The One He Claimed

Chapter 173: Guards

Penny

‘Penny, Jaime, let’s meet briefly then you can take your positions,’ Beta Lucas says in the mind link.

‘Where are we meeting?’ Jaime asks.

‘My office,’ he says.

I was working with the safe room leads, making sure that everyone had arrived and that they had timed them to under two minutes. There are a few individuals I need to speak to about moving faster, but otherwise, the drill went well.

When I arrive at Beta Lucas’ office, Jaime is already there, as is Beta Kinsley.

“Penny, Luna asked me to make sure the safe rooms have availability for the pups from the Survivor Center. Let’s talk about that before you head over to guard Jocelyn.”

I run some quick numbers in my head. “How many pups?” I ask.

“No more than five.”

“We can fit them, easily, if need be.”

“Perfect.”

A moment later, Brutus knocks and walks in.

He nods at me and Jaime, then looks at Beta Lucas. “We’re expecting an attack?”

“Yes. Alpha Hunter believes that Zahn will attack while he’s gone. We agree, and told him to go, knowing this is our best chance to be prepared for an attack. Alpha told Alpha Zahn that he’d be gone 2-3 days, so I think we’ll be attacked tonight or tomorrow, giving him plenty of time to get Jocelyn far away from here.”

“We’re letting him take her?” Brutus asks, concerned.

“Let me rephrase. Zahn thinks he’ll have plenty of time to get her away from here. We’re going to shut that s** down before it even starts,” Lucas says, making all of us smile.

“What do you need me to do?” Brutus asks.

“I need you and William to trade off. You’re my two strongest warriors and one of you needs to be on Zahn 24/7. You can figure it out between you, but when the alarms go up, whoever isn’t on his detail, gets there.”

“Done.”

“And, Brutus, when the alarms go off, take Zahn down. I’m not giving him a chance to do anything. He’ll kill anyone to get to Jocelyn, I have no doubt. He’s not in our alliance, so we don’t have to worry about killing him…”

“Except for Jocelyn,” Beta Kinsley jumps in.

“Right,” Lucas says, pulling his mate, who is already in his lap, closer to him. “Jocelyn won’t heal as quickly if Zahn is dead. Alpha has asked us to keep him alive and if that’s not the reason, I’m sure he has a good one. So, take him out, keep him alive if you can, but throw him in the cells and keep a guard on him. i don’t want his pack members springing him while we’re fighting.”

“What about the other members of his pack?” Brutus asks.

“Alpha has given the go ahead to kill anyone else who attacks us.”

“Good. Who’s protecting Jocelyn?” Brutus asks. I’ve heard he turned down a ranked position when he was younger. If I’m not mistaken, he’s a second or third son of a ranked member, maybe a Beta. He definitely has the strategic thoughts of a man who is a ranked member.

“I am,” I say. He nods, smiling at me.

“Well, then, she’s well protected.”

“Yeah, she is,” Jaime says proudly, making me smile.

“Let me know what you and William decide Brutus,” Lucas says to him.

“Will do. When do we think we’ll be attacked?”

“Tonight or tomorrow.”

“Yeah, he and I will have to fight it out. My bet’s on tonight,” Brutus says.

“Mine too, and what are you fighting about?” Jaime asks him.

“Who gets to be on when the alarms go up. Both of us want a chance to punch that arrogant Alpha again,” he says, making me snort a laugh.

“Oh, come on, G***a. You know you do too,” he says to me.

“Yeah, I do. But I’ll settle for protecting Jocelyn. I’m sure I’ll get to punch someone,” I say, smiling.

He chuckles. “And that’s why she’s our G**a!” he says before heading to the door.

“Stay alert, Brutus,” Lucas says.

“The whole pack’s on alert, Beta. We’ll be ready.”

When he’s gone, Lucas looks back at us. “I know it’s not ideal to separate the two of you…”

“It’s okay, Beta. Jaime and I understand the expectations of our position. We know it’s only temporary,” I say, looking at my mate. It’s probably easier for me to say that, since I’m not eighteen yet, but I’m so close, and my need to be around Jaime increases every day.

“You can make up to me on your birthday, beautiful,” he says, pulling me into a hug.

“Deal.”

“Penny, since you’re going to be with Jocelyn, and I’m stuck not fighting, I’ll take lead on the safe rooms here in the packhouse,” Kinsley says.

“Thank you, Beta. There are a couple that need follow up. They didn’t get into their room within two minutes.”

“Leave me the list and I’ll follow up with them,” she says.

After our meeting, I take a moment to kiss Jaime. I’m not sure when I’ll see him again.

“Take care of my mate,” he says.

“Do I need to check in with Beth and Chloe?” I ask him. I know his sisters are part of the pack now, so they know what’s going on, but they’re both still young.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Already done. Go look after Jocelyn and show any fighters who show up what happens when they go against the Ga**ma of THIS pack,” he growls, leaning in to kiss me.

When he pulls back, I smile up at him, loving this man so much already.

“What’s that smile?” he asks.

I bite my lip, not sure if it’s too early in our relationship to say anything, but, he’s my mate. “You’re so good with your sisters. I can’t wait to see what a great father you’ll be to our pups.”

He growls, pulling me even tighter against his body. “Pups, plural? More than one?”

“We should have at least one boy and one girl, don’t you think?” I ask him.

“Maybe we’ll have lots of girls and have to keep trying for a boy,” he says, making me laugh.

“Or maybe we’ll have lots of boys and have to keep trying for a girl,” I say. He growls softly, before kissing me again.

“So many good things in our future,” he says.

“So many,” I agree.

As I walk to the Survivor Center, there’s a lightness in my step, a happiness that’s incongruous with the upcoming battle. Maybe it’s because I know we’ll win, or maybe it’s because I know that my life is going to be great in this pack with Jaime at my side. Either way, it’s hard to not feel happy, even with the inconvenient battle coming soon.