I cocked a brow, but Kade shook his head.
“Nothing to worry about,” he assured me, “but he does have some valid concerns about the perimeter issue.” He stopped for a swallow of his coffee. “That area of woods beyond the western fence?” Kade waited for my nod to continue. “There is a group of Hunters setting up what appears to be a settlement of sorts, so we’re gonna need to get the Council involved.”
“A settlement?” I said, frowning. “You mean like a campsite?”
Kade shook his head. “No. They’re actually building little lean-to type buildings just beyond the range of the cameras.”
“That’s private property,” I growled, amazed. “It’s posted all over the place.”
“Exactly,” Kade agreed, “but if we just tear it down, it’s going to be a bloodbath and I don’t think ODI needs the bad publicity.” He shrugged and gave a theatrical wince, “Especially after Mitch, ah,deconstructedthose pricks outside the bar last year.”
“That was self-defense,” I pointed out with a huff, “and the county attorney declined to prosecute.”
“I know that,” Kade agreed, “but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re still dealing with fearmongering from the anti-shifter hate groups. Can you imagine how much worse it would be if we suddenly engage dozens of Hunters without even trying to involve the authorities?” He paused for a second. “I know you don’t need to hear it from me, but we probably need legal advice, too.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I pulled my glasses off and scrubbed my hand down my face before doing a double take. “Did you say dozens?”
Kade nodded. “At least and not just the usual suspects. There are men, women, and children back there.”
“This is fucking insane,” I sighed, giving the stack of unpaid bills a rueful glare. “Okay. I’ll put in a call to Drey this afternoon. In the meantime, let’s make sure we have eyes on every inch of the perimeter.”
Kade nodded but stayed where he was, prompting me to raise a brow. “There’s more?”
This time he shrugged and blew out a breath. “I might be borrowing trouble,” he started hesitantly, “but when we take into account that these are Hunters we’re dealing with, we need to assume they’re packing silver.”
Thebecause of fucking course they would bewas left unspoken.
And with virtually all of our defenses being werewolves, that had just intensified the danger one-hundred-fold.
Fuck.
“We’re going to have to evacuate,” I said slowly. “We can’t protect against that risk.” I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. “Do you have somewhere safe to take your family?”
Kade was shaking his head before the words were fully out. “I’m not leaving you, man, you know that. And I’m not sure we need to bug out yet. For right now, I think we can hold our own. I just want to be sure that we are looking at the situation from all angles.”
Gratitude flooded through me at his declaration, but I couldn’t let my old friend’s loyalty put his young family at risk. “Kade, Jeremey..” That was as far as I got before another voice came from the doorway.
“Jeremyagrees with his husband,” Kade’s Omega said firmly, bouncing their little girl on his hip. “This is our home and I’ll be damned if a bunch of terrorists are going to run us out.” His face softened into a smile. “If you really think we need to relocate all of the resident Omegas for their safety, that’s your call and of course I support it,” Jeremey said gently, “but if we evacuate just because these jerks are trying to scare us off, everything you spent a lifetime building could be lost. Chuck, the cost to Omegas who need us would be too great.”
The prickling of tears behind my eyes caught me by surprise and all I could do was shake my head at the sweet Omega’s declaration.
“Okay, Jeremy,” I managed to keep my voice level, “but you need to know that I don’t expect you to risk your family for this place. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you or Bella.”
“Chuck,” Jeremy’s voice was soft but strong, “without ODI, I wouldn’thavemy family. If it gets too dangerous, I can send Bella to the Coruscations or Blood Valley to ensure her safety, but whether or not I risk myself is my choice.” He narrowed his eyes at his husband, clearly prepared for an argument that didn’t come. Instead, pride flooded his Alpha’s face. “Besides,” Jeremy said cheekily, “We’re hyenas. Silver isn’t any more dangerous to us than anything else.” He dropped a kiss on his baby’s cheek. “We stay.”
When his soliloquy ended, I snapped my jaw shut and grinned at Kade. “Remember when he was all shy and retiring?”
“Trust me when I say that timid is absolutelynotJem’s natural state. Those bastards better hope they don’t tangle with him.”Kade smirked and shoved himself to his feet. “I think I’ll have another pow-wow with Fang and see what kind of preparation needs to happen for a worst-case scenario.” He winked at his husband as he turned toward the door, “And then maybe we can fit in a self-defense lesson while Bella takes her nap.”
“You just want to get in my pants,” Jeremy said with a smirk as he ducked out of his husband’s reach and darted off down the hall.
Kade’s response was lost to me as the door swung closed, leaving me more determined than before to protect everyone under my care.
Julian
When I woke up a few hours after Doctor Lafrentz’s visit, I was struck with a noticeable difference in the atmosphere surrounding me. Not the literal atmospheric pressure or any weird crap like that, but a tension that seemed to fill the air around me despite the comforting pheromones in the room.
“Chuck?”
