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You are not coming up here!Fen sounded distracted now, and he fretted, catching Keegan as he came running out.

“Someone is at Loyal’s house, taking shots at them!”

“I’ll take some of the men.”

“Wait! I want to go.”

“Rory, no. I know Fen is with your brothers, but I am not putting another pack member in danger.”

He glared daggers. “You mean an omega pack member.”

“I mean apregnantpack member!” Keegan roared. “You will stay here!”

He wanted to roar, to say no, but he couldn’t.

He was rooted to the spot.

Maybe that was what all the others meant about alpha command. Hell, he could barely get his head to move so he could nod. “I’ll stay here.”

Keegan gave him a curt nod, and he was off, Brent and Bernard tearing off with him. The seconds would support the alphas as needed. Other big males began herding the pack in the village into the big meeting hall, Rory included.

“But I need to…”

“Alpha said you stay.” He was rushed inside.

Fen? Fen, they won’t let me come.

Good.

Are they still shooting at you?

Not right now. Loyal took off. We’re making sure Niall and the children and omegas are inside. Your brothers and I are fine. One of the ATVs is toast.

He chuckled. Fen loved that expression, which he’d learned from Rory.

I love you. Please. Be safe. I really, really love you.

I’ll be fine.Fen did sound less worried.But that wasn’t going to stop him from fretting until his mate was back with him.

Or at least out of the line of fire.

“Can you hear Fen?” John asked, coming to sit next to him.

“I can. Do you need me to tell him something?” Like Keegan and Jameson were coming?

“I just need to make sure everyone is okay.” But he could see the worry around John’s eyes and mouth. He clearly wanted to make sure that Keegan wasn’t rushing into an ambush.

“He says the shooting has stopped.”Right, love?

Yes. It’s—well, I won’t say it’s fine but looks like things will be okay. I’ll probably be running home rather than riding.

“He says one of the ATVs is pretty dead.”

“Oh, man. That sucks. They just bought both of those.” John smiled a little, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“He’ll be fine, John.” But he understood. It was one thing for Fen to be shot while way up by the tree line. It was another entirely for someone to be at the alphas’ brother’s pack, shooting up the landscape.

“I know. I tell myself that too. But every time Keegan has to go out and deal with these…assholes, I want to—” John’s daughter Litha came over, sliding into her father’s lap.