The Pack's Luna: The Pack Series Book 4 novel Chapter 400

Jude

I knew Alpha Warren would want to talk to me today. I expected it. If he hadn’t, I would have been disappointed in him. His daughter is going out into the world, and he can no longer keep her safe. So, yes. I expected Alpha Warren to ask me about her safety and my willingness to protect her.

I did what any good man would do when dating the underage daughter of someone, especially an Alpha. I told him I would give my life to protect Wendy. I meant it when I told Wendy that I would do it anyway, but saying that to Alpha Warren made him feel more comfortable about her leaving. He has enough to worry about right now with his daughter-in-law and their Gamma female being threatened. As the acting Alpha of that pack for the last several months, he would take both threats very seriously.

What I didn’t tell him is that Arden, Cyra’s father, asked about Wendy when we were at the prison. He remembered her from court and specifically made a point to ask about her. I’m sure as shit not telling Wendy. I don’t want her having nightmares or worrying about Arden coming after her. He’s in jail and Hijack promised to keep him there.

But the reality of the threats to Wendy were real for both me and Hijack, and neither of us is willing to let her get hurt. When I joined her, I could tell she was surprised that Raptor asked her about her brother’s pack. I knew she could answer, so I gave her the support she needed, then let her be the amazing Alpha female she is. I hope that one day soon, she’s able to answer Raptor’s, or anyone’s questions, without that jolt of surprise. She’s strong enough to do it. What she lacks is self- confidence.

Now, she and I will share space in a van while we track Stellan. This is yet another test for her. She’ll have to get used to sleeping in a place that is less comfortable than what she’s used to. While we have a place to sleep, there are no beds here, only cots and blankets. I’ll do whatever I can to make the space comfortable for her, but the reality is if she can’t handle this, it’s not the right job for her. It’s not for everyone. It’s not always glamorous or successful. There are a lot of times when you’re in the trenches with the elite fighting squads and nothing comes of it.

Personally, my money is on the Alpha female in Wendy, the one who insists that she can do whatever is necessary to get the job done. I just hope I’m right about her.

And honestly, even if she can’t do this job, I still want her as a mate. Wendy is everything that is good and right in this world. If she decides she doesn’t want to be part of the tech team, I still want her as my mate. She would make every day easier for me to face.

As I hook up my computer, I watch her while she assesses the area where we’ll be spending the next week. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. This is the job. Sometimes it’s amazing and sometimes it feels like the worst fucking job in the world.

“So, is it just you and I sleeping in here?” she asks.

“These vans are only meant for the tech teams. So, yes. Since it’s just you and me working on the tech side of things, it’s just the two of us sleeping in here. However, since we’re going out into the forest to search for Stellan, we could sleep with the Alpha Squad. They usually set up a fire pit and sleep around it. We can sleep in here or there, depending on your preference,” I tell her.

“But we still get to sleep together, right?” she asks.

I growl possessively. I may not be able to claim her as my mate, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the pull of the mate bond.

“If you think, for one moment, that I will let you sleep with someone else, then you and I haven’t been clear enough in our expectations,” I say.

“That’s not what I meant,” she says.

“What did you mean?” I ask her. “I meant I won’t have to sleep alone, right? I would feel safer if you were with me. This is all new and unknown. If I’m being honest, it feels a bit … scary.”

I stand up from my workspace and take the two steps to where she’s standing and looking around. I slide my hands down her arms, holding her gaze.

“You don’t have to be afraid. I won’t let anything happen to you. I made a promise to your father, and I intend to keep it. Even without that promise, I would never let anything happen to you, Wendy. You’re my girl and I protect what’s mine,” I say, leaning down to press my lips to hers.

“Hey, you guys ready? We’re rolling out,” Siren says. She and Cipher are the newest members of the Alpha Squad. For a while, I wasn’t sure she’d make it. She was a bitch when she started the Academy last year, causing all sorts of problems for Cyra and Yorick. I heard Alpha Michael confronted her and whatever he said made a difference.

“We’re ready,” I say, smiling when Wendy blushes at getting caught.

“You guys are going to do more than make out back here, right?” Siren asks, grinning.

“Don’t worry, Siren. I can kiss my little Sphinx and still cover your ass,” I tell her. “Are you our driver?”

“I am today,” she says, getting into the driver’s seat.

“Okay. Try not to jerk the van around too much. While you’re driving, we’ll be working back here,” I say, closing the van’s side door.

“Working. Yeah,” she says, but she’s grinning.

“Congratulations, by the way. Making Alpha Squad is a big deal.”

“Thanks, Hacker. It felt like a big ‘Fuck You’ to my father and brother who never believed in me just because I’m a woman,” she says as she starts the van.

“I’ve seen you fight, Siren. You’re amazing. How can your father and brother not see that?” Wendy asks.

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