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“That’s what sisters are for.”
“And future alpha females,” Duke said, leading the way with Ree to the apartment.
There were two apartments and two offices on the second floor of the bar, which had a balcony that overlooked the dance floor. The rooms were accessible through a security-locked door and a staircase. Duke and Titus lived in the apartments, but now that he and Ree were going to become the pride alphas, they were going to take over the home where Duke’s parents lived, because it was the official home of the resident alphas.
Duke unlocked the front door of his apartment and let them in. “I’ll make coffee and we can hang out until Barron can shift back.”
“Thank you,” Mercy said. She dropped onto the couch and Barron sat on his haunches in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his furry neck and waited to be able to talk to him.
* * *
Several hours later, Barron nudged Mercy’s knee and she followed him into a bedroom. His body morphed from lion to human, and he hugged her tightly.
“Are you okay?” he asked, stroking her cheek and brushing the tears away.
“I’m not the one who was ambushed.”
He smirked but then looked serious. “They threatened you. I was worried they’d sent someone else after you.”
“I’m fine. I woke up worried and then you didn’t answer your phone. Duke insisted on coming. And Ree.”
“I’m glad you weren’t alone.”
Mercy touched the bruise around Barron’s eye. It looked old, as if it had been healing for days and not merely hours. He was covered in healing cuts and bruises. He gave her a kiss, and then grabbed the clothes off the bed that Duke had placed there for him and got dressed.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he said, gruffly. “I was fucking worried.”
“Me, too.”
“You really woke up thinking about me?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t sleep, and the longer I was up, the more worried I got. It was a strange feeling.” She rubbed the space over her heart, thinking about how it had ached. “Ree said I could feel your emotions some because we’re heart-mates.”
“I agree. I was worried out of my mind for you. I kept thinking that if they took me out, you’d be vulnerable. It’s why I shifted. I needed to be at my best.”
He walked over to her and she hugged him, snuggling in close and resting her head on his chest to hear the steady beat of his heart. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I just got you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I feel the same, sweetheart. You’re my everything.”
“I wanna go home,” she said.
“Me, too. But we need to talk to the alphas.”
She tilted her head up. “Then home?”
“Absolutely.”
Barron and Mercy joined Duke and Ree in the family room, along with Duke’s father and several older men Mercy didn’t know. While she’d been waiting for Barron to be able to change back, the protectors had been to the bar and picked up the five males, delivering them to the cages. The pride doctor was on hand to tend their wounds.
Mercy was chilled to the bone, not because it was particularly cold in the apartment but because of how close she felt like she’d come to losing Barron. She’d seen the five guys who had come after him, and she recognized one of the guys as the rank right under Duke, so the number three in the whole pride. Barron had held his own and she was so proud of him. She reminded her spinning brain that the most important man in her life was safe and sitting next to her. She could put the fear to rest, because he’d proven he could take care of himself.
“I’m okay, sweetheart,” he murmured, putting an arm around her.
“Gah, I don’t want to cry anymore,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder. “I know you are. My brain’s just trying to catch up to reality.”
“It’s going to be fine. I promise.”
Duke cleared his throat and Mercy looked at him as Barron straightened slightly. Duke introduced the men as the elders. “Tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out.”
