Chapter 115

Rachel's POV

Wright House

I could picture Nathan's parents in my mind with perfect clarity. Once, I'd spent more time with the Lewis family than my own. The only times I'd gone to my own home had been to ensure Ethan was cared for and well.

If I had been able to get Ethan to go with me to Lewis Manor, I would have kept us both there always. Would my life have been different if Ethan hadn't felt such a strong connection to our father? He'd wanted to be there to try to convince Patrick to avoid the gambling, drinking, and general bad behavior the man engaged in.

Neither of us had ever had any hope of saving Patrick.

Some men weren't meant to be saved.

Conjuring the image of Luna Lewis and her mate, the current Alpha Lewis, in their garden, I closed my eyes and told them what I knew Nathan wouldn't.

"Nathan has met his fated mate. Her name is Linda Campbell and she is my sister of my heart. She's called Lindy. Will you take her into your home to protect her while Nathan helps me? My brother Ethan has been savaged by a Lycan and is in surgery. I need him to take me to him, but I need Lindy to be safe, too."

Soft crying echoed over the speakerphone. I could picture the mixed expression which would be on Luna Lewis's sweet face: happy tears for her son's blessing combined with all the regrets she held for her own lack of good fortune. Her husband would have been the same.

They'd been lucky in their love, but unlucky in their mating.

Lewis Manor should have been filled up with rambunctious young. All of them would have been loved. I knew the high spirits most wolfen young had in healthy packs would have been encouraged by the Lewis Alpha and Luna---but such had not been their life or their luck.

My thoughts were interrupted as Alpha Lewis spoke up, his voice sonorous and tinged with a touch of sadness in spite of his obvious pride, "I, Alpha Lewis of Full Moon Pack, swear I and my Luna will give safe harbor to the sister of your heart, Rachel. She will be loved as our daughter just as you would have been. Thank you. Thank you so much for finding our son's mate."

Both of the heads of House Lewis were crying as I stated the truth as it had to be said for Nathan Lewis and the future of his House:

"Come to me, Nathan, but know Lindy? She isn't going anywhere. She's yours now. Forever."

I didn't have to be able to see the House Lewis patriarch and matriarch to know their faces echoed my pronouncement.

For better or worse, Nathan Lewis had found his fated mate in Lindy Campbell.

~*~

Nathan managed to reach me in under half an hour. His face was somber as I met him at the door -I'd been waiting on him to arrive- but he looked to be completely in control of himself which was a vast improvement over how he'd been on Moonglow Pack land.

"Do you know where Art has taken Ethan? Which hospital?"

I had been unable to get Art on the phone; Tyler was being increasingly stubborn about whether or not he would agree to allow me to speak with the Alpha Inspector.

We'd had a brief scuffle over my phone. I'd won the battle by grasping my belly bump with my free hand, making Tyler release his hold on the phone in order to try to see if I was physically injured instead.

Using our baby as a method to get what I wanted was underhanded, but Ethan was the one constant bit of family I had in my life.

My brother had lived through Patrick's particular parenting with me; no one else would understand the trial by fire we'd endured while growing up.

Our childhood gave an honest ring to the phrase 'raised by wolves' and I had no desire to explain the experience to anyone else.

I was grateful enough to have survived it once. I didn't need to relive it even in my own memories.

Ethan deserved my loyalty though. Even if I learned he wasn't my full brother, which it was almost positive he wasn't given I now knew Alpha Richard Campbell was my sire, Ethan was still the son of Elena Campbell Flores.

We were the only ones who could claim our mother as our own. Lindy might have been raised in House Campbell, on Moonglow Pack land, but she'd never known the sound of our mother's singing or the touch of her soft hands or the way her smile was brighter than the sun.

"I haven't been able to get any answers."

Tears began to form in my eyes again, stinging and bitter, I grimaced, rubbing at my eyes.

"Can you try to call Art? He might answer for you. I'm positive he's dodging my calls."

A part of my mind was rational enough to understand Art was right to keep me away from the potential danger Ethan was in. Who knew what sorts were behind this fight he'd been in? Who arranged a fight with a Lycan?

Supernatural cage matches were something I had learned about too early. Patrick had bet on the fighters and he'd bet big because there was big money to be made in the illegal matches. He hadn't cared if his daughter and young son were in danger in the midst of the criminal underworld.

Money was the only goddess Patrick had ever prayed to and she had been the only one to hold his heart after the death of our mother.

"I'll try," Nathan said, skepticism painting his words as being as unlikely to result in success as my omega brother winning a fight with a Lycan, but I nodded to encourage him because I needed him to try.

Even if Art wouldn't tell Nathan where he was exactly, it was possible I could learn the location from background noise, overheard conversation, the hustle and bustle of the hospital, even the annoying overhead paging system was a potential source of knowledge ofr me. I had to try. For Ethan. I had to try.

"He won't answer for you."

Tyler said it with a smugness which made me want to slap him. I knew my hormones were making me more emotional than I would be under ordinary circumstances, but I also knew Tyler didn't, couldn't, wouldn't understand my devotion to my brother.

His childhood had been a different Hell to mine.

"He can try. Better than you're willing to do for me," I added with a bitterness I knew I would regret later but felt fiercely in the moment.

"Art!" Nathan shouted into the receiver of his phone, fumbling it away from his ear to put the machine on speaker so we could all hear the Alpha Inspector grumbling at him.

"What do you want, Lewis? Are you on the verge of another psychotic break? I'm not going to come get you under control if so. I've got my hands full now."

"Where are you?" Nathan asked, holding a finger up to his lips to signal me to stay quiet just before I demanded the answer for myself, "I need you."

Nathan added the appeal for help with enough sincerity in his voice to have me wondering if he really didn't need Art Windsor for something. What did he think Art could help him do? Send Lindy back to Moonglow Pack? Sever his fated mate bond? Erase his feelings for me?

My heart seized up in my chest at the thought. My distress must have been more evident than I expected because Tyler crossed the foyer to wrap an arm around my waist, his wide palm cupping the bump of our baby possessively.

Nathan's eyes were focused on Tyler's hand rather than on me or the phone so I kicked him in the shin.

Yelping, Nathan blurted out, "Stubbed my toe. On a shelf. Table. I need you to tell me where you are so I can get there. I can't discuss it over the phone."

"Has someone been in contact with you from Moonglow? Campbell sent another batch of goons for his girl? I can get to you faster than you can get to me."

Nathan looked at me for help, raising a hand to indicate he was out of ideas. I couldn't speak. I knew if Art heard my voice he'd never tell Nathan where he was with Ethan.

We both cast our eyes on Tyler who rolled his in response.

Tyler mouthed at Nathan, 'Ask him if you can meet him to talk about Lindy. You're worried she'll hurt herself. She's insane. Won't stop crying?'

"Lindy won't stop crying. I'm afraid she's going to hurt herself. I can't bring her there, but I have to get her back to her father. My pack can't start a war, Windsor. Let me come to you so we can work out a plan? Or I'll bring the girl and you can spirit her back to Moonglow however you do the thing you do?"

Art sighed, his frustration evident even over the phone as he finally allowed, "Our Blessed Goddess Medical Center. I'm on the third floor. Surgical waiting room 3."

"I'll be there."

"Don't bring the girl," Art cautioned.

Nathan promised, "I won't."

We were going to Our Blessed Goddess Medical Center. I would see my brother. Nothing and no one was going to stop me.