Mason's words lingered in her mind as his raven hair caught in the sunlight, glistening toward Ayla.
He was baiting her, and she knew it, but why?
It didn't take long for his plan to work.
"Do I need Protection..." she chuckled.
"Do I look like I need protection? You've tried for so long to catch me, and the only time you managed to get close is when I let you," she snarled, her fangs gleaming slightly.
She hadn't meant for them to drop, but something inside of her didn't sit right with all of the wolves on the roof.
There was something not right, but she couldn't put her claw on it.
"Son, I don't think she needs us, let alone wants us around," Mason said.
He meant every word of it.
Dominic and his men were still looking over the edge, wondering where exactly she had come from.
Phoenix was the quietest he had ever been as he looked everything over and listened intently.
He still wasn't sure what to make of Ayla and his General abandoning their mission.
"You'd have to prove yourself to someone like her, Mason. Would you expect someone like her to just let us help? Would you respect her if she did?" Dominic asked, turning his attention to the pack of wolves.
Mason stood there processing his rival's words, glaring at him as if he'd stolen his favorite toy.
Then his gaze shifted to Alexander, realization flickering in his eyes as he tried to hide it.
"Wait a minute... You were outside earlier. Why can't I pick up on your scent? Julius said she had two wolves protecting her. Aren't one of them?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know why you can't sense me. That isn't my problem. I'm amazing at concealing myself, I guess," Alexander smirked, his chest puffed slightly as he boasted, locking eyes with Mason to make his distrust clear.
"I'm not surprised she evaded you for so long, Dom. These three are talented. Look, I know I can't go home, and neither can you. I wouldn't mind seeing what the offer is. It's better than losing my head," Mason said.
Ayla was quietly watching, listening, and observing everything from just outside the group at that point.
Even though Mason's words were directed at Dominic, they were clearly meant for all of them.
Julius was confused by Mason's statement, "What do you mean by that"?
Mason was happy to explain.
"I can't go back to my pack without her. As of now, they know I defected. I can't and won't catch her. I have two, maybe three options. One, stay and vacation while waiting for them to kill me. Two, return and let them kill me. Three, hear your offer, which I hope isn't to kill me because I kind of like my head."
Dominic was quick to add.
"Yeah, my options aren't much different. Unfortunately, because of me, Phoenix and Raphael are in the boat. Phoenix could probably claim I held him captive, but Raph is done for. Abandoning the mission will cost me my head on a pike by the pack house. Alpha Theo already sent one Colonel after me. It's only a matter of time."
Raphael jumped in for the first time, "I have no problem with not pursuing her and staying. Honestly, I'd love to never see that pack again. Plus, it feels like that right call."
Phoenix had to finally make his choice.
He had been mulling over his decision since Dominic found Julius, but now he had to choose a side.
"Agreed! You didn't force us. We chose to follow you, and we trust you," Phoenix added.
Ayla cleared her throat.
"How is that going to help me?" Ayla blurted, stifling a laugh.
"Now you've all got people potentially after you for failing to capture me. Trying to find you will inevitably bring attention to me. Isn't that what we are trying to avoid?"
She was probably the only one who saw the slight hiccup with the plan.
Was she really supposed to provide these men protection?
They paused, mulling over her words for a moment after they got over their astonishment at how strategic and smart this captivating young woman was.
"The added bonus with us is we already know all your enemies, apparently, they're ours too," Phoenix said, nodding confidently with a sly, flirty smile.
When Phoenix realized that his point didn't sway her, and she didn't seem amused, he went another direction.
"Plus, I'm about the same age as you all. Do I deserve to die, or Raph, just because we don't want to hand you over to some greedy Alpha?"
Ayla knew that the two men with Dominic were young, and he had a point.
Did they deserve to lose the rest of their lives for refusing to capture her?
Besides, she didn't believe those two were the ones who aggravated her wolf and got under her skin.
Honestly, she thought that Phoenix's joke was funny, but she kept her trust tightly guarded.
Finally, she offered them a sliver of hope to gauge reactions.
"If I consider it, what's the plan?"
"To protect you. Personal bodyguards," Raphael said proudly, "Not that you need us," he added, giving a single shoulder shrug.
Ayla pulled a hand up and started pushing the tips of her fingers up and down her forehead with more force than she intended.
"You don't have to agree to any of this, Ayla," Alexander said, trying to ease her mind.
She felt responsible for them in a way, Raphael and Phoenix.
To take them, she would more than likely have to accept Dominic, which made it easier to accept the lot of them.
There would still be caution moving forward, no matter what.
"Yes, I do. Where would they go if I didn't? They'd be left with nothing because of me. So, Julius, what was this brilliant plan for the team to protect me?"
She could see nothing but smiles on the six men who stood around her.
Alexander seemed excited at the thought of more allies, but Ayla could sense something was lingering just beneath the surface that she couldn't quite place.
Apparently, she had a team to protect her that consisted of Alexander, Julius, Dominic, Phoenix, Raphael, and Mason, but who would end up protecting whom.
How that happened, how they all came together, she still wasn't sure.
It felt as though nature itself was rallying the werewolves around her for protection.
"Thought, but what about those two that just came in. Do you know anything about them? What's everyone's take... how much of a threat could they be?" she asked, curiosity in her tone.
In truth, it was a test, and all eyes immediately turned to her.
"Why?" Mason spilled out instantly.
"I just think if we're forming a team for mutual protection, we should start by figuring out the current threat. If they're not one, maybe they'd even join us."
"You mean Shaw and Orion? I didn't think about them. They're not quite as young as the rest of you, but still young enough. I can see where they stand with everything if they're still here," Dominic said.
Ayla was curious about the younger wolves, no offense to the two elder men in the group.
"Do you honestly think they would be willing to join this little protection squad Julius started?" she asked.
The way they all stared at her felt like their eyes were burning through her, and she realized she'd spoken too quickly.
"In time... in time. No need to mention me yet... Just find out if they're still here. Relax," she said, raising an eyebrow and shaking her head.
"Now, about these plans, Julius. How do you see this working?" Mason asked.
Ayla was just as curious, though she already had an idea.
Julius was ready with the answer.
"Room and board for protection. That simple. You help us protect Ayla, and we set you up with an apartment on the second floor. It's easy access for us to coordinate, and it keeps you safe. Locked access means no one's getting in easily."
Phoenix and Raphael exchanged a glance before looking back at Julius.
"What kind of apartment situation are we talking about?" Phoenix asked.
He was getting used to the luxuries of the suite and wondering what he would be giving up.
Julius wasn't sure if his idea would work, but it was worth a shot.
"Everyone has at least their own room. Most apartments are two bedrooms. I thought that you and Raph could room, and Dominic and Mason could room, for now anyway".
They all seemed to shrug their shoulders around the same time as a way of agreeing.
It was obvious that Mason and Dominic didn't trust each other, but this was a way for them to both work on that and keep an eye on each other for peace of mind.
Ayla was not as settled.
She knew that it was a deal made in her best interest, but it would take time to see if it was a good one.
"Hey, Dominic, can you stay behind after everyone heads down?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied.
He wasn't sure what she wanted him to stay back for, but he hoped it would help put her at ease.
He was delighted to finally be really meeting her, and not in the woods after being busted by a packmate.
Everyone decided to give them privacy and headed downstairs so the two could talk.
That included Alexander, though he didn't want to leave her with Dominic.
"He cares for you, they both do," he told her.
"I can tell. It's mutual," she replied.
"Mates then?" he asked.
"I don't know. How am I supposed to know that? I just found out I'm a wolf. Give me a minute to breathe," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Her smile told him everything he needed to know.
"I saw the two of you coming back. You should be more careful now. They wanted you before you knew who you were. Now that you do, they'll be coming for you harder, and for more wicked reasons than finding you and the lost children."
Ayla felt like she knew exactly what he meant.
"You mean to match me and breed me?"
He nodded.
"Yep. You're strong. We all value that. Strange how all the alphas are fighting over you, claiming you as their daughter. I don't know who your real parents are yet, but I'm working on it."
She appreciated his honesty.
It was obvious that he was telling the truth.
"Do you think you can trust the man your Alpha sent after you?"
"Of course... Well, to a degree."
He paused, considering the events in the woods.
Was he like Raph and Phoenix?
"I gave him hope for a promotion. If he believed me, he went home. You probably helped with that. If I know Alpha Theo, he might even come back to help me. If he does, I'll try to recruit Lucas then."
Ayla didn't like that answer.
There were too many unknowns.
They both knew that the more unknowns they had, the more danger there was.
"Do you know what happened to Mason's other men? The ones he arrived with?"
Her question caught him off guard.
"You are a smart and observant girl. No wonder you were always ten steps ahead of us. The first thing he did was send them hunting a false tip I circulated, as far as I know. Not to say they won't be back. You will have to ask him about those guys, though."
"How many kids are missing?"
Dominic looked down before answering.
"Too many. All the high- ranking families at the time lost their children. After that, it was sporadic, depending on the family chosen. It included ranks like mine... Betas, deltas, gammas. Anyone who wasn't an omega had their children taken, but that did include some omegas, too. I figured it'd be impossible to know who we found because of who was taken."
Ayla couldn't control her face from showing the sadness that washed over it.
"It wasn't your fault. You were just a baby. That probably means you belonged to someone important, as Alexander did. Chances are lower that you two are omega families. That's why I never questioned you being Theo's daughter."
That thought never occurred to her that he was going through this, too.
She was so focused on fighting alone that she hadn't thought to ask how he was handling things.
He'd been going through it all right alongside her, and the realization made her feel even worse.
"Any idea who his family might be?"
"Other than knowing they'd have status, no. Only the family who knows his name will figure it out, at least, that's what I think. It wasn't until Julius told me his name that I could see him as my son. That's when I finally saw who he really was."
Ayla no longer felt like pressing the old man for answers, but there was still one thing she needed to know.
"Do you know who's after me?"
He nodded, pointing in different directions as he spoke.
By the end, their enemies formed a half-moon around them.
"First, Alpha Theo and Luna Theresa of the Silver Moon pack. Then, Alpha Phelan and Luna Livana with the Skin Walker Pack. Next is the Red Wolf Pack, led by Alpha Maccon and Luna Nikini, followed by the Black Forest Pack, with Alpha Canagon and Luna Tala. I haven't heard much from the Crescent Moon pack with Alpha Kenneally and Luna Aruna, but that doesn't mean anything. Same for the Blue Moon pack with Alpha Seff and Luna Zella, and the Moonlight Shifters pack, with Alpha Aysel and Luna Alina. Those three packs are close and private, avoiding trouble like kidnapping. Then there's the Sharp Fang Pack with Alpha Declan and Luna Cressida. Wait, I forgot the Deep Fang Pack, Mason's Alpha, Ulfric, and his Luna Ylva," he said with a grin.
Ayla was trying to comprehend just how many names and packs that was as she tried to run the names through her head again, lifting her fingers as she did.
"Nine," he whispered.
"As I said, two or three of them might not be after you, though," he shrugged.
"Up to nine packs are after me?" she asked, wiping her forehead nervously.
Maybe she really did need all of their protection.
She'd known there were men after her, but that many?
It didn't miss her that he nearly made a complete circle around them as he was pointing them all out, either.
Raising her hand, she began pointing in the same nine directions herself: he watched, waiting for her to speak.
"Are we surrounded by enemies here?"
"No, No. You misunderstood. I was just showing you the directions they're in, not that they're close. Moon Goddess knows if wolf packs are that close to each other, they'd either get too territorial or merge into one pack. There are more out there, but there are the ones within a week's run."
That eased her mind, at least a little.
Now she had a clearer idea of who was after her.
"More than likely, I'm from one of those packs. Not just me, but Alexander too. Right?"
He was almost positive that it was the case for all the missing children.
Dominic had only ever heard about children disappearing from those packs.
"I would say it's a high probability."
"Good. Maybe we can figure out who I belong to soon and put an end to all of this nonsense. Then, we can find his family too. Not necessarily in that order," she said with a wink.
He didn't have the heart to tell her that it probably wouldn't be that easy.
None of what followed could possibly be that simple for the cursed werewolf before him.
His sympathy for her only deepened.
Now, he understood why Julius and Alexander felt the need to protect her so fiercely.
Twenty minutes with her, and all your inner wolf wanted to do was everything possible to save her, and Dominic was just another wolf, like Julius and Alexander, that was now fully devoted to her.
With the conversation seemingly over, they made their way toward the elevator.
Standing in front of the elevator, one thing was still burning on Dominic's mind.
"I'm still curious how you made it up here like that."
"Magic," she laughed, wiggling her fingers in the classic magician's gesture.
"Seriously, that was incredible."
"I'd say I thought so too, but I'd be lying. Jumps like that are easy for me. I just grabbed the top of the open window, sort of jumped, and flung myself where I wanted to be. It's like I could see my landing spot; I held the window frame to swing, let go, and wished myself there, and landed perfectly."
Her face radiated pride, like a badge of honor.
"If I had known what you were that capable, maybe you wouldn't have been able to escape me all that time," he said, nudging her shoulder.
"You wish. You knew exactly what I could do. That's why two things happened: you couldn't catch me, and you didn't want to, not really," she laughed.
He rolled his eyes but stayed quiet, knowing she was at least partly right.
"Even knowing what I can do, you'd never be able to catch me. One day, I'll let you try. Training might not be a bad idea anyway. With nine packs after me, it's probably smart for all of us to train. We can use the rooftop... pretty sure people have noticed the increase in 'dogs' running around."
Dominic gave her a curious look.
"What makes you say that?"
She walked with him to the edge of the building and pointed toward a vehicle below.
"Animal patrol's out on the streets. That only happens when wild animals or stray dogs are reported. I saw them on our street earlier today. I don't think that's a coincidence. Someone saw something and called them."
They both thought about the recent increase in wolves.
"It wasn't me. I've only shifted in the woods..." he said, thinking, "and in Julius's office, and off my balcony."
"You what?" she said, laughing, "That's incredible."
"Not if someone saw me. Anyway, Phoenix and Raphael haven't shifted since we got here, except when we ran deep in the woods. So, it wasn't them."
As they stepped onto the elevator, she asked, "How do you know that?"
"We're connected for a lot of reasons. Our ranks mean I have to be linked to them. Plus, Raphael and Phoenix are like sons to me, so we have an emotional bond. I can feel it when they shift."
Ayla found the information fascinating.
Could she build bonds that strong with Alexander or the others?
Was she already?
It was as if he could read her thoughts.
"You will. Give it time. As you said, it's all new. The Moon Goddess put the string between you three already. At least it seems to me like she has. Now we wait to see why."
She was trying to understand what Dominic had just told her.
"What?" she asked.
Ayla had just exited the elevator when the words began to leave Dominic's mouth.
Guess the answer would have to wait until next time.
She didn't understand what he meant at first, until she noticed Alexander and Julius standing there, waiting impatiently for her to come down.
They wanted her to have the freedom to make her own choices, even if they disagreed with them, but that didn't stop either of them from worrying.
The wave of relief that washed over them when they realized that she was perfectly fine could be felt by everyone.
Alexander stepped forward, scanning her closely for any signs of hidden distress or injury.
What if something happened and she couldn't show it?
She stayed calm as she spoke, trying to ease his mind.
"It's okay, Alexander. We talked. That's it. I'm happy with Julius's plan, even if he seems unsure at the moment."
"Me, no. I'm fine. Just wanted to make sure you didn't hurt him," Julius smirked, trying to hide his worry.
Alexander's eyebrows came together angrily, then he released them.
"You agree to the plan?" he asked.
Ayla nodded.
"Yes. After our talk, I think it's smart. These men know their Alphas and who they will send. We don't".
That was all she offered.
Her calm tone and tight-lipped demeanor stirred up his PTSD.
"I don't believe you. This is another trick," he said with a sneer.
"NO, it's not. I promise, I agree with Julius. I accept their protection, and they accept ours in exchange. Honestly, it's a win, win, right?"
He almost growled but tried to hide it.
She was hungry, dirty, and felt defeated.
"Honestly, I just want to eat and take a shower."
The last thing she wanted was to make Alexander worry.
How could she prove she meant what she said?
Thinking quickly, she walked toward him, grabbed his hands, leaned in, and kissed him.
"It's a good plan," she whispered, tugging him toward the bedroom with her.
"Oh no, no you don't," he said, stopping her.
"You're not going to trick me into thinking everything is fine with sex, just to disappear when you finish with me."
The men in the room struggled to hide their laughter, careful not to give away that they were still there.
"That's not what I'm trying to do," she smiled, raising an eyebrow, continuing to pull his hands.
Once they reached the bed, she pushed him down and went to climb on top of him.
"No, no, you don't. I won't fall for your tricks this time," he said, flipping them over and pinning her down.
It only aroused her more; her wolf was almost purring inside.
"You just plan on bolting the second you please me and knock me out. With everyone here, it will be a piece of cake for you. Not this time."
Holding her with one hand, he rummaged through his nightstand with the other.
When he finally found what he was looking for, he held it up like treasure, his hand flung up with pride.
Handcuffs.
He was holding a set of handcuffs in his hand, and her eyes went wide.
"Not this time," he muttered.