“After the first few had such trouble, nobody else tried. It was obviously something our beasts couldn’t heal.” Tasha gulped, her eyes filling with tears. “My mom and dad got sick, in fact only a few of us didn’t, but we’re not sure why. I wasn’t in camp when the first people fell ill, so I think that had something to do with me not getting whatever it was.”
“I’m grateful for that.” Rafe squeezed her hand.
“I was too, at first,” Tasha admitted sadly. “But watching everyone you care about become so ill was . . . unbearably horrific. I was powerless to help them and they just grew weaker and weaker. My dad was unconscious when the rogues arrived.”
Rafe felt grief rolling off her, his instinct to protect her gnawing in his belly. “I lost my dad a few years ago. I remember how bad it felt.”
Tasha looked up at him, her eyes full of sadness. “I guess it was a blessing, in a way. The rogues swept through the camp, killing everyone. I grabbed my dad’s shotgun but my mom insisted I give it to her and leave. I argued. How the hell could I leave her?”
Tasha’s voice broke, sobs tearing from her throat. Rafe moved quickly to sit next to her on the bed, pulling her into his arms. “Aww, baby, I’m so sorry, but your mom was right. If you didn’t escape then how would anyone know what happened? Or get revenge for the atrocity?”
“I get that,” Tasha mumbled into his chest. “But it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I shoved some things in my backpack and gave her the gun, then I ran. I’d barely gone a few hundred yards before I heard it go off. I got away by the skin of my teeth.”
“Aww, baby, that must’ve been awful, especially hearing the gun.” Rafe presumed he knew what the sound must’ve meant for Tasha.
“It was.” Tasha sniffled against him. “Mom wouldn’t have fired until she was sure of hitting her target so I guess she managed to take at least one of them out. She was fiercely protective of us and with my dad unconscious next to her, she would’ve done anything she could to . . .”
Tasha obviously couldn’t carry on, soft sobs escaping as he held her tight. “Shh, it’s okay, you’re safe now. I promise I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Her head jerked back, her teary grey eyes staring into his. “You can’t promise that, Rafe. Even our Alpha was sick, really ill, and nobody had the strength to take on the rogues. Most were in bed when they came, too weak to even get up.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Rafe said with conviction. “I need to know where your Pack was so I can go and check things out. I have a few mixed-Wolves in the Pack, several that are part Witch, so I’m hoping they can help uncover what happened. In fact, our Healer is magical so she should be in a good position to figure out what this mystery illness is. I’ll also contact the Council, they can organize a clean-up of your camp and bury the dead.”
“I need to be there for that,” Tasha’s voice hitched. “I have to say goodbye to my parents and everyone else.”
“I’ll make sure that it’s safe first. I can’t have you in danger, Tasha. You’re too precious.”
“Sorry.” Tasha’s eyes flashed with anger. “That wasn’t a request. I’m going and that’s not something open for discussion.”
Rafe was about to bite back a retort when his mother arrived. Her calming voice interrupting. “I’ve brought you something to eat. Rafe, she needs to rest, so why don’t you go down and speak with Jacy, Levi and the rest of the Wolves that are congregating outside. They are all upset and if you don’t go and relieve Jacy then I think he’s going to rip that man’s head off.”
“They’re here?” Rafe stood, still holding one of Tasha’s hands and loathe to let go.
“Yes, they need their Alpha, Son,” Ellie replied softly. “Go and sort things and I’ll help Tasha.”
Tasha tugged her hand free, urging him to leave, which was the last thing he wanted to do. “Go, see if you can get any information out of the rogue. We need to know what’s going on before we can tackle it.”
Rafe knew he had to go but his Wolf howled loudly at leaving their mate, but he forced himself to stand. “I’ll leave some sentries around the cabin, just in case.”
“Thank you,” Tasha replied. “Oh wait, do you know if my backpack was found? It’s got stuff in it I don’t want to lose: pictures of my parents and my mom’s locket.”
“I think it’s downstairs,” Ellie said as she passed over a plate piled high with food. “I’ll get it in a minute.”
Tasha merely nodded as her eyes stayed locked with Rafe’s as he backed out of the room. His heart already hurting as he left.
This was a time when newly found mates should be spending every waking moment together, binding themselves to each other. Instead he left her and went to deal with his Pack. An Alpha’s duties came before anything else, including this. There’d be time for him and his mate to get to know one another, to bond, to find ecstasy in each other’s touch. Now was not that time.
Right now he needed to be the most bad-ass Alpha he’d ever been and deal with their prisoner. He’d show that damn rogue the power he held within and not blink an eye for any pain he inflicted.
Jacy circled the rogue wearing jeans and nothing else. His dark skin glistening , his muscles rippling as he prodded the man. “Tell us what we want to know.”
The bloodied and battered man merely snarled, a look of
