Page 32 of Predator (Stope Packs #4)

Mid-morning, the storm finally cleared enough for Jackson to drive, though the interstate remained mostly empty. Snow was piled high on the shoulders, and the wind swept drifts across the lanes. His hands stayed steady on the wheel, but his gaze drifted toward Emily.

She lay curled against the door, her head resting on the glass, sound asleep. Each breath fogged the window faintly, her body still and soft in the warm cab. He adjusted the heat to make sure she stayed comfortable.

They hadn’t slept the night before. He couldn’t get enough of her. Finally having her settled something deep inside him—a place that had been waiting just for her.

Her face, pale and delicate, appeared peaceful in her slumber.

Good. He wanted to give her peace. He had been without family for far too long, and he would hold on to her—his new family—with every ounce of Alpha power he possessed.

Her platinum hair had slipped from its braid, the strands curling around her neck and shoulders. Even in sleep, her body seemed to hold the remnants of their connection, something both fierce and fragile.

Mating had taken its toll on her, which he’d expected. Hopefully, in a good way, that would heal her chromosomes or DNA or whatever the fuck was ailing her.

No way in hell would he lose her now.

He exhaled slowly, tightening his grip on the wheel as snow-covered trees blurred past. Every instinct in his body, tightened and strengthened naturally from their mating, wanted to secure her safely within the territory of his pack. Driving away from that and into Slate Pack territory made the wolf inside him buck and growl in anger.

But she had every right to see her father. Even though they’d just mated, Jackson could feel the worry and deep concern living inside her.

He felt her beneath his skin, through every part of his body, embedded deep in his heart. He had wanted her for as long as he could remember, and now she was his. Nobody would harm her, but protecting her from Philip’s injuries was beyond his control. They should reach Slate Pack territory soon. Then Jackson could assess for himself how much time Philip might have left. The odds didn’t sound great.

His phone buzzed. He tapped a button on the dash and lowered his voice. “Yeah?”

“Why are you whispering?” Thane asked softly.

Jackson glanced at his mate. “I’m driving, and Emily’s asleep in the passenger seat.”

“Ah.” Thane’s voice dropped further. “I can call later if?—”

“No. I’m on the way to Slate Pack territory, so talk now.”

Thane’s exhale crackled through the speaker. “All right. Somebody trashed my cameras last night. Brand-new ones, too. Wires ripped clean out of the ground. No tracks, no clues. Can you believe that?”

Jackson’s pulse ticked up. Damn it. Who was fucking with him? He needed to bring in more pack members sooner rather than later. His force was good, but he needed bodies. “Any suspects?”

“No. Good news is that the saboteur didn’t have time to do any other damage. Zylas Blount found the demolished cameras and called it in right away.”

Jackson tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “You think it was him?”

“No. The kid’s solid. He was patrolling when he spotted my mangled devices. If it was him, he would’ve done a lot more damage before calling it in. But whoever did it knew what they were doing. Hit the exact spots to blind us, used the storm as cover, and they were quick about it.”

Jackson’s grip tightened on the wheel. Snow swirled past the windshield, but his mind was already racing ahead. The kid could’ve been injured or worse. “I know our numbers aren’t great, but I want squads of two at all times. Make that three wolves if one of them is younger than twenty-one.” He had to protect the pack’s future.

“Good idea, although a few of us like to patrol on our own. Like me.”

Jackson watched a branch skate across the snowy road. “Me, too. Set parameters for that. Base it on experience and age, so older members can patrol solo if they want. But I want everyone, including you, to check in with a central location before and after patrolling.”

“Got it. A couple older members of the pack would probably love such a job. I’ll call it something catchy like Wolf Dispatch Coordinator and send out an invitation to apply for the position,” Thane said.

Jackson considered his current resources. “Now that you mention it, we do have many older pack members who aren’t contributing. They have every right to retire and fish all the time, but I’m wondering if we shouldn’t at least offer job opportunities that don’t involve mining or protection. Something that isn’t physically taxing.”

“I can ask Raya to come up with a plan for that.”

Jackson’s eyebrow rose. “You finally admitting there’s something going on?”

“Whatever. You and I have never talked about females.”

True. They both kept that close to the vest. Plus, the only female Jackson had ever wanted to spend time thinking about was currently sleeping in his truck—right where he could keep an eye on her—and now wore his teeth marks. He rubbed his chest. He wore hers, too. It was more than he’d ever hoped to have. “Thane? Thanks for the hard work on this. I want a full report about the destruction by the time I get back, and I want the cameras reinstalled instantly.”

“I’m already on it,” Thane said, his voice clipped. The guy really didn’t like anybody messing with his equipment. Ever.

Jackson rested a hand on Emily’s thigh, needing to touch her. She didn’t stir. The last thing Jackson needed right now was to look weak within his pack, and the fact that he hadn’t found whoever had been sabotaging his mines, and now his damn cameras, didn’t look good.

“Speaking of Zylas Blount, do you think the kid will challenge me?” Jackson asked. He’d hate to have to hurt the kid.

Thane coughed. “No, not really. I don’t think he wants the job.”

Smart kid. He seemed to be doing a good job with the patrolling. “Good. Tell him I want him to step up as Enforcer since I just took a mate.”

Silence reigned over the line for a moment.

“Jackson? Please repeat your last,” Thane rumbled.

“I mated Emily Nightsom. I need Enforcers.”

Thane was silent for several more moments, then finally bellowed, “Raya!”

The sound of footsteps echoed through the phone. “What?” she muttered. “I’m trying to go through the camera feeds to see who took them out. So far, nothing. The storm certainly isn’t helping. What do you want?”

“I’m on the phone with Jackson.”

“Oh, hey, Jackson,” Raya said. “Where the heck are you? We’ve got issues. When will you be home?”

Jackson turned off the interstate. “As soon as I can. I’m going into Slate territory right now.”

“Why?” she asked.

He glanced at his sleeping mate. “I’m taking Emily.”

“Jesus,” Thane muttered. “That’s not the news.”

“What’s the news?” Raya asked.

“He mated her,” Thane said.

More silence.

“You mated her?” Hope and what sounded like excitement filled Raya’s voice. “Yes,” she said. “I knew those other females weren’t right for you. That whole dating game was just stupid.”

Jackson couldn’t agree more.

Raya rushed on. “Do you want me to make an announcement? We should have a shower.”

“A shower?” Jackson asked.

“Yeah, like they have bridal showers. I think it’d be fun. It’d be a good way for the entire pack to get to know her.”

Jackson thought about it. “Yeah, okay. That’s a good idea.”

Emily hadn’t been at full strength for quite a while. Would their mating help her, or was he going to lose her? His shoulders tensed as fire lanced through him. There was no way in hell he would lose her. This mating bond would hold, and they’d live to be hundreds of years old with a pack full of kids. Their kids would probably be tall, too. He grinned.

“Jackson, you still there?” Thane asked.

He jerked back to the moment. “Yeah, sorry. I was just dreading another party,” he lied.

“I’ll put it together,” Raya said. “After I finish with the camera feeds. But you do need to get back here. We need a show of strength.”

“I understand.” His responsibilities and duties pulled him in two different directions. “I’ll check in later,” he said. “Find out who destroyed the cameras.”

He clicked off and kept his hand on Emily’s thigh. Her warmth seeped through his skin. His chest tightened as determination flooded his veins. He’d figure this out. No matter what, she would be safe.

He drove through the main town area for the Slate Pack, noting the gleaming storefronts all with slate accents. The place was quaint, like his town. Smoke curled from several chimneys, and the golden lights from within reflected off the snow outside.

Somebody had shoveled each sidewalk and plowed the road, making it much easier for him to drive. Turning after the main drag, he drove along a freezing-looking river, noting that the road had been freshly plowed.

He turned down the Nightsom driveway with trees spinning by on each side. As he parked in front of the mansion, he noted wolves in human form, many of them, congregated on the driveway, porch, and along the trees on each side.

What the hell was going on?

Emily stretched awake as if feeling his tension. She blinked several times, looking around with blurry eyes. “What are all these people doing here?” Her voice rose on the last, and she fumbled for her door.

“Stop.” He grasped her arm. “You stay in here until I figure out what’s happening.”

“They’re my people.”

Maybe not. He tightened his grip. “I need to know before we go out. How are you feeling?”

She paused. “The same. My legs are weak.”

Was that from the mating, the illness, or the silver that might still be in her system? “All right. Then I want you to stay here. Got it?”

She glanced at him and then set her jaw. For what would probably be the first of a million times during their mating, she disobeyed him completely. She pressed the button, and her window rolled down.