellhounds were the most feared of their kind. They were the guardians and the boogeyman all rolled into one fierce creature backed directly by the power of their goddess. They kept order among all the clans and took anyone who broke the rules straight to hell.

Vaughn had to swallow a gulp when he realized he’d broken one of the rules by revealing himself to Sam and so had Ollie. He’d have to talk to Meshaq about it. Luckily, he knew he was reasonable, and under the circumstances, it couldn’t have been helped.

The kids began trudging down the stairs, holding small bundles of clothes. His pack members had a few things in their arms as well, but nowhere near what this many kids should have.

They had all reached the living room when Henry, the one Vaughn suspected was a young mage, suddenly cried out in fear and ran to Vaughn.

The air around them trembled and a circle of flame appeared just outside the door.

“It’s okay, Henry,” Vaughn said. He knelt down and lifted the boy into his arms as Meshaq and two of his pack members appeared within the flames. “They’re with us.”

He glanced around and saw that all of the kids were huddled against pack members, trembling and afraid. Sam walked back into the room, and seeing Meshaq walking toward the door, he put himself between the kids and the newcomer.

Vaughn felt a burst of pride at Sam’s lack of fear. He was never letting Sam out of his sight again. He’d find a way to make it work. He had to. He moved Henry to one side and reached out to pull Sam back against his chest.

“It’s okay, Sam. I called him. He’s with us.”