“Thomas already knows,” Sam’s voice rang with authority.
Joshua’s hands curled into fists, but I noted his nails elongating.
“Not Thomas,” I said with a shake of my head. “His Urbat leader.” Nana glanced down for a moment, and I had the feeling she was doing some silent communicating with Sam and Grey.
“So, Joshua, have you told him? We need to know how soon they will be coming to take me and kill you.”
He roared a cry of frustration and anguish. I knew he’d just realized his inevitable death sentence from both sides. Only his connection to me kept him safe for the moment.
Luke’s skin rippled in response to his outburst.
“We need to take it down a notch, guys,” I said raising my hands. “This human’s way too easy to break, and neither of you would like that.”
Joshua struggled with himself. Grey placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder. I could see the two of them having a silent conversation. Luke noticeably calmed, but he still struggled to contain his shift.
“Let’s recap for everyone who doesn’t know what’s going on,” I said softly, unsure if Joshua had thought of everything. “By Claiming you, I stripped you of your Elder privileges, blew your cover with this pack, and voided your usefulness here in the eyes of your Urbat leader. In addition, I’ve made you his target since he will not allow you to keep me. After all, I feel no connection with you that would help sway any decisions that I might need to make. There’s really nowhere safe for you right now.” Joshua straightened his stance, a sudden seriousness exploding onto his expression.
He took a slow, deep breath. “Why not just have them,” he nodded at the Elders, “kill me right away? Why Claim me?”
“If they had killed you, you would have sent one last message to your leader. It probably would have started an attack and cost countless lives.”
“What makes you think I didn’t already send a message?” he asked softly, his eyes lightly skimming my face.
“To protect me. I’m yours, right?” His eyes softened at my words. “You don’t want to lose me. Plus, you’d forfeit your life by doing so. Like, I said, they won’t let you keep me.” I took a step back from Joshua. Luke’s tremors hadn’t stopped since he’d walked through the door, and I didn’t want to ignite that bomb waiting to go off.
Joshua’s eyes tracked me. I felt his yearning. He wanted me close. He wanted to touch me. I wondered if Luke felt for me even a fraction of what Joshua felt. If he did, how did he keep saying no?
“He underestimated you,” Joshua said softly.
I knew he meant his leader. “Your kind usually does,” I agreed. And still I always die.
“So how do you see this ending?”
“That depends on how many are waiting out there to meet me,” I said, reminding Joshua of his original intent when he entered the room.
His lips curled. “Three.”
I nodded slowly, thinking. Only three. A discreet number easy to slip in and take me. A perfect number to obliterate. I needed to keep the room at peace, and Joshua on my side for a bit longer.
Meeting Nana’s eyes I said, “I don’t want a Mating challenge.”
Luke growled. “It is my right.”
“Shush,” I said, keeping my eyes on Nana.
She looked troubled by my words. I could see her weighing my safety and the pack’s safety. By keeping Joshua linked to me the pack would be safe, but would I? Joshua would soon realize the only way to save himself would be to Mate with me and create an unbreakable bond. Hopefully, Nana wouldn’t see that just yet. Finally, she reluctantly nodded her agreement.
Luke growled, and Joshua laughed.
“Like Joshua said, I need to think about how this should end. I don’t want bloodshed. That’s why I Claimed Joshua. To avoid just that.” I moved to touch Joshua’s arm, tamping down my revulsion.
“Joshua, I’d like to meet with the Elders and figure out how we can leave here without dying.”
He purred with satisfaction and in a quick move, wrapped his arms around me in a hug, pressing me tight against his body. My stitches pulled and I made a small noise. Oblivious, he leaned in and nuzzled my neck. I fought not to gag.
“Moron, you’re hurting her,” Luke growled taking a step toward me.
Over Joshua’s shoulder, I watched Grey clamp down on one of Luke’s arms and Sam the other. They held him back as his body flexed in a constant state of shifting. I couldn’t tell if his wolf was coming or going.
“Please, Joshua. He’s right. You’re hurting me. I was cut recently.”
Joshua still didn’t pull back. His hot breath warmed my neck a second before his tongue laved it, just below the ear Luke had kissed not long ago. Joshua was marking me, wiping away Luke’s scent. Not good. I could feel his desire rising again.
“Nana,” I called in a slight panic.
“Joshua,” Nana warned. “She is in no shape for what you’re thinking. Stop now or for her safety, I will stop you.”
He laughed, a rumble I felt in my own chest since we were pressed so close. But he did ease back. “Soon,” he whispered, ducking down to meet my gaze. “They can’t stop a Claimed pair,” he promised, his hand drifting to my belly. His fingers traced the stitches through my shirt. “A few days will see us truly together.”
I nodded slowly as if agreeing while trying to keep the tremors from my body. He smiled in return and released me. I couldn’t look at Luke. I wanted a shower.
Nana held her hand out to me. I clasped it tightly and left the room with her. I hoped they knew to keep an eye on Joshua. He wouldn’t leave without me. I’d ensured that when I Claimed him. But, I didn’t want him near Luke.
Chapter Sixteen
“I don’t even know where to start,” Nana said sitting across from me.
The padded room was packed. The Elders, my sisters, and I sat at the table. Emmitt, Thomas, Clay, and Luke stood.
“Who’s watching Joshua?” I asked.
“Carlos,” Grey answered. “He won’t let Joshua leave, or any harm come to him.”
I snorted. “I could care less if any harm comes to him.”
“Then why did you Claim him?” Luke asked flatly. His eyes hadn’t left me since he entered the room. A glint of hurt still lingered in their depths, but something else consumed him. Determination.
I ignored his questions knowing I’d explained myself well enough in the room. “Here’s the deal. The world is not just made up of humans and werewolves. There is a third race, the Urbat. They call themselves the dogs of death and are your close cousins.”
“They are the ones you can’t control,” Michelle added talking to Nana.
I nodded. “Then there’s us,” I said looked at Charlene, Gabby, and Michelle. “We don’t belong to any of the three groups. Werewolf, Urbat, or Human. We are unique.”
“Special,” Nana agreed.
“We are here to maintain the balance between the three groups.” Sam opened his mouth, but I quickly cut him off. “I’m not sure exactly how we’re supposed to do that. We have abilities. Mine is to relive past lives—not just my past lives, but all of our past lives—through dreams.” “Our abilities seem to help the group we are aligned with in some way. Michelle’s gift is prosperity. In past lives she knew the locations of lost treasure, herbs with medicinal properties, how to create things to better lives. Pretty much any knowledge that could be used to create wealth. Charlene’s strengthens the group she’s allied with and so on. I have no idea how that all plays in, but as soon as the Urbat learned of us, they began hunting us.”
“If they are hunting you, why did you Claim one?” Luke asked again, maintaining a calm voice. I wondered how angry he really was.
“We return every one thousand years for a period of time. I don’t know all the details of that either. But I’ve recalled enough of those past lives to know we always die.” Meeting Luke’s eyes, I finally answered him. “I Claimed him to stay alive...to buy us some time to plan.”