“I don’t send my pack away,” he bit out.
Edward nodded. Everyone knew damn well that Shifters had a long history of fighting for rights and freedoms, and what separated them from humans was how they stood together as a family in battle. Men, women, and children—that was the Shifter way. As much as Austin would have peace of mind if Lexi was on a warm beach somewhere in Mexico, safe and out of harm’s way, neither she nor her wolf would ever respect him for not trusting she could stand by his side. That was instinct.
Ben’s howling wolf snapped him back to reality. “I need to lock up.”
Edward lifted his bag and hesitated. “Should you need help, give me a ring.”
Austin took a step forward. “As a Relic, I’m assuming you know the code about confidentiality. Everything you’ve seen here tonight and whatever you’re speculating about in your head—”
“Won’t move past my lips,” Edward finished. “I assure you that I understand the gravity of the situation. It wouldn’t be prudent for me to reveal anything which could put my clients in danger, but I feel as if I should offer my help.”
“It might put you in danger.”
A smile touched Edward’s lips. “Did I ever mention that this job can be as dull as dishwater? A man like me could use a little excitement—get in the trenches and make a difference.”
Austin recognized Edward was extending his hand to offer him personal care should one of his packmates sustain injuries beyond their healing magic. And then there were the children to consider.
He nodded respectfully at the Relic. “I appreciate your offer, and I might take you up on it.”
“I’ll be ready to move if summoned.” After bowing, Edward ambled toward the door and took one last look over his shoulder at Austin. “If you doubt, she’ll doubt. Be her rock.”
Austin headed toward the study when the door opened. Lexi had slipped into a camo jacket with a black shirt underneath.
“Dammit, I can’t wear this!” she said in a panic. “Whose idea was it to put the pregnant woman in a size zero jacket? It won’t zip up, and why do I need to wear this anyhow? I’m going to sweat to death.”
Austin laughed. It could hardly be helped. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “We’ll find you something better. Don’t worry, Ladybug. I’ll take care of everything.”
***
Nobody knew exactly how big I would end up getting during this pregnancy, so a lot of the clothes we’d special ordered were too small. Austin had lent me his oversized camouflage T-shirt. It was perfect, and the sleeves hung to my elbows. He still wanted me to wear the jacket so my arms would stay covered and I wouldn’t end up a banquet for the mosquitoes.
“Tell me again why we can’t just hunker down in the house with all of Reno’s guns?” I asked, ducking below a branch and praying the soft give in the dirt I’d just stepped on wasn’t an ant mound.
“We went over this already. That’s how you become an easy target. You know those news stories you see every so often where the criminal locks himself up in a house and has a standoff with police?”
“Yeah.”
“Do they ever win?”
Damn. He had a point.
Austin placed his hand on my stomach to slow me down and then kicked a branch out of the way. “Ammo runs out, food runs out, and eventually the police storm in because the person in the house has no place to go. You don’t want to be in a position where you’re surrounded; that’s something I learned as a bounty hunter.”
“Well, I just hope someone brought toilet paper.”
Austin slowed his pace. “There’s a trap up here, so remember your bearings.” He faced me, his flashlight shining on my shoes. “If for some reason you have to run, pay attention to where you are.”
“What if I get turned around?”
“Don’t.”
“Easy for you to say.”
He brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. It was up in a ponytail, but a branch had tugged some of it loose. “Reno’s wolf marked all the traps, so at least our wolves will know to avoid them.”
“And the rogues will do just the opposite and pee on top of it for dominance. Then they’ll fall in.”
He pinched my nose. “You got it. Best kind of bait there is.”
Something hit me in the head, and I shone my flashlight down at a peanut.
“Do that again, and I’m coming up after you,” Austin bit out.
I glanced up and didn’t see anything, not until Denver clicked on his flashlight and held it beneath his chin, making a face. The tree stands were painted and hidden behind fake leaves to blend in. Some were just chairs, and others were more contained, like a small tree house, so we had a place to stretch out and set our bags down. Some had branches low enough to easily climb and reach them, while others Reno had hammered in steps that looked like broken stumps.