CALIFF
“What’s this?” She was surprised to see a blanket spread on the grass under the tree with pillows, a basket of food, and a bottle of wine.
“I wasn’t sure if you like the setup. I wanted to take you out on a dinner date, but with the situation in our pack—”
“Stop.” She cupped my face and looked me in the eye. “This is beautiful, Califf. The restaurant is overrated, anyway. I love this. Thank you.”
I sighed as I pressed my lips against her. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“This is you making up to me. Can we sit down now?”
“Yeah.” I chuckled, taking her hand as she took off her sneakers.
“If I knew we were going on a date, I could have worn a pretty sundress, at least.”
“You’re beautiful in your shirt and shorts, Shadow. You might not need those clothes later, anyway?”
Her smile turned sultry. Her eyes glittered in anticipation. “Is that a promise?”
“You sound like I don’t give you what you want.” I sat next to her, my arm on her thigh as I leaned to kiss her on the neck.
“It’s my way of saying I couldn’t wait, Alpha.” She shuddered as my lips moved down to my mark.
“Let’s see what we’ve got here.” I checked what was in the basket. There were sandwiches, sliced fruits, delis, grapes, paper plates, and two wine glasses.
“Who set this up?” She set the plates and our glasses.
“Mom.”
Her head snapped in my direction. Eyes wide as saucers. Her cheeks flushed. “Your mom?”
“Yeah. Why are you surprised?”
“I guess I haven’t experienced my man’s mom setting a picnic date for her son.”
“Your man?”
“Well, we passed the boyfriend phase, I guess. I know you are my mate, but I can’t call you husband either.”
“Then let’s get married.” I watched her mouth part and shut it close as she gulped. “Marry me, Shadow?”
“Is this a part of the plan or this date?”
“No. It’s random, but I want you to be my wife. Let’s get married and register our names on a marriage certificate for our children to see. This is where we are going anyway unless you don’t believe in marriage.”
“I do, but—”
“But what? When the threats are over, I wanna marry you.”
“Let me think about it.”
My heart sank. I opened the bottle of wine and poured us two glasses. She didn’t say no. There could be a chance she would say yes, but there would be a chance she would say no, either.
“Thank you.” She grabbed the wine I gave her and sipped it. From a happy and excited Shadow when we sat down, she switched to an awfully silent one.
Awkward suddenly fell between us, and I wished I could read her thoughts, but she blocked me. I had to respect her decision if she said no, but I still wanted to know why.
“I ruined the moment, ain’t I? I’m sorry.” I took her hand and pressed it against my lips.
“You didn’t. I’m just shocked, I guess.”
“Come here.” I pulled her close to me and wrapped my arms around her. “Whether we get married or not, what’s important is we’re mated. We have bonded, and it certainly comes without a divorce or annulment.”
“Yeah. That’s what matters to me.”
“Me too.”
“Alpha. Luna.” Be both startled as Duke’s voice suddenly came through the link. Shadow sat straight, staring at me.
“Duke, what’s going on?”
“The parameter has been breached. The cam is offline.”
“Where is it?”
“Southwest.”
“Did you see the last footage?”
“Yes. They’re coming to us.”
“We’re on our way.” The moment I said we’re on our way,
“That fucker will pay for ruining my date and wedding proposal.” Shadow was already on her feet, wearing back her sneakers. She grabbed the wine and took it with her.
“Let’s go.”
“I’m ready.” She growled before she chugged the wine to half empty and threw it to the ground. Shadow ran beside me as we ran fast towards the compound.
“Lyon, what’s the update?” she talked through our link.
“We’re gathered, Luna. Unfortunately, we lost one of our scouts where the breach came from.”
“Lorcan, the families should be in the tunnel, but you should stay at the end to make sure no one is waiting for them there.”
“We’re already sending families there, Alpha. Women who can’t fight, pups, elders, and disabled. Once it’s done, I will run to the end to watch for the intruders,” Lorcan replied.
When we got near the compound, I already heard the alarm. The compound was shut down, and Shadow and I were the last to get inside.
“Report?” I met Lyon halfway.
“As you expected, they’re targeting the back. I put ten enforcers there. Ten on both sides. The rest are here with us.”
“Alpha, Luna, we want to fight with you.”
I turned around to see the two bullies, Homer and Rocket.
Lyon shrugged. “They’ve already started their training.”
“We could use help,” Shadow agreed. “Stay behind us, okay? And please, don’t play hero.”
“Yes, Luna,” they chorused.
“Talk to Zarah.”
She picked up her phone and dialed Zarah. “We’re under attack. I think this is the day, Zarah. Can I count on you?”
“Don’t worry. I got your back. Should I inform your father?”
“Maybe later. I don’t know how many there are, but we should prepare for the worst.”
“I will know when you need us. Please, take care.”
“You too.” She hung up the phone.
“Us?” I raised a brow.
She shrugged. “I hope that’s what it means.”
“Alpha, I see a lot of heat signature,” Santi said through the link. Our refugees officially became pack members two days ago since they had proven they were helpful to the pack.
“Are you sure?”
“Affirmative. I’m counting more than ten, twenty at least, coming from behind.”
“Stay in your post. You’re safe there. Keep me informed.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
I sent a quick emergency message to our allies, hoping they would get here soon, but it would take minutes to an hour in their wolf form before they could arrive.
“Jonas, Marcus, are you up?”
“We’re here, Alpha Cal. We’re ready.”
“Once it’s done, get the hell out of there, fast.”
“Got it, Alpha.”
“Go to the tunnel. I want you both to stay with Lorcan. He’s alone guarding the end. Anything could happen. Maybe someone found out about that and ambushed our families.”
“We’ll do everything to protect the end, Alpha. You have our words,” Jonas voiced out.
“Good luck.”
I looked at everyone, the remaining enforcers, without their respective assignments. Meaning they will fight with us to secure the compound. “I can’t promise your safety. One of us may get hurt or die. I hope we all get to live to see our families again. We will fight for them and our loved ones and this pack. I can’t guarantee a win, but I will do my best to fight till my last breath. We have our allies, but we have to defend ourselves before they arrive. I wouldn’t force you to fight with me. I understand if you choose to walk out now, but if you fight with me, the pack will be indebted, and I will forever honor your courage.”
Everyone, the last twenty-three heads, stayed in their places. None of them left, even the two bullies.
“Raiden is in the infirmary watching Dr. Sallie and Kindra, Alpha,” Duke informed us as he joined.
“Duke, Lyon, Zack, Tor, Kairo, you stay in our first line.” I looked at the rest. “Preston and Sam, divide the group into two and watch your back, okay?”
Once they left for their post, I talked to Santi again.
“They broke the perimeter. Twenty meters towards the back.”
“Inform your father to get ready.”
“Alpha, a large group is heading to the front gate.”
Shit. “How big?”
“Twenty to thirty or more on foot and vehicles.”
“Fuck. We’re surrounded,” Lyon said.
“Homer and Rocket, stay on our back,” Shadow said. “Don’t freeze. Just focus and don’t hesitate. They come to our home, which means the rule of engagement is no longer applicable.”
“Can we shift now?” Homer asked.
“Go ahead. If you smell their stink, get ready.”
Homer and Rocket shifted into gray and brown wolves.
I looked at Shadow. “We’ll have another date. I promise.”
Amused, she crunched her nose. “I can’t believe you’re still this calm despite our packs of enemies approaching.”
“If we get to live to see tomorrow, I will take you to Verona.”
“And be like Romeo and Juliet? No thanks.” She smiled.
“I’m taking you on a date, Shadow. Period.”
“Wow. Now you’re an Alphasshole.” She grabbed her phone again. “I will call my father.”
“Go ahead.”
“Sebastien, where’s my men?”
“I heard from Zarah. Will be there on time.” My hopes rose. We might have a chance of winning this fight.
“That’s not very helpful, but thanks.”
“I’m not dying without a fight.”
We all turned to our right.
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
“Your mother is safe, but I can’t just stand there when our pack is in danger. And besides, this is my purpose. I won't waste my life doing nothing.”
I wanted to tell him to save his life, but I wouldn’t stop him if he wished to fight. “We could use help.”
“Thank you, son.”
Shadow closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. “A lot. A lot of them are four-legged and in human form. Get ready, guys. They’re all filled with rage.”
“Good luck, guys. May the Goddess save us all.” Just as I finished my words, a loud explosion erupted. Two more explosions followed, and then the next, just right before the gate.