CHAPTER 45- Rogue leader
Once we are up in my room I put on a kids show for Eli, something to distract him. Selene showed up and she is helping out with him. Zoe and I are quietly waiting for any news. It seems like it takes forever before we finally get something.
Jay links over. “There is a problem, Jas.”
“What happened?” I can’t help but panic.
“Your dad was hurt. It’s pretty bad. We aren’t sure how bad yet, but there is a lot of blood. I had to leave because it was that bad. I am on my way back to the pack house now.”
“Where is Hunter?”
“With your dad. The rogues are gone for now. Once I am there, head to the clinic, I’ll stay with Zoe.”
I break down crying. The fact that Hunter didn’t link me lets me know how bad it is. The pack is going to be panicking about their Alpha. I need to get there. I have to know how my dad is. Zoe puts her hand on my shoulder. “What happened?”
“My dad is hurt. Jay doesn’t know how bad but it is bad.” She pulls me close so that I can cry on her. “He is going to come stay with you so I can go see him. What am I going to do without my dad? He is all I have left.”
She pats my hair. “Shhh, you are not going to lose your dad. He is a strong man, there is no way that you are going to lose him now. Hunter is with him, you know he doesn’t want to have you taking over yet. He is already complaining about having time with you. He definitely wouldn’t want to lose what time he does have. He’ll do what it takes to make sure your dad makes it through.”
“But he didn’t link me. That means it’s bad.” I counter. Just then my door bursts open and there is Jay, he has blood all over his shirt and several tears in it.
“Go Jas, check on your dad.”
I don’t even ask questions, I am just out the door running down the stairs and all the way to the clinic. Now I know how dad felt when he heard I was there. I can’t relax, I have to see my dad. When I come into the clinic there is absolute panic. Everyone is running around. They hardly even register that I am there. I really don’t care about that as long as they help my dad.
I go straight to the exam room, I know that is where they took my dad. The door is left open and people are running in and out. Hunter is standing at the foot of my dad’s bed. My dad is covered in far too much blood. There is a large gash across his chest. I can see muscle tissue. He has his eyes closed.
Hunter sees me and pulls me into his arms. He still is naked, but I really don’t care. This just goes to show how much he put into getting my dad here. “Baby, he is going to be ok. I know it.”
I am still crying. “How can you know that? Look at him.”
He cups my face and makes me look at him. “Because your dad knows I am not ready to take over this pack. He isn’t going to leave us the pack until he knows that we are ready. Your dad will push through. Do you think even the grim reaper could take your dad before he was ready?”
“Hunter, look at him.”
“I have been looking at him. Baby he is going to be fine.”
Ryan, Hunter’s dad comes up behind me. “Hunter is right. Your dad is the most stubborn man I have ever met. He isn’t going to leave before he sees his first grand baby. He will pull through.” He passes Hunter some shorts. “You should probably put these on, son.” Hunter takes the shorts and slips them on.
“Let’s wait in the front room. Give Doc Williams room to work.” He takes my hand and pulls me around so that we are walking back out the front. He takes the first seat that he can find and pulls me into his lap. I am cradled into his arms. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I just want everything to be ok. I want to be with my dad and Hunter. I want to think about the baby’s room and if I should buy pink or blue. I don’t want to think about whether my dad will make it or not. I don’t want to think of all the blood that covered his body. I don’t want to think about the gash across his chest, but of course that is all that I can think about.
After hours, literally, Dr. Williams comes out. “Jasmine, he’s going to be ok. He just woke up and he is asking for you.”
I don’t even wait, I jump off of Hunter’s lap and run straight to the room. All the blood is cleaned up now, my dad is covered in a white blanket. He gives me a small smile when he sees me. “Hey, pumpkin.” His voice sounds hoarse and strained. I can see the bandages that cover his chest under the blanket.
“Daddy.” I cry and run over to him and take his hand. “Don’t you dare leave me.”
He gives a strained chuckle. “Like I would ever leave you. I still have too much to do. I can’t leave this pack yet. I still have to train Hunter.”
Hunter is now standing in the door. “See, I told you. He knows I am not ready to take over this pack. He wasn’t going to die.”
My dad chuckles again. “Yep, he gets it.”
“How are you feeling Alpha?” Hunter tries to show his respects. I am glad that he didn’t get a big head when he became my mate. He still wants my dad to be in charge. He doesn’t want to be the head honcho yet.
“Oh, I have been better, but I will live. I have to see this baby.” His voice is sounding more strained.
“Dad, you need to rest. I am going to check on the rest of the pack. You need to sleep. We have too much to do for you to be down too long.” I joke with him, but I am being sincere too.
“Alright Pumpkin, I will rest as long as you don’t stress about me.”
“Daddy, rest. I am not going to stress, now that I know you are going to make it. You scared the shit out of me.”
“Language.”
“Well, don’t almost die then you won’t have to hear it.” I am being stern with him. He really did scare me.
“Go back to your friend. Secure the merging. We need this for our pack. We have to beat back those rogues, make them lose the leg they are standing on. We can break up their pack if we have a place for the others to go. Right now they wont join our side because they think we are going to be booted too. We need to show them that we are stronger than the rogues. We have the humans on our side.”
I could hear my father’s strength come back as he said those words. He really wants to stay here. Not that I blame him. He wants our pack safe as a number one priority. That’s my dad.
I nod to him and leave the room with Hunter. He holds me close. “Your dad is going to be fine.”
I nod to him too. “I know, but maybe next time he might not be. Or it could have been you, or Jay. I can’t lose you.”
Hunter throws his arm around me. “I’m careful baby.
“This needs to end. And soon.”
As if I didn’t have enough on my plate, Kyle links me. “There is a wolf at the front gate to see the Alpha.”
“I am on my way. Don’t tell him any different.” I know Kyle won’t. Hell, half the time I think he thinks I am the Alpha.
“Yes, Princess.” Then the link dropped.
I turn to Hunter. “Sounds like the Rogue is ready to meet. You with me?”
He growls. “Like I would be anywhere else.”
We rush to the front gate. Hunter at my side we approach the Rogue. He is a muscular man with his chest exposed. He is built like a bear, huge and ready for attack. New and old cuts litter his chest. Scars scratched down his arms. It would seem he was in the attack that happened a short time ago. He has long dark hair that is falling in waves down to his shoulders. When he spots me he licks his lips. I sneer back at him.
Hunter seemed to miss the exchange. I called out to the Rogue. “You wanted to see the Alpha?”
He’s standing there with his hands folded together in front of himself. “I was under the impression that the Alpha was older. You seem pretty young to be Alpha.” He has a cocky grin on his face.
Hunter growls. “I am not the Alpha. She is.”
The rogue’s eyes land on me again. He lets out a pleasant growl. “Finally a woman after my own heart. It would seem that we need to come to an agreement.” He has a confident stance. He knows exactly what he is doing. He planned all of this down to the last detail.
“What is your name?” I don’t raise my voice or portray any anger. As much as I want to rip this man’s head off.
“Gabe, Gabe Smith.” He licks his lips again, eyeing me up and down. Hunter didn’t miss it this time and growled at him.
“Well, Mr. Smith, as I see it the only arrangement that we need to make is you getting off my land. Your wolves are more than welcome to join our pack as long as they want to abide by pack rules. Other than that we have nothing to discuss.” I stand my ground firm.
He smirks. “Now you have me at a disadvantage. What is your name?” He is trying to hit on me. I am not miss reading it. The look in his eyes is clear.
“Jasmine Blackwood. Now that we are on even ground, get your rogues off my land.” I don’t let the anger flow even though I would like to.
“I have a standard agreement that I usually give to the packs that we encounter, but I think I have a better one. I would like to sit down with you and discuss it on mutual ground. What do you say, Alpha?” He crosses his arms over his chest, like he is trying to intimidate me or something. Or maybe he is trying to impress me.
“What mutual ground are you talking about?” I cock my head to the side. I feel Hunter stiffen next to me.
He gets an evil smile, like he won already. “A place where neither of us can shift. A place where neither of us will have an arm full of guards surrounding us. I am thinking somewhere human. I know a restaurant I frequent. Our guards can wait outside, only you and I at the table. Alphas only. What do you say?”
I consider this for a moment. I don’t want to rush into anything. But I want this done as soon as possible. “I will meet you this evening. If I find one thing out of the ordinary, I bail and there are no deals. What restaurant?”
“Louise’s at seven. It will be good and full of humans by that point. I look forward to the meeting.” He winks at me and leaves. Turning his back on a growling Hunter.
Hunter grabs my arm after the rogue is out of sight. “Are you out of your mind? You are in no condition to be meeting that ass on your own. What happens if he attacks you?” He puts his hand on my belly as if to make the point. Like I don’t know I’m pregnant. I am the one that feels it all the time.
“Then I will defend myself. I am not as delicate as you think I am. You will be right outside. I already have a team in mind. I am not stupid Hunter, I know what I am doing. There is no way that guy is getting whatever he thinks he is getting.” I growl as I look where Gabe was standing. He has something in mind that I am not too happy to find out about.