Page 199 of The Delta's Rogue
“Haven and Taryn should go to Peter’s,” Sarina suggests, latching onto my strength and letting it bolster her. “He has more protections in place to hide his home from unwanted guests than Silver Ridge or Amber Forest do.”
Wesley nods. “We’ll all head there after we’ve gotten some sleep.”
“‘We’ will not.” Haven glares at him. “Youare staying here. You are going to fight.”
“Haven—”
“I’ll command you if I have to. You know I will. You too, Reid,” she adds, directing her voice towards the phone.
“Yes, Luna.”
Reid responds with no hesitation, even though I’m sure he, like Wesley, would prefer to be with his mate and their babies. He knows better than any of us what can happen when a wolf’s mate dies.
Wesley stares at Haven, his jaw ticking with tension and indecision. His eyes shine, and he swallows, pinching the bridge of his nose as he blinks against whatever emotion builds inside him from this unexpected turn of events.
Nolan clears his throat and catches Wesley’s eye. “I’ll stay with Haven, Taryn, and the babies while you two help Sebastian.”
“No!” Haven shakes her head adamantly and slaps the bed with the hand that isn’t holding Dylan, and a wave of her aura pulses from her, forcing all of us to lower our chins in submission. She stares us all down with a fierce expression, one that is so similar to the expression on Selene’s face only moments before. “The four of you should be here—together—defending Crescent Lake. You’re strongest when you’re together.”
Her words slam into me. I hug Sarina tighter and inhale her scent, using it to center me. Nolan does similar with Cassandra, burying his nose into the top of her head. Wesley perches on the edge of the bed, his forehead resting against Haven’s temple and his arm supporting hers as they hold their newborn son together. Even though I can’t see them, I’m sure Reid is holding Taryn as close as he can as well.
“She’s right.” I sigh. “Our whole lives, it’s always been us four. Playing together, training together, experiencing life and all the happiness and sorrow it can bring together.” My voice hurts as I try to prevent it from cracking. “I can’t speak for everyone, but I know I wouldn’t be who I am today without you three. Our adult lives may have seen us drift apart as we all found our mates and our purpose, but everything we’ve gone through—as a group and individually—was to prepare us for this moment.” I lift my gaze, and I’m met with Haven’s determined but tear-filled blue eyes and my brother’s resigned expression. “I know I won’t be a Crescent Lake member for much longer, but this is my home and you—all of you—are myfamily. And wolves—”
“Protect their family,” Haven finishes for me.
My lips tip into a smile despite the heaviness of our current situation. “Exactly, Sparkles.”
A tear slips out of Haven’s eye as she nods at me and tries to return my smile.
“I’ll stay with Haven, Taryn, and the babies,” Selene offers.
“How will you protect them?” Wesley asks. “You just told us you can’t intervene.”
“I’m notsupposedto,” Selene confirms. “But if they try to hurt my daughter or her family, they won’t live long enough to regret it.”
“That’s the last ofthem.” Alpha Benjamin Pierce pats the hood of the van loaded up with non-combative Crescent Lake members and waves the driver towards the parking lot’s exit.
We watch it drive away in silence. Sebastian’s hand slips into mine, and warmth spreads from my fingertips, up my arm, and straight into my heart—the warmth of the mate bond.
My lycan spins in a circle, chasing her tail with excitement at the sensation of our completed bond. But my joy at feeling her every whim and experiencing her animalistic antics again is overshadowed by my anxiety over the battle we’re preparing for. The excitement of experiencing our completed bond in full force must wait until we eliminate our enemies.
“Thank you for harboring them in your pack.” Wesley approaches us from the path leading towards the forest and his house.
“You don’t need to thank me,” Benjamin replies, raking his hand through his wavy blond hair. “It’s the least I can do since my father was once involved with this group.”
“Is Haven at Peter’s?” Sebastian asks Wesley.
“She just left.”
Wesley’s voice catches, and he covers his mouth. His gaze traces back down the path he came in on as if following it with his eyes will take him to his mate and their son.
“She’s safe,” I remind him. “Both of them are. The traffickers aren’t likely to find them, but if they do, Selene and my parents won’t let anything happen to them.”
Wesley’s jaw clenches, and he nods his response.
Sebastian squeezes my hand, shooting more tingles through my body.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to help you fight?” Benjamin asks. “Your warriors are resilient and your plan is solid, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another—”
