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He glares at me but backs off and stalks away. I’m dimly aware of him talking to the others.
“Cedara?” I keep my fingertips on the door as if I might be able to touch her through it. I don’t think I’m entirely off track. I sense her right on the other side. She’s on the floor. I drop to one knee, listening to her breathing. “I need you to move away from the door. I’m going to kick it in. I don’t want to hurt you.”
There’s silence from the other side.
“Do you understand me, beautiful? I need to get in there with you.”
There’s a rustling sound and then the scrape of claws on the floorboards. I heave out a breath, then stand. I raise a booted foot and slam it into the door just below the doorknob with the full force of my weight. It doesn’t take more than that. The wood splinters and shatters as the door flies inward. I rush straight in, then stop short as I catch sight of her cowering on the other side of a white-quilted bed. The pristine linen is stark against the gold of her pelt. But it’s her eyes that capture me. They’re filled with so much anguish that it rips at my gut.
I exhale a deep breath, trying not to feel deflated. I can see how much this is scaring her, and I hate it.
I lift a hand. Her eyes fix on it, then on me. “We’re going to get through this, beautiful. It’s going to be fine.”
“What’s going on? Is she shifting?” Jagger’s right behind me. Cedara’s head shoots up, and her hackles rise.
“Dammit, Law!” I can’t believe how badly his timing sucks. “I’ve got this, okay? Just back off.”
“Fine. But we need to talk.” He leaves the room, and I’m left facing the wolf. With him gone, she calms a little.
I take a deep breath and kneel down in front of Cedara, meeting her intense amber gaze. “It’s okay, beautiful. I know this is scary, but I need you to stay calm for me.”
Her ears flatten against her head for a moment, but then she relaxes slightly, her eyes never leaving mine. I reach out slowly and let my hand hover just above her muzzle, not quite touching her. “That’s it, just breathe. I’m going to go speak with Jagger, but I’ll be right back. I’m not leaving you.”
Cedara lets out a soft whine but doesn’t move away from my hand. I give her a reassuring smile. “I’ll only be a minute. Why don’t you settle down beside the bed? I’ll come sit with you until you feel better.”
She watches me carefully as I rise to my feet and back away toward the door. I pause in the doorway and look back at her. She’s still for a moment but then pads over to the side of the bed and curls up there, her eyes fixed on me. I can feel the weight of her stare even as I turn and head out into the living room.
Jagger is there with Sybil and the rest of Cedara’s family. They all look worried, and I hold up a hand to stop their questions before they start. “She’s okay for now. I’m going to stay with her until she calms down.”
Jagger nods curtly. “We need to talk about what to do. But right now, I think everyone needs to get out of here.” He glances at the rest of Cedara’s family, who’ve become uncharacteristically quiet.
Sierra moves to his side. “Are you sure, my love? I mean, we’ve just got back together and…”
He puts a fingertip to her lips. “It’s safest this way, Sierra. You know I can’t have you in danger.” He rests his hand on her belly. Her eyes widen in understanding.
“You think she’s a danger?” Sierra looks stricken. “To us?”
“I’m not taking any chances.” His jaw is tight. “She attacked the doctor. She would have turned on Casey. Who knows what she’s capable of?”
Savannah has stepped up beside her. “What are you talking about, Jagger? Are you trying to tell us we can’t trust our own cousin? She’s family!”
“And so are those babies.” He drops his eyes to the little bundles she has clasped in each arm. “Would you risk them just to be around when she turns again?”
Savannah’s face blanches. She cradles the babies tighter. “I… I…” She licks her lips and shakes her head.
The others murmur amongst themselves, clearly unnerved.
“It’s just a short-term measure,” Jagger reassures them. “Until we understand things better. I’m sure that it will all be resolved soon. She just needs to settle in.”
“We need to listen to the Alpha, family,” Allard is saying. “He’s right. Let her have her peace. This has been a trying time for her.”
Sybil heaves a sigh. “I really wish our first night could have been together. But tomorrow will be better, I’m sure of it. I’ll see you out,” she says, heading to the door.
Jagger stops her. “I would like you to go with them, Sybil.” His expression remains firm when she turns anxious eyes to him.
“What?”
“I’d like you to stay with Allard and Juliette for a while. Until we know what’s going on.”
