“This is because I’m pregnant, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” all four men said in unison, Ken realizing after he spoke that he probably should have kept his mouth shut.
“But it’s not theonlyreason,” Peyton quickly added. “What if that guy shows up here in the States, huh? It’s doubtful he can make his way over here, because we’ve cut him off from everything and everyone, including his own mate. He won’t have the resources to get over here. He can’t get his hands on any cash. He doesn’t have any contacts in the US. And you know damn well there’s not a single fricking shifter in that region who doesn’t know he’s got a blood price on him. Not just a blood price, but a cash bounty, too. Any of his own people will gladly hand him over just for that. He won’t be able to trust anyone. No one’s going to help him. He’s contained over there.”
“They thought he was contained when they tracked him to Scotland,” she countered. “If he can escape that fucking island, who says he can’t escape another one? All he has to do is sneak onto a freighter and hide out.”
Badger stepped forward to try. “Dewi, ye’re neededhere. We swore to protect Tamsin and her baby. That means yer place isherein the States wi’ her, not galavantin’ over there. Let Trevor deal wi’ it. He’s got things under control.”
She crossed her arms again and looked at the men. “I’m pretty sure, based on what you all just told me, that things are the exact opposite of ‘under control’ over there. If they were ‘under control,’ we’d be looking at pictures of his decapitated head and not arguing about this.”
Peyton spoke up. “Dewi, there’s no way he can locate Tamsin. He has no support.”
“Oh, reeeeally?” She pointed at the floor and circled her finger. “Wherethispack is concerned, there’s alotof shit that’s not supposed to haveanypossibility of happening and yet, itstillhappens.”
She pointed at Peyton. “No way a Prime Alpha—thepack’sAlpha—and his mate could be murdered, in their home, in the pack compound, by a rogue wolf.”
She pointed at herself. “I should’ve died in the attack, but I didn’t.” She circled her finger, still pointing at herself. “No other female Prime Alphas.” She pointed to Duncan. “No possible way he can bealive.” She pointed to Ken. “No possible wayhecan be alive,twicenow,orNami.” She crossed her arms again. “No possible way a human could override a Prime’s order not to pick up a gun, and yet Ken did just that, andusedit, against another Prime Alpha.”
She looked at each of them in turn. “So don’t tell me there’s ‘no way’ something can happen when it has anything to do withthispack. Because then weallknow that’s just purebullshit.”
Ken stepped forward and gentled his tone. “Sweetheart,please. I know you don’t like people telling you how to be the Head Enforcer but as your husband, and your mate, and the father of your baby, I’m going to ask you topleasetake a deep breath and try to see this from our point of view.” He glanced at the other men, who were now edging back a little.
Chickenshits.
Here he was, the only human in the room, and once again the task of calming Dewi down fell to him.
He focused on her. “You gave Tamsin sanctuary. She’s returning to Florida with all of us. That means we need to protecther. And her baby.InFlorida. On the off chance the guy makes it to the States, we need you wheresheis, ready to protect her, and not off on a wild goose chase looking for the dude. Right?”
She looked up at the ceiling, then turned, pacing a slow circle. When one of the men behind him started to speak, Ken held up a hand to shut them thehellup.
He almost had this handled, if they’d just stayquiet.
He felt it in her, knowing they were right. That conflicted with her urge to be proactive, not reactive.
Wanting to hunt down and take out the threat before it ever came anywhere close to home.
It was something she needed to work out in her head and come to grips with in her time and way,nottheirs. And come to grips with it she would.
But they had to give her room.
She finally blew out a long breath and turned to him. “I hate it when y’all are right,” she quietly said.
Ken felt the collective relief among the other men as she stepped into Ken’s arms for a hug. He eased her around so he could look at them and motion with a tip of his head for them to get the heck out of there.
She despised being vulnerable under the best of circumstances and was still learning how to be comfortable being vulnerable with Ken. Witnesses to this, even witnesses she was as close to as the other men, wouldn’t help Ken manage her in this case.
The best way for him to keep her focused on him was to get the others out of there.
And then take her back to bed to talk and cuddle.
Or more, maybe.
Hopefully.
Chapter Three
Dewi knew what Ken was doing and didn’t begrudge it. Besides, she understood they were all correct. Her place was here, protecting Tamsin. Their arguments against her going were spot-on.
