Evie swallowed hard. The news from the Watcher sent her worry into overdrive. She had to push away the flashbacks from her kidnapping to focus on the possibility it could happen again. Whatever he saw would come true, unless…
“I can change my fate, right?” she asked, squaring her shoulders.
“That’s a possibility,” Garrett said, nodding his head. “But we do not know what events take place for me to see you in that bunker. The path you are on now could be the one that saves you. If you choose to do something different, that could be the event that gets you caught. Does that make sense?”
“Yes,” she nodded.
“You need to stay here,” Kye said, wringing his hands as he began to pace. “It’s too dangerous for you to be outside.”
“Seriously?” she snapped. “Do you know what you are asking of me?”
“I’m asking you to stay somewhere safe,” he replied.
“What if they come in here and take out the pride to get to me?” she growled. “I will not let that happen.”
“The Guardians will be close,” Talon promised, wrapping an arm around his mate.
Evie watched the two as they snuggled close, holding Ember. The alpha’s cub was fast asleep in Liberty’s arms. At a year old, she hadn’t even begun to live her life. What type of hell would Evie be bringing down on them if she was going to be the one targeted? She knew her pride was very protective of her ever since she’d survived her time with the wolves. There was no doubt in her mind that they’d fight to the death to protect her.
Obviously, the Community had been rounding up shifters from all over the world. The news stations reported daily on the takedowns of the hidden labs and jails that held the ones they’d caught. Deaths were nothing to them. They wanted more, and from the reports, they were finding them with ease.
“What is the government doing to protect us?”
“My deputies are posted at your gates.” Garrett frowned. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m talking about the U.S government, the military. If they are so concerned with our safety, and the military are the ones shutting down these facilities, why haven’t they sent more than just local deputies to protect us? Why do we only see them supposedly busting these hidden places, and during the removal of the deceased?”
“Because they are limited,” Garrett answered, holding up his hand when she began to speak. “There is also a war on terrorism overseas. Our military is spread thin and local governments are trying to work with the National Guard to bust these facilities, but it’s hard. They’re very good at hiding.”
Evie felt a tickle of awareness in her mind. Like she knew the answers to her own questions, but her brain just couldn’t put her thoughts into words. When she looked up at Liberty, Evie knew she was on to something by the look of fear on the alpha’s mate’s face.
“Evie, no,” Liberty growled, her eyes flashing amber.
“It needs to be done,” she replied, standing her ground.
“What are you two talking about?” Talon ordered, pushing his powers out. Evie couldn’t lie to him. His demands were law, and even if she wanted to lie to him, she couldn’t. His powers were too strong.
“Find out where this bunker is… and send me in.”
“NO!” The Guardians cursed so loudly, it hurt her ears. Kye growled low in his throat and walked right up to her. She had to look up into his amber eyes and what she saw there was fear.
“Are you fucking crazy?”
“Probably,” she answered. “If you send me in, I may be the only one who can keep it together long enough to get information. You can plant a tracking device under my skin so I can be found. That way, you’ll know where I am and how I got there. These people are obviously highly trained and have planned this for a very long time.”
“So, you think the humans knew about us before the coming out?” Talon asked.
“It’s been three years.” She shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, but I have a feeling that this could’ve been in the works before Kye and Ranger were seen shifting by the humans.”
“Still doesn’t matter,” Kye barked. “You are not going in there voluntarily.”
“Well, I sure as hell don’t want them coming here,” Evie replied, looking around the room at the family she had within the pride; blood or no blood. “It’s too dangerous for the pride.”
“It’s more dangerous if you go in there,” he paused, lowering his voice, “Your birthday is in three days, Evie. I don’t want them touching you… hurting you.”
Fuck! He was right. Her plan was solid, except for the pain of a male’s touch if she and Kye were mated by that time.
“Then we don’t touch each other until after this is over,” she offered, wishing she hadn’t.
Kye exploded with a round of curses, causing Talon to push his mate behind his back. The Guardians shouted out a warning to Kye when his hand wrapped around her upper arm. “We need to talk.”
“You will let go of my arm first,” she warned, her voice soft and even. She waited a few seconds more, but he didn’t release her. “Two seconds, Kye, or I’ll remove your hand myself.”
“Son of a bitch!” Kye released her and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Evie released a breath and slumped into the closest chair.
“That didn’t go over well,” she whispered.
Kye stripped down and shifted as soon as he left the home. His claws scratched the wooden deck as he leapt from the porch, running across the backyard of his brother’s home. He needed to be alone to process everything Evie had just said and done.
How could she offer herself up for another event that could be worse for her than the first?
An agonizing cry sounded from behind him, making his panther spin around to search for the sound that he knew came from Evie. The panther’s heart galloped as he backtracked toward the house. She was calling out for him.
As he rounded a large tree, he saw her panther was running toward him. She slid in the wet leaves when she saw him standing there. Kye walked up to her and nipped at her ear, letting her panther and human side know he was not pleased with her decision. The male was angry at her for wanting to put herself in danger.
She whined and lowered herself to the ground, scooting on her belly until her head rested on his front paws. She whined again and looked up at him with the icy blue eyes of her human side. The panther shimmered and Evie’s naked body appeared. She climbed to her knees and wrapped her arms around his panther’s neck.
“Don’t be angry with me,” she whispered.
“I can’t be angry with you,” he sighed as he regained his human side.
“I have three days before my birthday,” she began, reaching up to cup his face. Kye’s panther purred from the softness of her hands. “If we touch and we are mates, I will still risk myself to keep this pride safe.”
“We will protect you,” he assured her.
“I cannot let Liberty or Ember be hurt,” she growled. “What about Nova and Mary Grace? Their cubs, Landon and Atlas?”
“We have more ammo and guns now,” he said, reaching up to hold her hand to his cheek when she started to pull away. “We are trained. Hell, you are trained, but I physically and mentally cannot let you leave this pride. It would be like throwing you to those wolves again.”
“They will be coming for me at some point,” she whimpered, showing her weak side. His girl had been so fucking strong and brave over the time she had been training, but this was setting her back and he refused to let that happen.
“And we will fight them when they come,” he promised. “I’m not allowed to train at the Guardian’s facility anymore, but I want you to be the one I train with on my own for the fights this summer. Evie, I need you strong, and I only trust myself to get you there. I promise you that I won’t let them take you, but if they do, I want to have no doubt in my mind that you will be able to take them out on your own.”
“Okay,” she nodded, looking toward the ground. “Okay.”