“What?” Jericho soundedfurious.
“I dealt with him. He’s gone now, but keep your eyes and nose sharp. He seemed like asnake.”
“I’ll tell the rest of the guys,” he said. “Are Charlie and the pupokay?”
I glanced over at Charlie, who had gone to pick up Casey in his arms. His face was a mix of relief and anxiety, but at least he wasn’t tremblinganymore.
“A bit shaken, but they’ll be okay,” Isaid.
“Alright,” Jericho said with a sigh. “I’ll call you or just howl if anything comes up. Seeya.”
“Bye.”
I hung up and pocketed my phone. “I told Jericho to keep watch for that Hector guy,” I told Charlie. “He’s letting the rest of the hunting guild know about him,too.”
Charlie sighed in relief, but a cloud of stress still hung over him. I put a hand firmly on hisshoulder.
“Don’t worry,” I growled. “We’re not gonna let that creep anywhere near youagain.”
“Thank you,” he murmured. Suddenly he gazeddown.
“What’swrong?”
Charlie’s voice was sombre when he spoke. “I’ve never seen Hector so angry. I was afraid he would shift and fight you, right there in front of Casey andI.”
“I could beat that coward in a fight and it wouldn’t even be a contest,” I told himfirmly.
“Thank you,” Charlie said. There was a slight smile on his face that fell before he spoke again. “But it’s not that I don’t believe you couldwin.”
He glanced down at the ground, looking depressed. I hated seeing him like that. I put a finger to his chin and lifted it, making him look atme.
“What’s bothering you? Tell me,” I growledsoftly.
His cheeks flushed but he didn’t look away this time. “Um… Well, it’s just that Hector has an entire pack behind him. He’s a scouting alpha, one of Gunner’s underlings. I’m just scared that they’re going to comeback…”
My eyes flickered with fire. My wolf burned up like a storm within my chest. In that moment, I felt all powerful, like nothing could stopme.
“If Gunner himself comes for you, I’ll make him wish he was never born,” I promised Charlie. My voice was a deep growl, laced with my wolf’s spirit. I knew he sensed it, too, because his own eyes shone with recognition. The omega wolf within him was reacting tome.
“I don’t know what to say except thank you,” he said, blinkinggratefully.
“Don’t worry about it.” I nodded. “Now let’s get inside before we allfreeze.”
* * *
The cabin wasquiet as I made dinner, a slow pork roast inside the oven with sweet potatoes on the side. Casey was the most quiet I’d ever seen her; the incident with Hector must have scared her. I could tell Charlie was trying to keep positive for her sake, but he was shaken up, too. They both needed someTLC.
“Casey,” I asked, leaning on the table so we were eye-to-eye. “How do you feel about chocolatemilk?”
Her face lit up like a firework. “Ilovechocolatemilk!”
I grinned. “Well, it’s your lucky day. I have a brand newcarton.”
“Daddy, there’s chocolate milk!” she cried, tugging on Charlie’ssleeve.
He laughed softly. “I heard.” His eyes met mine with a silentthank you. I nodded inacknowledgment.
I handed Casey the glass, which she eagerly drank down. I poured one out for myself and Charlietoo.
