“Yes, but who’s going to keep you safe?”
He smiled, because the real answer was his brothers, but the answer he gave was just as true. “You are. Because you’re my mate.” Oh, that felt really good to say. So he bent down, took a gentle kiss and said it again. “My mate. Let’s go see your brother?”
Nolan nodded. “Okay. Poor Race. That had to be scary.”
He shook his head. “I think he was more pissed than scared, and they dosed him pretty good, so he hasn’t had a chance to stress it yet.”
Nolan gave a watery laugh. “That sounds like Race. I just feel awful about everything.”
“Hey, no.” Ryder reeled him in for another hug because Nolan had started to edge away. He didn’t think it was because he was upsetting Nolan. He thought it was because Nolan felt like he needed to start detaching himself. “This isn’t on you. This is on the asshole who tried to keep you prisoner. This is your brother’s whole life. Getting omegas away from abusive assholes and keeping them safe. He wouldn’t want to keep you safe?”
“He does. He’s good at it too. All right, I need to go see him. He’ll wake up for me, if not for any of you.”
That was his little bear. “Good deal. Stay away from the windows.”
“Yeah. Herschel’s not going to know what to do, if he thought he was just hunting me and Race and he saw two grizzlies. I’m assuming he didn’t see you.”
Ryder rumbled softly. “Yeah, I think the drone was down well before he caught sight of me.”
“Well, that’s good. That means that there’s a chance that he was just following Race.”
They headed downstairs where Race was still in bear form, snoring to beat the band, as relaxed as Rye had ever seen him.
“Oh, Race. Are you okay?” Nolan plopped down by his brother and started stroking the heavy fur. “You should have paid more attention, huh? Oh, I guess that’s victim-blaming, and that’s a shitty thing to do. I wish they hadn’t followed you. I think it’s awful. I’m not going to let anything else hurt you. But don’t worry, we’re just going to make him go away. We’re going to fight because I have a mate.” Nolan met Ryder’s eyes. “I have a mate.”
“You do. And me and my brothers are going to keep both of you safe. Race can rest, and you can feel like you don’t haveto worry about what’s going to happen.” Ryder reached out to touch Nolan’s shoulder while Nolan petted Race’s fur.
Nolan grinned for him, shaking his head. “You know I’ll worry. I always worry, but I do feel safe with you, and now Race is here, so I know he’s safe too. We just have to figure all this out.”
Someone cleared their throat softly, and when he looked up, his brothers stood behind them, hovering right there at the back of the room.
“Hey, man. we didn’t want to interrupt, but we should fill you in. War did the perimeter search, and then I did the house, and everything seems to be okay. We didn’t leave him alone at any time, though.” Con raised an eyebrow at Nolan. “How you doing, kiddo?”
“A little worried, a lot pissed off. I really don’t want anybody hurting my brother.”
“I don’t blame you, man.” Con looked down at Race, something like rage flashing in his eyes. “This was absolutely not okay.”
Race stirred, his nose working, his breath snuffling in and out, interrupting his snores.
“Hey, I think he might be waking up.” War reached out to poke Race, his finger hovering just over his foot, but Nolan slapped it away.
Rye bit back a laugh because that was so protective and wonderful, and he thought it was kind of hilarious. Race would’ve eaten Warrick’s hand for that if he’d been awake.
“That’s it, Race,” Nolan said. “I need you to wake up and tell me you’re okay. I know they gave you a massive amount of drugs, but I need to look in your eyes and see that you’re right here with me.”
Race snuffled some more and then turned toward Nolan, reaching out with one big paw. It was big compared to Nolan’s human hand, but compared to a grizzly, not so much.
Nolan reached out to ruffle Race’s ears, his fingers gentle. “Come on brother, wake up. I’m waiting for you. I need you.”
Race groaned, the sound was kind of awful because Rye could tell he was in pain. Those deep black eyes opened, staring at Nolan, the bear form shimmering.
Nolan covered Race with a blanket, which was handy, because he shifted a few minutes later. His human form was so much smaller than the bear. He was wiry and tough, though, this guy, and he would be fine. He blinked, staring at Nolan, then glanced at Rye, Con, and War.
“What the hell?” he croaked.
“Somebody got you with a dart.”
Race growled low. “The drone. I didn’t want them to get to you guys, and I led the fucker right here.”
