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We all stood there, listening, as she spoke, her words determined and more than that…she spoke with authority, I realized. Trent’s eyes glowed with pride as he watched her and none of the men questioned her right to speak.

“What do you suggest?” Caleb asked, his tone curious instead of dismissive.

“We can go after the Hanleys later,” she replied, glancing around the group. “Right now, our priority are the boys. We need to get them back sooner rather than later. They’ll expect us to go charging in. Instead, we sneak in and steal them back.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Dead silence met her suggestion until Trent said, “And how do you suggest we do that? I’m not familiar with the Hanley lands.” Again, there was no hint of mockery in his questioning.

“I am,” Sam replied, her gaze focused. “I got us out of there. I can get us back in.”

“And I’m not saying we won’t need you, Sam, but I was actually thinking about him,” Anna replied, pointing to Dylan. “He’s been going back and forth from the Hanley land to our border without being caught. He can show us the way.”

“We don’t know how many men or women they have or what may have changed since you’ve been gone,” Dom mentioned, nodding to Sam. The skin around his eyes crinkled in concern as he studied Dylan. “I’m not sure if Dylan will be able to get us where we need to go,” he said carefully.

“Liam,” I said suddenly and they all glanced toward me. “They left him for dead, but he’s not dead. He would know. He could get us there. He followed Dylan.”

Dom nodded, “It’s worth a shot.”

“When do we go?” Trent directed his question at Anna, and I saw a flash of gratitude in her eyes as she answered.

“Tonight. We can’t wait any longer than that and the darkness will give us an advantage.” She scanned the group, relaxing as nods met her suggestion. “We need to talk to Liam.” Her gaze shifted behind me and she asked, “How is he?”

“Alive,” Leah answered, and I turned to see her standing there, wiping her bloody hands on a towel. “But he needs blood if he’s going to make it.” She eyed the group. “I can do a blood transfusion if we have any volunteers.”

The men exchanged glances and Trent said, “I’d do it, but – ”

“No,” Dom cut him off instantly as they traded a glance. “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Am I missing something?” I asked and Leah nodded in agreement, clearly as lost as I was.

“Remember, what we said about initiation involving a blood exchange?” Trent answered and I nodded. “Well, that’s exactly what this is. Normally, if a shifter needs blood it would come from one of his pack mates.” He spread his hands. “No Hanleys to give him any though.”

My gaze darted to Dylan but Leah shook her head. “No, it would be better from someone else,” she said.

“I can do it,” Dom decided, stepping forward. “Will it be enough?”

“Dom,” Caleb put his hand out, stopping him. “It’ll form a link between the two of you.”

“Better me than you,” Dom replied. He caught my confusion and explained, “The Alpha is the one that links us all together. If Caleb gave him blood, it would link him to the entire Pack. That could potentially be dangerous for all of us. It would also overwhelm him mentally and emotionally as the Pack bond took over.”

“But you’ll just form a mental link with him?” I asked, wanting to be sure I understood. When he nodded, my gaze skated to Trent as curiosity once again rose at their connection.

“If that’s been decided, follow me,” Leah said abruptly, nodding to Dom. “We need to get blood in him, especially if you want his help.” She marched back to the room and as Dom passed, he squeezed my hand gently.

“We’ll get him back.”

I nodded automatically, my brain a jumbled mess from everything that had happened so far. Trent’s weighted stare drew my attention and I glanced at him, raising my eyebrow in question. He jerked his head and I followed him to the breezeway where Dad had installed vending machines.

“You can’t mention the fact that I have a Pack link with Dom,” he said immediately, his voice low enough even a shifter’s sensitive hearing couldn’t pick up his words.

“I wasn’t planning to,” I replied, confused by his sudden need to state that fact.

“No, you don’t understand,” he responded fiercely. “Dom saved my life and I would do anything for him. Protect him; die for him, whatever is necessary. That’s why he trusts me to guard you.”

“I get that, Trent. I’ve never questioned your loyalty to Dom,” I answered, caught off guard by his adamant tone.

“Exactly my point. You don’t question my loyalty. You should. Lone wolves don’t do the bidding of Pack wolves,” Trent explained, his eyes begging me to understand what he was saying, but I was lost. He scrubbed his hands over his jeans, for once a sucker nowhere in sight. “A link, a bond, like the one I share with Dom. It’s like creating a little bitty Pack,” he continued, his fingers forming a tiny gap. “Now, Dom goes in there and gives blood to that Hanley pup and he’s linked to two wolves outside his Pack.”