Chapter 49: Yara’s Protection.
Yara.
I’m still so exhausted that I can barely open my eyes when there’s a knock at the door.
“Excuse me, Alpha. Could I spea.
k with you, please?” A voice that sounds vaguely familiar asks. Why didn’t they just mind link him?
I feel warm lips press against my head. “Just a moment, Franklin,”
Warren says, his voice raspy and sounding just as exhausted as I feel.
Franklin? Who’s… Then it all comes rushing back to me. We must still be in Alpha Harold’s pack. I open
my eyes and see that we’re in a room that is unfamiliar to me.
I push myself out of bed, realizing that Warren must have put me in one of his shirts, and I make my way to the door. Just as I reach it, I hear Warren growl.
“Warren?” I ask, opening the door.
He turns, pulling me against him. “Simon and Quinton are here.”
“I didn’t hear any howls of attack,” I say, wrapping my arms around him. The thought of Simon being close after what he did to Piper, makes me want to stay attached to Warren.
“The patrols saw them talking, Luna. We think they arrived here separately and are deciding if they want to attack together,” Beta Franklin says.
I hear feet rushing up the stairs. “I’m here, Alpha,” Bradley says.
“Yara doesn’t leave your sight… after she gets dressed,” Warren says, pushing me back into our room.
“I’m guessing you’re going to refuse a safe room?” he asks me.
“If there’s not going to be fighting, I don’t need to be in a safe room. If there is, I need to be in the
hospital,” I say, looking past Warren to Franklin. “Your mate will feel the same.”
“Yeah, we’ve already argued a bit over that. She’s already at the hospital, Luna. As soon as she woke up, she went over there.”
“Alpha Harold?” I ask.
“Still asleep. I wanted to see what Alpha Hunter wanted to do before I woke him.”
“I’ll lead this. Your Alpha is healing and once we leave, he’ll only have Savannah. She’s good, but not as good as Yara.”
“What about Henry?” Franklin asks. “He’ll want to fight, especially since his father isn’t able to force him to stay behind.”
“I’ll talk to him. Give us two minutes,” Warren says, turning to Bradley.
“Get Charlie on the phone for me.”
“Yes, Alpha,” he says as we walk back into the room and quickly get dressed.
When we step out, Warren keeps one arm on me, and takes the phone from Bradley who falls in behind us with Franklin.
“Alpha, do you need warriors?” Charlie asks. Bradley must have already filled him in.
“No. It would take you too long to get here. What I want you to do is collect half the warriors and go attack Quinton’s pack. If he’s here, his pack is weak. I don’t know if his Beta is here or there, but I want everyone and I mean everyone who raises a fist to any of our warriors, dead. Anyone else, bring them back to the pack. If anyone is sketchy, put them in the cells until I get back. If I don’t kill Quinton, I want him going home to an empty pack.”
“What about Simon?” Charlie asks and Warren looks at me as we jog down the stairs of the packhouse. It looks like they put us on the Beta floor.
“We don’t have enough warriors to fight both of them. Quinton is the bigger threat since he’s stronger and we know he wants Yara too. Take out his pack, leave the other warriors in case Brady attacks, but I doubt he will. He’s recovering from attacking us and being attacked by Harold’s pack.”.
“Who do you want me to leave in charge?” Charlie asks since Warren still doesn’t have a Gamma.
Warren is quiet a moment, thinking and probably assessing who he has here versus who is at home. “Haynes,” he says. A good choice.
“Call me when it’s done,” he says, hanging up.
When we get downstairs, I see Harold’s warriors standing at attention, waiting for orders.
“Yara,” Warren says, letting me know he wants me to release them to fight.
Ilook at Warren. He needs every one of these warriors if he’s fighting two packs, but I also know that if they aren’t strong enough, they’ll die. I start going through them, surprised when I only have to pull ten out of formation.
“We need to fight, Alpha. Beta, you need us,” they argue when they realize what I’m doing.
“You’re going to protect the pack hospital. You’ll only fight if the fight gets to you. Both of these Alphas want my mate and I’m guessing every one of you can understand why,” he says, and they al look at me, making me self-conscious.
“Your future Beta female is in the pack hospital too, so shut your mouths. I don’t want to hear another word,” Franklin growls. They nod and keep quiet as Warren begins moving again.
“Where do you want us,” the warriors ask. Warren turns to Franklin.
“I’m assuming they’re somewhere near the pack hospital?”
“How did you know?”
“Simon came for Yara once. I’m guessing Quinton is here because you attacked Brady and they have an alliance, but Simon is here for my mate. I have no doubt of that.”
I feel a bit of relief when I see our warriors come jogging up.
“Wait here, I need to talk to Henry,” Warren says. We walk inside with Franklin and Bradley behind us. I see Savannah getting ready and I walk over to her, getting an update on the status of our patients.
Before Warren gets to Alpha Harold’s door, it opens and Henry walks out, looking resolved, like he knows he’s going to his death, but he’s going to do it with his head held high.
“Alpha Warren, I think we should attack,” Alpha Henry says.
“I agree, but I want you to stay here. I will lead the fight,” Warren says.
Henry is shaking his head before Warren’s finishes speaking.
“This is my pack. My father is out, so it falls to me to lead them.”
“Listen to me,” Warren says, putting his hands on the younger Alphas arms and leaning down so they are eye to eye. “They will kil 1 you. First and foremost, I won’t be the one to tell your father that you died on my watch. Not happening and I’m pretty sure your Beta doesn’t want to give him that message either.” “I absolutely do not,” Franklin says.
“But I have another reason for keeping you here. One that is personal to me. Both Alphas at your borders want my mate. Alpha Simon nearly killed someone to get to her the last time. That woman would be dead if it weren’t for Yara. I need to know that she’s safe. I’m leaving Bradley and we have your injured warriors protecting the pack hospital, but I would feel a lot better if I knew I had an Alpha heir watching her back.” He looks over at me and I force a smile. I know he doesn’t want this duty.
“It will also allow you to be here to protect your father if anyone gets past your warriors. I’m not leaving you here because I don’t think you can handle yourself. I’m know you can and that’s why I want you here. Í need my Luna and your father safe. It’s an important job,” Warren tells him.
I suddenly get an image of Warren, leaning down and speaking to our son like this, talking to him about why he needs or wants him to do something. Desire unlike anything I’ve ever felt before floods into my system, and I suddenly can’t wait to wear this man’s mark.
Warren stands, turning to look at me curiously. I shake my head at him, just enough for him to know that it’s nothing for us to discuss right now.
“So, can I count on you, Alpha Henry?” he asks, turning back to Henry.
Henry looks over at me again, and then at Savannah. “I’ll protect your Luna, my father, and our future Beta female with my life,” he says stoicly.
“Thank you,” Warren says before walking over to me.
“If Simon gets through, you do not give yourself up for anyone. Do you hear me, Yara? I don’t care who it is. You are too important to me.”
I nod, knowing that I can’t guarantee that I won’t give myself up. What if it’s Henry that I could save. Of course I would do that.
Warren leans in, taking my mouth in a passionate, needy kiss before pulling back. “I love you,” he says before turning to walk out.
“I love you too,” I call after him, needing him to know it before he goes into war with two Alphas.
He turns and smiles at me. “Is that the first time you realize you’ve said it to me?”
“What?” I ask. “I haven’t said it before.”
“You have, many times, but always when you’re distracted. Take care of my mate,” he says before rushing out the door.
I turn, looking at Savannah and Bradley who both nod at me.
“You’ve said it a lot since we’ve been here, Luna. Nearly everyone has heard you,” Savannah says.
I shake my head. I’ll think about that later. For now, I need to be ready to get Alpha Harold’s pack put back together quickly.