Eyes on the Pride (Awakening Pride Book 8) (17 page)

“Well, I’m here if you have any other questions,” Diane offered.

“Thank you. I—” Darby’s eyes widened as she cut off what she’d been saying. “That’s my phone! Excuse me!” She jerked it out of her pocket and walked a few steps away as she answered.

“Hello?” The number was displaying as a blocked call which could mean another watcher, her dad, or a response to the call she’d placed into the network.

“The location you were given wasn’t found. The lab has been moved or closed. MQJ has not been located.”

“Not found,” Darby repeated. “Are you still looking? Do you know who MQJ is?”

“We’re searching. I can’t give you any further information at this time.” The voice was almost robotic, and it clicked in her mind that the person was using something to disguise his or her voice, even from Darby.

“Why?” she demanded. “I could help. Contact—”

“Let it go. MQJ is not the only one at risk. We will be in touch if and when we have further information.”

Silence filled her ear as the call disconnected.

“What did they say?” Gideon asked.

She shared a look with Calloway. He’d been close enough that she knew he’d heard both side of the conversation.

“The lab this person was sent to has either moved location or been closed. They can’t locate the person requesting extraction,” Calloway answered for her. “If there’s nothing else you need to go over with us, we’ll head over to the main house and speak with Tah.”

Diane and Gideon both nodded. Darby saw the concern in their eyes. They both thought MQJ was Dr. Jensen’s daughter. They probably knew Jensen better than anyone since they worked with him. To hear the pride talk, he was a good guy. If this person was his daughter, Darby prayed they’d find her in time.

“They’re going to keep looking,” Darby added. “But they have to be careful. Every inquiry they make puts more than her at risk.”

“Of course,” Diane agreed.

“I’ll keep calling in if I need to,” Darby vowed. “I won’t let this rest.”

Gideon nodded and walked away. Darby had a feeling he was remembering his stay in a hunter’s lab and all that had been done to him. She knew her mate was. His emotions poured off him. She clung to his hand as they walked to the house. She didn’t doubt either Gideon or Diane would call ahead to let Tah know she’d heard back about the call for help. She needed to get in touch with her father, also, but she had no idea where he was, other that somewhere in Ireland. Of course, she had other things to tell him, too.

Hey, Dad! I heard back from our contact, and they can’t find this MQJ person yet. They’ll keep looking though. Oh, and by the way, I’m pregnant. Twins! Can you imagine?

Shit! He’d leave whatever he was doing in Ireland and head home immediately if she told him she was pregnant. She couldn’t do it. She had a feeling he was checking into something to do with the two Dockery brothers who lived with the pride. He hadn’t told her what, but she knew it had to be important for him to fly across the world. She couldn’t pull him away from it. News of her pregnancy would have to wait.

Tah met them at the door.

“What exactly was said?” he demanded as they followed him to the office where Reno, Abby and the professor were already gathered.

“The lab designation that was part of the code has either been relocated or closed.”

“But they’re still searching?” Abby asked.

Darby nodded. “I offered our help, but I was told point blank to drop it.”

“Why?” Tah’s voice was gruff with anger.

“I was told MQJ wasn’t the only one at risk. I’m pretty sure the implication is that we could get others killed if we interfere.”

“Shit!” Reno muttered.

“We say nothing to Miles until we know more,” the professor commanded. “There’s no need to upset him when we aren’t even sure who this MQJ is.”

Tah seemed lost in thought for a moment then blew out a breath and nodded his agreement. “For now, I think that’s best.”

“Did they give you any type of timeline?” he asked Darby.

She shook her head. “Just that they’d be in touch when they had more information.”

“Woman? Man?”

“They didn’t say who MQJ was,” she answered.

“I meant the person who called,” Tah clarified.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “The voice was altered.”

“So they used something to disguise their voice. Either it’s someone you know,” Tah said.

“Or they’re afraid someone else might be listening,” Reno added.

“Does Amia know of anyone else who might have been helping on the inside like she was?” Tah asked.

Darby spoke before Reno could. “Not that we have on record. I can take a look just to be certain, but we have record of Amia Blane’s rescues. If there is someone else, we don’t know about them.”

Tah nodded. “Have you heard from your father?”

“No,” Darby answered. “And I have a favor to ask in case you hear from him before I do.”

“You think he’ll get in touch with me before he does you?” Tah seemed surprised she’d think that.

“Depends,” she admitted. “He’s on the trail of something. He might call you before he does me if he feels the need to speak to you about something he considers urgent.”

“Okay. What’s your request?” he asked.

“I’d like your word that no one will mention my pregnancy to him. That’s my news to share.”

Tah’s gaze was piercing, as if he were seeing into her mind. “You’re not going to tell him, are you?”

She flushed but lifted her chin. “Not until I know he’s on his way back. Whatever he went to Ireland for is important. He doesn’t travel much anymore, hasn’t for years, but this sent him across the world. I won’t interfere with that as long as I’m safe and healthy. I have all of you to watch over me. Let him do what he needs to.”

Tah’s glance moved to Calloway, which angered her. It wasn’t her mate’s decision. Andrew was her father, so the choice of when to tell him lay solely with her.

“It’s her choice,” Calloway rumbled behind her. “I suggest we all respect it and her.”

She turned to him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly. God, she loved him. There had been no hesitation in his backing of her, no question of his support.

“I apologize, Darby,” Tah said softly, calling her attention back to him. She turned her head, resting it against her mate’s chest while she met Tah’s gaze. “It is your decision. I wasn’t looking at your mate because your choice required his permission. I was letting him know that we’d all be here to ensure you remain safe and healthy. Whatever is needed.”

“Thank you,” she whispered as Calloway’s arms tightened around her.

“You’re a part of this pride, too,” Tah informed her again. “Don’t forget that.”

She nodded, feeling a little teary and wondering if her hormones were already affecting her moods. Was that possible this early? But then, she was learning nothing was too early when it came to carrying a shifter. Maybe, they should work on a
What to Expect While Expecting
for women mated to shifters. It was definitely something she’d like to have.

“That’s settled then.” Abby smiled and patted the professor’s knee where he sat beside her on one of the couches. “The professor and I have been discussing your mission in coming here.”

“Teaching me how to give an alpha call,” Tah commented.

“I believe your father wasn’t speaking necessarily of you when he stated to follow your instincts,” the professor qualified. “I believe instead he was telling you how to instruct Tah. To have him follow his instincts, those inherent as alpha. Those would be his best guide to discovering what to do.”

Darby nodded. “That makes sense. What do you think?” She posed her question to Tah.

“I believe I echo your opinion when my wife asked you a similar question. We’re all screwed.”

Darby laughed at the look on Tah’s face. She couldn’t help it. He appeared disgusted with the whole thing.

“I still say we should just wait for people to show up,” he grumbled.

“No,” Darby disagreed.

“No,” Abby said at the same time.

“It’s easier for a person to question what’s asked of them when information is based on the knowledge or opinion of another,” Darby added.

“Exactly,” Abby agreed. “This way, it’s a direct command from you.”

“One that can’t be denied,” Darby added.

“So just follow my instinct, huh,” Tah griped. “Hopefully, it’s not the same instinct that had me relying on four alpha wolves to show me how to shift. I’m not sure where they are at present.”

Darby shook her head. “None of the other shifters utilize the alpha call. Not even the bears who have stayed closer to their beasts than any other breed.”

“So calling Holt is out,” Reno muttered.

“He’s the one from your group who mated with a female, black-bear shifter?” Darby asked.

Tah nodded. “He’ll always be part of this pride. We decided long ago that our doors would remain open to any shifter. Cat or not. All breeds are welcome here.”

Darby grinned. “This is what makes you so different, what makes this time so different from the past. The various breeds have always stayed separated. They don’t work together. But you’ve worked with the bears, the wolves and the coyotes. Your pride has forged strong ties with all these factions. That’s something that’s never been done before.”

“Yet, we still have someone unwilling to work with us, someone telling us to let it go when we get a call for help.”

She flushed at his words, knowing they were directed at her people.

“I’ll wait for now, but I won’t wait long. I don’t want to endanger anyone, and I’ll do my best to make sure we don’t. What I won’t do is sit by and do nothing when someone asks for aid. I’d like you to call back and encourage them to use my number for future messages pertaining to this.”

“I’ll do that,” she promised.

“I know the watchers have been doing this on their own, for the most part, for quite a while. But saying we need to work together requires a show of faith from all of us.”

“It does,” she agreed. “I don’t know who the contact is. I only know the number. But I’ll make sure they get your message.”

“Thank you,” he acknowledged. “Now, let’s see if we can figure out how to kick my instinct into gear.”

Chapter Sixteen

Thirteen weeks later…

Darby cried out as another contraction wrapped around her belly and seemed to settle into the small of her back, pulsing there and refusing to leave. She’d hoped her father would be here in time for the arrival of the twins, but he hadn’t returned yet. He’d been home once to see her, staying a few weeks in Oklahoma and making sure she was healthy before he’d flown back to their home to pack up stuff. He’d found a house in Riverton and scooped it up so he could be closer to her. Tah had generously offered him a place on the ranch, but her father had declined, saying he’d be just as close in town. She figured it was more about her father favoring his privacy than anything else. He preferred books to people. Of course, she had too before Calloway and the pride.

Her father had also made a few calls while on the ranch, putting Tah in touch with those who could help him find MQJ and others like her or him. They still had no evidence whether or not it was Dr. Jensen’s daughter. Murphy and Daniel had checked in briefly then gone back out this time, with Gabriel and his mate, Kenzie, joining them. From what Darby could tell, Daniel couldn’t stay. The brief moment she’d met him, he’d appeared jittery and anxious, as if something about the ranch caused him distress. She’d heard Diane talking about how worried she was for his health. Then he’d been gone again.

Another contraction ripped through her, and she hissed out a breath, clinging to Calloway’s hand. He didn’t even wince, though she knew she had a death grip on him. He murmured soothing noises that were most likely words but were lost as pain racked her body. She was glad she’d spent as much time with Diane, Gideon and Miles Jensen as she had during the pregnancy. There was nothing private when you went into labor, legs spread, vagina on display for the room. Diane kept checking to see how far dilated Darby was, saying every time how it wouldn’t be long now. As far as Darby was concerned, each contraction was too long. God, she felt as if she were going to split in two, and the pressure in her lower stomach and between her thighs was enormous. Apparently, her children were as impatient to be born as she was to have them.

“If you say it shouldn’t be much longer one more time…” Darby snarled when Diane glanced up at her.

Diane snapped her lips shut and glanced over to Dr. Jensen instead, giving him a nod. He moved over to Darby, sliding a stool between her sprawled thighs and leaning in. She’d worried about Calloway growling at everyone when she was so exposed, but instead, she was the one snarling at the room in general.

“It’s time,” Dr. Jensen said. “Let’s get the rails up. I want you to grab them on the next contraction and use them to help you bear down and push.”

Darby nodded, her focus fully on the soft-spoken doctor and obeying his words. Ten minutes later, her first son was born. Andrew James after her father. Three minutes later, he was followed by his twin, Cahl Wade, named after Calloway’s father. Both boys had Calloway’s jet-black hair, but their eyes were the same russet color as their mother’s.

Drew immediately nuzzled for her breast when she held him, and she pushed the gown out of his way, sighing as he latched on. Tears filled her eyes. She glanced up at her mate, who held Cahl in his arms, his finger held firmly in his son’s grasp.

“They’re so perfect,” she murmured, running her fingers over Drew, taking in his perfectly developed fingers and toes, his tiny ears and nose. How was it possible it had only taken thirteen weeks for her boys to grow from the tiny black sacs she’d first seen to the beautiful babies she and Calloway now held?

“They’re beautiful,” Calloway said, and when he met her gaze, his eyes were moist, his cheeks wet. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she whispered back. “I can’t wait to show you just how much.”

Calloway chuckled. “I would think that would be the last thing you were thinking of after this.”