Before the sun rose, a distant soft rumble echoed in the clearing. Ignoring Gregory’s soft snores, I stood, stretched, and went downstairs. Winifred was already awake and dressed. I still felt a little resentment toward her for taking Charlene from sanctuary. It had been a low move, and I didn’t like that she’d risked my Mate for no apparent reason.
“It feels like it will be a heavy storm,” she said, looking around at the walls and window. “You might want to bring some of the wood inside while it’s still dry.”
“What time are you leaving?”
“Soon.” She met my gaze. “Take care of them, Thomas. All of them.”
I nodded and walked out the door to start bringing in wood.
Winifred had the truck loaded with scrap and water boiling for oatmeal when I checked to see if Charlene was awake. The sky’s rumbles grew louder with each passing moment.
“I’ll stay until she’s up,” Winifred said. “Go see what you can do about the windows.”
Hem was already in the tool building putting the trim around his latest build.
“I’ll bring them in when I’m done.”
“I’ll take the ladder around front and grab some boards. We’ll need to use what we can to cover the openings for now.”
He nodded in agreement.
Gregory and Grey helped me take the boards into the tool building and cut them to manageable lengths while the wind kicked up. As soon as we had enough for several windows, I took them to the ladder.
While I was climbing, Winifred walked out, waved farewell, and got into her truck. A large boom echoed in the clearing, followed less than a second later by a bright flash and another boom. I hurried to pound the first board into place. It didn’t sound like the storm would hold back for much longer. The wind pulled me and the ladder away from the house for a moment. Quick reflexes and a strong grip on the fascia board kept me from falling.
I’m holding the bottom, Gregory sent me. But I’m not going to catch you if you fall.
I laughed and pounded the next board into place as the rain let loose. The cold drops pelted at my back and water ran into my eyes.
You’re not going to like this, Grey sent me, but I just saw Anton and Hem go inside.
I swore as I pounded the last board into place then hurried down the ladder. Despite Anton’s words, I knew the wolf still held out hope Charlene would prefer him.
As I went toward the door, Gregory moved the ladder. Above the howl of the rain, I heard Charlene say something about going outside.
I pushed the door open and found her studying Hem’s window covers as Anton stood close beside her. She wouldn’t be going anywhere with him. Especially not in the rain.
“Not you,” I said, meeting her gaze. “We’ll do it. Once we have these on, we’ll do what we can to protect the rest of the windows.”
Hem picked up a stack of covers, and Anton took the one from Charlene’s hands. Both walked out the door with me.
“She’s human,” I said to both of them. “She would get sick coming out in this weather. Next time, get me instead.”
Hem nodded and moved off to cover the first exposed lower level window. Anton smirked at me for a moment then went to help Hem.
We worked together boarding the windows and quickly learned that one ladder wasn’t enough in the gusting winds. Gregory and I went into the trees and broke off two more tall pines no thicker than our arms.
We quickly snapped off the largest branches from one to make it easier to pull through the trees.
“We won’t get this made in time to help,” he said, the wind trying to steal his words.
“They won’t be able to reach the northern window without it. The wind’s too strong. Start taking that one back. I’ll be right behind you.”
Not long after he left, the rain started to let up.
Mary’s fear suddenly pierced me.
Thomas, we need you.
I turned and ran as she continued to communicate with me.
Four newcomers just entered. They know we’re unMated. Charlene’s keeping them out, but I don’t know for how long. They came because of that Elder message.
I’m coming, I sent back. Fear and anger pulsed through me as I reached out to my pack. They should have been watching the building.
There’s a threat to Charlene and Mary, I sent. Protect them now.
When we reached the clearing, Gregory, Anton, and Bine were circling four snarling males.
Charlene’s pale blonde hair caught my attention as she looked out the window by the door. How had she kept the four males out? Her power again?
“You are unfit for Elders and have broken the laws of sanctuary by threatening those under my care,” I said, lowly.
One of the wolves looked back at Charlene and moved closer to the window. His muscled tensed. Instinct had me shifting and leaping toward him before he could launch himself through the window.
Get Charlene upstairs. It’s not safe, I sent Mary.
The newcomer twisted at the sound of my landing and growled. I didn’t give him time to think but dove for him. He let loose a challenging growl as he met my attack. My hackles rose. He didn’t have a chance to win my pack from me.
One of the others issued the same challenge and crept forward. There was no rule against what they were doing, but they would never hold the pack if they won. There was no respect in winning this way. But, I doubted they were after leadership. They wanted the females.
Guard the door at all times, I sent to Grey.
I started a retreat into the clearing, keeping both of the outsiders in my sight as I lured them further from Mary and Charlene.
One of the wolves looked back at the two who still hovered near the door. I growled to gain his attention, but he ignored me while his partner kept an eye on me.
Anton, Gregory, and Bine moved to block the other two from joining the fight. The outsiders shifted back into men, crossed their arms, and widened their stance, showing they had no intention to help their friends. However, one of them glanced at the window and grinned at Charlene, who still watched.
The two facing me saw my distraction and lunged. I rolled and twisted out of the way, once again putting my back to the trees so I faced the challengers with the building behind them.
Charlene says to stay focused on the fight, no matter what, Mary sent me.
That warning made me want to check on the building. Instead, I remained focused and forced myself to put faith in my pack. They would protect the females.
One of the pair feinted for my neck and the other tried for my leg. I drew to the side while raking my claws across the first one’s face. Then jumped back to avoid the second one’s teeth.
The door opened, distracting my attackers.
Suddenly, the outsiders by the door flew backward by an unseen force. Gregory, Anton, and Bine shifted, ready to attack and defend as Charlene stepped out into the rain.
“You are no longer welcome. Leave,” she said.
They rose, growled, then turned to run; and I used the distraction to lunge forward and clamp my mouth over the muzzle of one of the challengers. He yipped and tried to shake me off while Anton and Bine raced after the two Charlene had chased away. I held firm and angled myself to watch the other mutt.
During our stand-off, I caught a glimpse of Grey as he ran from the trees and shifted to his fur mid-sprint.
About time, I sent Grey, shaking my head and tearing deeper into the tissue of the wolf’s muzzle. The move knocked the wolf off balance.
Focus. You’re bleeding, and one of your attackers is not. Fix it.
But I couldn’t. The second wolf had noticed Grey, too, and hesitated. He turned sideways to watch Grey’s progress while I continued to maneuver the first mutt, unwilling to give up my hold. As much as I would appreciate Grey’s help, I couldn’t allow it. Needing assistance during a challenge would be seen as a sign of weakness by my pack.
The second mutt turned back to me and sprang toward my neck. I twisted, keeping myself free while still trying to subdue the first challenger who struggled in my hold. He pulled back sharply, almost knocking me off balance. I released my clamp and moved to back away. Not fast enough, though. The bleeding wolf went one way while the other wolf circled opposite. They were moving slower. Either tired or more wary. Both worked for me.
One stood before me, and the other tensed at my hind leg.
“Can’t either of you take Thomas on your own?” Charlene asked, loudly.
The second wolf hesitated to attack again.
“If not, what kind of leaders will you make?” she asked. A snarl arose from my pack. They wouldn’t accept either of them as a leader.
“I think you’ll find yourselves challenged by others in his pack,” Charlene said as if she’d understood the snarls. “You’re both attacking him at the same time because you know he’s special. He has the loyalty of his pack, and even if you defeat him, what will you have gained? Gregory will Claim Mary in an instant to protect her, and they will leave as will the rest. You’ll be the leader of nothing.”
The one hesitating growled at her.
“If you want to be part of something great then stop fighting. Concede to Thomas and join his pack. Don’t try to lead it. You were never meant to.”