Page 12 of Expecting The Unexpected

Jory bit his bottom lip, “We don’t want to say something we shouldn’t.”

Throg must have looked like he was getting more and more pissed... because he was, and Jory had noticed it, because he stepped closer to Nug.

He wouldn’t hurt them, but damn if he wasn’t contemplating just how far Groth would go to protect these two nuisances. There was loyalty to your friends, and then loyalty to the clutch. As far as Throg was concerned, the clutch always came first. “I’m getting to the point I think I should be able to take on Groth without a problem.” In truth he could. Throg was older than any of the Nakaka, except the ancients... the originals.

“They didn’t look like they wanted anyone to know where they were going when they went into the d... ouch.Damn it, Jory, stop elbowing me, it hurts,” Nug snapped.

“Then quit talking so much. We agreed we wouldn’t tell,” Jory snapped right back.

Sighing heavily, Throg rubbed the middle of his forehead, where he was starting to get a massive headache. “Guys, this is for the clutch. I need Spencer’s help if we are going to make sure everyone stays safe, and no one tries to kill our Caliph and his inner circle, like they did Tamale.”

Jory gasped, “Oh, gods no. We don’t want Hron or his inner circle dead.”

“Groth is our protector. We can’t let him get hurt,” Nug said at the same time.

Throg quickly said, “Then, if you know where Spencer is, you need to tell me.”

Jory nibbled on his bottom lip and glanced at Nug. Nug tightened his lips as he rubbed his ribs where Jory had popped him a good one that last time.

For a minute, Throg thought Jory might not answer him, but then he surprised Throg by saying, “We saw Spencer and Elijah sneaking into the infirmary.”

Those words caused a strange fluttering in Throg’s stomach, that took him a moment to realize was fear, “The infirmary? Is Spencer hurt? Is he sick?”

“You do know that Spencer is a shifter, right? I don’t know much about sloths or shifters in general, but I do believe they don’t get or give disease or sickness,” Nug said, with a roll of his eyes.

Jory pursed his lips, then took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “No one looked hurt, but we don’t know why they were going in there. However, Spencer looked like he wanted to be anywhere, but there.”

“He was with Elijah. It could have been that he just wanted to see his brother about something,” Nug said, with a smile and nod.

What Nug said was true. Elijah and Spencer could have just been together, and Elijah wanted to see his brother about something, but why wouldn’t Spencer want to be there with him, and why would he be with Elijah, when he should be working?

Throg couldn’t help but feel as if something was wrong. He needed to get to Spencer and make sure everything was okay. Throg gave both men a small nod. “Thank you,” then he left for the medical center, before the two could bring on a full-fledged migraine.

* * * *

Throg opened the infirmary door and looked around. Spencer was nowhere in sight, but Elijah was sitting on his mate’s lap, and it looked as if he was crying. Doctor Caden was pacing and grumbling about stubborn-ass shifters. All the while, no one noticed Throg standing there.

Throg was just about to announce his arrival, when the door slammed into his back and caused Throg to stumble into the wall behind the damn door.

“What’s going on? Who’s hurt? Nug said Elijah and Spencer were in here,” Petree said, sounding out of breath, then gasped, “Elijah? What is it, honey? Are you hurt?”

Throg was about to push the door away, when he was hit once more. “Son of a bitch what the hell is going on?”

“Elijah? Petree? What’s going on? Nug said Spencer and Elijah were hurt and seeing the doctor. What’s going on? Is my brother hurt?” Mason asked anxiously, as he, Abe, and Bryant came rushing in the room.

It still amazed Throg, how close all these men had become, after what they had endured in the hands of Chantal and his men. Raped, beaten, almost killed. How anyone hadn’t lost their mind with the torture they had endured, was awe inspiring to him. Throg had seen greater men fall, because of tragedy and harsh circumstance. Yet, these men didn’t cower or run, instead they banded together, became family, loved and stayed by each other’s sides. They were brothers, but not by blood... by choice. If one was in pain, they all were in pain, and Throg had watched these men come together in the most amazing ways. They helped Petree through his hurt and struggles when they had been saved almost a year ago, and they did the same when Elijah was going through all he had before committing to Khall. Throg could only wish he had people in his life that felt the love these men showed each other.

“Elijah’s fine... or he will be. He’s just worried about Spencer, Khall said calmly, as he did his best to soothe his mate.

Those words caught Throg’s attention.Spencer?What the hell was going on with Spencer?

Throg was about to burst from behind the door, when Elijah’s words stopped him. “He’s in real trouble, guys. We have to help him.”

“Anything. You guys know that. Whatever Spencer needs we’re here for him,” Petree said, looking around. “WhereisSpencer?”

“He ran out of here,” Khall answered just as quietly as he had before.

“Ran out... What’s going on? Where’d he go? Why’d he run out of here? Is he sick?” Mason asked, looking around.