The Woodland Packs

Fuck.

He was right.

I’d have to ask Celeste for help with this plan.

“I agree. Maybe I can…. Shit, I didn’t want to have to do this.”

Grayson knew what I was going to say. “Maybe you can ask your mate for some help? She’d know the layout of their den, maybe ask them about the structure of their day? Weaknesses? Anything that could help us?”

I groaned.

I’d known it would come to this. After the bears had attacked Dexter’s pack, then Grayson’s. They wouldn’t stop until one of our shifter families was dead.

And it wasn’t going to be us.

“I’ll ask her. I didn’t want to put Celeste under this sort of pressure, feeling like she has to betray her own family. But I will.”

I’d known we’d need Celeste’s help, but I hadn’t wanted to ask her. After everything she’d been through, this was additional stress she just didn’t need.

“I’ll speak to her and get back to you.”

I patted Gray on the shoulder and walked back inside my home.

Celeste was up and making some dinner for us all.

“Can we help you, sweetheart?”

I glared at Sam. He knew she was meant to be resting.

My Beta glared right back. “Don’t look at me like that. I tried.”

Celeste grunted.

Yep, grunted, from the kitchen. “I’m not helpless, Tayte. I know I look like a beached whale, but I’ve got four weeks to go, so I’ve gotta keep moving or I’ll go crazy. So… spaghetti for dinner?”

She didn’t sound like she was asking, and an annoyed vibe was radiating from her now.

“Um, sure, sweetheart. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions while you’re doing that?”

She looked towards me while she pulled out the pasta and put some water on to boil.

“Yeah, of course. Sit. Is this something to do with what Grayson asked?”

She wasn’t slow, this one.

“Yes. The pack has noticed the scent of bear shifters around town, and we were hoping you could tell us more about the den where you lived.”

I kept my voice as soft as possible, but I saw the way my once steady girl began to shake.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?”

She dried her hands with a towel. “Yes of course. What do you want to know?”

“Things like numbers within the den, how many do think would fight if they all attacked at once?”

I knew it was a hard question to start with, but it was what I most needed to know. What gave us the most concern.

Celeste bit her lip and leaned against the island bench.