The Cat Shifter (Book 1 of Shifter Series)

Chapter 85

None of us said another word while we walked the rest of the way to the front door, and it instantly opened with Brody's dad standing there and in the way of getting inside.

"Diane," Kaden said, his voice barely above a whisper and filled with relief when he caught sight of his sister in the group that was gathered behind us.

"Kaden," Aunt Diane said, her voice barely above a whisper and shaking. "Oh, thank Goddess, you are safe and alive." She cleared her throat and licked her lips when her voice cracked some more. "Move, Brody, please, so that I can make sure that my brother is safe. I need to see him fully."

"It is you that you should be worried about and not me, Diane," Kaden said and held back an eye roll while my mate moved out of his way. He walked over to us, and Aunt Diane walked over to him. "What happened?" he asked and looked at the group before he looked at someone. "Is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine for now, Alpha," Carver said before anyone else could say a word. "You and your son will be talking about everything in your office, but first, I believe, we should get them into some rooms so that they can rest."

"What about getting them to a doctor, first?" Kaden asked. He hugged his sister and pressed a small kiss to the side of her head before he looked at Carver. "The-"

"Everyone has already been cleared physically, Alpha," Carver said and bowed, interrupting Kaden and ignoring the annoyed look that Kaden sent his way. "They have been cleared twice by those that are powerful, far more powerful than you." He paused and shrugged. "Magically, of course."

"Basically we have a new friend who will be coming over tomorrow to talk about things and the Warlock king will be coming over, too," Brody said, and Kaden looked at him. "I can talk to you about some of the stuff that has happened to us after I make sure that Kat is in our room and then everything else that we need to discuss will have to talk about later."

Kaden looked at me and frowned. "Is she ok?" he asked, and I could hear the concern in his voice.

"She will be, Dad," Brody confirmed and nodded. He hesitated and looked at me before he looked at his father. "There is a lot going on behind the scenes, and I believe that it would be best that it comes from her mouth and not mine."

"Ok," Kaden said and nodded. "Then we will talk more about that when she wakes up. Are you sure that there is stuff you are able to tell me now, however?"

"Yes, Sir," he said and nodded. "But I would like to do that after I finish with Kat and put her to bed. It's been an exhausting day for her, and I know that she needs her rest."

Kaden nodded and looked at the group that was gathered behind us before he looked at his son. "Then I will meet you in the office in a bit. Who is working wi-"

"I am going to make sure that everyone has eaten and where they will be staying for the time being, Alpha," Trevor said, interrupting Kaden. He bowed and submitted when Kaden sent him an annoyed look, not phased about the look at all. "Ro and Ray are staying with us for the time being, but they will be staying with Kat while you and your son have your conversation with each other. Kat is going to continue to rest and will hopefully take a shower when she wakes up before she gets some more sleep if she needs it."

I didn't say a word and didn't do anything when he said that, not caring enough about the joke that he made, trying to get me riled up so that I would fake being asleep and tell him off for being such a jerk.

My mate looked at me and looked at Trovor with a small smirk on his face. "Nice try, Trevor," he said, and Trevor shrugged, biting back a small smirk.

"It would have irked her more if she wasn't feeling down about herself," Trevor said. He looked at me and then looked at Brody, and I could tell that he didn't like this at all.

My mother shifted on her feet and looked down, breaking the staring contest she had with my mate's back, and I had a feeling that she had a small blush on her face.

"What happened?" Kaden asked, growing protective of me, especially since he considered me his daughter. He looked at my mother, even though I wasn't sure he recognized her, before he looked at his son, waiting for him to answer his question.

"It's a long story, and it isn't something we shouldn't discuss out loud, at the moment, Alpha," Carver said with a shake of his head. He cleared his throat and stood taller when Kaden looked at him. "Do you mind if we get everyone settled, Kat included, please, Alpha? I believe it is time for everyone to feel clean and more human than they have felt in ages."

"Of course," Kaden said and nodded in confirmation. He looked at his son. "Brody, I will meet you in the office after you are done with Kat. You can find me there."

"Can I stay with Kat, too?" Katie asked. "Puh-lease." She pouted, and I knew that she had tears pricking the corners of her eyes. I want to take a nap with her."

'If it is fine with Ro, Ray, and then her dad, then I am fine with it,' I said while my mate stayed silent, waiting for me to answer her question.

"Ro and Ray, are you fine with babysitting another person if Dad is fine with it?" Brody asked and mentally nodded.

'Haha, very funny,' I grumbled teasingly under my breath, and my mate gave me a mental cheeky grin. 'That was really lovely for you to say, Brody.'

The twins looked at each other before they looked at me. They talked to each other about something, and I had this feeling that they came up with the conclusion that it was something that I was fine with because they nodded.

"It's up to your dad, Kiddo," Ro said. "Kat's probably going to be asleep for most of it, so we just have to make sure that your dad is fine with it."

"I promise I won't be loud or trouble," Katie said and looked at Kaden, pouting. "Please, Daddy? Can I stay with them?"

Kaden bit back a tired sigh before he moved a hand through his hair across his face and then through his hair. "Ok," he said and nodded. "As long as you behave yourself, then you will be able to stay with them. If you do not behave yourself, then you will be grounded. Is that understood?" He scowled and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Yes, Sir," Katie said and nodded. "I understand and will be on my best behavior."

"Then, let's get everyone inside and then settled into their new rooms," Kaden said. "Trevor, is it you and Carver that will be dealing with the rest of them while Brody and I talk about everything that happened?"

"Yes, Alpha," Trevor said and nodded in confirmation. "Carver and I will get the rest of the group fed and settled in before we do something else. We'll make sure that they are going to stay safe."

"Keep me posted," Kaden said and nodded. "Brody, go ahead and get Kat settled. I will meet you in the office."

"Yes, Sir," Brody said and started to walk the rest of the way to the house. "Come on, Munchkin. Follow us."

Katie mumbled something under her breath that we couldn't hear but followed us as soon as Brody passed her with Ro and Ray following behind her.

None of us said another word while we walked away from the rest of the group, and it took all of my self-control not to peek up from my mate's shoulder to look at my mom and see what she thought.

Oh, Gods, please let her understand what I was trying to do before she and I talked about everything, I silently prayed while a single tear fell from my eye. Please, because I have no idea what I would do if she didn't...