Bound Trilogy: Budding: A Supernatural Story (WLW)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kimiko watched as Imogen's aunt stormed toward Miles and slapped him just as she'd gotten him to his feet. These Bradley's were a feisty bunch. Xenia and Pen ushered the children into an extra SUV Bastet pulled up behind everyone, trying to obstruct their view and keeping them focused on their conversations. In the end Kimiko still heard them crying from inside. Seeing one's parents fight did that to a child. Kimiko wouldn't know anything about that, though. Her parents were amazing and the idea of them divorcing was preposterous, but exactly what she saw in Miles' and Bett's future.

"How dare you! You put your entire family at risk! And for what?" She smacked him once again, sending him knocking into the trunk once more, but he squared off and stood his ground against her. "Some idiotic idea of gaining power? We don't need it! The shifter tribes have only ever been gentle toward us! Especially after the alliance! There is peace and you just want to throw that all away? Your children could have been killed in that attack!"

"But they weren't and you were all being kept safe!" Miles struggled against his binds and stepped toward her, but she scurried away. "I'm doing right by our people! These abominations don't belong here and if you were smart, you would know that, woman! They have killed countless numbers of our people and--"

"And humans have killed countless amounts of theirs! Humans started that civil war! Both sides agitated it!"

"And what of the Acciai's? You think they are as innocent as you seem to see these beasts?" He pointed his finger at Kimiko and she snarled, making him yelp and pull away.

Bett looked taken aback and her top lip inched up her teeth in what Kimiko could nearly call a snarl. Nice. Must be where Imogen got that attitude. She was rather impressed with these humans that Imogen called their family and kept her eyes focused on Bett as she kept up her scolding.

"The US Acciai are leaving, Miles. They also want peace. The only people out for war are the Smiths. How could you possibly think this was what was right?"

"It is!" He vigorously pulled at the cuffs and did a little dance all the while making Kimiko chuckle. Imogen sent her a scowl and she tried her best to sober up, but it was just too goddamn perfect. However, he'd nearly killed his own niece. His own flesh and blood. This thought finally sobered her up and she felt a growl stewing in her chest as he just kept talking. How could a father put his own mate and cubs at risk as well? "This country was better off before they came here. And they need to either leave or be eradicated."

Aunt Bett stood staring at him as if her composure was slipping away faster by the moment. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked to Imogen who held her tightly in a snug hug. She cried into her shoulder and let herself be guided to the backseat of Xenia's SUV. Kimiko walked over to him and turned him back around. She cut the plastic cuffs off his wrists, pulled her metal cuffs out from the back of the SUV and put them on him.

"By order of the alliance in accordance with the terms the humans and shifters forefathers agreed upon stated in article eight, you are under arrest for suspicion to commit treason, attempted murder and wrongful imprisonment. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..." Kimiko continued her necessary recitation, finished and tucked him back away in the trunk, latching the cover back in place once again.

When she rounded the vehicle, Imogen stood against it looking down at her feet. She pulled her into her arms and breathed in her scent. "I'm so sorry, Imogen."

She cried against Kimiko's chest and she wished more than anything she could dry those tears. Even the tears she was sure the future would bring and the tears of the past. Maybe she could chase the memories away. Maybe she could replace all the sadness with happiness, serendipity and love. And maybe, just maybe, she could do the same for Imogen's pack.

They may have won this battle, but there was more to come and always would be until the Smiths' many antics and accomplices were ended. Kimiko had a new goal that took root as she held Imogen closer than ever, kissing her along the bridge of her head and vowing her pack would never face harm like this again.