Chapter 141

Rachel POV

Wright House

Adam had brought the sedan around within a span of time I couldn't even remember. All my thoughts had become scrambled due to exhaustion of both the mental and physical varieties. I just wanted to go home with my mate.

Tyler carried me to the car and then insisted on carrying me inside Wright House when we arrived home.

I'd thought I couldn't sit on the sofa there a moment longer, but it turned out I was never so grateful to see a piece of furniture. I might have even cried a little in joy at being back to my sequesterment.

"Oh, so now you like the couch?" Tyler teased.

Sniffling, I smacked his chest lightly, "Stop it! Don't tease me. I'm in a fragile state."

I felt silly even saying the words, but they got a deep chuckle out of Tyler and even a little chortle of laughter from Adam who was following us inside. I'd managed to convince Lindy, Bella, and Jack to stay at their apartment. Adam was obviously not going to let me out of his sight though.

Part of me was grateful for the additional guard.

Ever since meeting Art Windsor, I had started to wonder if we had wolves with such amazing abilities as being able to transport themselves through space with a thought, wouldn't there be those who used the same powers for evil? What was to stop someone from hiring an abductor to slide right into my home to take me again?

"Did Art tell us how to make sure no one popped in here to take me the way he can move in and out of places? I keep thinking Richard Campbell has to have resources and Patrick knows people who are bad, Tyler. Very bad people," I rambled, too tired to keep my thoughts perfectly straight.

Tyler hugged me against his chest before placing me down onto our bed, saying, "We won't give them the chance. I'm going to call Windsor. I'll ask him to tell me what I need to do to protect you from anything like that happening. I'll tell him about your fathers. I'll ask about Ethan. Trust me to take care of it all and just rest, okay?"

I was too tired to argue. As soon as I was laid down on the bed, I rolled to my side and sleep wrapped me in its arms before Tyler had even finished speaking.

~*~

Waking up hurt more than I had imagined waking up ever could.

My head throbbed with pain as badly as a broken tooth while my body ached deep down to my bones; I had no idea why I was hurting so much. All I could do was blink at the wall in confusion.

Pain usually had a source. What was the source of my pain? Hadn't I been rescued before they'd gotten a chance to harm me?

"I can hear you thinking all the way to my bed," Art said. His voice came from behind me and I rolled over too quickly, almost making myself sick in the process.

"Art!" I cried, launching myself at his chest and stretching my arms to spread wide over the width of his enormous shoulders, "Does Tyler know you're here?"

Art wrapped huge arms around me, kissed my forehead and pushed me back from him as he said, "Yes. He also trusts me to be on my best behavior with you which means no touching. He'll try to hit me and I'll try to hit him and then we'll both wind up fighting which you won't like at all."

Moving over to sit against the headboard, I looked at Art for answers as I asked, "Why do I feel so terrible?"

"I imagine it's because you haven't eaten in a while and your blood sugar has dropped. That bun in your oven is taking all the energy you've got to grow itself big and strong. There's a reason why you were told to take better care of yourself. It wasn't a suggestion, Rachel," Art said, levering himself off the bed with surprising grace for such an impossibly large man.

"Where are you going now?" I asked, knowing I sounded whiny without being willing to care.

Art chuckled, "I'm going to get you something to eat. I'm going to tell your mate you're awake on the way there or the way back whichever direction I run across him first."

Neither Alpha took long to return to me and they brought enough food for an army. I insisted they share with me which resulted in me sharing a picnic in bed with Alpha Inspector Art Windsor and Tyler Wright, Heir to Alpha House Wright.

"What do we know about your fathers in terms of their involvement with your mother?" Art asked, wiping his mouth on a napkin.

Swallowing, I cleared my mouth with a sip of orange juice before saying, "I know Patrick admitted to getting rid of her. I can't imagine he kept her alive all these years without a reason. I think Richard Campbell is paying him or he's blackmailing Campbell for money or something."

Art nodded while Tyler's expression got darker and darker. I could tell they were both listening to me which was its own kind of intoxicating.

"Alpha Campbell can't be the Alpha if it's proven your mother died with issue he doesn't control. He doesn't control you and we know Lindy can't be the actual daughter of Elena Campbell who he does control. That means? Campbell is behind controlling Elena's captivity. He has to be. There's too much on the line for him not to be," Art said with a grim smile.

I knew it was likely both my fathers were behind the captivity of my mother. I just didn't like hearing it any better than I imagined they liked saying it.

"What does that mean for us?" I asked, reaching for a bowl of grapes which both Art and Tyler tried to pass me at the same time.

I found myself giggling as they nearly growled at each other. What kind of ridiculousness was I dealing with now? Was I really supposed to keep these two grown boys from fighting for the rest of their association?

"There's no 'us' in this situation," Tyler snapped, "Windsor is responsible for figuring out how to bring your mother home. Safely. We are not involved in her abduction. We have to be careful because you are on bedrest. We've risked too much with you already."

Nodding, Art agreed, "Wright is actually right for a change. I can't have you involved in this situation too closely. If they were to take you again and get your blood pressure up? Or hit you this time? Hurt you? Alpha females are hardy, but that baby inside you isn't. Not yet. You have to think of her first."

I felt shame fill me at the reminder of my daughter.

Right now, I was the only person who could matter to my baby. She was making her way into the world through me and I had to offer her safety because no one else could.

"Don't beat yourself up too much," Art muttered, "No one asked you if you wanted to be kidnapped or to find out your mother has been a hostage for too long. You've got enough on your mind to make it reasonable you're forgetting about the real parts of pregnancy. That baby won't be here for a while yet, okay? Just keep in mind you have to get from here to there first."

"She'll be taken care of without you having to worry about her," Tyler said, "I can take care of my wife."

"Tyler, Art is just trying to help. I need you to know he's on our side," I said, reaching out to touch his arm.

Art stood up from the bed, being careful not to overturn any of the bowls on the bed. He stretched for what looked like forever before letting his arms drop down to his sides; Art gave me a wink as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, as if he could make himself somehow less threatening that way.

"Speaking of help, I am going to go see a man about a horse," Art said, "Meaning: I'm going to go find out what I can about your mother's situation. I should be able to get information out of some sources I've identified. I'll also check back in with Ethan at the hospital though I've told them to call if his condition changes."

Neither I nor Tyler had a chance to say anything before Art was simply gone and then Tyler was popping up from the bed, upsetting dishes left and right while I scrambled to right them before they ruined the bedding.

"I'm going to go get some affairs in order myself. Keep eating. Drink plenty. Call Magda if you need anything and if she doesn't come? You call me. Or if you just---need me. Call me then, too."

Tyler left the bedroom before I could say anything to that offer.