Brent rolled his eyes.
“So?”he prompted after several moments of Hawthorne just breathing.
“Yes, I’ll be there as soon as I can, and I’ll help you.”
“Help me take out the wolves?”
“Yes.And I’ll take every single one of the gryphons as trophies.This is perfect, the rust-colored wolf got away before the sale went through so I need some trophies immediately.”
Brent didn’t care at all what Hawthorne was going through, he only cared if he was able to help.“I need men.I lost a lot tonight.”
“I can call in some favors.In the meantime, send me a pin to your home base and I’ll be there as fast as I’m able.”
“With reinforcements?”
“Yes.”
“Until then.”
Brent ended the call and put the truck into gear.He wasn’t smiling much, but he was smiling a little because things were starting to look up.
Brent was fully tapped out in the favor department and had scraped the dregs of society for what he’d lost in the battle tonight.He needed all the help he could get.
He’d take one more run at the wolves with Hawthorne’s help, and he’d see every damn last wolf dead if it was the very last thing he ever did.
* * *
Mira couldn’t stop shaking.She could have lost Leo in the fire set by the anti-shifter radicals.
Or her dads, brother, or uncles.
Not to mention the pack that had come to their aid.
She could still smell smoke and blood, and her beast was pacing in her mind, filled with worry.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Leo said as he sat next to her on the couch in Adam and Cinder’s house.
She gave him a look, too tired and also too wired to say anything.
“I know it’s notokay, but it will be.We’re alive and safe, and that’s what we should focus on.We took out those who came against us, and we didn’t lose a soul.Plus, you’re a badass gryphon, sweetheart.You saved me from that asshole with the rifle.”
She sat up a little straighter.“I am a badass.”
“Hell, yes.And sexy to boot.”
She giggled, her cheeks heating.“You’re pretty sexy yourself.Thank you for saving me when that guy tried to take me out with the pipe.That hurt like hell.”
“I wish I could have gotten to him before he hit you.But I’ll always protect you to the best of my ability.It’s what mates do for each other.You’re mine and I’m yours, to keep safe and love forever.”
She closed her eyes and settled back against him.“You’re very sweet, and I love that about you.”
He kissed the top of her head, his wolf humming in his chest.“I’m only sweet for you.”
Her family walked in with Adam and Brick, and a few other high-ranked males.Her mom and sister sat on her other side, and the males in her family stood nearby.
Adam clapped his hands together and smiled at the group.
“We were battered but not beaten, burned but not destroyed.I’m only smiling because we didn’t lose anyone.The territory will recover from the fire.Nothing was lost that can’t be replaced, thank freaking goodness.”
