"They will be. Tamika is at the clan house waiting for our return, and Simon is at the clinic where my cousin is watching over him and helping him get better. She is a doctor and was very impressed when I told her how helpful you were after the attack at your cabin,” Aldric was fairly sure that Faith's sister would appreciate a compliment of that sort from him, even as she was clutching her daughter protectively away from where he stood.
"Miss Latham," he inclined his head in a slight bow. "My name is Aldric Donelly, Chief Enforcer of the Frostwalker Clan. We are made up of both werewolves and vampires, and we welcome you to our lands and offer you protection, family, and friendship."
Crissy Latham’s eyes narrowed at his formal welcome.
"They're good people, sis. Aldric stepped in and helped me and Kaylee without even thinking about it, and when we couldn't find you right away, they all started looking, and I’m pretty sure Leo broke a bunch of laws to find this place“ Faith said. "It's okay, you don't need to be scared of Aldric. You can trust them.“
Crissy didn't say anything. She just pulled her lips in between her teeth and nodded.
"Uncle Aldric? Why are you bleeding so much?" Jake asked, finally pulling back. Aldric winced at the blood that was no smeared all over the child.
"Your father is going to be rather irritated with me, and you are going to have a thorough bath when we get home,” Aldric grinned. "There were some wolves in the front room that were disinclined to let us by."
"Did you beat them up?" Jake asked. "Cause if you didn't, I can help you do that! I would have already, but I had to stand guard in here to make sure nobody came in to hurt Kaylee or her mom."
"Thank you, pup. We knew that you would watch over them, you did a fine job keeping everyone safe until we got here. Your father will be very proud of you." And seeing Jake safe and unharmed might save Honeyford's life. "We should go now, quickly. Would you stay with them still, please? Protect them until we reach the truck down the road? I will show you the way."
He set Jake down on his own feet and the boy cheerfully agreed. He met Crissy's eyes and thought he saw a small sign of approval in her gaze. Faith clung to her sister's hand and nodded.
Jake, his chest puffed up slightly, walked up to Kaylee and took her hand. "Don't worry, Kaylee. I'll protect you. I told you Dad would come find us!"
"Your dad is the coolest dad ever," Kaylee said before sighing heavily. "Way better than that Jesse guy who said he was my dad. I don't have a dad, though, I don’t care what he said.”
Aldric glanced at Faith, then at Crissy. Both women were frowning slightly and exchanging speaking looks. He cleared his throat and when they turned their attention back to him he nodded and turned back to the door.
"Jake. I need you and Kaylee to stay near to her mother and aunt. Keeping the group together is your job. I need you and Miss Kaylee to close your eyes, okay? Take someone’s hand and we will lead you out,“ he said
“Like when you saved us at the cabin?” Kaylee asked.
“Just so,” he answered. Knowing that Jake would have something to focus on, and that the women would understand that clearly would help make his task easier. "We are going out the front door, past any fighting that may still be going on, then straight to the truck. Follow me."
And with that last direction, he opened the door and led the group down the hallway toward safety.
21
Faith squeezed Crissy's fingers so tight she was sure she was cutting her sister's blood flow off. Crissy didn't complain, though, just squeezed back. They each had a hand on a child's shoulder, though: Chrissy gripping Kaylee tightly, and Faith holding on to Jake, in case quick action needed to be taken.
"Are you sure we can trust this guy? Any of these guys? They're not human!" Crissy hissed into her ear. "That asshole Jesse said all kinds of things, but he definitely wasn't lying about that part. I’m not sure just following this guy is auch a good idea.”
Faith glanced at the back of Aldric's head, but if he heard, he didn't react.
"Chances are good Kaylee's a shifter, too, or are you ignoring that part? AndJake definitely is. Cris, Aldric is bleeding through his clothes right now because he fought through a bunch of werewolves to save you and the kids, and you're asking if you can trust him? Seriously?" Faith cocked an eyebrow at her sister.
"If you knew what these... these people were capable of..." Crissy paled and shuddered.
"I know," Faith said, squeezing her hand again. “I have watched Aldric fight and kill. I can see what sort of evil these Goldfang wolves are capable of, and over the past couple of days I've heard stories that would make you ill and explain so much about our family. But I have also seen with my own eyes that our clan, our people are good people. They're risking their lives for us and for the kids, and this isn't the first time. They took us in, guarded us, explained to me a hell of a lot that I’d bet our mother didn't even know, and..." Faith just shook her head, at a loss. "The Frostwalkers are good people, Crissy. If
