Kade’s POV
What do you mean you’re evacuating ? I ask, completely confused about what Joey just told me. Lila and Conner were watching a movie with Joey and me since the boys had been having tons of meetings with the guards, the other packs that’re helping us out, the elders, basically everyone that was directly influenced by the rogue raid that was happening in just a few days.
Once we raid the pack, there’s a chance that some of them will break from the group to come to our camp since it’ll be the most unguarded that it will ever be. Everyone that’s willing to fight, including our guards, will be with us, so we’re suggesting everyone to evacuate for their own safety. We have other packs willing to take some of our people if they have nowhere to go, which is amazing because if they stay here, then they’re putting themselves at risk for not leaving when they were suggested to, Conner explained to me.
Mom’s probably going to stay in a hotel room and Melissa will probably go with her. We might have to relocate you and your family as well because we already know that they have your location, Joey tells me.
I looked at Lila to see her face filled with nervousness as her knee shakes up-and-down. I look back at my fiance, who also seemed a bit nervous and stressed at the whole situation and I can’t even imagine how he’ll feel the day that all this goes down. Just send us to the same hotel as Lila and Melissa, we’ll be safe there.
Yeah, can we do that ? That’s just easier for everyone and probably will help all of us calm down if we’re together, Lila says, completely agreeing with what I said. I know that whenever bad things like this happen, she likes to be distracted and my mom could totally help keep her distracted.
Conner nods his head, wrapping his arm around his wife’s shoulder. He’s kept his composure the entire time we’ve talked about this, but seeing how he’s reacting with his wife, he’s probably also really nervous. We can totally do that.
Joey pulls out his phone to look up hotels as I lay my head on his shoulder to watch what he was doing. I chuckle when he goes to one of the most expensive hotels near us before booking the penthouse, which was a lot of money for just one night. He booked it for three days since we had no idea how long this was actually going to take.
You have so much money, I whisper to him and he chuckles, shaking his head before turning to me to give me a soft kiss as his parents press play on the movie we were watching before we got into this conversation.
That’s why you’re so spoiled, he says with a chuckle.
I gasp, lightly hitting his arm as I sit up. I’m not spoiled, you just happen to have some money and buy me things with it. I never asked for that, you just do it.
He laughs, nodding his head. Only the best for you.
Did you book a hotel room ? Conner asks, taking his eyes off the TV to look over at his son who nodded his head in confirmation.
Yeah, I got the penthouse since it has three bedrooms and you need a keycard to even access the floor that they’ll be on, Joey says.
Good idea, his dad says before looking back at the television that his wife was still paying attention to while her son turns towards me again. He gives me a soft smile and my whole body is filled with a warm feeling of love as I looked at this man in front of me that has somehow wormed his way into a deep part of my heart.
I love you, I whisper, not being able to hold the words back as that feeling overcomes me.
I love you too, Joey says, pulling me into his chest so I could feel his heartbeat against my cheek. That’s become the thing we do whenever we had a moment to just breathe because it always calmed us down, whatever was going on in front of us. At that moment, I just wished I could always feel his heart under my cheek as it beat with life in his chest because it always made me feel good to know that he is real and right there with me.
Four days later, Joey holds me in his arms as the emotions overcome us because we know that in just a few hours, he would be at war with rogue packs with a chance that we would die. I held in my tears because I had to be strong for him as he went ; he needed to be focused on the task at hand so nothing goes wrong.
I love you, he whispers into my ear before placing a soft kiss behind it, making goosebumps break out on my sensitive skin. My hands ball up his shirt as I hold him close, not wanting to ever let go.
I love you so much.
I turned my head to place my cheek against his chest as I looked at Lila who was sitting on her husband’s lap as they held each other. Melissa did the same and I’ve been noticing her stress levels rising to their maximum the past few days and I was seriously worried about how she was going to handle all of this once Cody leaves.
I didn’t know where Isaac and Oliver were, but I knew that they were doing the same thing as us since Oliver had volunteered to help. Isaac and Tyler weren’t going to come with us since their families had wanted them to come with them since they were going to stay with family during the evacuation. Isaac had offered to go with, but since he’s the omega of the pack (which I had told Joey about because I needed him to explain to me), everyone was too worried to allow him. We had all agreed to come straight to the quarter house once everything was said and done, but that could take a while depending on how prepared the rogue pack was going to be when they were raided.
Joey tilted my head up so I could look at him before grabbing my left hand, immediately playing with my ring. He gave me a serious look, gripping my hand tightly. You stay safe. You don’t leave the hotel unless escorted by Elder Collins, alright ?
I nod my head, already hearing this speech earlier in the day. The elders weren’t allowed to help fight because if multiple of them were to be killed, it would take a bit to replace them and it would weaken our system. Elder Collins had volunteered to take care of us since we weren’t even allowed to leave the damn hotel without supervision. Alright.
The front door to the quarter house opened and a guard walked in with a gun strapped to his back. He stood in the doorway of the hallway, looking up at Joey. Sir, I apologize for interrupting, but we’re ready.
We’ll be there soon, my fiance says and my heart rate immediately spikes up at the thought of him leaving. The past few nights, the only thing that I could think about was what would happen if my mate got hurt. Now that I know that there are special cases with our true mate bond that both of us won’t be killed if one of us are really scares me because I can’t imagine being on this planet without him.
No, no, no, I say, trying to stop myself from breaking down in front of him.
Hey, look at me, Joey says, tilting my head up again so I could look at him. I’ll be okay. I have so many people on my side that are willing to protect me, just like I am for them.
I shake my head, hating that this was even happening. I throw my arms around him to hide the tears that were starting to travel down my face. I felt someone’s hands on my shoulders that wasn’t my mate and I try to shrug them off because I felt like I couldn’t possibly leave him right now. I tighten my grip on his body as he ran his hands up-and-down my back as he whispers things into my ear to help calm down.
Kade, I’m so sorry, but we have to go, Lila whispers, running her hands over my shoulders.