Page 56 of Wolf Obsessed

I leaned forward and met Willa’s gaze. “That summer is what we’re fighting to protect. I want your baby to have that. Maybe one day far, far into the future, we’ll have kids who are good friends like us. Sisters.”

Willa beamed at me. “I would like that.”

Jacob kissed her hair. “That sounds amazing.”

I sat up straighter. “As long as we know what we’re fighting to protect, Alpha Dane won’t win. What we want is a future that’s whole and full of love. One that has hope, and do you know what the only thing stronger than fear is?”

Lincoln sucked in a deep breath and let it out. “Hope.”

He looked down at the table as he rubbed his thumb against a spot on the wood grains. “My mom told me that the day of the shooting.”

He licked his lips and looked at Willa and Jacob and then at me. “It’s the truth. Hope is what got me through that day.”

Lincoln reached out and put his free hand over mine. “It’s what got me to this point, and she was right. It led me to you. I’ll fight tooth and nail to protect the woman I love and our pack so I can hold on to the future I want.”

Jacob nodded and pressed a long kiss to Willa’s head. “As will I.”

I jabbed my fork into my meat and took another bite. This time, it went down a little easier.

Willa followed my lead and took a few bites before setting her fork down on her plate. “Do you think we’ll be able to go home when this is all over?”

I tucked my bottom lip between my teeth as I considered her question. “I think so. Everyone who wants to return home can.”

Willa blinked rapidly. “How long do you think that will be?”

She turned to Jacob, her eyes narrowing as she chewed on her bottom lip. “Would we go to your house or mine?”

He chuckled and pushed the hair off her face. “We’ll figure all that out when the time comes.”

I pressed my lips together and stared down at my plate. It would be nice if things returned to normal, but I had a feeling that was a long way off.

As if to prove my point, the alarm sounded, making me jump. My heart leaped into my throat, and I stiffened.

Lincoln shot up. His chair scraped the tile floor and wobbled but didn’t fall. “We should move into the front room so we can see what’s going on through the big window.”

I gulped and stood on shaking legs. I wrapped an arm around my baby sister, holding her trembling frame close. “Come on, sweetie. It’s going to be okay.”

I wasn’t sure for whose benefit I was saying that, but I hoped it was true.

I managed to put one foot in front of the other as I followed Lincoln into the front room.

Willa sobbed, and Jacob made a hushing noise. Their chairs rubbed the floor as they got up and followed us out.

My mom and some of the other girls and women filed into the front room from the hallway.

I met my mother’s eyes. Tears shimmered in them, and she clutched the necklace she always wore tightly with one hand.

She opened and shut her mouth and then put her hand over the top of her lips. Her shoulders trembled. Erica pulled away from me and raced to our mother, then she threw herself into her arms as she started to cry.

I hated that she was having to go through this. She was still just a kid. But she wasn’t the only one terrified right now. Everyone was.

I gritted my teeth and moved to the center of the room. “All right, let’s everyone have a seat and stay together. Is everyone here?”

It was a dumb question. My mother knew these women much better than I did. I glanced around anyway, hoping that if someone were missing, their friends would speak up.

Quiet murmurs filled the room, and everyone huddled in closer. I rolled my shoulders and clasped my hands in front of me.

The whispers continued. The back of my neck tingled, and as I glanced around, I realized everyone was looking at me.

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