Lincoln shrugged. “It’s all good. Just not the same as my mom’s cooking. You know what I mean?”

  “I do. No one cooks stuff like my mom does.” I reached out for him and took his hand. “Come on. Let’s go get you something to eat.”

  I tucked my arm around his waist, and we hobbled up the stairs into the house.

  Lincoln leaned on me as we made our way through the front room and into the large kitchen. The green lights on the clock told me it was still early, just before six.

  Most everyone was still asleep at this hour. Patrol shifts didn’t change out for another hour, so we would have the kitchen all to ourselves, hopefully.

  Mom made a big breakfast for everyone on the weekends. During the week, it was up to everyone to fend for themselves.

  I pulled out a chair for Lincoln and helped him into it, then opened the stocked-full fridge and took a carton of eggs.

  My mom had taught me how to heal. Cooking was more Erica’s forte. I was pretty sure I could make some eggs, though.

  “How do you like your eggs?”

  Lincoln sat back in the chair and rubbed his eyes. “However you like them is fine.”

  I nodded and got to work pulling out some butter, a pan, and some seasonings before turning the stove on.

  Lincoln groaned as he scrubbed a hand over his face.

  I looked over my shoulder to find that his eyes were shut and his face was scrunched up. “Hey, you okay?”

  Lincoln dropped his hands into his lap and gave me a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Just tired and a little sore. In my head, I knew I shouldn’t run like that, but my wolf had other ideas. He’s been cooped up too long, I think.”

  Swallowing nervously, I set the spoon down in the pan and kneeled in front of him. “Should I go get my mom?”

  “No. I’m fine. Promise.”

  I worried my bottom lip as I studied him through narrowed eyes.

  He reached out and tucked a finger under my chin. “I’ll be fine. Trust me. You and Sawyer aren’t getting rid of me.”

  I gave him a quick, chaste kiss. “You’re a fighter.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t know about all that.”

  I glared at him. “You took a near lethal dose of wolfsbane and then tackled your brother out a second-story window to save me. Trust me. You’re a fighter.”

  Lincoln’s brows pinched. He opened his mouth and then closed it. I gave him a pointed look before turning back to the stove and whipped the eggs in the pan as I cursed under my breath. They were starting to stick to the bottom, and the faint smell of burned eggs hit me.

  So much for being able to make scrambled eggs.

  At least they looked salvageable.

  The chair creaked as Lincoln leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry about Mikey.”

  I gripped the edge of the pan handle tighter as I stirred. “You don’t have to apologize for him. It’s not your fault.”

  Lincoln made a noise in the back of his throat. “I’m not sure when he got so out of control. My dad at least has some limits. Mikey’s out of his mind.”

  I couldn’t argue with that. I flipped the stovetop off and grabbed two plates and a glass, then I scooped a larger helping onto Lincoln’s before giving it and some water to him. I joined him at the table with my plate.

  Lincoln shoveled a few heaping forkfuls into his mouth and closed his eyes. “These are good.”

  I laughed. “You won’t hurt my feelings if you tell me they’re burned.”

  He jabbed his fork into his eggs. “They aren’t burned.”

  I took a bite and then a few more. He might be right. Thank goodness.

  Lincoln took a large gulp of water and finished his eggs in record time. “Do you think I’d be able to look at my laptop?”

  I scooped the last bit of my eggs into my mouth and grabbed both our plates, going to the sink. “Sure. It’s in my dad’s office. I’m sure he’ll be in there by now.”

  I bit my lip as I rinsed the dishes. “He’s been looking forward to meeting you.”

  Over my shoulder, Lincoln gulped and chuckled as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

  I set the clean dishes and pan in the drying rack and sank down next to Lincoln. “Hey, you don’t have to worry about anything. My dad is incredibly thankful for all you have done for me already.”

  I picked up his hand as I stood, and he got up with me. I leaned in, giving him a quick peck on the lips. “I know you don’t like being around people, and this is all new to you. We won’t stay for long.”

  Lincoln pulled me into a hug. “We do need to speak with your father. I’ve been out of it for so long, I need to know what’s going on with the website too.”

  A frown marred his face as he pulled back. His gaze darted around the kitchen. “Back home, it was suffocating to leave my room. It doesn’t feel that way here. Your house feels…safe.”

  My stomach dropped at his admission. I pulled him into my embrace again. “It is safe. It’s home.”

  Lincoln raked his fingers through his hair as he pulled away and glanced at the kitchen door. “I think I’m more nervous about meeting your father because I’m your mate than I am about everything that’s happened.”

  I covered my mouth as I giggled. “Really?”

  He gave me a somber look.

  I gripped his hand tightly. “Trust me, my dad knows everything you have done for me. Just be the man I am in love with, and he’s going to love you. Promise.”

  Lincoln kissed my temple. “All right. Lead the way.”

  We walked hand in hand to the kitchen door, then the world around us began to buzz. Before we could exit, Sawyer appeared in front of it.

  His dark hair was disheveled and his eyes wide as he looked between us.

  I took a step forward, my hand going to Sawyer’s chest. “What’s wrong?”

  A tick formed in Sawyer’s jaw, and he shook his head. “My dad’s wolfsbane supplier just got a shipment in. We will be leaving first thing tomorrow to go pick it up. Once we have that, there’s nothing stopping us from attacking your pack. You have two days. Maybe three, and then my dad will bring the full might of Pack Wolf Blood to your door.”

  Eleven

  Sloane

  Sweat beaded my brow as Sawyer’s words sank in.

  Two or three days. That wasn’t anywhere near enough time. We still didn’t have the manpower to fight off that kind of attack.

  I ran my forearm across my head and shut my eyes briefly as I blew out a breath. My ears rang while a bout of nausea churned in my belly.

  I swallowed. “Is there anything we can do to stop him?”

  Lincoln mumbled under his breath, closed his eyes, and massaged his temples.

  Sawyer’s nostrils flared as he shook his head. “My dad is a man of action. Once he has his mind set on something, he’s not going to change it. The second we get that wolfsbane, he’s going to make the final preparations to come here.”

  Sawyer gripped one of my hands and put his other one on Lincoln’s shoulder. “I think it’s time that you guys discuss leaving. There are other places for you to go. It’ll take him longer to find you if you leave.”

  A lump formed in my throat, and tears pricked my eyes. “This is my home. We can’t just keep running. At some point, we have to take a stand and fight back.”

  Sawyer cupped both my cheeks with his warm, callused hands and met my gaze. “Sloane, you can’t stay here. It’s not safe. You don’t have enough wolves to fight.”

  I jerked away from him and looked between both brothers. “We can’t run. That’s not a solution. It’s a Band-Aid. There’s nowhere for us to go. We’ll just keep running, and he’s going to find us eventually.”

  I pointed to my home as anger simmered, making my chest warm and my cheeks flush. “We need to stand our ground. We need to fight back. This is our home. We know this land better than he does. Running will put us at a disadvantage. We can’t control the landscape. Here, we can.”

  Lincoln exhaled loudly. “You’re both right. Arguing about it isn’t going to solve anything. We need to come up with a plan.”

  I pursed my lips as I rubbed my hand over my chest. “The wolfsbane is what makes him feel confident, right? He thinks he’s unstoppable because he has an unfair advantage. Sawyer, do you know where the dealer is?”

  A plan started to form. It was crazy and risky, but if we could pull it off, it would buy us time and give us an upper hand.

  Sawyer blinked as a frown marred his face. His jaw worked, and then he narrowed his eyes. “I do know the location. Why?”

  I nodded as I took a step back and paced the length of the kitchen cabinets. “If you aren’t leaving until tomorrow, then we should leave right now. We can meet the dealer today without running the risk of running into your father. We get the wolfsbane before your dad even leaves.”

  Lincoln made a noise in the back of his throat and put both hands behind his head as he stretched. “Not the worst idea I’ve heard. It would be dangerous, though.”

  Sawyer shifted on his feet. “We usually just pick up at the guy’s house. He lives in the city. But the only people my dad’s ever taken have been me and a few of his more trusted enforcers.”

  My chest tightened. “He might know that you were the one who gave us the information.”

  Lincoln held up a hand. “Not necessarily. I think I can put a wiretap on his phone. Dad knows I’m smart with that kind of thing. He wouldn’t have to know when it went on. It might actually not be a bad idea to do anyway. With the tap, I would be able to see who he calls, which would mean I could have traced his dealer’s location.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “He did it to us. We should do it to him. Except this time, make sure that he has no way of finding out about it.”

  Sawyer nodded. “That’s a good idea, but if I’m to keep my cover, he’ll have to find out about it. Otherwise, the suspicion will fall on me.”

  I scrunched up my nose. “Yeah, you’re right. But at least it’ll keep you safe. It gives you an out and plausible deniability that you weren’t involved in helping us.”

  Sawyer let his head fall back, and he rolled his shoulders. “If you’re going to do this, you need to get moving. It needs to happen today.”

  I wrapped my arms around myself. “It’s a good idea. I think we need to go talk to my father.”

  He would need to sign off on it. Nothing happened in this pack without his authorization.

  Lincoln put his arm around my shoulder. “Do you think he’ll approve it?”

  I worried my bottom lip as I considered my answer. “I think he will.”

  He might not like it. I knew he was terrified of losing any more of his children. But this was war, and we needed every advantage we could get. Not only would the drug even the playing field, but it would hopefully buy us precious time for more wolves to arrive.

  Sawyer reached out like he was going to hug us, but then he dropped his hands back to his sides. “I should be getting back. Be safe.”

  I lunged forward and threw my arms around his neck, pulling him to me. “Take care of yourself. Try to come as often as you can so we know you’re safe and can keep you updated.”

  Lincoln pressed himself against my back, enveloping us both in a hug as he sandwiched me between them. “She’s right, Sawyer. You need to stop carrying this burden by yourself. We’re here to help.”

  Sawyer clapped Lincoln on the back as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll try. Take care of each other.”

  He disappeared, leaving Lincoln and me alone in the kitchen.

  Lincoln pulled me tighter against his chest and leaned his head over my shoulder. “We should go speak with your father.”

  I nodded as I grasped his hand and led the way through the house to my father’s study. The door was partially open, which meant that he was available to speak to people. He only ever closed it when he was in a meeting or having a conversation not everyone should hear.

  I knocked and then poked my head in.

  My dad looked up from the stack of papers he was reviewing. He smiled when he saw me and waved me in.

  Dad got up from his desk and reached his hand out to Lincoln to clasp his palm. “I’m glad to see you on your feet. You gave us all quite a terrible scare. How are you feeling?”

  Lincoln shook my dad’s hand. “Still a little rough, but a lot better. Thank you for everything.”

  My dad put his hand on Lincoln’s shoulder. “It is I who should be thanking you. You kept my daughter safe and protected her with your life. I will forever be indebted to you for that.”

  Lincoln gave a tight-lipped smile and swallowed.

  “Dad, we have something to speak with you about, and it’s very time sensitive,” I told him.

  My dad motioned to the two plush couches in the center of the room. Lincoln and I sat on one, and he took the one opposite us.

  I wiped my clammy hands on my pants and shared a look with Lincoln, who gave me an encouraging nod. I sucked in a deep breath and let it out before telling my dad the entire plan we’d come up with in the kitchen.

  When I was done, he sat back on the couch, rubbing his jaw. “And you have a location, and you think you can get there and back without incident?”

  I sat up taller. “I trust Sawyer. The information is good, and this will give us the advantage that we need and hopefully delay the attack.”

  My dad tilted his head from side to side, seeming to consider it. “It’s a good idea. I’m proud of you both.”

  Lincoln patted my leg. “It was all her idea, sir. She came up with it.”

  A smile spread over my dad’s face, and his eyes lit up as he met my gaze.

  He cleared his throat as he turned his attention back to Lincoln. “Do you think the dealer will give it to you since you’re not your father?”

  Lincoln looked down at his hands as he flexed them in his lap. “It’s my understanding that the guy is a drug dealer. He wants to get the goods sold as quickly as possible. I know my dad has sent other trusted men there without him. It shouldn’t be an issue.”

  My dad exhaled and nodded. “The plan seems solid. I want you to leave if you’re feeling up to it, Lincoln?”

  I swallowed and rubbed my palms up and down my legs as I gazed at Lincoln. He’d been unconscious for days and had barely just woken up. I prayed we weren’t pushing him too fast.

  Lincoln shifted on the couch, making it creak with his movements. “I know I’m not one hundred percent, but I know what I can do, and I’m sure that I can handle this.”

  My dad narrowed his eyes, giving Lincoln an appraising look. “If you think you can do it, then you have my blessing to go as soon as you’re ready. Probably the sooner the better. I would like to send Mark and maybe Brandon with you.”

  My heart fell. I’d kind of been hoping to have some time alone with Lincoln again. I wasn’t going to argue, though. My dad was right—we needed more people with us.

  Lincoln inclined his head. “That’s a good idea. I want to take a quick shower and get a change of clothes. I need to also set up the wiretap to make sure Sawyer’s cover is protected, but I think we’ll be ready to leave within the hour.”

  My dad pressed his lips together in a tight smile. He ran a hand through his thinning hair and met my gaze. “These past few weeks, you sure made it hard for your old man to sleep at night.”

  My mouth popped open, and I started to protest.

  My dad held up a hand. “I don’t mean that as an insult. Sloane, there’s something I want to talk to you about before you go. It’ll give you some time to think about it before you make a decision.”

  I leaned forward, putting my elbows on my knees and resting my chin on my palm. “Is everything okay?”

  My dad chuckled lightly and looked away. He licked his lips and sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before turning back to me. “Darren was supposed to be my successor.”

  Dad cleared his throat and looked down as he fiddled with his wedding ring. “I’ve been thinking long and hard about who I should name as my successor now that he’s gone. Brandon isn’t anywhere near ready, and Mark is strong and would qualify, but he doesn’t have the heart. Erica is much too young. I want it to be you, Sloane. These past few weeks, you’ve shown that you are every bit as capable of putting the pack ahead of your own well-being, as well as thinking smart and in the best interest of the pack.“

  A lump formed in my throat, and a weight pressed against my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. There were some days I wasn’t sure I could take care of myself, and he wanted me to take care of the pack? It was a crazy idea.

  Dad got up and came to sit on the opposite side of me. He picked up my hand and held it. “I’m sure this is a surprise to you. I understand. It’s not something you asked for or probably ever thought about. But I’ve given it a lot of thought since your brother…”

  He swallowed hard before clearing his throat. “I don’t expect an answer from you today, Sloane. Use your time away to think if this would be a good fit for you. Being an alpha is not easy. I fear it will only get rougher the longer this war drags on.”

  Tears pricked my eyes. “You sound like you’re planning on not being around, Daddy.”

  My dad pulled me into a hug and made a hushing noise. “Believe me, Sloane, I have no intention of going anywhere. But we are entering into a war, and there will be casualties. If I were to fall, I want to make sure that I have my successor chosen. The last thing we need is a scramble for power, and I prefer the pack stay with our family.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut briefly. A few tears trickled down my cheeks. My great grandfather had founded the pack and built this house around eighty years ago.

  I understood what he was saying. It made perfect sense from his standpoint. Still, a cold chill zipped down my spine, and my heart hammered harder. Nothing was going to happen to him, so I shouldn’t be worried, but what if something did? Would I be able to run the pack? If I took over and failed I’d be letting him down.

  My dad pulled back and cupped my face with his hands. “Promise me you’ll think about it, and you can let me know when you get back.”

 

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