“Thank you,” he said.
Addie barely heard his words over the crowd’s roar that went up over at Spike’s match. The Shifters, on the ground, whimpered.
The lion shifted quickly, becoming a tall, dark-haired man Addie had never seen before. He had hard blue eyes and gray at his temples. “Kendrick,” he said, and pointed.
From all sides of the arena, Shifters were converging on them, ones without Collars. They came from the darkness beyond the ring as well, surrounding them in a thick circle, homing in on Kendrick holding Jaycee.
Zander stepped in front of Kendrick, the big silver sword his hands. Dimitri, the bandage off his wrist now, flanked Kendrick’s other side.
“Wait,” Kendrick said, voice steely. He drew himself up, still holding Jaycee. When he spoke, his words carried. “Are you with Lachlan?”
The male Shifter in the front, one with golden brown eyes like Jaycee’s, said, “Hell, no.”
Kendrick acknowledged this with a nod. “Help me take her home, then.”
Addie heard murmuring like a ripple of water. At the far side of the arena, Collared Shifters were celebrating their champion’s latest victory. On this side, the un-Collared Shifters converged on Kendrick. Addie watched in amazement as they flowed toward him, hands reaching for him, expressions relaxing when they neared him.
Kendrick was mobbed, but no one pressed against him or hurt him, or Jaycee. They merely touched him, then moved aside so others could, keeping him the nucleus of their circle.
Dimitri took Jaycee from Kendrick, holding her gently against his chest, his face as he looked down at her telling Addie everything.
Kendrick stretched out his arms and welcomed his Shifters to him.
* * *
The Shifters followed Kendrick home. They came in trucks and old cars, on motorcycles, or stuffed ten and more into vehicles meant to hold four at most. They followed Kendrick and Addie and his trackers out into the empty lands of South Texas and to Charlie’s old ranch.
Kendrick hadn’t the heart to tell them to stay away for a little longer. He knew he’d been away from them too long, letting them fend for themselves. Not entirely his fault, but even so, it was time to become a family again. And so, Kendrick led his clan home.
Charlie waited on the front porch with Ben and the cubs. Charlie planted his hands on his hips.
“Now, this is a big ranch, but no way do I have enough bedrooms for all of them.”
“Shifters are resourceful,” Kendrick said as he left his motorcycle and came up the steps. “You have a barn, lots of fields, and a basement that’s bigger than it first appears. They’ll manage. I was thinking of buying the place from you anyway.”
Charlie’s graying brows shot up. “Buy it? But you’re Shifter.” He waved his hands. “No, never mind. We’ll discuss it. Huh.” He looked around the crowd climbing from vehicles, stretching, chattering. “Well, I’m gonna need some more groceries.”
The Shifters surged around and into the house, through it, out into the back. Zane and Brett, who’d shifted to tiger, as they did when excited, ran among them. Robbie remained human but dashed about greeting the Shifters, being lifted for big hugs or kisses from the females, everyone babbling about a hundred miles an hour.
Kendrick knew full well that there could be enemies among them, spies Lachlan sent. Short of locking up every Shifter and interrogating them, though, he’d never find them. He’d have to trust his trackers to keep an eye out, and himself to spot a betrayal.
Addison moved among them without fear. She was wary, yes, but not afraid. She explained where everything was around the ranch, helped the younger ones, smiled at the older. Kendrick’s Shifters seemed to understand without being told, without the scent mark, that she was with him, and there to stay.