on them. He made a sound of astonishment and stared as the doctor started to talk. “Everything looks good, Alpha. The bone has healed quite nicely. There’s not even a fracture left behind. I would say he’s good to go with just about any type of activity. I also took an x-ray of the broken rib as well. It has also set without any issues.”
“That’s great news, Cam. There are no lingering problems then?”
“No, but if it’s all right with Sean, I’d like to speak to you in private for a moment, if I may?”
Sean shrugged and nodded.
Dr. Green smiled gently. “If you’d like, you can watch T.V. in the waiting room. Nurse Holt can show you.”
“Okay,” Sean replied.
Dr. Green hit one of the buttons on a phone on his desk. “Nurse Holt, would you please come escort my patient to the waiting room? I need to speak with Alpha Declan for a few moments.”
No more than twenty seconds had passed before an older woman with graying dark brown hair appeared in the doorway. “Nurse Holt, this is Sean. Sean, this is Becky Holt. She’s-“
“Wolf,” Sean interrupted, eyes widening. There had been only one other wolf shifter besides Tara over the years. One of the cubs, a young girl, had been a wolf. She’d only been in the basement with them for four years. The day after her eleventh birthday he’d been forced to bury her. His father had killed her before he’d had a chance to do to her what he’d done to Sam and Tara. The woman standing in front of him smelled almost exactly like her. “Gina,” Sean whispered.
Becky’s pretty silver eyes widened in shock. “What did you say?”
Sean shivered and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I-I-“
“What’s wrong?” Declan asked him, concern in his voice.
“Why did you say my daughter’s name? How did you know it?” Becky demanded, coming closer. “Do you know where she is?”
“Becky, you forget your place,” Declan snarled, standing while still holding Sean close.
Becky immediately cowered, craning her neck toward Declan in a show of submission. “Forgive me, Alpha.”
“I’m sorry,” Sean whispered, burying his face against Declan’s bicep. Bile rose in his throat as the memory of Gina’s broken body rose in his mind. He felt Declan jerk and rage crashed over Sean causing him to flinch.
Declan cupped Sean’s nape in a calming manner. “Shh, baby. I’m not angry with you. I’m furious that bastard put you through so much.”
“Please,” Becky begged. “Tell me where my daughter is.”
Sean couldn’t speak past the lump choking him and Declan seemed to understand. He coaxed Sean into one of the chairs and then slowly approached Becky, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Becky.”
Those words seemed to be enough to make her understand Gina was dead because she let out a wailing cry and collapsed against Declan, who gathered her close and allowed her to sob in his arms. Sean’s heart broke for her and the parents of the other children who were buried out behind the house. He had done his own mourning for each and every cub over the years. The last one a mere three months before Ronnie had been taken and the whole rescue had happened.
Once she’d calmed enough, Dr. Green called her husband and sent her home for the day. He situated Sean in the waiting room himself with the remote for the T.V. and showed him how to use it. Sean didn’t really feel like watching anything anymore. A dark cloud had settled itself over his heart and he let the remote drop to his lap as he thought over all of the children taken during the course of his life. His father had never shown any of them mercy. It was a blessing the seven of them had made it out alive. Fredrick and Tomas were back with their parents. Sam, Tara, and Vicky were alive even though none of them knew where they belonged. Sean knew with more certainty than ever he’d made the right decision to let Ronnie escape despite the beating he’d received which had almost ended his life. If Sean hadn’t taken the chance, who knew how many others Carl McNeely would have murdered.
12
Declan
“I thought you should know what else I found on the x-rays, Declan,” Cameron said after he’d closed the door.
Cameron only addressed him as Declan when they were alone, despite the many times Declan had told him it wasn’t necessary to call him Alpha unless in front of another streak