I spin, throwing bodies aside as I claw my way to my Omega, my pack, because quite simply nothing else fucking matters.
“Ram, she’s not hurt. Slow fucking down, you’re scaring people,” Kai’s voice reaches through my insanity. “My chest stings but the vest stopped the bullet.”
What he says resonates. My worry for Kai dissolves as he appears behind me.
“Dare’s hit,” is all I manage before I superman leap for the stage, shifting bodies in desperation to soothe her grief.
She is covered in blood and she already knows we’re dealing with loss. Kai races past me, as I sweep my body around hers protectively.
“Heidi,” I repeat over and over. I think it’s for my benefit more than it is hers. I need to feel her, my brain needs to say her name and breathe her scent.
“He’s hit, Ram,” she whispers, her hand shaking as she brushes Dare’s hair from his face. Her other hand nearly breaks as she holds Douglas as he keeps insisting he’s okay.
I know Heidi’s registering Dare’s okay, which is a relief, but I also need to get her out of here in case we missed other threats.
Ronnie approaches, earning a hiss from me, but he’s focussed on doing his job and not reacting to Alphas who have come close to blowing their cover.
“The room is clear, Ramses. Ambulances are on the way, police are coming too. We have to lock down the Verdune site. I got Allan to the office Heidi was in before.”
Kai shuffles in a small space next to Heidi and takes over what I’m doing, and I pull my shit together and jump back into the role of security, safe in the knowledge she’s not physically harmed, and my brothers will survive.
Darius struggles but rolls up to sitting at the same time I move, and Heidi’s eyes sweep down him, scouring for proof he really is okay.
“Little moon, you better fucking snuggle with me when I get back from the hospital,” he says softly, making a concerted effort in soothing her while hiding his pain.
“I will. You know that! Why did you get hit? Douglas nearly got hit too,” she says, her words nearly lost under her stress. And her sweet apple scent is dulled by her grief and sadness.
“And what a fucking man he is, Heidi. Everything Douglas does is about protecting you, even trying to step in front of a bullet for you,” Darius says gently, kissing the back of her hand, his eyes locked on Douglas. “Douglas is going to stay with you and Ram. The ambulances are coming and I’ll lose my fucking mind if any Alphas I don’t know come near any of you, mainly my little moon though.”
“You won’t die, Dare, will you? Please promise me. Say it,” she says, interrupting him. Her fucking chin wobbles, ruining me. Destroying us.
Kai jumps in finding his voice the fastest. “We’d tell you, rohi, if he was that badly injured. He’s bleeding and will probably need to go for a stitch or two, but he’ll be back in your bed, demanding all your attention within a couple of hours.”
“Promise?” she says again. And despite her crushing loss, she lifts her shoulders back slightly, regaining her strength, even her scent changes again.
“You get everything. I told you that,” Dare answers truthfully, before he lies back down, succumbing to his exhaustion.
Heidi’s chin wobbles as she follows him down to press her lips on his. She stays there for a while, as Dare comforts her in whispered private words before she lets me guide her away.
“Douglas are you sure you’re not injured?” she asks, her voice strained under stress.
“They can’t keep me down,” he says in his usual voice and he pulls her to a stop. “What happened is not your fault, and all of us are still with you. You got that? They can’t take your pack from you. They can’t take Allan or me from you either.” He waits until she hears exactly what he’s saying that we’re all with her. “Now, let’s figure out how the shooter fits in before we relook at everything to see if we need to start plotting bloody revenge, or a coming out party.”
The way Douglas loves and cares for her is such a beautiful thing to see, and their relationship is very paternal but also intimate. She leans into him for a hug, and I can hear him whispering to her. I don’t want or need to know what he says or what she says back, but it’s not hard to figure out. When they break apart, they both look better, more determined.
But she’s still suffering. Small aftershocks rock her body with each step she takes, and when she trips, I sweep her into my arms. Heidi all but collapses against me as her arms snake around my neck.
“We’re not going anywhere, Heidi. We’re not leaving, no one is taking us from you and you’re not going anywhere either. I promise, Dare and Kai do too.”
She nods her head and sinks further into me, her head glued to my chest while I carry her off the stage.
The immediate vicinity of the stage is clear, except for Ronnie who stands blocking the door. Down the end of the hallway more guards are stationed.
“Fucking Ghost Guns,” Ronnie spits, flicking his head back into the auditorium. “What a cunt. He wasn’t man enough to use real weapons so he had to print his own. The woman who was hit will live, surprisingly no one else was hit. Lots of freaked out people though.”
I nod, swallowing a snarl that nearly erupts before I extend a steady exhale. Ronnie’s update explains how the gun got through. And sadly, we’ve seen more Ghost Guns hitting the market, as people find ways to evade metal detectors and beat the licencing requirements.
“I left them near his body for the cops. I can get rid of them if you need,” he offers.
