“Yes you would. You’re so goddamn strong, you could get through anything.” It made him proud to have her. For the first time, he was actually glad that the mating bond was only partially developed as it meant that she had a better chance of surviving the bond being broken. Not that he planned on dying today, but there was always a possibility. “I have to go.”
Reluctantly she uncurled her limbs from around him. “I love you, even though you’re being an unfair prick.”
He chuckled, but the sound didn’t hide the anger he felt with himself for not being able to give her those words.
Knowing what was going through his head, she gave him a cautioning look. “I don’t need words, I just need you to come back.”
“I plan on it.” Having kissed her one last time, he turned to see Grace and Lydia both crying as they had a private moment with their own mates while Kirk and Brock hugged each other tightly. Although Cam, Rhett, and Kirk weren’t enforcers and only ever worked as security guards for the gate, Trey couldn’t afford to leave them behind. He needed all the wolves he could get, especially since they needed Brock to stay behind – they wanted the females to have at least one male with them.
Dante had expressed concern about taking Kirk along with them since he was one of their suspects, but somehow Trey just couldn’t see the informant being him. They would find out soon enough – if it was Kirk, he would join with Darryl when they reached the gate.
As Dante, Tao, Marcus and Trick were saying their goodbyes to Taryn, Greta came and hugged Trey tight. “Take care, son. Rip the bastard apart.”
“Always so bloodthirsty,” he said with a smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s alright.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, still smiling. “Since when do you care about Taryn’s welfare?”
“Since I heard she was pregnant.” At his skeptical look, she shrugged. “Alright, I like her just a bit. She reminds me of me.” She thumped him in the arm when he laughed. “She does. She’s got spirit.”
“Yep, she has plenty of that.” He gave Taryn one last look – in it was a warning to do as he’d asked, a reminder that she was too important for him to lose, and a goodbye. He then looked up at the others. “Everyone ready?”
Nodding, Dante, Tao, Marcus, Trick, Rhett, Cam, and Kirk followed behind Trey as he left the room. No one said a word as they exited the caves and descended the many steps of the mountain. As they entered the woods, Trey gestured for Dante to come close.
“You don’t need to ask me to make sure she’s okay if anything happens to you,” said Dante quietly. “But we will win this, Trey.”
“But if we don’t, if you feel me die through the pack link, you leave the battle and you go to the caves – you take her where Darryl can’t reach her.”
Dante swallowed hard. “You have my word on that, although I don’t know if she’d survive the bond being broken.”
“She would. Taryn could survive anything. Besides, it’s only partially developed. And another thing – I’d be lying if I said I hope she mates with someone else so she’s not alone, I’m too much of a bastard to be that noble, but if she does you make sure that kid knows who its dad was.” Satisfied by Dante’s nod, Trey said no more as they progressed through the forest. His wolf was pacing inside him, all worked up by the adrenalin circulating through Trey’s system. He hadn’t wanted to leave Taryn’s side, but he did understand that there was a nearby threat and that this threat needed to be eradicated.
It was odd to think that only a few months ago the most important thing to Trey had been his pack, his territory, and protecting both. He never would have thought anything could be more important than that, never would have expected that anyone could be important to him. Now he had other things to fight for – his mate, his unborn child, their future. The woman had turned his life upside fucking down, turned him inside fucking out, and yet he wouldn’t have it any other way.
It amazed him that he’d thought he was content before she came into his life. In reality, he hadn’t known the meaning of the word. With Taryn he was content. She anchored him and made him happy in a way that nothing and no one had ever done before. He didn’t want to lose that, refused to lose that. Dante was right; they would win this, because no other ending was acceptable.
Finally the forest thinned and they stepped out onto the clearing, bringing them within twenty feet of the main gate. Although Ryan had told him just how many wolves Darryl had brought along, Trey was still rocked by the intimidating sight it made. Had he been normal enough to respond appropriately to fear, he might have been tempted to stop the battle before it started. Not to save himself, but the others who might get hurt. He’d soon find out if it was a good thing or a bad thing that he wasn’t normal.
Gathered on the fringe of the woods were Nick and a number of males from his pack, including his Beta, Jon, and bodyguard, Derren – both of whom Trey recognized from their visit to his home. Not far from them was Lance with several from his pack, including his bodyguard, Zack, and two of his enforcers, Perry and Oscar. They all gave him a brief respectful nod before resuming scowling at Darryl and his followers.
The wolf shifters – there were approximately fifty – that had come to stand at Trey’s side and serve as back-up were all grouped together near the security shack. They didn’t look so eager to be there. Trey guessed it was because they hadn’t expected him to be so outnumbered, placing them in a position where they would in fact have to provide back-up.