The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 112

ALICE

I’m completely numb, and my father is dead.

My mum is… well, I don’t know.

I don’t know what’s happening to her. I follow the two wolves carrying my father back to the pack grounds.

Paul squeezes my shoulder as we walk; I can’t even look at him.

I stare ahead, the numbness taking over.

Mum told me Izzy asked her to take the hybrid child in, which shocked me. I knew I should have stayed with my parents and the kids. But I knew it was stupid to think like that. Mum had problems conceiving another child. I didn’t understand why she couldn’t have another one, but I knew they kept trying until they stopped.

Allie was like my mum’s second chance when Izzy was on the run, but I asked her to move to the pack when I found my mate. I knew she would, as I knew no one there, and I was the only panther shifter here.

Dad took Allie on the run with him, only meeting Izzy when it was safe. I knew mum wanted to be with them both. But when I told her that my mate was from the same pack where her sister died, she wanted to be there more than ever as she didn’t trust anyone from here. She wanted to ensure I was safe, but nothing happened to me as it did to my aunt Lucy all those years ago.

Mum thought bringing Izzy here would help her settle and even get her father back in her life. But with a vast rocky start because of a mate who never meant to be his, they learned to love until tonight.

“You ok,” asks Paul, gently moving his finger over my skin.

I still couldn’t bring myself to talk to him. I pulled myself back from my thoughts, knowing I needed to be there for Allie.

I stared ahead, realizing that we were back near the pack house.

I stop in my tracks as I notice the line of bodies on the ground. The pack has lost many members today, and grief fills the air like a thick fog.

I sucked in my breath when my father’s body was laid on the ground, placing him next to Graham.

Oh crap, Izzy lost her father, too.

A tear slides down my face as I stare at the two bodies. “Alice,” says a calm voice from behind me.

I close my eyes and don’t want to talk to anyone.

The person who spoke came and stood next to me.

I could feel a hand on my arm as they gently squeezed it. “I’m sorry about your father,” she says.

I open my eyes as more tears flow down my cheeks.

I turn to look at her, Kacey. “I’m sorry about your father, too,” I say with a sniffle.

Kacey’s eyes were bloodshot from all the crying she had been doing. She nods as she stares down. “Blake is healing from the burns and Izzy,” she says but stops.

I turn and stare at her, not moving.

Please don’t let Izzy die; she saved everyone from the witch and vampire this whole war.

My thoughts instantly go to Allie, and I must look after my little peanut. “What about Izzy?” I ask her.

Kacey looks up at me. “I don’t know; no one has come out to talk about her,” she says.

“What about my mum?” I ask as I turn to look out as a small sob escapes my lips.

I know Paul is nearby, but I think he is giving me some space or thinking Kacey could get through to me.

“Drake brought her in; they took her into an exam room,” she says.

We both stare out for a bit, but I shake my head. I need to be brave for my peanut. I need to make sure she is not alone. She needs me. I cleared my throat. “I think we should go inside,” I said to her.

Kacey looks at me again but says nothing, she places her hand into mine, and we both turn around to walk into the pack hospital. I looked towards the hospital entrance, and there were Charley and Paul. They both had sadness in their eyes as they watched us.

Kacey and I walked in together, straight into the waiting room. I let go of Kacey’s hand as soon as I spotted Allie.

Allie looks up at me, but without saying a word, I bend down, and Allie runs straight into my open arms. Her scent wraps around me as I pick her up and cling to her. I walked over to the boy, who was staring at me. That must be the hybrid that my mum was telling me about earlier.

I sit next to him as Allie sits on my lap and snuggles into me, but her hand goes out to the boy, who takes it.

Paul sits next to me on the other side, placing his hand on my knee. I look over at him and give him a small smile.

I turned and looked to my other side; the boy held Allie’s hand. But his eyes stare back at mine. “I’m sorry,” he says in a small voice, “I should have saved him.”

Neither Allie nor he have been children since they came here. They have seen wars and killings. My heart breaks hearing that. The kid is six and thinks it is his responsibility to look after adults.

I move my arm and place it on his shoulder. I pull him to me. His head is resting on the side of my ribs. “You didn’t have to save them,” I say as I can feel him look at me. I look into his eyes. “You protected the one person who means more to all of us, and you kept her safe. My father would be so proud of you and my mum, too.”

A few tears escape my eyes at the mention of my mother, but I move my head and place a kiss on top of his head. I move back as he settles into me.

I looked ahead, realizing everyone was looking at me.

I close my eyes; we all need to pray for my mum, Blake, and Izzy.

They need to be alright, and I need them to be alive.