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“Baby, shh. You’re going to make yourself sick, and you’re still recovering,” Fletch warned her, and she struggled to get her emotions under control.
“Recovering? Why is she recovering?” Ryan demanded.
“Up until a few weeks ago, your sister was still being held captive by a group of hunters,” Fletch answered for her. “She’s been through a lot.”
“We were going to look for you,” Helen whispered, turning in Fletch’s arm so she was no longer hiding in his chest. “As soon as Jensen gave me the all clear, we were leaving.”
“I’m glad we found you first,” Thomas murmured, brushing his fingers under her eye to wipe away her tears. Then as if he couldn’t help himself, he tugged her away from Fletch and hugged her against his chest. “I can’t believe you’re here, kiddo.”
“Why are you here? I don’t understand.” Helen shook her head.
“I think this is a conversation better had in private,” Ryan said, glancing around them.
“I’ll let Fletch and Milo show you to the cabins then,” Brock told them, giving Helen a smile. “And fill in Laramie on our newcomers.”
“Thanks,” Fletch said, taking Helen’s hand in his.
He didn’t pull her away from her brothers. It was more that he needed to touch her, to let her know he was there, and she needed that. He’d become an important part of her life in such a short time. He’d become the most important part. She automatically tilted her head up to him and wasn’t surprised when he dropped a kiss onto her lips.
“Let’s walk so we can get there sooner,” Thomas urged. “There’s so much for all of us to share.”
“You need to be prepared,” Fletch told her as they started walking. Ryan and Thomas stayed at her side while Milo walked beside his brother. “Ryan and Thomas aren’t the only ones who arrived.”
Helen paused. “Thad? Roman? Mom and Dad?”
Thomas shook his head but smiled. “Thad’s with us. His mate is with him.”
“Thad’s mated?” Helen couldn’t believe the wildest of her brothers was mated. “Are any of the rest of you?”
Ryan laughed. “No such luck, kiddo.”
“Roman’s in Washington. After we talk, we’ll reach out to him to let him know we’ve found you. We weren’t sure where to even start searching, but we’d heard the Holloways were actively looking, so this is where we headed,” Thomas shared.
Helen heard it all but also paid attention to what they weren’t saying.
“They didn’t make it, did they?”
Ryan glanced at her then looked away. He’d always been the more sensitive of her brothers, while Thomas and Roman were more serious.
“Dad was killed during the attack,” Thomas told her. “Mom died a few weeks later.” He sighed, the breath sounding as if it came from his soul. “I don’t think she had it in her to fight. Dad was gone. You and Hadley had both been taken. Hell, Roman was hurt so badly, we weren’t sure if he’d make it for a bit.”
More tears poured from her eyes. Some part of her had known, though. In all her thoughts of finding her family, her focus had been mostly on her sister and brothers. Which reminded her…
“We can search for Hadley, now. All of us. I know we can find her…” She paused as Thomas shook his head.
“There’s no need to search, Helen. We already know where Hadley is.”
She caught her breath, shaking her head even as they stepped into a clearing. She’d paid no attention during their walk, trusting her mate to lead her where they needed to go. Now, she felt as if the earth were shaking under her feet. Not Hadley. She didn’t want to hear her sister hadn’t made it, either.
“Helen.”
Her head jerked up, and she took in the three cabins, the SUV parked in front of them then the two couples standing beside it. Thad caught her eye first. He took one step toward her then broke into a run as she stepped slowly away from Fletch. The youngest of her older brothers caught her around the waist and swung her around.
“Helen. Oh, my God! Is this really you?” Thad squeezed her tight while she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, breathing in the scent of peppermint that always seemed to cling to him. He’d been the one she’d gotten into trouble with. The brother who could talk her into anything and usually did.
“Thad, I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Same, kiddo. God, you’re a vision. I—” His words were choked off by emotion, catching her by surprise.
