Black Moon (Alpha Pack #3)(55)

Ryon's eyes rolled back in his head and he hit the floor.

Kalen's stomach lurched. "God. I'm gonna be sick."

He bolted for the tiny bathroom and barely made it to his knees in front of the grungy toilet before he lost his breakfast. He heaved his guts until there was nothing left and he was sure his stomach lining must've turned inside out. A hand clasped his shoulder and he jumped.

"You all right, kid?" Nick gave a humorless laugh. "Dumb question. Come on, let's get out of here. I'll put a call in to Grant and have him send a team to make this mess go away."

"Grant? We don't need him, boss," Aric scoffed. He helped a shaken Ryon get up, then came to stand behind Nick at the threshold of the bathroom. "We can take care of this ourselves."

Nick thought about that for a moment, then asked Kalen, "Do you want anything from this place? What about the house?"

"My grandma's photo albums," Kalen answered hoarsely. "My mother got them when she died, and I'd like to have those. Then burn the f**king house down."

Aric nodded. "I can do that. With pleasure."

"Without damaging any other homes nearby?"

"You bet."

Nick gave Kalen a hand up and the guys rallied around him as they left the bedroom, blocking his view of the awful scene. Though it was too late for that, he appreciated the gesture.

The search for the albums was mercifully brief. His mother had kept them on a bookshelf in the living room, and his friends gathered an armload of several dusty books, taking them out to the SUV. Kalen trailed behind, turned and took one last long look at the place that held so many sad memories. So much horror.

Remembering his mother, a lump burned in his throat. Whatever her failings, she'd loved Kalen once. But her many mistakes, like marrying his father, had sealed her fate. She might have loved her son, but she hadn't fought for him. She'd been too beaten down, without hope.

And whatever secrets she kept had died with her.

Or had they?

Malik was unusually quiet at a time when Kalen would have thought he'd be gloating, taunting him with riddles and more secrets. Not to mention punishing Kalen for his betrayal, for going straight to Nick and the Pack about the planned attack on the citizens. The mating bond must truly be stronger, and he was grateful for the reprieve.

"Cloak us, magic man, 'cause this baby's gonna burn."

Aric threw out his hand and a column of fire shot to the dilapidated porch. The house went up like dry kindling, and Kalen barely managed to get another ward in place before the entire neighborhood witnessed a spectacle they wouldn't soon forget.

They watched as the hungry flames consumed the structure. Reduced it to ash. In minutes it was over, only a heap of smoldering rubble left to mark where his life had begun.

Aric steered Kalen toward the SUV. "Ryon, get us the f**k out of here."

"I'll drive," Nick said. "Ryon's still a little out of sorts."

As they climbed into the vehicle, Aric muttered, "Jeez, this town may look like Mayberry, but it's really Freakville, USA. Givin' me the goddamned creeps. Whole town's probably full of goblins or some shit."

Kalen's lips curved upward in spite of the seriousness of their grisly find. Aric was just so . . . Aric. One of a kind. They'd had their differences, but he was turning out to be a stand-up guy.

In less than half an hour, they'd returned the borrowed SUV to the spot where they'd found it and were jetting toward the compound in Wyoming.

Toward home, and better yet, the woman he loved.

* * *

Mac's cell phone buzzed on her hip and she grabbed it and read the text from Kalen.

Landing in five. XOXO.

XOXO back at u. How'd it go?

Bad. Tell u soon.

In my office. Come when u can.

"Crap." Bad could mean anything. She wished they could talk in each other's heads like the wolf Bondmates, but while she and Kalen were more sensitive to each other's emotions and the general direction of each other's thoughts, actual telepathic communication didn't seem to be in the cards for them. Anxiously, she paced her office until finally a knock sounded.

She hurried over and flung the door open, and her Sorcerer practically fell into her arms. "Oh, honey! Are you okay?" She tried to pull back to check him over, but he clung even tighter. Tucking her head under his chin, he kissed her hair, his lean body shuddering.

"They were dead," he choked.

Oh, no. "Your parents?"

"Dead, like for years. Maybe since I left home. Christ, they were mummified."

"Sweetie, I'm so sorry," she whispered, aching for him. "It must've been such a shock, finding them like that."

"My mom was bound to their b-bed, and my father's head was on the dresser. The killer made her watch and then left her there with him like that. Just left her to die."

She held him for a long time, tried to comfort him while he shook. She felt so helpless, uncertain what to say. "Who do you think did this?"

"Malik's signature was all over the wards he left on the house," he said with difficulty. "Ryon said he killed them."

"What about the scene? Did you guys leave it alone?"

"No. Nick wanted to call your dad and have him bring in a clean-up crew, but Aric offered to torch it instead. It's gone, all except for Grandma's photo albums. I brought those back."