Henry tensed.
“Amanda can’t see that she injured me,” Maia said.
Henry assessed her in a quick visual sweep.He couldn’t see blood, but the scent…
Levi must’ve shifted again because he said, “The angry lady hit Maia with the stick.She struck her arm and leg.Should’ve bitten her,” he muttered.“She hurt my puppies and laughed about it.She is wrong in the head.”
Another kid added their two cents.“The lady wanted Maia’s place at the trials.”
“Yeah,” Sophia, one of Saber’s twins said.“She’s not even a good player.We watched the game where she hit the other lady.Why would you want her on your team if she lacks control?”
These kids knew about restraint.They learned early because their safety depended on it, especially in this modern world of smartphones and instant communication.
Henry focused on Maia and found her watching him.Her silence tossed him into a sea of doubt.Anxiety.Was it shock at Amanda’s behavior or terror at what she’d witnessed with him, Gerard, and the kids?
“How badly are you injured?”he asked.
“Nothing broken, but I have lacerations from not dodging fast enough.Bruises.”
Henry relaxed a fraction.She seemed calm.Too calm.
His gut roiled, and he wasn’t confident of what to do.
“Where are your clothes?”Gerard asked the kids.
Maia started at Gerard’s deep voice and whirled, immediately grunting.Pain flitted across her face.“You, too?”
“Yes,” Gerard said, glancing at him with sympathy.
He’d had to tell London, so he understood the anxiety riding Henry.What if Maia rejected him?What if she told the wrong people and endangered the shifter community?Amanda would tell everyone she’d seen wolves and leopards, but Laura and Charlie would handle that aspect.Everyone would think she’d hallucinated.The woman was deranged if she thought Maia’s absence would secure her a spot on the team.
“Your clothes?”Gerard prodded.
“We had to change fast,” Levi mumbled.
“Yeah, we heard the lady shouting,” another boy said.
A girl’s voice cut through the babble.Sophia, one of Saber’s kids.“We ripped our clothes ’cause we were in a hurry.I’m sure Mum won’t be too mad.It was an emergency.”
Levi raised his chin.“Yeah,” he said, nodding.“An emergency.”
“Okay,” Gerard said calmly.“Take me to your clothes, and we’ll see what we can salvage.Mothers prefer you to think first and undress fast if necessary.Please remember that.”
A flash of humor spurted through Henry at Levi’s long-suffering sigh.Given the circumstances, Megan and his dad wouldn’t growl, but no doubt Jacey would spout words of wisdom.Henry had been the recipient during his boyhood.The lectures hadn’t hurt.
“You ready?”he asked Maia.
She inhaled and released a slow breath.“Yes.”She took a staggering step.
Henry guided her along the winding path leading through the forest.It was slow going, and he felt every one of Maia’s pained winces and sighs.
Anger bubbled in him, the urge to swing at Maia’s teammate.He’d heard enough to ascertain Amanda’s warped jealousy.
But even so—he couldn’t wrap his head around the twisted things the woman had done to terrorize Maia.He’d bet this wasn’t the first time Amanda had stalked someone.Something to discuss with Laura and Charlie.
When they reached his vehicle, Maia wobbled.He settled her in the passenger seat, quietly grabbed his clothes, and dressed.
Gerard appeared, also dressed now and herding five naked kids.“Can you drop them at home?Megan and London will find clothes for them to wear.”
