“That’s not going to happen,” Dom answered quietly, the words sounding painfully final.
“I know,” Caleb replied, “I think I knew it when I offered, but I had to try.” Darkness had fallen as I slept and I could barely make out him shaking his head in the dim glow of the security lights. “A last ditch effort to keep you in the Navarre Pack.”
“And I appreciate it,” Dom responded, his voice genuinely appreciative. “I don’t know another who would make the same offer.” He paused as understanding washed over him. “My decision not to stay with the Navarre Pack has nothing to do with you being Alpha.” Caleb cleared his throat disbelievingly. “It’s true. It’s the opposite in fact. I don’t want to stand in your way, Caleb. You have the right instincts, if not the desire to lead, and I know you’ll make the right choice for the Pack as a whole.” He grasped Caleb’s shoulder tightly. “Sometimes the burden of leadership falls to those who don’t want it but who are needed.”
I hesitated at bottom of the stairs, not wanting to interrupt, but Dom reached back and pulled me forward. He wrapped himself around me, his body a furnace driving away the chilly night air.
“Jess,” Caleb greeted me with a nod, his expression telling me he wasn’t sure how he’d be welcomed.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I replied, rocking slightly in the cocoon of Dom’s arms. “We’ve missed you,” I told him, seeing a glimmer of the old happy go lucky Caleb as he relaxed at my welcome.
“I’ve missed you all too,” he said tightly, emotion choking his voice. “It’s been a rough few weeks and you’ve stood by me when I didn’t deserve it,” he acknowledged.
“We don’t abandon our friends,” I reminded him. “Pack is life.”
He gave me a wry grin. “Pretty astute for a girl not raised Pack.”
“I’m a fast learner,” I replied, feeling Dom’s chest rumble behind me. “But don’t pull that shit again,” I warned, pointing my finger at him and he chuckled, ducking his head as he nodded.
“Yes, ma’am,” he promised, smiling ruefully. “I can’t say I’m as quick at learning as you are, but I think I’ve learned the importance of communicating.” His eyes flicked up to Dom, “And trusting in friendship.”
I glanced up to see Dom nodding above me. “I think we’ve both learned the importance of those lessons.”
A soft scrape drew my attention and I leaned forward slightly, glancing to the side to see what it was, when Dom jerked me back, twisting us so his body covered mine.
ATTACK!
The single word thundered through my brain as Dom issued the warning through the Pack link. He caught Caleb by the neck and hauled him closer to the wall, trying to protect us both.
Sharp awareness alerted me to Trent and Liam’s presence through the bond as they scrambled to get to us, but I knew they were too far away. We were essentially defenseless as Dom and Caleb searched for cover.
They want Jess, Dom shouted, impotent rage coursing through him and into me with the bond. We should have annihilated them already. His growl was ineffectual as he remained in human form, not wanting to risk leaving me uncovered.
He lifted me and started to run toward the apartment, but a quiet popping sound filled the air and I felt the pinpricks of needles as if they pierced my own flesh. He released me, trying to shift into his wolf to fight the effects of whatever they’d shot him with, but it was too late as we both fell, my link with Dom disappearing as his eyes closed when he hit the cold earth.
“Dom!” I heard someone screaming, not recognizing it as myself as my body jerked and I tried to reach for him. The sounds of a distant fight barely penetrated my brain as I stared at Dom’s still form, trying desperately to connect to him, horror filling me at the thought that he might be dead.
He’s not dead, Trent’s sharp voice penetrated through the haze threatening to consume me. He’s only unconscious. Trust me, we’d know if he was dead.
The Bond….It’s absence felt as if someone had cut off one of my arms and I started to shake as I stared at him, willing the connection to reform.
God, this is bad, Trent muttered, an impression formed of wolves running. We’re coming. You need to hold on.
My eyes glazed as my body slowly shut down, and my last sight was Caleb’s body jerking convulsively as he fell to the ground next to me.
Chapter Nineteen
Jess
I moaned, my mouth full of cotton, as I blinked into awareness.
“Jess?” The familiar voice was a relief as was the tiny string of awareness that was my connection to Dom. It was enough to let me know he was alive and I almost whimpered in relief.