FULL NOVELXO Chapter This Can't Be Good
We talked with Winston for another hour, trying to make the connection between the attacks up North and the ones around our pack. I began to worry that someone would threaten us but Winston reassured me that they were only going after small packs that they knew wouldn’t fight back.
After we hung up, Deacon and Bishop called another meeting to keep the warriors and guards aware of the surrounding threats and to make sure things around the pack were good. They were instructed to do hourly checks and switch out each time, he even wanted them to include some of the females. I was filled with pride that he would consider them good enough to do rounds.
He winked my way before he dismissed everyone, no doubt feeling my emotions from his suggestion.
“I will take the first round and then every fourth just to make sure we don’t miss anything and to reduce exhaustion. I want to keep everyone alert.”
“And I will do every fourth round with the females.” Bishop looked my way and was about to speak when I cut him off, “I am just as responsible for the well being of our members as you, Alpha.”
Knowing he wouldn’t win this fight, he nodded his head and took off with the first set of guards. I instructed all the females with children to stay home and keep watch over their families and asked that all the single women who had been training to accompany me. When we had our assignments, I along with two other females headed to the South border and waited for the guards to tell us where we could keep watch.
Once we were outside, we let our wolves out and trotted off to do our assigned details.
“Red, where are you?”
“South Border with Duston, Kam and Robby.”
“I’ll be at the West border with Aaron and Michelle. After our patrol, meet me at the gazebo and we can rest there. I don’t want to leave anyone outside while I sleep in the house.”
“Good thought, Alpha. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Turning towards the horizon, I stalked around the rocky terrain taking careful note of the position of every blade of grass, placement of rock and unturned dirt in the area. Being observant to what it looked like could be detrimental in case of an attack and knowing where it came from.
After our first hour was up, relief arrived and I ran off to meet Bishop. His enormous grey wolf ran up beside me and rubbed himself along my fir letting me know he was there. Once we made it to the gazebo, we both returned to our human bodies and got dressed before sitting down on the swing.
“Did you find anything?” I asked as he placed his arm on the back of the swing behind me.
"No. You?"
"Nothing. Is that a good sign? Does that mean they haven't been sniffing around here because they know you would kill them without a second thought?"
"I hope so." He said clenching his jaw shut after the last word.
Nodding my head, I kept my mouth shut and starred into the dark along with him.
"You should get some rest. We have to be back up in a few hours and I am counting on you to be focused."
Knowing that he was right, I placed my head on his chest and drifted off. His scent invaded my nose and acted like an anesthetic, keeping me in a comfortable state while the world around us was potentially crumbling in chaos.
Were he and Winston right? Could these attacks have something in common? But why were they only going after the little guys? Was it their strategy to get as many wolves as they could and eventually start taking down bigger and stronger packs?
My mind was racing with thoughts but eventually they were interrupted by a soft, gentle kiss placed on my lips. "Time to wake up, Red."
I peeled my eyes open and the darkness around us brought me back to reality. I watched as he stood up and stretched his muscles then placed his hand in front of me for me to take ahold of. Grabbing his hand, I pulled myself up and wrapped my arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly before running back towards the South border.
"See you in an hour, Red." He said through the mind link as his wolf ran to his station.
We continued the cycle of sleep then surveying for the next two nights and no one noted any strange activity. We were satisfied for the time being that there was no evidence of a threat but I knew he would be on edge until another pack fell to the same attack as the other and it was only a matter of time before they set their sights on ours.
"Alpha, the other two packs to our North have been informed to be on the look our for any suspicious activity. If they see anything they will call us."
"Thanks' Deacon."
I knew his plate had just gotten bigger with everything going on but I couldn't tell him to take it easy. The truth was, we had an obligation to our allies and if they needed us, we would be there for them but I just didn't know how much longer he would be able to stay on edge before his body caved from the exhaustion.
"Deacon, give us a minute." I asked as I walked into his office.
Nodding, he left us to talk while Bishop shuffled papers around his desk. His breakfast plate sat untouched by his side and I was sure the plate of lunch I was bringing him would end up the same way but I needed to make sure he got something in his stomach.
"I brought you some lunch. Naomi made your favorite, a BLT on pumpernickel." I said placing the plate down in front of him.
Sighing he said, "I'm not hungry." Then continued looking over a bunch of papers Winston had sent him yesterday.
"You have to eat something, Bishop. Take a break, obsessing over this isn't healthy and you won't be good to anyone if you die of malnourishment or a heart attack."
He put the papers in his hands down on the table and took the sandwich, devouring it in two bites. Smirking, I looked at him and said, "Don't you feel a little better?"
He pulled me into his lap and kissed me hard on my lips, leaving the smoky taste of bacon in my mouth as he said, "Now I do. I'm sorry I've been consumed by all of this but I don't want to take the chance of letting another pack fall to these worthless creatures."
"But we don't even know who they work for. How are we going to stop them if we don't know who the leader is?"
"I've got scouts working on it day and night. Kam even offered but I told her no."
"Why? She's the best. She could have found this jackass days ago if you would have let her?"
"I can't put her in danger like that, Em. She would have to travel too far from Deacon and neither of them could handle that. Besides, I have trackers just as good as her."
"At least let her help around here." I said folding my arms over my chest like a child.
"She has been and she hasn't been able to pick up a single scent."
Worry crossed my face at the realization that something evil was out there and knowing that something we couldn't foresee coming nor did we have a trace of made terror sink into my belly. Trepidation flooded my soul at the mere thought of losing someone that I cared about all because we didn't know what we were dealing with and may not be able to fight off.
Well damn, that was unexpected. Who the hell are these mutts working for? Why are they trying to take over defenseless packs?
I'm glad Bishop and Em can come together for their pack and help keep everyone safe. Let's just hope these losers don't get more ballsy and try to go after them.
If Kam can't figure out who it is, how will they ever find out? Kam has the best nose and even she couldn't sniff them out. I smell trouble coming and it won't be pretty.