“No, it’s not.” Jude stopped laughing but humor still lit her eyes. “I forget that you’re not pack. Inconvienent and unwanted feelings are a part of life when you’re pack.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do about this?” he asked.
“You’ll do what the rest of us do. You’ll trust that I can take care of myself and those pack members that depend on me.” Jude had been dealing with her own insecurities over the coming conflict but refused to give voice to them. It was one thing to care for and defend submissive pack members from the more dominant ones. Fighting against an unknown and armed enemy was entirely new.
“I’ll do more then that,” Dresden growled, rolling onto his back and drawing Jude into his arms. “I may not be pack but I take care of what’s mine and that includes you. I will see that you are safe.”
Jude smiled at the absolute certainty in his voice and decided not to argue. She knew that when the time came Dresden along with the other men would be fighting on the front lines working together to keep Storm and his Unit away from Sam and the rest of the pack. He would have enough on his mind without worrying about her. Still, it warmed her that he cared enough to worry.
Two days later a search of the area indicated that Storm’s scout was gone. They could only assume that he had returned to report his observations to Storm. So far the plan was working.
“Sam, sit down,” Nafarius ordered gently. “Everything will be fine.”
Sam shook her head but didn’t stop pacing. She couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. She’d woken that morning with a deep sense of unease and urgency that had grown steadily worse throughout the day. Nafarius was certain it was because today was the day that they were set to move the Council members and the twins. Sam wasn’t convinced.
“You still don’t feel it?” she asked.
Nafarius shook his head. He didn’t have the same sense as his mate but her constant state of agitation was starting to wear on him. It wasn’t like Sam to overreact and she was insistent that something was wrong. It had gotten to the point that he’d finally ordered several patrols out into the surrounding area as a precaution.
“We’ll get Jonas, Lillian and the twins out tonight and you can relax.” Nafarius stood and caught Sam by the wrist as she walked passed.
Sam looked up at her mate. “The problem with that is that I don’t want them to go. I’d feel safer with them here with me.”
“We talked about this…”
“No,” Sam said. “You decided and I went along with you. I understand why you want them away from here and it’s the logical, right thing to do. But every instinct in my body is screaming for me to keep them with me.”
“You won’t be able to fight like that,” Nafarius offered.
“Or maybe I’ll fight harder knowing what’s at stake,” Sam said.
Nafarius stared down into the face of his mate and realized for the first time that she was fully prepared to fight to the death if it meant protecting their young. While the certainty of it scared him he said nothing to change her mind.
“Nafarius! Nafarius!” Brian came running into the cave.
Sam instantly went on alert.
“What is it?” Nafarius asked.
“They’re here!” Brian said in between gasping for air. “Storm and his men, they’re coming up the final part of the pass to the lake as we speak.” Nafarius swore. “Call all of the patrols back, I want all of the men gathered in the clearing within the hour.”
Sam grabbed Glenis who was rushing past. “Get all of the women and children inside. Now!” she growled when Glenis started to ask why.
Glenis turned and bolted for the clearing.
Sam turned to look at Nafarius. “They’ll be here before nightfall.”
Nafarius nodded. “No time to get them out.”
Sam turned and took off running. She found Maddie with the twins in the alcove she’d shared with Nafarius since her first night here.
“I’m almost done,” Maddie started and then stopped. “What is it?”
“They’re coming. There’s no time to get you out now.” Sam stuck her head out and shouted for Jonas and Lillian. The two Council members came quickly indictating they already knew what was happening. Sam ushered them into the alcove. Taking a quick look around she spotted Kaysen and Zane sleeping peacefully. The alcove was far enough into the mountain that she knew she’d be dead before Storm or any of his men got this far.
Kissing both of the babies, she turned to Maddie. “You guard them with your life.”
Maddie nodded, her eyes wide.
Turning to Lillian, she said, “Promise me, if I don’t come back that you’ll take them both with you.”
“Samantha…” Lillian started.
“Promise me!” Sam couldn’t leave until she knew that her children would be safe.
“I promise,” Lillian said.
Jonas stepped forward. “I can help.”
Sam shook her head. “No, you’re both too important. Stay here where it’s safe.”
“If it’s my age, I assure you I can still fight,” Jonas said.
Sam gave him a small smile. “I have no doubt, in fact, I’m counting on it. If anyone gets through I need you here to protect the women and children.”
Jonas looked at Lillian and Maddie, both women holding a child close to her chest, and nodded. “I will make sure that they are safe.”
“Thank you.” Sam pressed a quick kiss to his weathered face before turning to leave. “With your life, Maddie.”
Maddie watched as her pack leader slipped out of the alcove. Sam was the first one to look out for her, to have given her a sense of self and teach her that she had worth. She would not fail her.
Sam walked out to join the men of the pack. Most of the women would remain inside, a last line of defense between Storm, the pack and the twins. Only Sam would move out with the men.
Nafarius turned to stare down at his mate. “They’re about a mile out. We underestimated the speed at which Storm would move. Apparently, the thought of losing you motivated him to move quickly.”
“How many?” Sam asked.
“Twelve, maybe fifteen.” It was Dresden that answered. “Storm is getting sloppy.”
“What makes you say that?” Sam asked.
“That’s not even half of his unit,” Dresden said. “I think we caught him more unawares then we had thought. He moved in without all of his resources.”
“That will work in our favor,” Sam said.
Dresden nodded. “For now. I have no doubt that he’s ordered the rest of his team to join him as soon as they can. It means that we may have to deal with them in waves.”
Nafarius shook his head. “We get to Storm and the rest of the team falls.”
“Cut off the head of the snake,” Roland muttered leaving the rest unsaid.
Sam stood and stared out into the forest that surrounded the only true home she’d ever known. She’d found happiness here and a family that took care of their own. “We take Storm now, deal with the rest if and when they come.”