As always, I felt Liam before I heard him. I stood in the center of the cavern rotunda. A new shipment of food and medical supplies had arrived. Dr. Bess had taken charge of them, barking orders like a regular drill sergeant as her new interns scurried around at her command. She shot me a conspiratorial wink when they weren’t looking.

Liam’s strong arms came around me. I leaned back, resting my head against his chest in the spot where I fit best.

“Things still quiet topside?” I asked.

He nodded and kissed my cheek. “For now. We think there will be a new general installed somewhere near Shadow Springs by the end of the summer.”

My heart dropped. It was news I’d been expecting. We knew we’d been on borrowed time through Christmas. But, Tenley’s demise had given us the window of time we needed to strengthen and rebuild the network Keara started.

“I still can’t believe how much you’ve done in such a short amount of time,” Liam said.

Funny, I barely stopped to think of it myself. It never seemed like there was time. Bess and I had gone back to work at the clinic. Business as usual except I’d started classes toward my D.V.M. I knew the time would come when we’d need more than one doctor around here. We were working on finding M.D. surgeons to join our ranks too. Bess had some leads.

“Come on,” I said. “Let me show you the new setup.”

I took Liam by the hand. He and the others had finished clearing out more passageways and caverns to the east. We had two more miles of space. We’d made barracks, a sort of mess hall, and an infirmary. Bess had been in charge of the last bit. She’d outfitted it with examination tables, enough medical supplies to last two years, and her masterpiece, a fully functioning operating room.

“Looks amazing,” Liam said. “I wish I could say we’ll never need it.”

I reached up and touched his cheek, smoothing away the lines of worry. “And maybe we won’t.”

“How’re Jason and Michael doing with the new borders?” Liam asked.

Three months ago, I’d taken a chance and brought the pair of them down to the caves. Michael had been a godsend. He used his National Guard staff sergeant training to bring order from chaos. We currently had thirty refugees down in the caves. Most of them were on their way across the border. A few of them would stay. With each new escape, we put a crack in the hold the Chief Pack had. I liked to think that each one would bring us closer to liberation day for all of the Kentucky shifters.

“Any change today?” I asked. I’d been asking the same thing for weeks now.

Liam shrugged. “He’s taking food again at least.”

I set down the clipboard I’d been holding against my chest. “What does Mac say?”

Liam’s face grew dark. This had been a sore spot for us. Before he could answer, Mac himself rounded the corner and emerged from the passageway in front of us. He stopped short, seeing Liam and me. He knew exactly what I would ask him.

“Are you sure about this?” I said, going to Mac’s side.

He gave me a sheepish grin and a quick hug. “We’ve been over this. I’m better off alone.”

Mac finally found what he thought was a break in the mystery of Birch Haven. He refused to tell me any more. There was an unspoken rule that Liam and I would stay away from some of the more sensitive details of some of the group’s missions. It was safer for all of them if we had compartmental knowledge in the event either of us ended up in enemy hands. I shuddered and pushed the thought out of my mind.

Mac had a chance to do real good. He hoped to find Birch Haven and liberate the women who had been taken there. I knew he was hoping he’d find his sister, Lena too. I said the same silent prayer for his success and safety.

Mac was leaving. I’d stocked him with supplies myself. I wanted him to wait just a few more days. I had a lead on a new vehicle for him. But, we both knew I was only stalling.

Knowing my mind as he always did, Liam rubbed my shoulder. “It’s now or never, Moll. Mac needs to be long gone before there’s a new general in Shadow Springs.”

My eyes filled with tears at the thought of not seeing him again. There were never any guarantees. Keara had taught us all that.

“I know. I was just hoping Jagger would be well enough to go with you. A look passed between them. I knew what they were thinking. There was a chance Jagger might never be well again. He ate. He slept. Beyond that, he was catatonic. We’d taken him up to the forest, hoping the air might bring out his wolf, but it hadn’t worked.

“Time,” Mac said. “He just needs more time.” His tone held authority we all knew he didn’t have. We were all just guessing and hoping for the best where Jagger was concerned.

“Just be careful,” I told Mac for the thousandth time. Since Liam marked me, I’d grown so close to all my Mammoth Forest wolves. They were like the brothers I’d never had. I knew why Keara was willing to die for them. Because, I would too.

Mac hugged me and smoothed my hair back. “I’ll see you soon,” he said. It’s what we all said to each other when we parted. Never goodbye. It seemed like bad luck.

Liam and I walked to the edge of the passageway with him. I drew strength from him as I waved goodbye to Mac one last time. We watched as he disappeared into the light of day. I swallowed back my sense of foreboding.

“Shh,” Liam said, shaking me gently. “Mac can take care of himself. We have to have hope. Think positive.”

Smiling up at him, I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him. “I am. I promise.”

We heard a shout and a crash from deeper in the cavern. A string of obscenities flew from Jason’s mouth. Liam and I laughed together.

“Come on, baby,” he said. “Before he hurts himself.”

Liam took my hand and led me back into the caves. Love filled my heart as I turned and walked by Liam’s side. Whatever came, we would face it together. I stole one last glance over my shoulder, letting the sunlight fall on my face. He was right. It felt just like hope.

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