“Why would the Variant of any status attack the Gamieyon Pride?” Zev asked.
“Maybe they’re not rescued yet. Have no idea that their kind can be free now,” Niko said.
“How could the Falwells know any of that about us or the Variant?” Zev asked.
“Mole,” Niko said.
Rance nodded. “We need to be home now,” he said.
“Yeah, we do. Bonnie’s handling this all on her own. Get us home,” Jack said.
“If you’re not strapped in, strap yourself in, we’re about to have lift off,” Rance said as he pressed on the accelerator.
The vehicles following them accelerated, too, for no other reason than they were traveling together.
“I’m texting them to let them know what’s happening so they know why we’re suddenly flying down the interstate at breakneck speed,” Jack said.
~~~
Rance turned off the highway and onto the rough cut road that led up their mountain. The moment his lights flashed on the heavy iron gate blocking their way, Paxton and Dane stepped out of the shadows, clearly armed with assault weapons, while other males stood in the distance, allowing their Alpha to see that all was safe and secure.
Jack rolled down his window as Paxton approached.
“All is quiet,” Paxton said. “All of the Gamieyon Pride members that arrived have been taken to your house. We’ve got a team encircling your house, we’ve got several teams at the base of the mountain, others patrolling between here and the top, and the top is secured as well. When the bar closed down, Jett and his crew reported right away and have been on patrol since. There is nothing we’re not watching.”
“Good. Any word on what happened?”
“Just that they were attacked and their Alpha sent the mothers with young children to safety. He tried to send more women, but they wouldn’t leave their males and stayed to fight. Forty-seven women and children, and five males that were sent to protect them arrived here.”
“That’s it?” Jack asked.
“Maybe others got away or survived, but they’re not here.”
“Alright. Keep doing what you’re doing. Once the sun comes up and we get some answers, we’ll work out a schedule to allow us to remain on alert while others rest, and then rotate those on duty out for fresh replacements until further notice.”
“Understood,” Paxton said. “’We’ve got it until then.”
“And after,” Dane said.
Paxton grinned as they high-fived each other.
“Y’all keep me in the loop. Let me know if you need me.”
“Yes, sir,” Paxton said.
Rance inched forward as Dane unlocked and opened the gate just wide enough for him to pass. Rance wasted no time driving past the gate and bouncing the hell out of all of them as he didn’t bother to slow again as he urged the truck ever forward hell bent on getting to Jack’s without wasting another minute.
Jack watched in the side mirror as the four vehicles following them passed through the gate as well before Dane locked the gate and he and Paxton took up security positions in the shadows again.
As Rance finally rounded the final curve of the road at the top of the mountain, Jack pointed past the leather manufacturing business on his right toward his house which hadn’t come into view yet. “Just pull right up to the damn door.”
“Yep,” Rance said.
“I’m as anxious as you two to get inside that house, but may I suggest you don’t go busting in there like the damn place is on fire? They’re already pretty freaked out. Can we not make it worse?” Niko asked.
“He’s right,” Rance said.
“It’s a sad day when Niko is the voice of reason,” Zev said.
