Chapter Seven – Joshua
When Joshua woke the next morning, he was at once angry at himself for falling asleep and grateful that nothing had happened during the night. Naomi slept soundly, her arms under her head, a small smile on her face.
He stretched as he moved to the edge of the cave, peering around the curtain into the early morning light. The forest was quite thin here, giving him a good view of the surrounding area. No sight of Wolves. Either they didn't know that he was here, or Naomi was right, and they didn't dare break their rules as far as this place went.
His stomach growled, but there wasn't any time to waste making food. Already his blood with pumping with anxiety. He needed to get back home, to make sure his people were still okay.
The only problem was he also needed to protect Naomi but wasn't certain what was best for her. He needed her to be safe. There was enough firewood and food here that she would just fine if he left her. But he had the distinct feeling that he would have a hard time convincing her to stay. They had used up all the formula she had brought the previous night when Sapphira woke throughout the night. Would it be safer for the baby to let her go hungry here, or to risk getting back to town when they could potentially be attacked by Wolves?
Naomi stirred at that moment, and Joshua returned to her side.
"I have to go now," he said, and then explained his dilemma to her.
When he was finished Naomi frowned. "I see. That is a problem. On the one hand, maybe if I was with you, they wouldn't attack as readily. On the other hand… Would we be putting Sapphira at risk? Or would we be putting her at risk if we left her here? Or if you left her and me here? We've mated. My pack has every right to forcibly eject me if I stay."
"If they even know you're here. And if they don't, then can we trust your father not to…" He trailed off.
"Kill me? I don't want to believe he'd go that far." Naomi swallowed hard. "But right now, I don't know how we can trust him."
That decided it, then. He couldn't leave her behind when there was a chance that she might be attacked, and he wasn't there to protect her.
"I'll shift. You hold Sapphira and ride."
Naomi shivered. Was it because she was remembering the last time they had such an arrangement he had actually gotten shot? He rubbed his shoulder, reminded that there was still a bullet inside him. Had it really only been yesterday? He shook his head. Life was moving so fast…
But he was going to keep up. He was going to surpass it. There was no other option.
"Should we bring the car seat and diaper bag, or should I just hold her in my arms?" Naomi asked, making sure Sapphira's hat was tucked down around her ears. The baby stretched her arms up, making a face, and took off the hat.
"Will she fit comfortably in the diaper bag? So you can wear it like a sling or something." Joshua's eyes darkened as he considered what would happen if they were attacked. "I want you to be able to run if you need to. You can't do that carrying a car seat."
Naomi considered for a moment. "I think she'll fit. Just… if Wolves show up, try to let me talk to them. Maybe we can resolve this without violence."
Joshua nodded, although he doubted it would be that easy. If the Wolves came at them… well, he wasn't entirely certain that they would give him and Naomi time to explain what was happening before attacking. Still, he didn't say it out loud. Every minute they wasted here was a minute they couldn't afford to waste.
He shifted and Naomi climbed onto his back with Sapphira nestled in the diaper bag (although she was quite unhappy about it). They set off at a trot. Joshua kept his ears rotating as he made their way through the forest, listening for any sound of attack.
They were almost to the town when a howl rent the air. Joshua picked up his pace, but it was too late. Within moments, there was a wall of Wolves charging at him through the trees. He felt Naomi tense.
"Wait," she called.
A few of the Wolves hesitated, but the three biggest only howled again and leaped at him. Naomi slid off his back, and without stopping to think, Joshua bellowed his own challenge and charged back at the Wolves. He could hear Naomi shouting at them all to stop, but it was too late to heed her. The Wolves broke around him, surrounding him. Their sharp teeth tore into his flesh as he turned and swatted at them.
They jumped aside, barking and growling their taunts. One of them jumped onto his back, tearing at his neck. Pain lanced through his body, but so did rage. Joshua threw it off and caught another wolf by the hind leg. It howled in pain as his teeth crushed the bone.
Another wolf latched onto his foreleg, snarling as it shook his whole body. Chunks of fur flew every which way. Somewhere behind him, Sapphira was screaming, but Naomi's own voice had gone silent. He batted the wolf clinging to him, making it roll several times before it came to a stop and lay still, whimpering. He swiped his massive paw at another one, tearing long strips from its side.
Naomi's grey-brown form darted in front of him. She tackled one of the wolves, snarling fiercely as she grabbed it by its scruff and threw it back. Joshua was brought up short, so shocked for a moment he stopped fighting altogether.
He hadn't seen Naomi in comparison to other Wolves before. He had known she was bigger than the non-shifter variety, but she seemed so small running next to him that he hadn't realized how much bigger than the other shifters she actually was. She stood a full head higher than them.
She barked out a growl, making the other Wolves flinch. Their tails tucked up under their bellies and they ran from before her. Joshua grunted, fighting the urge to chase after them. He could have defeated them. He knew that. They might have caused a bit of damage, but he would have killed them all in the end.
But instead, Naomi had stopped it, just like that. They had responded to her position as true Alpha. Did she even understand how momentous this was? As she raced back to Sapphira and shifted once more to bring their child back to him, Joshua's heart pounded in his chest.
He wasn't sure if it would work, but if these events were anything to base it on, then if he could unseat her father from his place, she could step into the role she was born for. The Wolves would follow, and they would at long last have peace.
"Can you still carry me?" Naomi asked, her eyes huge as she took in his injuries. She cradled Sapphira, still in the diaper bag, patting her back gently. It did nothing to calm the screaming child.
Joshua grunted and nodded. Once Naomi scrambled onto his back again, it didn't take them long to get to the town. Hasty fortifications had been built everywhere. Windows were boarded over, braces had been erected for men to crouch behind, and the streets were deserted. When he jogged into the main square, Matt came rushing out of the courthouse. Relief was written all over his face.
"You're finally back."
Joshua waited until Naomi slipped off him before he shifted. "We ran into some trouble. Susan is dead."
Matt's body jolted as though he had been punched. He swallowed hard. "Wolves?"
"Yes."
Matt lowered his head a moment and let out a deep breath. He nodded. "We've had a few small skirmishes already. I think they're testing our defenses. And…" He glanced at Naomi. "The Alpha's other two daughters turned themselves over to us as prisoners."
"My sisters?" Naomi stepped forward, eyes wide.
Joshua fought to keep his jaw from dropping. It was the last thing he expected! "Have they said why?"
"They said that their father is using Naomi as an excuse to attack the Bears, and they wanted to prove she was here of her own will."
Naomi shifted the now-whimpering Sapphira. "Where are they?"
"We put them in the hospital bunkers." Matt looked at Joshua. "Do we keep them or let them go?"
Joshua glanced at the skyline. It was still early morning. They didn't know when the Wolves would be attacking, or if Naomi's sisters coming here would have added fuel to the fire. He ground his teeth and glanced at his mate. Her eyes were wide and hopeful.
"Try to get a message to Tucker that we want to talk to him, and that his girls are not being harmed in any way. Don't send anybody to talk to him, I don't trust him not to kill the messenger. But we keep them here for now. I don't want them to get hurt by accident when there is a battle about to happen." He clasped Naomi's hand. "I'll take my mate to the hospital. Meet me there when you have word from Tucker."
Matt nodded once. He whipped his phone from his pocket and headed back to the courthouse. Joshua led Naomi towards the hospital, grim-faced. If there was a way to avoid a battle he'd take it.
But God help any Wolf that stepped foot into his town looking to start a fight.