Page 62 of The Alpha's Mates

We took off across the plains, using our speed to keep out of range of their weapons. Their horses were fast, and their hounds had our scent, but we had determination fueling us. If Reese hadn't warned us, we would have been sitting ducks. One or two of us might have made it out alive after we killed the humans, but we would have sustained losses. And losing our mate would have broken us.

The fact that she knew danger was coming for us before we did was something I was dying to ask her about, but we needed to focus. We zig-zagged, trying to throw them off our trail. Moving in and out of streams and rivers, making false trails to distract their scent hounds. We ran for hours. The sun was peeking over the horizon before I called for my cadre to stop.

Panting, I listened. Silence. Testing the air, I tried to scent the humans and their animals. Nothing. We'd managed to outrun them. There was a time when I’d been doubtful when Calder and Reese had told me that they had somehow amplified each other’s strength and endurance when they’dfought together. We were all feeling it now and I couldn’t deny it anymore. Even with as tired as we were, I could feel all of our powers combining and giving us all that extra edge. It was certainly welcomed while we were being chased by enemies.

Atlas shifted first and looked around, his nose in the air as he too scented the area. "They aren't nearby."

Calder shifted next and grabbed the bag from the ground next to Atlas. He began passing out clothing as Reese and I shifted. "What happened?" he asked, his eyes on her.

Before she could answer, I had her in my arms, my face buried in her neck as I held her close. She smelled so damn good and it had been too long since I'd been able to hold her like this. My wolf howled inside of me, wanting to be close to her.

"Soren," she murmured, her hands coming up to rest on my shoulders. She'd been squeezing me back, but we didn't have a lot of time.

I let her go, reluctantly. "What happened back there?" I asked, echoing Calder's question, shoving away the fear that told me I’d almost lost her.

Atlas was already using a clean cloth to dab at Reese's wound, cleaning the blood from her neck. The scratch was minor and should have healed the minute she shifted. The fact that it didn't meant one of two things. Magic or silver. The humans never got close enough to us to use their weapons, which meant magic.

She winced away from Atlas, but he just growled at her. The sound had my hackles rising and I stepped closer to him, ready to defend our mate if he tried anything. He sighed and shook his head, calling upon his legendary patience to rein in his temper. "Sorry," he muttered. "I'm just on edge." He sat down, pulling her onto his lap, and gentling his touch as he tended to her wound.

My hackles rose as she recounted her conversation with the Sun Goddess. She wanted to destroy us all. I'd long suspected it.My wolf was pacing inside of me, wanting to get out and protect our mate. I would never allow anyone to harm her, not even a Goddess.

Calder sat down next to Atlas, his hand resting on her knee as he listened. "Did you know your family was involved with her?"

She shook her head. "No, but really, it isn’t very surprising."

"What do you suppose she offered Lenat to get him to start that war?" Calder asked.

I tensed, trying to work through the anger that was a living entity inside of me. My fathers had been killed in the war started by her grandfather, and ultimately my mother's life was lost as well. It had nearly destroyed me. My grandparents and my cadre mates were the only reason I was able to find my way. They were the only reason I'd become the leader I had. I didn't lay any blame on Reese. None of this had been her fault, but her family? They were deeply enmeshed in what was happening to shifter kind. And they would answer for it.

"I don't know," she replied. The glance she shot my way was full of guilt.

I sat down in front of her and cupped her cheek. "You have no reason to take on the burden of this," I told her. "Your father and brothers will have to answer for their crimes."

"You think they're involved?" she asked, searching my gaze.

"If your grandfather was a part of it? I have no doubt his son is. Andhissons as well."

She nodded, leaning into my touch. "I agree, unfortunately. My father and brothers were possessed with blind hatred, much like my grandfather. It probably wouldn’t take much of an offer to get them to start or fight in a shifter war."

Calder's hand tightened on her knee as he spoke, "We'll find them and make them pay." His eyes met mine.

"Thank you," she whispered, giving us all heartfelt looks. "You pulled me back. I couldn't break out of her grasp until youstarted talking. Then I could...feel you, and not just through the mind link."

"I was fucking terrified," Calder admitted.

The surprise on her face made me chuckle. It was easy to read her thoughts on her face. If 'scary' alpha males like us were afraid, what did that say about the situation?

"You have no idea, Little One," I told her. "No idea that you're now our greatest weakness."

She looked offended, so Atlas offered, "And our greatest treasure."

"You're both in one for us," I replied in agreement. "If anything were to happen to you, we would be lost."

"I think that's one of the nicest things you've said to me," she admitted with a shy smile.

Calder snorted and I rolled my eyes. "I'm not always an ass," I insisted.

She gave me a look that had Calder and Atlas both biting back laughter. "That's debatable," she replied.

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