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“I’m so sorry…” I came out of hiding, on the verge of tears. In my need to prove my strength, I had forgotten myself. “I didn’t mean…”
“That was one hell of a shot,” said Roman. “I swear, that arm of yours just keeps getting stronger and stronger.” He took off his shirt and used it as a rag to stop the blood.
“I agree with Roman. That was quite impressive.” Landon offered me a skin of water. “But I fear that you are pushing yourself too hard. You must think about the baby’s health as he grows. You cannot continue at this pace with a little one inside of you.”
“You were the one that said I should train and become stronger so that I could protect him in case of an emergency.”
“I did,” he said with a nod. “But our pup will soon be joining us and as a result, you’ll need to slow down.”
I wiped the excess water from my mouth with the back of my hand. “How am I supposed to slow down when you keep reminding me of the threat that’s still out there? They could come for us at any moment and when that moment comes, I want to be prepared.”
Roman had tied his shirt around his head like a bandana. “I think you’re more than capable of defending yourself.”
“Am I?” I countered. “Because staying away from the two of you is hard enough and I know that you’re holding back even if you refuse to admit it.” Agitated, I snapped a twig from a nearby branch and proceeded to pull at its foliage. “What’ll happen when you’re replaced by actual enemies? Maybe I’ll kick and I’ll scream but I won’t be a real match for any of them.”
“It isn’t about brute strength —” Landon started but I didn’t let him finish.
“Sometimes it’s better to run away and live to fight another day,” I recited his mantra. “I’ve heard it a thousand times, Landon. But you really can’t expect me to run away, while you and Roman stay behind and fight to your deaths. If that pack comes for us, then I am staying by your sides until the very last breath.”
“Listen to what you are saying.” Landon stepped forward. There was little space between our bodies, forcing me to look up at his face. “Your only concern is with protecting the baby. You have no reason to worry about us.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry but I’m going to worry about the two of you whether you want me to or not. I’ve fallen in love with you two and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”
Landon sat down.
“What are you doing?” I snapped in his direction. It irritated me that he was not taking things seriously.
“I’m letting you calm down.”
“Big mistake. You never tell a woman to calm down,” whispered Roman.
I was close to pulling my hair out. “I can’t keep doing this. What’s the point of all this training if we don’t do something about the threat that continues to loom on our horizon? I say we go after them before they come after us.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Big mistake number two. Never tell a woman that she’s crazy.” This time, Roman’s voice was barely audible. He took a step back like he was ready for me to explode.
“No, I’m not crazy.” It was taking every fiber of my willpower to remain in control of myself. “I think it’s our best option. What are we doing hiding out here like a bunch of terrified bunnies? Last time I checked, we’re wolves and we don’t cower. We fight and we defend what is rightfully ours. Those crooks took your pack from you and what are you going to do about it? Sit around and wait for them to take me away too?”
Landon got up so fast that it made my head spin. His fingers were wrapped around my arms, cutting off circulation. I didn’t even have the breath to complain about the pain.
“Of course not,” he growled. “I fear that we’ll lose you, each and every day. It is the reason why I do not let you out of my sight. You and this baby mean the world to me and just the thought…” He was grinding his teeth together with such force that I could actually hear them gnashing together. “But it is too dangerous for us to infiltrate their hideout — especially in your condition. I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you.”
“But how am I supposed to bring a baby into this world?” I countered. “When it could be massacred in the middle of the night like its ancestors.”
“Maybe she has a point,” said Roman, finally breaking his stretch of silence. “If we play our cards right, this might work. We’ll have the element of surprise on our side. They’ll never see it coming.”
Landon released his grip and turned on his heel. I thought he was going to walk away but after a few steps, his fist flew into the nearest tree trunk. The whole thing rattled. A crack echoed through the forest followed by the sound of splitting timber. The tree crashed into the ground a minute later.
I didn’t breathe.
“We can’t.”
“It might be our only option,” said Roman. “And it is our duty as mates to see this through — to create a safer environment for Jane and our unborn cub.”
“You two can’t possibly be thinking of doing this on your own,” I protested. “I’m coming with you.”
Landon took my hand and brought my knuckles to his lips. “You have to trust us on this one. Destroying this rival pack is our fight. It is not yours. Stay here with Cynthia where we know you’ll be safe.”
