Cole held her hand tightly, relieved she hadn’t pulled away. It was definitely time to let everyone know she was his. He should have done it long ago, but things always seemed to get in the way. Not anymore.

They made their way toward the tents, where everyone stood around. Eric glared at him as usual, but Cole ignored it. He wasn’t going to apologize for being late, considering the reason.

Eric’s eyes went to their hands as a small grin appeared on his face. “About time” was all he said, before turning to address everyone.

Glancing down at Leeza, Cole chuckled at the blush on her cheeks from Eric’s observation. He gave her hand a squeeze before focusing on what his brother was saying.

“We need to make some decisions.” Eric looked around at the group. “All work here will be voluntary, and I know some of you need jobs. Lance Cutter, who owns land not even a mile from here, has positions open. He will be here for a little while longer to talk to anyone who may be interested. Lance, why don’t you let everyone know what you’re looking for.”

Cole watched as Lance walked up next to Eric. He still didn’t like the man, and by the look Larry shot him too, Larry still didn’t trust him either. But Lance offering jobs to some of their pack said something about the man.

“I have the need for at least six men or women with different laboring skills. Such as fencing, help with branding, feeding, and carrying out the daily needs of my cattle as well as the horses on my ranch. The pay is decent, but I can talk to each of you interested individually about that.” Lance glanced around at everyone, his eyes stopping on Leeza before moving on. “As Eric said, I will be around for another few hours helping out here, so just come and find me.”

“Thanks.” Eric gave him a nod. “Town’s not far from here, and Gemma’s said there may be some jobs there for those who need it. She also said she’ll help in any way she can. She knows a lot of people, and so does Lance.”

“What about housing?” Lim Fryman asked. He was an older pack member who was always ready to help. “Some of us old folk have a hard time day in and out sleeping in tents, unlike you youngin’s.”

Chuckles rose from the group, many of them nodding their agreement. Cole had already talked to Eric about this situation after hearing a few members talking.

“Gemma and I bought the property next to this one. There’s plenty of room to expand the sanctuary, as well as build housing. We have a construction crew already getting plans together, but I need a count of who’s interested. Gemma has also found a realtor who is willing to work with anyone interested living off the property and closer to town.” The crowd’s murmur grew louder as they talked among themselves. “Listen, I know this is a totally different setup than we had before. Some of us will be separated, but not far enough away that it will matter. I’ve thought this through completely and I want everyone to know how grateful I am to each and every one of you for following me here.”

“We are a strong pack,” Carter Baker called out. “Always have been, always will be.”

“Yes, we are,” Eric agreed, as he put his arm around Gemma. “I think this sanctuary is where we were supposed to end up. I sure know I was.” He bent down, giving Gemma a big kiss, gaining yells of agreement.

Cole glanced down at Leeza, who watched Eric and Gemma with a sad smile, and wondered where her thoughts were taking her. Before he could actually ask, Eric pulled away from Gemma to speak again.

“The last bit of business is something that was brought to my attention.” Eric glanced toward Leeza, and Cole watched her cringe and pale all at once. “I’ve always prided myself on being a fair alpha, but up until last night, I realized that I’m not.”

The crowd once again began to talk amongst themselves, growing restless at this news. Any time an alpha showed any type of, what some would consider, weakness, the pack became agitated. Cole was ready to step in for his brother’s sake if needed, because he knew, with 100 percent certainty, Eric Jackson was not weak.

“That’s not what I said,” Leeza whispered, letting go of Cole’s hand. Cole glanced down at her just as she looked up at him with wide eyes.

“You did call us idiots,” Cole reminded her, then grinned. “And you were right. He’s making this right, Leeza. Let him.”

He knew by the look on her face that wasn’t going to be the case. She turned toward Eric and walked away from him. Cole let her go. He’d already made the mistake of not giving her a voice; he wasn’t going to do it a second time.

* * *

Deeply in thought about what Eric had been saying about living arrangements and employment, Leeza almost missed what he’d said about not being a fair alpha.

As upset and disappointed as she had been about the situation, she wasn’t about to let her alpha stand in front of his pack and say something like that. It was dangerous not only to him, but all of them. To show any sign of weakness was ill-advised. Her brother had taught her that.

“You are a fair alpha. If you weren’t, my brother would have never picked you as his successor.” Leeza walked straight to him, stopped, then turned toward everyone. Her eyes searched each face that she knew well, her nerves disappearing. She should have done this a long time ago, but the shock of what happened stopped her. Feeling Cole walk up next to her gave her the courage to continue. This was her family. Even though she had felt the distance, they were her family and always would be.

“What happened to Sherry and me has never happened to this pack before. It’s no one else’s fault but Foster Manning’s. We are luckier than most that this situation had never presented itself. As shifters live a different way of life than humans. Without the right alpha and leaders, we’re open to danger.” Leeza cleared her throat and proceeded to explain exactly what had happened that day she found Foster and Sherry.

“I was not raped, but honestly, that shouldn’t matter.” Her eyes once again searched her packmates. “I thought that the reason everyone was treating me differently was because I failed to keep Sherry safe, that I let Foster Manning get away. I failed her and the pack. Sherry left the comfort of her family because of fear. That should never have happened, not with us. I blame no one but myself. I should have spoken up, but I also didn’t realize you all thought I suffered the same fate as Sherry. I tried to speak to a few, but everyone was either shocked, didn’t know what to say, or was hell-bent on revenge.

“I stepped back from our pack, realizing now that in doing so, everyone made an assumption about what they saw that day. Me naked and beaten just as Sherry was.” She swallowed and forced her voice to remain level. “But from this day forward, we need to understand that this is a situation that could happen again. Regardless of how amazing our alpha is, how strong our leadership is, there are going to be those who get past our defenses. Even though I warned Sherry about Foster Manning, I only did this because of his age compared to hers. I want to bring Sherry back into the pack, where she belongs. But, we all have to treat her the same as before this terrible incident happened. This attack does not define her or us. It does not make us weak or powerless. It can’t. And Eric, you are a fair and just alpha. My brother made the absolute right choice.”

Agreements filled the air as Jackie Simpson broke away from the crowd and walked straight up to her. With a quickness that surprised Leeza, Jackie pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I’m so sorry.” She held her firmly. “I just didn’t know what to say, what to do. I think losing your brother has affected us all and then to think that happened to you after losing Riley… it was more than any of us could take. I know that sounds selfish, but I believe that’s what most, if not all of us felt.”

Leeza nodded and hugged her back. “I know. But I hope we can now all handle it better, myself included.” Pulling back, Leeza smiled at Jackie.

“I want to go with you when you get Sherry.”

Again, Leeza nodded, her throat tight with emotion. One by one, each member of the pack came up to Leeza, which she hadn’t expected or really wanted, hugging her, each with their own apology. Yet she appreciated each touch, each word spoken. This was how the pack, their pack, ran. Riley expected no less, and since his death, they seemed to have lost that. But, with Eric’s understanding and leadership, they were slowly getting back to who they once were.

Once everyone had spoken to her, she glanced at Eric, who looked at her with pride, then nodded. Cole, once again, took her hand and squeezed it, before leaning close to her.

“I’m damn proud of you,” he whispered, and if she were being honest, she was damn proud of herself, too. It was time to put this behind them and move forward.

“Thanks, everyone,” Eric said, drawing their meeting to an end. “I know with losing your alpha things have been… different and then I move you to an uncertain future. I promise you that everyone here will be taken care of.”

Shouts of approval and confidence in his abilities echoed around them. Everyone started to disperse, and Leeza watched a few head toward Lance. She hoped to talk to him about a possible job, but before she could head that way, Eric stood in front of her.

“Riley would be proud of you.” Eric gave her a sad smile. “Damn proud.”

“Thank you.” Leeza suddenly felt terrible, wondering what Eric was feeling. “Please don’t think this reflects on you.”

Leeza faintly heard everyone begin to talk loudly with excitement, but she ignored it, wanting to make sure Eric knew the respect she had for him. It was important to her, but the crowd became louder, so she turned to see what all the fuss was about.

Walking toward the group was the tall, young man, Alex, with long and shaggy sandy hair and with him was, “Sherry.” Leeza blinked hard, and sure enough, Sherry was being greeted by the pack. Wide-eyed, Leeza turned toward Eric. “How? When?”

“Actually, it was Gemma’s idea. I just put it in motion.” Eric smiled down at her.

“No, it wasn’t my idea. You were going to leave to find her, but I told you to get Alex.” Gemma rolled her eyes. “It was his idea.”

Leeza looked back at Sherry, then back to Eric. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because when I couldn’t locate her at any of the neighboring packs, I sent Alex out to search. He’s a wanderer, so I had a feeling if anyone could find what pack she went to, it was him. I sent him on the hunt, and he found her. I explained the situation to him, so once he found Sherry, he called me, and I assured Sherry she was safe, that Foster Manning was dead, and we wanted her back with the family.”

Without thought, Leeza jumped, wrapping her arms around Eric and then Gemma. “Thank you!” Then she took off at a run toward Sherry, who spotted her. A small smile slipped across the girl’s lips as she broke away from the crowd to meet Leeza. They both stopped and stared at each other, both crying before wrapping each other in a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Leeza whispered, hugging her even tighter.

“I’m glad to be back.” Sherry sniffed the whispered words. “This is where I belong.”

Leeza nodded as she pulled away. Sherry looked good, real good. Her wounds had all healed and she looked just as she had before the attack. Glancing up, she noticed Alex standing at Sherry’s side. “Thank you for finding and bringing her home.”

“You’re welcome,” Alex said, then gave her a shrug. “There isn’t a pack I don’t know about so it was easy enough.”

“Is he really dead?” Sherry asked, her voice strong, but the haunted look in her eyes told a different story.

With a small nod, another tear slipped down Leeza’s face. “He can’t hurt you again.”

“Not that he would get the chance anyway,” Alex said with a large frown, then walked away toward Eric.

Leeza’s eyebrow rose at the venom in his voice but realized that was their way and there was probably nothing to it. Most shifter men were protective of the females, but then she noticed how Sherry watched him leave. Interesting, very interesting.

Tossing those thoughts aside for now, she gave Sherry another hug. “Are you really okay?”

“I’m getting there,” Sherry whispered with a nod.