Blue Mountain (Pack 1)

“Lucy!” Donia said. “Quit climbing all over your uncle.”

As he’d done all their lives, Frederick spoke for him. “Mitch is lying on the ground. I’m pretty sure that’s a silent invitation to play.”

Though she had warmed up to Mitch over the years, Donia was still tense around him. Frederick never addressed it, either because he didn’t notice or because he was accustomed to people being on guard with Mitch, so it didn’t register as unusual.

“Are you sure?” Donia asked.

“Yes,” Frederick said. “How’re your feet? Do you need a massage?”

“We were only trick or treating for an hour. I’m fine,” Donia said with a chuckle, sounding more pleased than exasperated.

“Why don’t I rub them anyway?” Frederick lifted Donia’s feet onto his lap. “Just to be sure.”

“We have four more months of this.” She lay on couch and stretched her long legs across it. “You’re going to get sick of spoiling me.”

“You’re my mate. I love spoiling you.”

“Yeah?” Donia asked, her voice uncharacteristically soft. Normally she exuded confidence and strength.

“Yes.” From his perch on the sofa, Frederick kicked Mitch’s leg. “Tell her, Mitch.”

Most shifters had predestined mates, who they put first in all things. But Alphas were unique. An Alpha’s primary function was protecting the pack. So Mother Nature blessed mates on Alphas only if they were strong enough to both lead their packs well and cherish their mates as they were meant to be cherished.

In addition to being infrequent, Alpha matings were rarely desired because most Alphas were happy to enjoy the attentions of the single wolves. The Grant brothers were different, both having longed for a mate since their youth. As they’d aged and found partners to warm their beds but not their hearts, they’d both despaired that being Alphas would preclude them from having the love and affection offered by a mate. Then Frederick saw Donia when he and Mitch were taking a trip in celebration of their thirty-third birthdays and knew he was looking at the other half of his soul. From that day on, their lives had changed irrevocably, and four and a half years later, Mitch had no doubt Frederick wouldn’t want it any other way.

Lifting tiny palms off his eyes, Mitch glanced up at his sister-in-law. “It’s true. He loves taking care of you.”

“Okay. In that case go ahead.” She settled into the sofa with a sigh. “Rub away.”

Frederick opened his mouth to respond when his eyes widened.

“I smell it too.” Mitch sat up, keeping hold of Lucy so she wouldn’t topple over. “Go to your mom, sweetheart.”

Shooting up off the couch, Frederick said, “Take Lucy into the bedroom and lock yourselves in.”

“Why?” Donia looked around worriedly. “What’s going on?”

“We smell blood,” Frederick explained. “Go to safety and we’ll deal with it.”

It was the exact wrong thing to say, something Mitch knew immediately but Frederick apparently missed in his frenzy to protect his family.

“If there’s something that needs to be dealt with, we’ll be doing it together,” Donia insisted.

“Honey, be reasonable.” Frederick pointed at his wife’s distended belly. “You’re in no position to help.”

Donia narrowed her eyes in warning.

Seeing a debate brewing, Mitch picked Lucy up and started walking out of the room.

“Where do you think you’re taking my daughter?” Donia snapped.

“To safety,” Mitch answered simply.

There was no time for a discussion. Lucy was his brother’s child, his kin. Her security came first. After he had her secured, he’d return for her mother. She could kick and scream if she wanted, but Mitch wouldn’t allow Frederick’s mate to remain in harm’s way. If he had to, he’d protect Donia from herself.

“I can take care of my own child!” Donia half walked, half waddled over to him, her gait changed from the pregnancy.

“You’ll take her to the cellar,” Mitch commanded, rather than asked.

“You want us to go sit in a cellar?” she said incredulously.

The small room off the kitchen was used only to store food, so people would be unlikely to look there. Plus it had a door to the outside, so if things went wrong, Donia and Lucy would have an escape route.

“It’s safe,” Mitch said by way of explanation.

“I’d point out that my mate, the Alpha of this pack, suggested we go to the bedroom, but I know it’d be a waste of time.”

“Mitch is right,” Frederick said.

Donia huffed and reached for Lucy.

“The cellar,” Mitch repeated as he handed the child over. Once Donia nodded, albeit grudgingly, he stepped aside so she could leave the room.

“I count four,” Frederick said. “You?’

Mitch dipped his chin in agreement. “The blood isn’t theirs.”

Raising his head in the air, Frederick inhaled deeply. “You’re right. But there’s something…familiar about it.”

“Yes.” Mitch closed his eyes and concentrated. Instead of his brain processing the scent, it seemed to lodge itself in his chest.

They walked to the front door silently, both of them focusing on the people that neared.