Marie Harte - Hale

Knowing Evan helped fill a huge void in Paige's own life. The need for unconditional familial love was something she'd longed for. Elliot would never help her there. Her mother had died, and she'd had no one else. Or at least, she hadn't considered Evan an answer before Hale had brought her here.

And now he was missing.

She'd been the first to call attention to his absence. He'd gone to his study for just a minute, leaving her waiting for him to finish another story about her mother. The minute turned into several. Instinct told her something wasn't right. When she checked the study, she found him gone. Her senses flared; the scent of unwelcome visitors a foreshadowing of major trouble on the horizon.

She immediately sought her mates and found Hale first. He sat with his teammates playing cards while Sabrina and Kelly argued over the remote control for the TV.

“Hale.” She felt instant relief. Just being near her mate soothed her beast.

“What's up?” He drew another card and frowned at his hand. Glancing at her with a distracted smile, he looked back at his cards, then froze. He snapped his attention back to her. “What's wrong?”

Everyone else stopped what they were doing.

“It's Evan. He's gone.”

Hale scowled. “Gone? Gone where?”

“I don't know. We were sitting together talking when he left for a minute. That was a good twenty minutes ago. But he's not in the study or the bathroom, and it's not like him to just leave me without at least saying good-bye.”

“I sense trouble.” Hale stood.

“I'll look downstairs,” Ace offered.

“Good, go. Zack, check your house and mine,” Roane ordered. “Derrick, check upstairs. Sabrina, can you grab the guest wing? I suddenly have a bad feeling.” Everyone scattered, and Roane turned to Paige. “Paige, can you stay with Kelly while I check out the garage?” He strode to the family room and looked out a side window. “I still see his car in the driveway, but that doesn't mean anything. I'll be right back.”

“I'll check out the study,” Hale said. “Honey, everything will be fine. We'd never let anything happen to your uncle.”

She nodded. “I know.” Then she realized Caitlyn and Robbie were gone. “Where's Robbie?”

“Damn. I'll let them know too.” He started to say something more, then shook his head. “Robbie's going through some family stuff. He's fine, don't worry,” he said, seeing the panic on her face. “But he needs some time alone with Caitlyn.”

“Caitlyn?” Her hackles rose at thoughts of her mate alone with another female.

The alpha female with Robbie?

“His sister,” Hale whispered. “I know, bizarre. I'll explain it when I can. Let me find Doc first.”

She watched him leave, stunned. Talk about dropping a bombshell. Robbie and Caitlyn were brother and sister? They didn't look much alike. Then again, Robbie didn't look like anyone she knew. The knowledge settled her beast, at least. Now she could focus her worry on Evan.

“I wish everyone would stop treating me like an invalid,” Kelly snapped. “I'm pregnant. I'm not sick.”

“Talk about a redhead with a temper,” Paige teased and joined Kelly in the kitchen, where everyone seemed to gravitate at one point or another during the day.

She sobered at the worry on Kelly's face. “Hey, I'm just kidding. I want to be out there looking for him too. But you know, if someone did take Doc, there's only one group of people I know that it might be. And they'd do anything to get their hands on a pregnant Circ.”

Kelly glared, the ice blue of her eyes piercing. “I know, dammit. And I'm not mad at you, Paige. I just… I wish I could do more. I'm only five months along, and I feel like a whale. This is going to be a weird pregnancy all around. I need Doc here. Not just to help me. He's like a father to me, you know?”

Paige did. The time she'd spent with the others had shown her how much her uncle was loved. From talking with them, she'd learned that Kelly had grown up with Evan, who acted like a surrogate uncle. A friend of her family's, and then her boss, he'd employed her for years. Caitlyn had joined the group just over six months ago, but she thought the world of him. As did Sabrina, who'd recently mated Derrick and left Pearson Labs. Sabrina knew what the men who worked for the labs were really like, and she adamantly stated that Doc was nothing like them. Quite the opposite, in fact.

He'd saved her life, and she'd move the moon for him if she could.

The men of Circe's Recruits loved him as well. Paige's beast liked being part of this pack, this group. She still hadn't figured out how she felt about Roane, only because he and Robbie were still at odds. But she trusted Roane on a fundamental level.

She respected the men and women here, and she knew she could become good friends with Sabrina, Kelly, and Caitlyn. They treated her like a real person. They knew what it was like to be Circ, human yet not. And they didn't judge her.

If all these people whom she respected loved Doc, how could she question him anymore? Not that she did, but their opinions made her decision to accept Evan so much easier. Even Robbie liked him. And Robbie barely liked anyone.

Except Hale and her. She hid a secret smile from Kelly, half listening as the poor woman ranted about her stubborn mates. Ace and Zack bent over backward for Kelly, clearly in love with her. A most fortunate woman. Like me.

Hale and Robbie were incredible lovers. Hardheaded men who pretty much kowtowed to her, though Robbie still controlled the small trio in the bedroom. Evan was right. They'd need more space if they planned to live on the compound. And she wanted a future here, with her new friends. People who finally understood her differences. With her uncle, who seemed to really love her. And her mates. Hale belonged here. Robbie didn't fit in at Pearson Labs. He needed her and Hale, even if he didn't want to admit it.

“Have you heard a word I've said?” Kelly asked, exasperated. But there was a twinkle in her eye. “It's never wise to bait a pregnant woman.” Paige blushed. “Sorry. I'm trying not to think about Evan. And my mind wandered—”

“To the gorgeous Hale and that giant Robbie.” Kelly leaned forward. “You know, I think Robbie's hot. Don't tell Ace or Zack. But those muscles of his, whooee. You are one lucky girl.”

Paige laughed, almost embarrassed to feel happy when she knew Evan might be in trouble. “I know. I just hope all this luck holds out. I've just met my uncle. I don't want to lose him.”

Kelly patted her hand, the gesture curiously soothing. “You won't. The guys won't let it happen. And neither will the rest of us.” She smiled, pleased at their solidarity, when she smelled them. A lot of them, and they were coming closer. “Kelly, you need to do exactly as I say,” she ordered in a low voice. “I'm going to walk with you to the elevator, quietly. Then I want you to find Ace and hole up in one of the labs downstairs.”

Kelly's eyes widened, but she remained silent and nodded.

“Quickly.” Not thinking about it, Paige began growing. She'd taken to wearing elastic pants and large, stretchy shirts. But she hadn't thought about her undergarments. On the go, she sliced through her bra and ripped under her pants at her underwear. Both garments fell off as she expanded. To her surprise, fangs pushed past her gums, telling her to beware a very real threat.

They reached the elevator. Kelly punched in a code and the door opened. “Come with me.”

“No. Don't worry. I know how to handle these guys. I'm not in any danger. But you are.”

Kelly gaped at whatever she saw over Paige's shoulder. “Mutants,” she hissed.

“Paige, please.”

Paige reached inside and punched a button. “Go.” The door closed. She turned around and stared at half a dozen mutants. Just as twisted as the last bunch she'd seen, and they stirred as much pity. She released her pheromones and drew them closer.