Bryn stood, and Badger did, too.She walked over and hugged him.“I’m afraid I didn’t hug Peyton earlier,” she said.“I was…”
“Yer in shock,” he finally said.“It’s understandable.Trust me, I’m certain he didn’t take it personal.He’s a good lad.”
She looked up at him.“Are we really welcomed in the pack?”
Badger snorted.“Welcomed?Yer already part of it!Charlie taught his sons well, and Peyton and Trent have brought the Targhee Pack into the modern age with great skill.Duncan’s workin’ with us, too.”
“What about Maya?”Callum asked from the sofa.“We visited her and met Jake.”
“I imagine they’ll want to move to Florida to be with Jake and Mateo,” Badger said.“If not, wherever they wish to live, the pack’ll pay for it.”
Callum finally rose from the sofa and slowly made his way over with an odd, stiff-legged gait.He stopped short of Badger and opened his arms to him while Bryn stepped to his side, laying her hand on Callum’s shoulder.
Badger stepped into his embrace and ignored the slight tingle of Prime energy he felt from his uncle.“I’m glad yer back,” he told Callum, clapping him on the back.“I’m so sorry we didn’t know.We woulda’ raised hell immediately and tried to find ye.”
He released Badger and held out his hand to Bryn, who took it.Then Callum looked down at Badger and studied his face.“When did you lose your eye?”
“Eh, a long time ago,” he said.He snorted.“Ye just now noticed?I thought we’d talked after it happened.”
“He’s blind,” Bryn said.“Those fuckers blinded him to control him easier.He’s figured out how to see using me, or others, but obviously it only works if we’re close together or touching.”
Shocked, Badger looked up into the older shifter’s face.“Holy fuckin’ hell!”he gasped.
Callum smirked.“I can sense light and dark, shadows, but no details.I can fake it in most situations.As long as she’s touching or close to me, I can see through her enough to function, in most cases.Or I use others to see through.We haven’t told anyone here.I’d appreciate you keeping my secret.Even from Peyton.”
“Of course.And that’s what I just felt from ye, wasn’t it?”
Callum nodded.“Yes.It’s a very handy trick to have up my sleeve.”
“What happened to the cunts what did it?”Badger asked.
Another smirk.“Oh, they died a long time ago.I made sure of that.It only took a moment for a tech to forget their safety protocols for me to get at them and turn them against each other.”He grimly smiled.“It was worth the torture I was put through after to hear their screams as they ripped each other’s eyes and throats out with their bare hands.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come,” Callum said.
It opened and revealed Trevor standing there.“Good morning, everyone.And welcome, Badger.Sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived.”
Badger walked over and hugged him, clapping him on the back.“Ye did it, ye crazy bastards!”
“Oh, I didn’t do anything except help with logistics.Credit for the operation goes to Aisling first, and then to Peyton.Even he said she is the reason it was a success.”
“Oh, where is she?”Badger asked.
“Asleep, I’m guessing.We fixed up the old cottage as a dormitory for the workers who are here for extended periods of time.Several people who were involved in the rescue are out there asleep right now, including Peyton.”
“Let ’em sleep,” Badger said.“But I’d kill for a sandwich and cuppa coffee.”
Trevor nodded.“Any preference?I’ll have it sent up.”
“I’ll eat whatever they put in front of me, and preferably coffee strong enough to stick a fork in.”
Trevor laughed.“Understood.Would you like the door left open or closed?”he asked Callum.
“Closed, please.We still have much to discuss.”
“Did you want anything from the kitchen?”
