Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(31)

“Cole!” Lucas called out quietly, dancing at Anya’s feet. He and Owen had on scrub tops that were too large, but at least they weren’t naked. Owen tugged at her arm, and she looked down to see her little boy holding another top.

“For Cole.”

Hell, her boys were smarter than she was sometimes.

She pulled at Cole’s shoulders and forced him to sit up. “I know you’re hurting, but the humans are coming and we need to go. Now.”

Cole blinked at her, but she didn’t see the human part of him. His eyes were all cat.

That could be a good thing. He growled again, his chest bloody but rumbling.

“Put this on,” she ordered, handing over the scrub top. When we’re out of the building, we can’t have a naked, bloody man walking around.”

He growled low.

“Okay, then we can put it on when we get out of here. But come on. We need to go.”

He reached out, his fingertips claws. Oh, yes, he was all cat right then, not a hint of the man.

“Mine,” he growled.

She kissed his cheek, knowing they didn’t have time for this. The boys pressed against Cole’s legs, their little bodies shaking.

“We need to go. Now.”

“Hold. Boys.” Cole bit out. “I. Kill. Humans.”

“Okay, baby. I can do that.” She picked up her sons and winced as her wrists almost gave out. She and Cole were in bad shape, but damn it, this was the best they could do for now.

Cole hissed as he stood. “Keep the boys safe,” he growled out. He might only be mostly cat at this point, but she knew he was the most dangerous thing in the building. “Our cubs need to be safe.”

Well, she didn’t quite know what to think about that.

After that display of claiming, the door burst open and four men stumbled inside. Cole roared like the cat he was and pounced. Anya pressed her boys close, grabbed the stack of gauze and bandages on the counter, and followed as Cole laid waste to anyone in their path. He killed each and every single one of them in swift precision, his body shaking with adrenaline, rage, and most likely, agony.

Soon they were outside the building and on their way to the car. Cole pulled the shirt over his wounds and took Owen from her.

“You’re hurt,” she whispered.

“So are you,” he said, as Owen laid his head on Cole’s shoulder. As soon as they were in the car, Cole started the engine and they were on their way home. It took everything within her not to pile in the back with the boys and hold them close, but they needed to look as normal as possible for any humans that might look their way.

As they pulled away, she thought she saw the white-gold of Tucker’s hair out of the corner of her eye, but she couldn’t be sure.

She didn’t understand that polar bear and his motives. But hell, she didn’t care right then.

She had her babies. Cole was alive. And they were on their way home.

Other things could matter later.

They had to.





Chapter 9


A branch cracked under the soft pad of a paw, but Cole didn’t twitch his ears at the sound. He kept perfectly still on his perch in the tree beside his home. Unlike the last time these two had hunted him, they weren’t stomping around the forest and were slightly quieter. It seemed they’d been learning about tracking since their last voyage to his tree.

He’d gladly be the one to teach them how to track and hunt.

He tried not to smile and kept his eyes firmly closed as the two little bear cubs tugged at his tail. Their claws were sheathed so it didn’t hurt him. However, he might just pass out from the cuteness.

Lucas growled while Owen batted playfully. Cole couldn’t help himself and grinned. He stood up, keeping his tail high so the boys would have to jump for him, and stretched. When he yawned? he let out a little purr then jumped from his branch. The boys rolled onto their little tummies and tried to growl at him.

He lowered his head, flicking his tail in the air. The boys pounced on his back, play fighting. He rolled around with them, letting their little paws swipe at him. They kicked his kidneys a bit, but it was worth it. His body didn’t ache as much as it had. He’d had four days to heal from his torture. The boys seemed to have bounced back from their ordeal, as well.

Their collars were on and they smiled when in their human form.

He couldn’t ask for much more.

The scent of honey and crisp apples hit him and he licked his lips. Okay, maybe he could ask for something more.

“Are these little cubs too much for you, lazy cat?” Anya teased.

He rolled on this stomach, gently nudging the boys to their feet. He shifted back and pulled on sweats as the boys shifted back to human form, as well. Owen and Lucas took out their spare pants from the same spot Cole had placed his. He grinned at the thought that they felt comfortable enough to share his space so freely.

“I have cakes for everyone,” she said softly, her heart in her eyes. He was honestly surprised she’d been able to smile as much as she had since the kidnapping. But he supposed now that she had her boys with her, she could relax, if only for a moment.

Owen and Lucas reached for their dessert, murmuring their thanks as they stuffed their faces. Cole prowled toward Anya, wanting something much sweeter than a cake.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he slid the treat from her fingertips. He brought her hand up to his lips and licked the excess frosting. “Delicious.”