Haynes
As we drive to Simon’s pack, I look over at my mate. She’s staring out the window and I can feel her nervoussen through our bond.
“What’s on your mind, beautiful?”
She turns and looks at me, smiling bashfully. She’s used to worrying on her own without anyone noticing or caring She’s still struggling with me being in her mind, constantly focused on her thoughts and emotions. She loves it when we’re in head together, but at times like this, she forgets, and I think it embarrasses her to get caught.
‘Have you ever done anything like this before?” she asks me.
‘Nope, I’ve never been a Gamma before. Just a warrior, like you.”
She turns, looking back out the window.
‘You didn’t answer my question,” I say. I’m glad that it’s just us. I wouldn’t be so direct if there were others in the van with us But since we had to bring so many vans, we doubled up and I made sure that my mate came with me.
How do you know we won’t be attacked when we arrive?” she asks.
I shrug. “I don’t. We might, but I doubt there are very many warriors left and any that are left will be young, too inexperienced to have fought with Simon, or suffering from a broken mate bond. There could be other warriors left to patrol the pack, that’s possible, but I doubt it. Simon was focused on getting our Luna. He doesn’t strike me as the type of Alpha that cared about his pack.”
‘So you’re not worried about possibly walking into a fight?” she asks.
I shrug. “How is that any different than what our lives have been like until now? Why, are you nervous about it?”
I watch as she thinks through my question. I feel the turmoil in her. She likes knowing what she’s walking into and the not knowing is making her nervous.
What’s the worst thing that could happen?” I ask.
She turns and looks at me and now I understand the fear.
I could lose you,” she says, barely above a whisper.
I take her hand and pull it to my mouth, kissing it while watching the road.
I’m not Noelle, Laney. I’m a strong warrior and I know you’ve spent a large portion of your life trying to keep her safe, but you don’t have to worry about me. I’m not going anywhere. My life has improved dramatically since I met you. I’m not giving that up. I’m not letting some asshole take me out now, just when I’ve found you and I finally get a taste of the life that I’ve always wanted. No way that’s happening. I have too much to live for now, and not only that, but I have a kick–ass mate who I know will always have my back. So, even if someone gets past me, there’s no way they’re getting past her,” I say, smiling when I see her lips twitching.
“Yeah, she is pretty awesome,” she says, chuckling.
“She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met,” I say seriously. “And that’s impressive considering who our Luna is.”
I feel her settle as we talk. The fear is still there, but it’s not at risk of overwhelming her. My mate likes to be in control, and
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Chapter 29
in the bedroom I’m happy to oblige. But in the real world, that’s not always possible. I need her focused on what’s going on whey, so women when me and making mistakes because she’s too busy trying to protect me rather than protecting
heress
When we pull up to the gates of Simon’s pack, it’s quiet. I roll down the windows, listening. There’s no one here and I don‘? hear any patrols either
Anyone hear arrything I ask in the mind link
No, Gamma, I get from each car.
Stay alert, I say as I pull into the pack lands Laney rolls down her window and we listen. I know the others behand us an doing the same.
Luna Yara convinced Trena to come with us. She hadn’t wanted to, but when she said she would. Bradley insisted on coming along too. He’s not going to let anything happen to Trena, not going to let anyone say anything bad about her, but we need her to let the others know that we’re not here to kill them.
“This is creepy Laney says as we pull up to the packhouse. It’s still eerily quiet here.
“Stay alert,” I say to her as I get out, looking around. I can smell stale food and fear. Lots of fear.
“Do you know if Alpha Simon is dead yet?” Laney asks quietly, walking to stand beside me.
“I would guess that if he isn’t, that he will be soon. It took us just over an hour to get here and I’m pretty sure Alpha wasn’t going to wait to kill him. Maybe that’s why it’s so quiet
I look at Trena as she walks up. I can see that her eyes are haunted being back here. I hate that she has to face this, but it’s necessary and she’s a tough woman. She wouldn’t be mated to Bradley if she wasn’t.
“What do you think?” I ask her.
I watch as her focus changes and the haunted look becomes more calculating. “I think the omegas are terrified, worried that we’re here to kill them, but someone has taken charge and told them to hide. That’s who you need to worry about,” she says
“Any ideas who that might be?” Bradley asks. He’s still not one hundred percent, but I know he’ll fight if it comes to it.
“His Gamma, maybe. I’m not sure if he’s still alive or not. I doubt the Lead Warrior is alive. He’d have been with Simon.”
“Hello!” I call out. Nothing.
“They don’t do booby–traps here, right?” I ask Trena.
“Not to my knowledge,” she says.
I turn and look at the warriors behind me. “You five, in the back, the rest of you, with me.”
“Get behind me, Trena,” Bradley says, gently pushing her behind his back.
“You’re the injured one, Bradley,” she growls softly. He ignores her.
I look at Laney. “Ready?”
“Let’s do this,” she says. We walk up to the front door and I nod for Laney to kick it in. I’m not risking that someone is on the other side waiting to attack.
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She lifts her neck in submission of my authority and Bradley releases her. “We’re clear,” she says, much more calmly
It’s at this moment that I realize the importance of my role in the pack. Our pack accepted me because they knew me and knew my strengths. But there will be times, like now, when my position is important for other reasons and being able to show others that they are safe, protected, and cared for goes a long way to making the pack cohesive and calm. I’ve always respected Alpha Warren and Beta Charlie, but that respect just increased knowing that this is what they have had to do, ever in our pack, since they took over.
When I walk inside, I see the omegas are starting to stand. Their eyes go wide when they see me. Maybe me accepting m position, the role in the pack has changed my aura, or maybe they just recognize a ranked member from another pack Either way, my presence is making them nervous.
“Trena, have you explained to them what we are offering?” I ask, looking around.
“Yes, Gamma. Everyone would like to return to our pack. They don’t know Alpha Harold, but I told them if they aren’t happy in our pack, we would find a way to help them see Alpha Harold’s pack.”
“Good thinking. Everyone needs to collect their things and get in the vans. Only take what you can carry or can’t live without,” I say and they all begin moving to their rooms to get their things.
1 look at Bradley. “Let’s see what food we can take. They don’t look like they’ve been eating much.”
He takes Trena and together they go to collect whatever food is salvageable.
Laney takes my hand and pulls me into an empty hallway. That was so fucking hot, the way you went all Gamma on that woman,” she growls, pressing herself against me. “When we get home, you’re mine, Gamma
I slide my fingers into her hair, gripping it and tugging her head back so she’s looking at me. “I’m always yours, Gamma I say before taking her mouth in a hot, dirty kiss.
We get everyone loaded into the vans, making sure they have food and water. As we drive back to the pack. I look at Laney and I know she feels it too. We may have had the pack ceremony to make us the pack’s Gammas, but this assignment. getting these people back to our pack, has made me feel more like a Gamma than the ceremony did.
I understand my role now, understand my position in the pack much better, and I reach out my hand to take my mate’s, I know that she feels the change in us as well. We are our pack’s Gammas. We are leaders in the strongest pack in our territory
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Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Harold
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
