“Keep an eye on your people, make them pair up. Keep an eye on the town folk, make sure they know to get word to you if they see anything or feel like they’re being threatened. I’m telling you, this might not be over.”
Connor nodded, patting Jack on the back as he walked him over to his car. “I understand. But if nothing else, you’ve set their plans back some. They know we’re not fighting them alone anymore.”
“That much is true,” Jack said. “Call us when they come back. Something tells me it’s me they want, but they may turn up here again. If I didn’t have to get home to look after my own people, I’d stay a little longer. But all it takes is a phone call and we’ll be back if you need us.”
“Appreciate it, Jack,” Connor said, standing back as Jack got in the car. “Y’all drive safe now.”
“Yep,” Jack said. “And y’all watch your back.”
“We got this. We’ll be in touch,” Connor said. “Call us if you need us in the meantime.”
“Will do,” Jack said.
Chapter 3
Alpha Grail Gamieyon burst into his bedroom prepared to shake Gwen awake, but she was already up and dressed, with their kids moved to hers and Grail’s bed, where they were waiting as she put their shoes on them.
“You have to go. Take the boys and get to the cave in the woods,” Grail said.
“No! I’m not leaving you here to fight alone.”
“I’m not alone, Gwen. I’ve got the Pride standing with me. I need you to take the boys, take the females willing to go with you and their children, and get them to safety.”
Gwen was clearly torn at leaving her mate in the midst of an attack. “It’s just the Falwells. We’ve fought them off before.”
“It’s not just the Falwells. They’ve got others with them. Please, I’m begging you to go. I can’t fight efficiently if my mind is on you and the boys. I need you to go. I need you to be safe so I can do what I have to.”
“Who is standing with the Falwells?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t gotten close enough to one of them to be able to tell for sure but they operate as a military unit. I don’t know for sure, but I think they may be some form of the Variant, like Three from Jack’s Pride. But something’s off.”
“Then they’re not really the Variant. They’re likely just shifters like us. We can fight them. I’ll hide in the safe room downstairs. I can even leave the boys with some of the other mothers and their kids in the safe room. We can fight this!”
“No!” he shouted. “Go. Get out now while we still hold the line. Steve has been sent to gather the mothers and their children. I told him to take a few other males of his choice with him and they are going with you to help keep you safe. Get out ofthis house and to the cave in the woods. If I’m not there by this time tomorrow, start moving. Go toward the south, aim for the Laighin Pride. They’ll take you in and keep you safe. If I don’t come for you, don’t come back here!”
“I’m not deserting you! This is our home and our people!”
“Gwen, my love, if you don’t go, I’m afraid there won’t be anyone left to carry on. I’m begging you. Leave this place. Survive. I need you to survive for me. For our babies.”
She teared up, her lips trembling. “But I love you.”
“I adore you. You are my heart, my life. And I need you and our babies to live. Please, go.”
Gwen threw her arms around his neck, and he held her tightly, whispering to her about how wonderful their life had been and how proud he was of her. He kissed her, then let her go and walked toward their bedroom door. “You’ve got three minutes. Get out of here.”
She nodded and choked back tears as she turned to her boys who watched them sleepily, having been awakened in the middle of the night. She quickly tied the last shoe on one of her twin sons’ feet, and lifted first one, then the other into her arms.
“Gwen?” Grail said, still standing in the doorway watching her.
She looked up at him.
“You can trust Rance. Make it to the Laighin Pride, Jack will grant you sanctuary, and Rance will protect you and the boys like I do.”
“Rance?” she asked, remembering the sullen male who wouldn’t even allow himself to be in the same room with her when he’d visited their Pride with Jack. She knew why he’d refused to interact with her, but she hadn’t known that Grail was aware.
“It’s okay, Gwen. Go to him. He’ll keep you all safe,” Grail said, then he was gone, rushing down the hallway, then the stairsand out of the front door to defend his Pride and if everything else failed, at least keep the focus on himself and those standing with him against the Falwells long enough that his family and those who sought safety with them, could slip away.
~~~
