Page 102 of Ascendant Moon
Doogie stood abruptly and left the packhouse, passing the Alpha Mate as he entered. Caleb didn’t have to ask to know what this was about, and went to his own office to send out a general signal to watch for intruders. He would explain in more detail later, but the pre-arranged enhancement to their normal procedureswould tighten the net even further. There would be some grumbling and long workdays ahead, but this was exactly what Gladstone security was meant to do.
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Several minutes later…
Ben got started as soon as everyone had been seated. Besides Evan and Caleb, Nolan, Ash, and Oscar York had been called in for the meeting, all looking grim.
“Last night, Bruce Ballard attacked Melva’s friend Ginny at Newald and forced her to tell him where Lincoln and Melva were. He was about to kill her when packmates arrived, but Ballard managed to escape, again, and they never caught up with him. Given that he’s on foot, we figure he’ll arrive by Wednesday or Thursday. Ballard may be a scumbag, but he’s managed to get away twice now, and is determined to take Lincoln back. We aren’t going to let him.”
Ben’s eyes glowed as he joined the others in angry, determined growls. Once they settled down, he continued.
“Ballard has never been here before and has no idea what our security can do. In that case, what are his options? Caleb?”
Ben wasn’t actually looking for an answer. He simply wanted Caleb to get the discussion started by naming the most obvious possibilities.
“Walk right in. Fight his way in. Sneak in. He’d still have tofindLincoln, but the Omega’s scent would be easy to track. My hope is to kill the bastard as soon as we spot him, and prevent Lincoln from being traumatized all over again.”
Everyone nodded in agreement—except Oscar York. He quietly raised a finger, and Ben gave him a “go ahead” gesture.
“I understand what you’re saying, Caleb, but there might be a better way. We also have to consider the fact that Lincoln has a mate, and Scooter will want to deal with Ballard himself if he has the choice. I know I would, facing the same circumstances.”
While Caleb could have taken offense, he’d worked alongside the man in the defense of Gladstone. Oscar also had a great deal more experience and a sharp mind. Whatever he was thinking had to be worth listening to.
“You’re the only one in the room who’s actually met Ballard, and that gives us a distinct advantage. What do you have in mind?”
Oscar leaned over the table slightly with a devious grin on his face.
“He’s convinced that both Lincoln and the pup are his property. I say we beat him at his own game, and here’s how to do it…”
By the time Oscar finished explaining, there were smiles all around the table. Oh, there was an element of danger to be sure, but if everyone played their part, Ballard didn’t stand a chance.
Chapter 51
Tuesday, early evening, near Cornell, MI
Bruce could smell them in the wind.
Barring any unforeseen obstacles, he’d reach Gladstone tomorrow, but the thought of messing with that particular pack made him uneasy. Not only were they in Sheppard’s pocket, the place was filled with queers and losers who would probably refuse to hand over the Omega. In the end they’d have to since, thanks to the pup, Lincoln’s scent now included Bruce’s. While they weren’t technically mated, his claim on Hart (or at least the pup) was irrefutable.
A lot depended on what Melva Winchell told them, but Bruce was confident he could get around it. Who would believe the old hag anyway? The other problem was what to do on arrival. Did he walk in and stake his claim or go for the stealth approach? As he understood it, the packlands there were enormous, and there’s no way they could be watching every entry point. All he really had to do was figure out where Lincoln lived and wait for the right moment to grab him. How hard could it be?
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Lincoln waited patiently for Scooter to come home, flanked by bodyguards as he sat watching the parking lot. He felt a lot more secure when his mate was at home, though Ben and Evan had explained how they intended to deal with Ballard. In fact, they had asked his opinion about how likely the plan was to work, giving him more confidence in the operation. Ballard’s unjustifiable self-confidence and simplistic thinking would be his undoing, and Lincoln just wanted an end to the waiting, stress, and uncertainty.
Scooter pulled into the lot and parked, and by the time he got out, Lincoln had trotted over to greet him with licks and yips—tail wagging furiously. Nate loved coming home to his mate every day, but especially now while they waited for Bruce to show up. He spent every workday worrying over Lincoln and wanting to be by his side. Fortunately, he’d been able to swap hours with his co-workers so he could be at home both Wednesday and Thursday.
After Scooter changed clothes, the couple went to the packhouse for supper. RJ waved them over, having saved seats so that Jonah could help comfort Lincoln. While their mates ate, the men got to talking about cooking, and Scooter confessed to having no culinary skills. He leaned over to ask Lincoln if he knew his way around the kitchen, and the Omega answered with a vigorous head shake. When the laughter died down, RJ offered to teach them.
“At least one of you needs to learn the basics. Jonah and I aren’t always in the mood for company, so being able to cook for ourselves comes in handy. Besides, it’s something fun to do together. Robert would be a great resource too, even though his expertise is tasting, not cooking. He has access to a ton of recipes and food ideas, but beware—he and Ash like to combine sex with their meals!”
Midway through dessert, Donna, Lou, and the twins stopped by the table to update Scooter.
“I gave Lincoln his eight-week checkup today, and everything looks good. He’s gained more weight and the pup is right on target. Keep up the daily runs and let him eat whatever he wants. If it makes you more comfortable, I would be happy to assist with the delivery—either at home or at the infirmary. You have plenty of time to decide, but it’s something you should discuss.”
Before they left, RJ asked Lou for an update on his run for sheriff.
“Voting is in a couple of weeks on November second, and I have two more rallies coming up for a last-minute push. The polls look good, and it will help if all my packmates cast their ballots. Sheriff Tucker seems to think it’s in the bag, and he can’t wait to retire.”
