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Together, they moved through the collection of dead men, encouraging Nora to look straight ahead. Just as Logan had informed him, the rest of the doctors who had retreated when the fighting had started were locked in a room with one of his bears sitting outside the door. He’d deal with them later. They would provide a lot of answers.
Just as Hudson had expected, the police interviewed everyone, including the clan members who didn’t get away before the authorities arrived. The entire facility was sanctioned off for further investigation, but Hudson had no concerns about the direction it was heading. Human police rarely got involved in shifter matters unless one of their own had been affected.
In this case, it had been Hannah, and they were going to throw the book at the facility owners. Hudson was fine with all that.
It had begun to snow as Nora sat with Hannah on her lap inside the back of an ambulance. Hudson had stepped away as the officer requested, but he heard everything due to his shifter hearing. He wasn't concerned with what they were saying but more so regarding how both Hannah and Nora were handling it all.
It was disturbing for any human to have to take on life with a shifter, and it had all been an abrupt introduction for Nora. A part of him felt guilty, while the rest of him was intrigued by how easily she fit into his world.
“Wounds healing well, I assume?"
Hudson peered at the voice that regarded him, an itch of annoyance scratching his brain. Two elders, Gabriel and Enzo, had also responded and were now back in their human form with blankets wrapped around their bodies. White flakes lightly pattered against their gray and aging heads, their brown eyes muted under the wash of silent red and blue lights.
“They are healing brilliantly. Not hurt much, just a few flesh wounds. There are a few other clan members I would worry about before worrying about me."
They nodded solemnly and without an ounce of shame. Hudson understood why they had done what they did, making the decision to stay out of human matters in order to avoid further exposing their world. But it made him feel abandoned, an old wound that had risen from the depths of his soul.
“We know you were not happy with our decision," Enzo said. “But you know it was made with the clan in mind. You know that best, as the alpha."
Hudson nodded. He stayed quiet for the time being.
“We know you left to save what was most important to you. And we respect that. We also want to thank you for forcing our hand. We may be elders, but that doesn't mean we are always correct.”
Gabriel and Enzo looked at each other as the snow began to fall even harder. It coated the ground as if it was trying to hide the ugliness it had witnessed over the years.
“I appreciate the acknowledgment,” Hudson said, trying to sound genuine. “It was an unfortunate circumstance, all of this."
“Indeed,” Gabriel replied. “Which is why we wanted to reach out and make it clear there would be no repercussions. We want you to remain as our alpha, and we hope we can put this conflict behind us.”
Hudson gazed over at Nora. She held Hannah in her arms, who had dozed off to sleep from all of the drama. Nora spoke quietly while subtly rocking the little girl at the same time.
The alpha was dumbstruck by her presence in his life. The way they had found each other. The ease at which their bodies danced beneath the cover of darkness. The way she cared for Hannah as if she were her own. He would be an absolute fool to refute the dazzling destiny of her arrival in his life. She had saved him by saving Hannah.
He had been uncertain beforehand due to what had happened with his old friend. Frank had taken a bride, a human bride, and Hudson blamed that for being the reason Frank had to leave the clan.
But standing there under the fluffy flakes, watching her tired expression while expressing boundless love for a young child who wasn’t her own blood, Hudson realized his fear of experiencing the same thing was bullshit.
She was the one for him and no one else. He wasn't ever going to risk losing that again.
“That's something I'm going to have to mull over. I will have to get back to you on it."
Enzo and Gabriel accepted his response, and then they disappeared into the night.
Hudson just wanted to get his family home safe and sound. The clan would have to wait.
TWENTY-EIGHT
NORA
When they arrived home, Hannah wouldn't let go of Nora. Her fingers held onto her with a death grip. Nora didn't have the heart to push her away either.
They were still covered in blood, and every muscle in her body ached. But the pain didn't even come near the amount of relief she had to have them both home, and neither of them hurt.
She didn't know how they got inside. She didn't even know how they got home. Everything after the fight was a blur in her head. She just knew that she had Hannah, and that was all that mattered.
Hudson sat on the chair across from them, his eyes staring at them, but she could tell his mind was split. The elders wanted him to remain the leader. But would they accept her?
If Hannah's parents weren't supposed to be together, why would they approve of their alpha with a human?
