Vann's Victory by Sydney Presley Page A

chosen to guard the cubs? He was hardly packing any brawn—or strength, as far as Kip could see.
    Caleb frowned. “What do you mean by secured? And why the hell have you come back when you got away? Are you crazy?”
    “We brought back some shifters from Highgate—it’s another shifter compound the other side of Texas. Wickland’s been put in a cell. Alpha Newart will be here soon to take him away.” Kip smiled, hoping it would go some way to relaxing Caleb.
    “Who’s the next in line to be alpha here?” Caleb asked, jamming his hands into his hair.
    “I have no idea,” Kip said. “But it won’t be any of Wickland’s followers, not now Alpha Newart is involved. Maybe one will be elected. It depends on what the pack wants to do.”
    “What do you mean?” Caleb eyed him warily, lowering his arms to his sides but bowing them out as if ready to fight if he had to.
    “Everyone except Wickland and his followers are free to leave.” Kip smiled again. “Can you believe that? We’re finally free.”
    “Free?” Caleb looked like he might collapse. He staggered to a wall, propping himself against it.
    “Are you all right?” Kip asked.
    Caleb shook his head.
    Kip went on, hoping to give Caleb something else to think about other than his apparent distress. “There’s room at the institutes, maybe some other compounds if they’re willing to take people in. We don’t have to stay here if we don’t want to.” Kip felt for the man and wondered how he’d react in the same position given the same news.
    I wouldn’t believe it.
    “I promise you, you’re free,” Kip said.
    Caleb slid down the wall, and Kip had the inane thought that the rough brick would have scuffed his skin. Caleb drew his legs up, thighs to chest. He rested his forearms on his knees then lowered his head.
    “I don’t know what to do,” Caleb said. “I’ve lived here all my life. Going elsewhere… It’s too frightening.”
    Kip understood all about that. “But once you step off these lands and see what else is out there—it’s amazing. As you know, I’ve done it. I’ve seen the way we’re supposed to live, before and after I came here. A new life is ahead of all of us. It’s yours to take. Or you could stay here with anyone else choosing to do the same thing. I’m sure if people want to stay, Alpha Newart will appoint a good alpha. Maybe even you.”
    “Kip…there’s a—” Vann said.
    “Not if I can help it,” a man said.
    Kip spun around to face whoever had spoken. He should have known it would be him looming in the opening. Wickland’s right-hand man, Foster, glared at Kip. Why hadn’t he noticed Foster hadn’t been captured by Dillon’s men?
    Damn it!
    Vann lunged forward, attacking Foster, paws on the man’s chest. The momentum sent Foster backwards. He slammed into the wall, eyes wide in his shock of actually being challenged. Kip stared at his Taser, his mind going blank on how he was supposed to use it. A simple thing like pressing a button eluded him for a second. His brain kicked into gear at last and he pointed the weapon at Foster, poising his thumb over the button, but he didn’t have a clear shot. Vann’s body covered Foster, no part of the man visible except for patches of arms, legs and his head.
    “Get off him, Sir!” Kip shouted.
    A blur of movement to Kip’s left then a shove to his side had Kip reeling to his right. Caleb had shifted into a wolf. He leaped at Vann, wrenching him off Foster, his strength had clearly returned tenfold. Vann rolled backwards, smacking into the wall where Caleb had been sitting, a yelp of pain echoing around the room. Kip wanted to go to him but everything was happening too fast.
    “I’m okay,” Vann said. “I’ll be okay.”
    “Just keep out of the way if you’re hurt, Sir.”
    Caleb had Foster by the throat. Foster flailed, his arms waving up and down, then he screamed, the garbled sound so full of agony it gave Kip the shivers. Kip stood rooted, unable to