“That’s it!” I cried out, leaping up from the couch. “I can’t take it anymore!”

They’d been gone too long. I didn’t know how long an appropriate amount of time for them to be gone would be—I just knew that however long they’d been gone was too long.

I rushed across the living room, kicked the front door open and raced outside. The truck was gone, of course, but someone’s sedan was sitting outside. I tore the driver’s side door open and got in. The keys were sitting in the cup holder. I thrust them into the ignition and turned the car on.

“Bailey, wait!” Jamie cried out, rushing out of the house behind me.

“Bailey!” Kenneth was right behind her. I slammed my door shut, not wanting to hear it, but before I could get the car into reverse, Jamie slid into the passenger seat beside me.

“Hang on there!” she told me, gripping my hand by the wrist to stop me from putting the car in gear.

“Don’t do this, Bailey,” Kenneth said, getting in the back seat.

“I can’t just sit here waiting any longer!” I exclaimed, tears spilling out of my eyes and over my cheeks. “I have to do something! He might be in trouble!”

“You can’t go,” Kenneth said quickly. “It will only get them into more trouble.”

“What are you saying!?” I blurted out. “That I’m weak!? That I can’t fight for my mate!?”

“You’re not an alpha,” Jamie told me. “And they’re going to be all alphas there.”

“And you’re also his mate,” Kenneth added. “That will instantly make you a target.”

“Besides, even if you leave now, you’ll never get there in time,” Jamie added. “Whatever’s going to happen is already happening. There’s nothing you can do now but wait.”

“I hate this!” I cried out, dropping my head against the steering wheel. I felt helpless, useless, but beyond that, I couldn’t shake the feeling that all of this was still my fault. If Juan and I had never met, he wouldn’t be risking his life for me now. His parents’ lives wouldn’t be in jeopardy. None of this would be happening.

“I know you do, babe,” Jamie said, putting a hand on my back. “It sucks having to wait while something like this happens, but there really isn’t anything you can do now. Besides, this is no time to be running around like a crazy person. Am I right in assuming that you and Juan are trying to get pregnant right now?”

Sniffling, I did my best to compose myself. I nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“Okay then!” she said in a cheery tone. “So, you have to stay here and let all those baby-making juices do their thing! Not run off and try to get yourself involved in this craziness.”

“He’ll be okay,” Kenneth said. “Even if he is a huge wimp, Preston’s with him.”

I whipped around to face him, but instantly saw that he was just messing with me, doing his best to cheer me up. He had a goofy look on his face, which instantly made me burst out laughing.

“Oh, God!” I laughed, wiping tears from my face with the backs of my hands. “I’m a mess, aren’t I?”

“You have reason to be scared,” Kenneth told me, reaching out and taking my hand. Again, I felt the warm embrace of the family I’d been brought into. I don’t know what I’d do without them here to support me.

I closed my eyes and took a breath, focusing on my heartbeat, trying to calm myself down—trying not to think about Juan and what was happening down at Corey’s house.

He’ll be all right…I told myself.

“There we go,” Jamie said soothingly beside me, watching me get my shit together. “Don’t you worry. Before you know it, that truck will be coming up the driveway with all those big alphas in it.”

“God, I hope so!” I said with a sigh as I turned off the car. Slowly, I pushed open the door and got out.

It was a hot day, and that didn’t help my spirits any. Sweat mixed with my tears as I squinted up at the bright blue sky. If only this was any other normal day on the farm. I hadn’t even experienced one of those yet! Everything had been a whirlwind since I’d met Juan. If only things would settle down!

I made my way back up the porch and into the cool shelter of the living room before slumping down on the couch again.

“I’ll get you some water,” Jamie said, making her way to the kitchen.

“I’m going to check on Schuyler,” Kenneth said. “Make sure he’s sleeping.”

I lay there while Jamie filled a glass for me, hands on my knees, doing my best to keep it together. Slowly though, I started to feel more in control of my emotions.

He’s tough, he’ll be fine…he’s tough, he’ll be fine. I repeated it over and over like a mantra, telling myself what I needed to believe to make it through this.

My heart started to slow as Jamie came back over to me and handed me the glass. I took it from her and took a deep sip, then pressed it against my forehead, letting the cold sink in.

“Our boys are no strangers to battle,” Jamie told me. “Both Kenneth and Scotty came to us under…similar circumstances.”

“Yeah?” I asked.

“Scotty’s a Vanderton,” she told me. “You haven’t met him yet, but he’s Terry’s mate. His family didn’t take kindly to him linking up with him. Same thing with Kenneth. Preston had to fight hard for him. And he did. They both did.”

“What is it with these rich assholes thinking they own the world?!”

“You’re tellin’ me,” Jamie scoffed. “But this pack is strong. We’re survivors. And don’t you ever forget that.”