Out of the Shadows (25 page)

Emmett took a step back
,
startled by the change of
events. Devon charged forward. Canines bared, he struck, tearing deep into the
flesh of Emmett’s neck. He shook his head violently until Emmett’s efforts to
thwart him ceased.

Devon stepped back, watching as the bright yellow faded from
Emmett’s eyes. It was over. Panting heavily, he stared at the man who had
caused him so much grief. Emmett would never hurt any of them again.

“Devon,” Lark whispered, tears streaked down her face.

Closing his eyes, he walked toward her and nuzzled himself
against her legs. Her hands grasped his fur as she knelt next to him, pulling
him into a tight hug.

She gasped and pulled away, looking at her hand.

“You’re hurt.”

Blood coated her pale hand; he rubbed his head against her
to assure her he would be okay. Taking a step back, he barked and motioned with
his head toward the road. Juarez and his men were still out there. He wanted to
stay and assure Lark that he was fine, but they weren’t out of danger yet.

He yapped at her again, watching as her eyes flicked to the
road.

“
Let's go,” Lark
whispered,
offering her hand to Natalia.

***

Lark sat in the back seat as they sped down the freeway. Her
gaze shifted between the three occupants in the car. Devon, Claire, and Natalia
were all quiet. They’d reached the car where the two wolves had quickly
converted to their human forms. Thankfully, there had been enough clothes in
the car for both mother and son to wear. She supposed, as wolves, having extra
clothes lying around was something you needed.

After ten minutes, at well over ninety miles an hour, they’d
caught up to the remaining brigade heading back to Abilene. The air in the car
was stagnant. She had questions and she was certain Devon did too. Yet, no one
spoke.

Lark’s eyes bore into the back of Claire’s headrest. What
had changed Claire’s mind? Was she always against Emmett? Had she planned this?

Natalia grunted, drawing Lark from her thoughts. Her grip on
the door handle tightened, as her brown eyes blinked back tears.

Lark watched the disgruntled woman, concern flooding her.

“Are you alright?”

Natalia’s eyes closed, her face contorted and mouth fell
open in a silent O.

“She is in labor,” Claire responded, twisting in her seat.
“She has been for most of the day today.”

Lark frowned horrified, “Why didn’t you say anything?” The
poor woman had been running around and in a fight shooting people while in
labor. She could only begin to imagine what was going on in her head.

“She is scared,” Claire answered after a long moment.

“I’m sure she has every right to be, after all one of the
people responsible for her imprisonment is in the car,” Devon snapped from the
front seat. His head turned, eyes fixated on Claire.

Lark held her breath, watching the silent exchange between
mother and son. Devon’s jaw was set eyes glaring, Claire looked sad. Tears swam
in her hazel irises.

“It’s a long story, Devon,” Claire sighed, averting her gaze
to the window. She raised one hand to her face swiping something out of her
eye.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s over now,” Devon said his voice
remarkably calm — void of emotion.

“I know what you must think of me,” Claire said dejectedly,
her voice thick with emotion. “Everything I did was for you, whether you
realize it or not.”

Devon exhaled loudly, hands twisting around the steering
wheel.

“I don’t want to hear it, Mother,”
he spat. “Besides, Natalia doesn’t want to hear it while she’s in labor, I’m
sure. We’ll sort everything out when we get to the ranch.”

“Is there anything I can do for her?” Lark asked, glancing
at Devon then back to Natalia, unsure of who the best person to ask was.

“Try to stay calm and relaxed, at this rate we will be in
Abilene in two or three hours,” Devon instructed. His hazel eyes caught Lark’s
in the rearview mirror.

Claire turned around looking at the
floor.

“There might still be some sweaters
in the bag on the floorboard. Are you cold Natalia?”

Lark turned to Natalia
,
who only glared at Claire. Neither
woman said anything. With a sigh, Lark bent over to dig in the bag. It dawned
on her that there could be multiple reasons for needing the extra clothing for
Natalia, but one look at the gooseflesh on the
Natalia
’s arms
answered her unspoken question. She pulled out a large grey sweater and offered
it to the pregnant wolf.

Natalia’s lip curled up in disgust, eyes narrowing into tiny
slits as she stared at the sweater.

“No, it smells.”

Lark inhaled, she only smelled the
fresh breezy laundry detergent on the garment.

“It’s okay, some wolves can’t stand the scent of others on
them,” Devon explained. “I’m sorry, my mother should have realized.”

Lark shook her head and dropped the shirt back into the bag.
Hesitantly she reached out, placing her hand on the other woman’s smooth
fingers.

“If you need anything let me know.”

Natalia stared at her for a long moment, emotions swirling
in her brown eyes, before she gave Lark a simple nod.

Devon gritted his teeth as they
pulled off at the rest stop. This had to be one of the dumbest ideas in the
world. When Preston had called him from one of the other vehicles, he’d thought
it’d been some twisted joke
.
B
ut no, he’d
been serious. They needed a bathroom break. While he understood the need to go,
he didn’t think Maddie and Amelia fully grasped the severity of the situation.

He shoved the gear shift into park and leaned back in his
seat, annoyance taking over as he surveyed the empty parking lot. The sooner
they reached the safety of the ranch the better.

“I’ll escort the girls,” Claire said quietly opening her car
door. “Are either of you going?” She turned to the back seat.

Lark shook her head no, and Natalia glared in response.

Devon waited until his mother had left before turning to
Lark.

“Do you want to get out for a
minute? We’ll stay right here, just stretch our legs.”

“Okay.”

Devon climbed out and met Lark in the front of the car. He
sat on the hood the car squeaking and dipping beneath his weight.

“Are you okay?” he asked, taking
her hand in his, gently tugging her down next to him. He assessed the small
nicks and cuts on her hands and arms. Thankfully, she was relatively unscathed.

“Yeah, a little sore, but I’ve had worse. Are you okay?”
Lark asked, blue gaze meeting his.

Devon slid a hand onto his chest.

“I’ll have a few new scars, but all
the lacerations got knit back together when I shifted.”

“But are you okay with everything that happened?”

Devon sighed and looked away, her thumb rubbed soothing
circles on the back of his hand, helping to calm the onslaught of emotions.
He’d been so caught in the moment he hadn’t really thought about everything.

“I…I will be,” he replied quietly closing his eyes. Emmett’s
hollowed yellow irises stared back at him. Popping his eyes back open, he
scrubbed a hand over his face. The full ramifications of the night hadn’t quite
hit him.

Lark’s soft lips grazed his cheek.

“I’m here if you want to talk.”

Devon turned to her and saw the sincerity in the depth of
her swirling burning gaze. Not sure how to express his emotions, he showed her.
His lips crushed hers, hands winding through her long blonde curls. She did the
one thing no one else ever had, she was there for him.

His tongue traced along her lower lip as he inhaled her
intoxicating scent. His hand fisted in her hair, pulling her closer.

“Thank you for coming for me,” Lark murmured between kisses.

“I’d never let anything happen to you,” he replied, kissing
her fiercely before she could respond. The truth behind that statement scared
him. He’d never let himself fall for someone before — never let someone get
this close.

Lark jerked away as someone cleared their throat loudly.

“As hot as that was, I think it’s
time to go,” Vincent smiled at the two of them. “I’m going to ride with you.
The girls were asking for Mom.”

“We should go,” Lark said giving
him a chaste kiss before pulling away and going to the backseat.

Vincent lo
oked at
him, eyebrows quirked a
goofy grin lighting up his face.

“Stop,” Devon warned.

“You two seem cozy.”

“I said don’t.”

Vincent sobered his green eyes
intense as he tilted his head toward Lark who was already in the car.

“It’s good. I think she’s a good
fit for you, Dev. In other words don’t screw it up. I know you have a complex
which is why I’m saying something.”

Devon rolled his eyes and shook his
head.

***

Lark offered her hand to Natalia as
she exited the car. The other girl stared for a long moment before accepting
it. Her warm hand gripped Lark’s tightly as she helped her from the car. Devon
moved like he would help as well, but halted his movements when a low feral
snarl escaped Natalia’s lips.

“How are you feeling?” Lark asked, stumbling slightly under
the extra weight as Natalia slipped her arm over Lark’s shoulders.

“I am fine,” Natalia replied hollowly.

Lark could tell by the fine sheen of sweat on her brow she
was anything but.

“Come let’s get you inside,” Claire said reaching out to
help.

Natalia hissed, swatting the arm away. A gasp escaped her
lips followed by a loud pained cry as she grasped her stomach. Natalia’s knees
buckled and Lark struggled to keep them both on their feet.

“I got her,” Gene said catching the pregnant woman before
she hit the ground.

Natalia struggled, but her punches to Gene’s chest looked
more like playful swats then what Lark was sure they were meant to be.

“Please don’t hurt my baby,” Natalia whispered as her eyes
rolled into the back of her head.

“Devon,” Gene cried out as he hauled her into his arms.

Devon cursed under his breath. Placing two fingers to her
neck, he said, “Let’s get her inside.”

“Is she okay?” Emily asked climbing out of one of the other
cars.

“She’s unconscious, and her pulse is racing. Get her to the
medical room,” Devon said rushing ahead to open the door. “We might need a
doctor, a real doctor,” Devon muttered as Gene hurried by.

Lark headed after them but paused as her sister emerged on
the top of the steps. Tears stung her eyes as she took in Sarah.

“Lark,” Sarah cried as she ran down the steps and flung
herself at her sister. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Lark caught her sister in a tight hug, grimacing slightly
under the death grip Sarah had.

“I was so worried, Lark,” Sarah mumbled, her back shaking as
she sobbed.

“I’m okay,” Lark assured her sister. Pulling back she tucked
some of Sarah’s loose blonde hair behind her ears.

“Sarah,” Preston said coming to stand next to them.

“Thanks, Preston. Thank god you’re both home safely.” Sarah
said throwing herself at him too.

“I’m going to go see what’s going on with Natalia,” Lark
said glancing to the hall Devon, Gene, and Natalia had disappeared into.

Her feet thudded against the wood floors as she made her way
toward the infirmary. The rustling of tools echoed out into the hallway, as
Devon instructed Gene and he frantically searched for the item his cousin
needed.

“Do you need help?” Lark asked.

Her eyes drifted to Natalia. Her honeyed skin was pale
,
her arm
lay lifelessly off the side of the cot
;
brown hair matted around
her face.

“Get a computer,” Devon said as he slipped a pair of gloves
on his hands.

“I’ll get it, Lark. You’re better in here than I am.” Gene
scooted past Lark to the door, “I’ll be right back.”

“Here put these on.” Devon handed her some gloves. “One of
the men in Derek’s pack is a doctor. We’re going to try and Skype. I don’t know
what’s wrong with her. It could be preeclampsia or something else. She
shouldn’t be unconscious.” He grabbed a machine and a bottle. Shoving Natalia’s
shirt up he squirted liquid on her belly, before flipping the machine on and
placing the wand on her.

“Is that an ultrasound machine?” Lark asked surprised.

“Yeah, it’s old, but it works. This was used back when
Beatrice was pregnant with Gene and Preston.”

Devon watched the screen, eyes intent as he moved the wand
around her belly.

Lark gripped Natalia’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Even if the other woman wasn’t conscious, Lark remembered that sometimes people
were aware of what was going on around them. At least that is what the doctors
and nurses had told her
the first night her parents had been in the
hospital
.

“She’s hot,” Lark commented as her hand began to sweat
inside the glove, using the back of her arm she placed her forearm on Natalia’s
forehead. “Really hot.”

“Shit,” Devon swore, he tossed the wand on the table next to
the machine and hurried to the counter taking out sharp instruments. “I think
we are going to have to do a c-section, the fetal heart rates only forty.”

“Here I got Louie on the line,” Gene said coming in with a
laptop.

***

Lark came out of the medical room wiping the sweat from her
brow. Her stomach still felt nauseous but, thankfully she had held it together.
When she’d said she could handle other people’s blood, she hadn’t accounted for
surgeries.

Thankfully, mother and baby were both fine.

“How is she?” Claire asked as Lark entered the living room.

Lark looked around at the worried faces. Louie, the doctor
had arrived moments ago and Lark had excused herself to allow him room to work.
The doctor had instructed them through the surgery via Skype then stayed on the
phone with them the entire drive
his entire drive to the ranch
.

The hall door shut behind her and she turned seeing Gene
come down the hall. His brown eyes looked tired, and he had specks of blood on
his blue shirt. Lark grimaced looking down at her own clothes.

“How is she?” Claire repeated.

Lark flushed, realizing she’d never answered.

“We think she is going to be okay.”

“Thank goodness,” Claire said, her hand flying to her chest.

“Who is she?” Gene asked from behind her.

Claire and Daniel glanced at each other before Daniel
answered.

“She is supposed to be my mate. The
woman we got in exchange for Emily.”

“Is that your kid?” Gene asked eyebrow raised.

“No, I’ve never touched her. She was already pregnant. I’m
not sure of the details. I know she made Fernando mad, and she was sent as a
punishment.”

“I see,” Gene said.

Lark quirked a brow at him. She didn’t understand any of
it.

“We’ll need to get some things in the morning,” Claire said
standing up. “Is there a room prepared for her?”

“I’ll have to double check, if you’ll excuse me,” Gene said
indicating his bloodied clothes. “It’s good to see you again Aunt Claire. Come
on, Lark,” Gene said putting his hand on her back. “Let’s get you cleaned up.
Dev should be out in a minute.”

Lark nodded, letting him guide her up the stairs.

“How are you?” Gene asked.

Lark sighed the full impact of the past twenty four hours
hitting her like a ton of bricks. Her shoulders slumped forward, her eyes
suddenly felt impossibly heavy.

“Tired.”

“But you’re okay?”

“I will be.”

***

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Lark asked, standing
in the doorway to his bedroom. She had a bundle of clothes in her arms and was
chewing her bottom lip.

“Yeah,” Devon said though he wasn’t entirely sure.

Lark set the clothes down in the empty laundry basket on the
dresser and gave him a small smile.

“I’m sure I’ll
be able to
go home soon anyway.”

Devon frowned, he wasn’t sure he
liked that idea either. Not to mention Juarez wasn’t going to just let Emily and
Natalia walk away. He didn’t know enough about the other man to know what his
true intentions for Lark and Sarah were either.

“We’ll figure it out later,” Devon yawned. He’d been awake
for far too many hours as had Lark. The c-section had been successful. They’d
waited for Louie to get to the ranch to take over care before they’d finally
made their way to the shower.

Lark adjusted the curtains, making sure no light was coming
in before climbing into the bed.

“Do you think Natalia will freak
out waking up in a strange room? Maybe I should’ve stayed with her. I could
have stayed in my bed.”

“No,” Devon said adamantly. “She could be dangerous. My
guess is she’ll probably freak out when she comes to. You could get hurt. Now
that she is no longer pregnant, she can shift again. I think it’s best for
everyone if she and the baby just take that room.”

“So we’ll share a room then? Cause there is kind of a room
shortage in the main house now.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Besides, some of us will be moving to the
farmhouse once the renovations are complete.”

Devon shifted so Lark had room to get into the bed. He
wrapped an arm around her drawing her closer.

Lark nestled into him, her finger tracing a line up and down
his chest.

“It’s not going to be safe for me
to go home is it?”
Devon blew out a long puff of air, and fixated on the ceiling.

“Juarez is the leader of the Gulf
packs. Emmett went to great lengths to get you, Emily
. W
ho knows
what Natalia’s story is
!
I don’t want to even think about what Juarez
is capable of.”