“We’ve already Claimed someone,” Gabby pointed out. Clay rested a hand on her shoulder.
“It won’t matter. A Claim can be broken by death, or simply by Claiming another. That’s why I was willing to Claim Joshua.”
Stunned silence held the room. Michelle gave Emmitt a panicked look. Luke’s gaze didn’t leave me though I refused to look at him.
“The next step is for life.” Luke growled a deep warning but I kept going. “Once Mated, we don’t Mate again. I mean, they could force us to Claim another and mate, but it doesn’t do any good. Our hearts stay with the first lost mate. The new Mate holds no influence.”
“Influence for what?” Sam questioned.
“For balance,” I explained. “They have been after power since they figured out what we were. The Judgements. In the beginning, we always judged in favor of the humans. At least, that’s my guess. I haven’t dreamed what really happened yet. Since then, as far as I’ve seen, we haven’t made another Judgement. I’m guessing that’s why, despite the inferiority of humans in comparison to your races, they have thrived.”
Sam looked thoughtful. Everyone else just looked too stunned to think much.
“The Urbat are tired of living in the shadows and want to be the dominant race for a while. The last cycle they almost had it, but one of us died. Without all of us to...do something, things will stay the way they are, with humans maintaining control,” I explained. “The cycle doesn’t last forever—only fifty years—so they try not to risk our lives. But they will if they must. After all, we can still be reborn again into the same cycle.”
“So you’re saying we need to clear the Compound because they will come for all of you and use the people here to talk you into surrendering?” Thomas asked, his disbelief evident.
“Don’t doubt it. They will come. They always come,” I said evenly, trying to contain my building dread. I couldn’t afford for Joshua to feel that through our link. Taking a breath to ease the ache in my chest, I added in a low voice, “And death always follows.” Those whispered words caught the attention of everyone in the room. Maybe death didn’t need to follow this time. I held onto that possibility.
“What then? Where do we go?”
“That’s the tricky part. I don’t know where the pack should go, but I know where we need to go. We are missing two of our group. We need to find them.”
“About this evacuation,” Charlene started.
I could see she didn’t want to leave. “Out of all of us, you and Michelle are the most vulnerable. Michelle’s brothers need to be sent away and protected. Emmitt, if he’s taken, will be a risk to both of you. They will want to break the Claim Michelle has as much as they will want to hurt Emmitt to sway you,” I said to Charlene.
She glanced at her son, worry in her eyes. Emmitt gave her a smile and squeezed Michelle’s hand gently. “Don’t worry. We know now so we can make sure it doesn’t happen.”
Charlene nodded, but her fear remained.
“What are we going to do about Joshua?” Grey asked.
“Nothing. At least not yet. Oh, but I can’t be left alone with him. With these stitches,” I gently laid a hand over my middle, “I won’t be able to fight him off.”
“You said you could Claim another to break your Claim,” Nana said gently. “Why wait?”
“Because I’m not done with him yet. Until the Compound is clear and we’re ready to leave, I have to keep my hold on him. It’s the only thing that’s keeping him from reporting back to his leader.”
“Are you sure about that?” Sam looked troubled.
“No, not really but it’s our best chance. Now, there are three Urbat out in the woods waiting for Joshua. Gabby, can you see them?”
All eyes turned to her. She nodded hesitantly, and I reached across the table to lightly touch her hand. “We need to find them and get rid of them before people start leaving. They can’t know what we’re doing.”
“They’re not far from here. But, there are ten more scattered in the surrounding area. Nothing close enough for concern though. The rest are regrouping in the east.” She paused for a moment, a frown pulling at her brow. “More are coming from the main group. I think you’re right, Bethi. They’re coming back.”
I nodded and patted her hand. “It’s good,” I reassured her. “I’d be more freaked out if they weren’t. Pick an Elder and a team of five to go out and hunt the three Urbat down,” I directed. The ones waiting to meet Joshua and I would be the first to question our delay. “Kill them quickly and quietly so they can’t communicate back to their leader. Deal with the ten on the outskirts as needed. Closest first.”