Rebecca (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Alpha Marked Book 4) by Celia Kyle Page B

hoped Aidan would keep his mouth shut as well.
    “Rebecca, you start.” Keller’s order had Rebecca snuggling deeper into Aidan’s hold while the other males in the room leaned slightly forward.
    Carson eased even closer until his thighs brushed the back of the couch and he leveled a glare on them all. They could listen, but he didn’t want any of them frightening her. He’d done that enough on his own.
    He didn’t relax as Rebecca told her story. If anything, he tensed further as thoughts of the recent past took over. The male’s words had been crazed and rambling, spouting nonsense as he’d held a gun to his mate. The threat on Rebecca’s life still had him on edge, but even more so, on the men and women littered through the space.
    Emmett was the first to speak. “He said families? Plural?”
    Rebecca nodded. “Yes. Does that mean anything? I didn’t understand.”
    Levy ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, yeah, it does.”
    Whitney, their Warden Born mate, glowed, her skin brightening as the multitude of marks covering her shone. That was what happened when a Warden Born female found her Warden mates. They formed a powerful, almost invincible triad of wolven strength and magic.
    He recalled the summary he and Aidan received shortly after last year’s Gathering. Emmett and Levy discovered that contrary to werewolf laws and popular belief, Wardens could have a mate, and their coming together would strengthen their powers.
    The only reason no one remembered was due to magical manipulation of the summoning spell by the leaders of the five families.
    Oh, god.
    “It’s the families, the five families, isn’t it?” His voice was hoarse with emotion, strangled by the implications. “Whitney’s a Wickham and you pissed them off and now they’re after…”
    A low, rumbling growl from Emmett reached him, but he didn’t give a damn. Crazed members of the five oldest, most powerful werewolf families had gone after Rebecca. His Rebecca.
    “Enough.” Madden’s snap shot through the room, silencing them all.
    “Yes.” Keller’s answer filled the quiet. “We spoke to the new patriarch of each after the last Gathering and every male assured us there would be no reprisal. They understood why Emmett, Levy, and Whitney killed the attacking males. They deserved what they got. Then we offered any help they needed. The actions of the fathers were not endorsed by the sons. Plus, the families haven’t caused any trouble since the last Gathering. It seems someone lied, or not everyone agrees with the current leadership and they’re picking up the ex-Elders’ torch.”
    “Either option means trouble,” Levy murmured and everyone nodded. “But I’m leaning toward a rogue group. Young, incompetent, and stupid—obviously—but still deadly.”
    “I agree,” Madden spoke up. “An adolescent pup could have done a better job.” Madden shook his head and sighed. “The them mating into our lines has me worried there’s a threat to all females, but I think it focuses on Wickham relatives directly. Whitney was part of ending the families. Plus he mentioned the old bastards . That could only mean Sarvis and his associates.”
    Everyone knew of Sarvis. He’d been Emmett and Levy’s mentor as well as an Elder. At least until he attempted to end Whitney’s life with the help of the other families and ended up dead himself.
    “So, we know the threat and that they think there are more Wickhams or Twynhams running around the Gathering.” Keller’s gaze scanned the room. “We need to find them and protect them while we hunt the men involved in this mess.”
    Rebecca’s voice was subdued when she spoke up. “How?”
    “That’s why Miles and Holden are here.” Emmett gestured toward the two Wardens.
    Carson curled his lip at the still red-faced male and that earned him a glare from the Ruling Warden. He didn’t care. The man’s presence still pissed him off.
    Emmett continued. “They have a few specialties,