Protecting the Wolf's Mate (Blood Moon Brotherhood 3)

No way. Mal, her mate, would have a shit fit if Finn let her go on recon alone. On a regular day Mal’s temper was a problem. When it came to Olivia, he and his wolf didn’t hold back.

“What does your wolf say, Olivia?” Finn was studying her, assessing her wolf. Ellen had been spending a lot of time with her, helping her bond with her wolf and use the extra senses and abilities she now had. She was a natural wolf, according to Ellen.

As if anything about their situation was natural.

She frowned. “Something’s not right.”

Finn nodded. “Call them back.”

Hollis headed again to the control room. He lifted the long-range walkie. “Mal? Come in?”

“Hollis? What the fuck? Regret skipping this one?” Mal chuckled.

No point in dragging this out. “Something tripped the alarm.”

“Turn around,” Mal barked, immediately followed by the squeal of brakes. “Brown’s take?”

“We don’t know where he is,” Hollis answered. “Or Tess. Jessa’s in labor,” he continued.

“Did Tess know Jessa was in labor?” Mal cursed, long and loudly.

Hollis paused. “Yes.”

“Headed back,” Mal said. “Put down the blast doors, seal everything up. This is not a fucking drill. They know where we are, and they are coming.”

“Tess?” Hollis mumbled. They should have known. She’d been the Others’ prisoner for years, been turned by them, and reuniting her with her father didn’t change that. Still, she’d seemed broken, too helpless to be a threat to the pack.

“Now, Hollis,” Mal snapped. “We’re fucking idiots.”

Hollis pulled the earpiece out and scanned the wall of screens that showed the refuge from a variety of locations. Nothing out of the ordinary. Trees, birds, mountains, and wide-open sky. Nothing menacing. Yet. He lowered the blast doors, wincing when they slid into place. If Finn had sent Olivia, she was out there, facing God only knows what.

“Hollis!” Ellen’s call had him running.

“It’s time.” Ellen waved him over, handing him a blanket. “When the next one comes, Jessa, push.”

He’d seen it before. Childbirth was messy and loud. But the sound of that cry—of first breath—told the world of its latest arrival. Jessa pushed, then the baby slipped free and into Ellen’s waiting arms. And when the baby, a girl, wailed with force, Jessa began to cry.

“A girl,” Ellen announced.

He’d never heard such tenderness from her. She held that baby with awed reverence that made his chest heavy. The smile—full of anguish, joy, and haunted in a way—forced the air from his lungs. This Ellen was wounded and broken—no matter how hard she fought to prove everyone otherwise. Even now, she stiffened, pressing her eyes shut until her face was blank once more. She wrapped the infant up and handed her to Finn before facing Hollis. “We should give them a minute alone.”

Meaning she wanted to know what was happening and didn’t want to worry Jessa. He hadn’t been aware of Oscar, sitting in his playpen, until Ellen scooped up the toddler and carried him from the room.

“Snack,” Ellen said, leading the way to the kitchen. “Tell me.”

“Brown and Tess are gone—”

“Of course, they are.” She spun. “Olivia?”

“I’m not sure. She wanted to go but—”

“Take him, Hollis. They are in trouble. We all are.” Her eyes blazed.

“The blast doors are down.”

“Open them. Now.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’m going out.”

There was no arguing with her, he’d learned that shortly after her arrival. “What are you going to do?” he asked, awkwardly bouncing Oscar.