“What the hell wasthat?”he demanded.
“Harai Goshi,” Lowri said with a snarky smile.“Want to see my Ippon Seoi Nage?”
Boy, their sex life must be fun.Dewi clamped down on the laugh threatening to burp free.
“No amount of Judo will save you from automatic weapons fire,” he growled at her.“You’ve never seen combat!Never fought?—”
“Uh, if you’ll recall, before you arrived the day we met, I’d successfully fought and killed a couple of the?—”
“Guys!”Dewi barked.“Enough foreplay.Aaron, she can go.Besides, hopefully between all of the people who will be involved in the raid and all of the prep work Jake and the Primes are doing compromising personnel, the risk of gunfire will be low.There will likely be a few key personnel in the lab they won’t be able to compromise ahead of time, but the security up top should be well in hand by the time the operation starts.”
“‘Hopefully’ doesn’t mean no risk,” Aaron shot back at Dewi.
“I know.But my decision stands.If she wants to go, she can.I suggest that instead of arguing about it, you go out ASAP and buy her appropriately fitted body armor, all-black tactical gear, and figure out the MOLLE sitch.Get her used to using and wearing it.We don’t want battle-rattle, okay?Teach herthat.Work with Aisling, and the two of you get her ready for the best chance of success.Put whatever you need to buy on the pack card, and get your tickets booked on the same flight with Aisling.That’ll give you even more time to work with her.I’ll get someone to cover your territory while you’re gone.”
Aaron glared at Dewi for a long moment.She arched an eyebrow at him, daring him to argue with her.
Finally, his shoulders drooped.“Yes, boss,” he muttered, tipping his chin enough to show his submission.
She’d allow that to suffice because she understood this was an emotionally charged topic for him.
Lowri engulfed him in a hug.“I love you,” she said.“I know you’re scared.I’m not saying I’m not scared.But this is about the survival of the pack, and we need to put aside our fear and keep the bigger picture in mind.”
His embrace tightened around Lowri as he buried his face in her hair.“I can’t lose you, baby,” he whispered.
“I can’t lose you, either.But we want pups, and right now we can’t risk bringing them into a world where this kind of threat hangs over our heads.Not until we’ve done all we can to make it safer.”
Dewi looked at Ken to find his gaze boring into hers, dark, unreadable in this moment.
“Look,” Dewi said, refocusing on the couple.“Once we get through this, I promise everyone will be amply rewarded with pay bumps and all-expenses-paid vacays wherever the fuck you want to go.But wehaveto do this.We can’t and won’t order people to go.But we will accept all qualified volunteers.Lowri has skills and knowledge that will be helpful.If she were a home-ec teacher, I’d agree it’d be better to keep her here and, hell, train her to be an Enforcer.”
Lowri perked up.“I can be an Enforcer?”
“No—” Aaron immediately said.
“Yes,” Dewi and Badger said at the same time.
Aaron’s scowl darkened even more.“I don’t want my mate being an Enforcer!”
“Why not?”Badger asked.
“Because…” He scrabbled for a reason.“Because!”
Ken finally snorted in amusement.
“She’s an Alpha, is she not?”Badger asked.
“Well, yeah,” Aaron said, “but?—”
“An’ she’s a shifter, correct?”Badger asked.
“Yes, but?—”
“Do you want to train to be an Enforcer?”Badger asked Lowri.
“Yes!”Lowri said.
“No!”Aaron said at the same time.
