Hidden (Society Book 4) Read online

  They changed form, so their bodies held the babies in deeper to protect them from the shift. At that moment, as Stephen’s eyes met with Cathy’s, she didn’t see a fighter there. She didn’t see the man who could snap necks and woo any woman. What she saw was a boy—a frightened boy with his sister. There was such a look of innocence in those green eyes that they made Cathy almost forget who he was and what he could do.

  Gemma winced and doubled over, her face twisting in pain and her breathless cry echoing around them as her contraction took hold. Stephen bent over with her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other holding her hand.

  Cathy rushed to them. “Put the heel of your hand at the small of her back and rub around in circles,” she instructed him.

  As he did that, Cathy focused on the young woman before her. She lifted her head so that she could look at her. “Breathe with me. Okay? In through your nose,” she took a breath in, “out through your mouth.” Cathy exhaled, pursing her lips to demonstrate the control, and then did it again. She nodded in encouragement as Gemma began to copy her. “That’s it. In …” she breathed, “and out.”

  Slowly, Gemma’s expression relaxed and she slowed her breathing as she began to stand upright again.

  “Gone?”

  Gemma nodded. “Thank you.”

  “I’m Cathy.” She smiled as she held her hand out to them.

  They both gave their names—correct names—which surprised Cathy, although they probably realised there was no point in hiding who they were.

  “How long?”

  “Couple of hours.” Gemma rubbed her hand over her small bump.

  “Water’s broken?”

  “No.”

  “Good.” The waters hadn't gone yet. It gave them—her— some time before she had to do the unthinkable. She pushed the chair she had brought out with her forwards. “We should …”

  Her words were cut off by the loud roar of another vehicle approaching, its sound growing from the distance. They heard it before they could saw it, but then it came into view—bright lights and a blur of dust. It took a sharp turn into the car park to the clinic, and Cathy protectively put her hand up as if to stop it, not that it would have helped at all if the driver decided to plough right into them.

  It screeched to a halt and the driver leapt out, slammed the car door behind him and raced over. Gemma pushed past her brother and Cathy but barely managed to take a step towards the man before he had caught her up in strong arms. She returned his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. He held her tightly, making Cathy’s heart clench at the sight of it. This was the father—there was no doubt about that.

  He held a protective hand over the baby and the other arm around Gemma’s back. “Cade …” she whispered, letting her head drop onto his shoulder.

  “I’m right here.” The way he held onto her so tightly made the actions Cathy was going to take feel even crueller. Her guilt threatened to consume her as she watched them. Everything in her mind was fighting with everything in her heart. But it was more than that. The man holding Gemma Davies, the father, he was Cade MacDonald—second heir to the wolves, son of the beta of the Society and Preternatural Council. As they stood before her, holding one another, it all began to slot into place in her mind. Stephen threw her a frown when the final cog fell into place, and she gasped. This was the secrecy. The baby was forbidden.

  In the back of the car that Stephen had brought his sister in, there were bags and boxes. Too many bags for an overnight stay somewhere. There was a pram—a pram that would never get used—and then there was a car seat. The sight of it lanced through Cathy’s veins. It would remain empty, too. It’s just a car seat, she told herself, trying to peel her eyes away. But it wasn’t. Not really. It was a promise and hope and the key to the next part of life. She realised now that Malcolm knew—not about the baby, but their plan to leave. He had to. Because what would stop them from going? This baby wouldn’t be allowed to live if they stayed. These people weren’t just insignificant nobodies. They were the top. They were the people who set examples. If these two brought home a mix-breed child, everyone would do it—and that would bring disaster to the Other world.

  “Are you okay? Is the baby okay?” Cade asked. He glanced at Stephen, jaw clenched. “I was right behind you. Why didn’t you stop?”

  “I was trying to get Gemma here,” he muttered defensively.

  “You heard me beeping my fucking horn. You could have stopped for a moment.”

  “You were behind me. I didn’t need to.” Stephen crossed his arms over his chest, his stance stubborn as he stared back at Cade. The air around them all grew thick as the two men locked eyes.

  “You could have stopped. I got a call. I’ve had to leave Phoenix by himself.”

  “You're here now.”

  Cade gritted his teeth. “That isn’t the point.”

  “Stop it,” Gemma hissed at both of them. “It doesn’t …” She trailed off as she buckled in Cade’s arms. Another contraction was taking her down, and Cathy rushed to her.

  “Rub her back,” Stephen said as he, too, stepped closer to show him how, but the feral look on Cade’s face made Stephen stop in his tracks. Cade’s wolf was right at the surface. Cathy knew that look. This wasn’t just a man protecting his partner—this was a wolf protecting his mate.

  “I can do it,” he growled, and Stephen raised his hands in surrender.

  “Heel of your hand in the small of her back,” Cathy urged softly, not wanting to antagonise him, but she was female, it was different with her. She wasn’t so much of a threat as another male was.

  Cade’s stance completely encapsulated Gemma as she doubled over. He held one arm across her chest and she held onto him with both of her hands. She pressed her mouth against his forearm, breathing. He rubbed her back with the other hand and rested his face against her shoulder blade. “I've got you.” Gemma nodded as she breathed just as Cathy had shown her. When her contraction began to pass and she let herself stand again, Cade didn’t move his arm from her chest, and she didn’t push him away, either. Instead, she leaned into him, and he rested his face beside hers, cheek to cheek as he brushed her hair back from her face. He kissed her lightly and she closed her eyes. “We do this together, like everything.”

  “Shall we go inside? Get you settled?” Cathy was eager to be indoors. Who knew who could suddenly show up? But she also wanted Jeff. Out here she was alone with these three and the terrible secret in her mind. She needed her own comfort. She pushed the chair to Gemma for her to sit in.

  “I want to walk.” Gemma was tired, it was clear in her eyes, but there was determination in them, too. Cathy understood that.

  “Gem …” Stephen began to say, but Cade glared at him. If his mate wanted to walk, then she would damn well walk. Stephen stopped, not foolish enough to argue with a wolf about this.

  “It’s okay. Lots of women prefer to walk. Shall we go in?” The sight of Gemma as she walked just tore at Cathy even more. How old was she? Twenties? She had to be younger than Faith, Cathy’s daughter. She thought back to them. Gemma hadn't been born, she was sure of it. She might not have been Society anymore back then, but she still followed what they did. Stephen had been a small boy—a toddler maybe. The boys were probably mid-twenties now. She couldn’t really recall. They were so young, and their lives were about to change, and not in a way they were going to expect. Cathy swallowed hard and led them towards the clinic and disaster.

  “Oh, god,” Gemma called out, making them all stop as she clutched at her belly and buckled over. Cade caught her and Stephen rushed to her side, but stopped again at Cade’s expression. It would be a fool who went to the mate of a wolf in this state. His wolf was on high alert, and he could flip at any time. It was better to give them space. Cathy was just eager to get them all inside.

  “Are you sure you don’t want the chair?” Cathy asked once more, wishing that she would just say yes to it. It would be simpler, but to Cathy’s disappointment
, Gemma declined again. She crumpled down in front of them all, and Cade went with her as the sloshing sound of water echoed around them.

  “Oh shit,” Gemma said.

  “It’s just your waters,” Cathy said, coming as close as she dared to.

  “Maybe the chair now?” her brother suggested, but Gemma still said no.

  “I've got this,” Cade said to them both. He slid his arms under her, and in one swift movement, he had swung her up into his arms and stood there cradling her against him, her arms wrapped around his neck. Every move he made was protective, every signal that he gave out was ‘Back away.’ “Which way?”

  “Follow me.” Cathy rushed ahead of them with the empty chair. She led them to the clinic, pushing the door open. The smell of clinical warmth gushed out to greet them, and she showed them into the first room off the reception. Stephen was the first to go in. Cade didn’t stop him. He waited with Gemma in his arms. At least he trusted Stephen on this. Cathy didn’t stop Stephen, either—it was his instinct to check. He eyed the room, looking around every corner of it.

  “What’s this?” he said, coming to the double doors to the side of the room.

  “The theatre,” Cathy said. “You can't go in there. It’s sterile.”

  He said nothing, just stared at her, eyes fierce with intent and determination to see into the room.

  Cathy sighed. She knew that there was no way she was going to stop him if he wanted in. Better to let him. “I’ll open the door, but you can't go in.”

  He gave a nod, and she let him eye the room over before shutting it up again. When he was satisfied, he stepped out of the way to let Cade in with Gemma.

  Cade carried her to the bed in the middle of the room with no effort at all. She had her arms wrapped around his neck, holding onto him. Her trust in the loyalty of these two men was both shocking and wonderful at the same time, Cathy thought. Yet what none of them actually realised was that the enemy was already in there with them, and they didn’t even know it. Cathy felt like a fraud watching them. As if she didn’t deserve to watch with the intent in her mind. She was about to break all three of their hearts, and maybe her own in the process. She turned away and wiped her eyes before they saw.

  “I’ll sit outside,” Stephen announced when Gemma was comfortable. He had checked everywhere, not caring to hide it. He had gone to the windows, checked that they were locked and secure. His eyes searched every possible spot until he deemed them safe. “I’ll be out here,” he said to Gemma. “Just shout for me.” He turned to glance at Cathy, and she tensed. “My sister and my best friend are very important to me,” he said. “I will do anything to protect them.” The way he said the words, the pronunciation at the uttered declaration, she knew all too well what he meant. The underlying threat was there. She gave a nervous nod.

  “I’ll take good care of them,” she lied, hoping that he wouldn’t detect the quiver in her voice or hear the betraying beat of her heart inside her chest.

  He left, closing the door behind him.

  Cathy let it all settle inside her a moment before she went to Gemma and Cade. Cade was sitting by her side in the chair for expectant fathers. She couldn’t help but watch him with sorrow. He was just as worried as Stephen was.

  Cathy pulled one of the blankets from the pile on the metal table to the side of the door. Gemma wouldn’t need it soon, not when full labour kicked in. She would be much too hot for that, but for now, usually at the start, expectant mothers wanted their dignity.

  “You're going to need to take your underwear off,” Cathy said to Gemma, offering her the blanket. “Do you want me to help you with it?”

  Cade was up instantly, snatching the blanket from Cathy’s hands. “I can do it.” She let him have it and said nothing.

  Cathy stood back to let them have a moment of privacy while he helped. Maybe he was going to be the biggest problem and not Stephen. Gemma rested her hands on Cade’s shoulders as he slid her skirt and underwear down. He tried to help her back onto the bed, but she collapsed against him, and as Cathy came to help, Cade shook his head and Cathy stayed back.

  She stood to the side, her heart pounding with the anxiety of everything—everything they were going to do and everything that might go wrong. She wrapped her own arms around herself as she leant against the counter. She wanted Jeff to come in, just to have him there and feel his calming presence. He could ground her mind on the worst of days. He was her rock. She stared at the door and willed it to open. There were two doors in the examination room, one that led to the reception where Stephen sat watching and on guard, and the theatre, where Cathy and Jeff would take Gemma, alone, and cut her baby from her womb and steal it. Cathy tried to push the thought from her mind before it overwhelmed her, but it snaked in there every chance that it got.

  She was so relieved when Jeff finally came in. Cade was helping Gemma with another contraction. Cathy didn’t even offer to help. There was no point. It was clear he wasn’t letting anyone near his mate.

  Jeff came to stand beside his wife as Cade rubbed Gemma’s back and Gemma panted. She reached her hand down to hold his, and he laced his fingers with hers. When Gemma’s contraction eased, Jeff moved in closer.

  “I’m Jeff,” he said, extending his hand to Cade first, a wise move, and then to Gemma. His smile was warm to them both. It warmed her heart, but it equally upset her. The warmth of his smile, when what they were about to do was so wrong. Couldn’t she just take him away and leave the three youngsters here to do their own thing? God knows the baby had better chances without medical assistance. “This baby could be a mix-breed? Is that right?”

  Cade stood, but Jeff didn’t step back.

  “I have to make sure I know what to expect,” he said, offering an explanation for his offending remark. “Proper mix-breeds are harder to deliver, that’s all. Tiger and wolf?”

  Card gave a slow nod, his brow furrowing as he eyed Jeff. “Hard in what way?”

  Jeff absently pulled a pair of latex gloves from his top pocket and began to put them on. “Mostly, when two different Others have a baby, the baby takes on only one strain—wolf or tiger.”

  “It won’t be both?”

  “It might be. Tiger and wolf both have very strong instincts.” He smiled again at them as their faces just seemed to deepen with worry. “Maybe we should get a listen first. See how the baby is doing and then examine you and see how you are doing.” He turned to Cade. “How does that sound?”

  “Examine her?”

  Gemma rested a hand on Cade’s forearm, drawing his attention. “It’s fine,” she said. “Just let the doctor work.”

  Normally when they had an expectant mother in the room, they wired her up to be monitored. The hours would pass with the calming sound of the infant’s heartbeat echoing around the room, but Jeff and Cathy couldn’t do that this time. Jeff used a stethoscope to listen to the baby, and they all remained silent as he did. After a moment, he nodded.

  “The baby seems to be doing okay. The heartbeat is a little slow—nothing to be bothered about right now—but we’ll keep an eye on it.”

  “It’s normal?”

  He nodded. “Babies heart rates change. We just monitor it, that’s all.” He examined Gemma next, and when he was done, he took his gloves off and tossed them into the small trash bin. “A little while yet,” he said to her. “Is it okay if we set you off with an IV? Just something to get the pain killers into your system for when you need them. Build it up.”

  “Painkillers?” Cade frowned.

  “Not everyone wants them. Some women like to just go natural. But …” he turned to Gemma, “you’re only four centimetres so far. A long way to go yet.”

  “The pain gets worse?”

  Cathy came forward. “This is just the start,” she said, and it wasn’t a lie, but she needed them to opt for the pain killers. It was how they would put her to sleep.

  Gemma looked up to Cade for reassurance.

  “It’s just a painkiller,” Je
ff said. “When I am delivering Others, I like it in their system as early as possible. You know what your healing rates are like. With the faster metabolism, when you need the pain relief, it won’t work. So I do it this way.”

  “It’ll not harm the baby?”

  “Might make it sleep a little after, but that’s not a bad thing.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, hesitant. “Okay.”

  Cathy brought over the IV. They had prepared it earlier. Gemma held out her hand. This was it. This was the thing, the Trojan horse, as Cathy pushed the catheter under Gemma’s skin and then opened the valve on the IV bag. Cathy watched as the first droplet of the tranquiliser slowly made its way along the line and into Gemma’s hand.

  Soon, the baby would be put to sleep, and then Gemma.

  Soon, they would take her baby.

  Chapter Three

  Cathy watched with an ever growing pain in her chest as the tranquiliser slowly dripped into the girl’s hand. It wouldn’t be long now, she hoped. They had never done it before—put someone to sleep slowly—a smaller dose. That was what they were trying, at least. She couldn’t decide which was worse as she watched them. Was it the father of the baby? Just watching him alone was enough to make Cathy feel the full extent of her guilt. He sat, his face contorted with worry for his mate. His face looked weary, his eyes tired as if he might pass out in a moment. But he didn’t move for himself. Everything he did was for the girl. He rested a hand protectively on her belly, the other held her hand. Between her contractions, he rested his head on the bed next to hers, foreheads together. He whispered words to her, promises of things they would do. He assured her that everything would be okay—it would all work out. Perhaps it was the other one sitting in the reception—her brother. He sat opposite the open door. He couldn’t see Gemma and Cade, but Cathy could see him. He sat with his elbows resting on his knees. Every part of him was tense and ready to leap into action if it was needed. He was like a statue sitting there, his face set in a firm expression, every sense in him alive. Was it the man sitting next to the girl? The one with a face contorted with worry and care for his mate?