Chapter Seventeen

Jemma was a shameless hussy. Though Brock had fucked her when they’d awoken, then again in the shower, she was counting the moments until they were back in the bedroom. She wanted him again. It was as if every encounter increased her hunger for him. At that moment, they were having dinner with part of his family, and she couldn’t seem to sit without wiggling in her chair. She swore she still felt him buried in her ass, and the smug look he gave her said he knew it.

“What are we going to do with Caleb?” Slade asked, bringing her attention back to the conversation.

She’d been surprised to find out the sniper who’d shot Titus was Caleb Oaks, Roco Oaks’ younger brother. Roco had been an enforcer for the Holloway den when Matthew Holloway was still alive. Though Laramie had called back all the enforcers, Roco had disappeared during the first surge of attacks that had wiped out so many of them. Now, they knew Lawrence Walker was the one responsible for those, but Caleb couldn’t get to the well-guarded male, so he’d decided to take out his fury on Titus Walker instead. Now, Caleb was locked up, awaiting his alpha’s judgment.

“Laramie hasn’t decided yet,” Declan told them, sharing a look with Slade.

Laramie and Em were with Jensen, Malachai, and a recovering Titus. Jemma had spoken briefly with Jensen, to tell him about feeling her bear again. He’d been relieved, guessing it was the mixture of the poison and the suppressant that had kept it asleep inside her for so long. He thought she should be able to shift again any day. She hoped he was right. He’d also ordered her to meet him in the morning for more bloodwork just to check.

Ruby was with her father. The little girl was afraid to let her dad out of her sight, so Jemma figured the alpha and his mate would be spending a lot of time with Malachai. The twins were with their older brother, as well, while Koby and Holt oversaw Walker’s continued interrogation. Jemma wasn’t sure where Matheus was. Maybe, helping Milo guard Caleb.

“What’s your take on Titus?” Brock asked Slade’s mate, Rissa. As someone who’d grown up as part of the former Langston den in Washington, she’d know Titus better than any of them.

Rissa thought for a moment. “He stepped up when no one else would and tried to keep us together, tried to find out how the attack happened. He lost his best friends during the assault.”

“Malachai seems to believe Titus didn’t have anything to do with the strike in Washington,” Declan offered.

“He’s not like Lawrence,” Xandra added, and she would know since the elder had kept Xandra captive for just over five years. “You can feel the evil in him. Titus doesn’t have that.”

“He seems sad,” Jemma told them, drawing their attention to her.

“What do you mean?” Brock asked, trailing his fingers through her hair.

“Like he’s lost everything. Like he doesn’t belong.” She shrugged. “I know what that feels like.”

“Jemma.” Brock leaned in and kissed her on the temple.

“Not anymore,” she assured him. “But I lost my family then immediately got taken and hidden for years. I got lost in grief, in the dark and silence. When Fletch brought me here, I didn’t belong. Not really.”

“I’m sorry I ever made you feel that way,” Brock whispered, tugging her from her chair and pulling her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her.

“You didn’t make me feel that way. None of you did. It was circumstance. I had no family. No friends. I was alone, even when I was surrounded by all of you. I’m guessing Titus feels similar. He lost his family. Most of his friends. He tried to step up and do what was right, but even those who accepted him are here now, a place where his name could be a death sentence. He has to stay alert to what lurks behind every face.”

“She’s got a point,” Slade agreed then reached over and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You belong, Jemma. Even if my bonehead brother hadn’t wizened the fuck up, you’re part of this den.”

“Dick,” Brock groused at Slade, who just laughed.

“I just meant, mate or not, we’ll protect you with every breath we have,” Slade vowed.

“We don’t need protection,” Jemma mused then shook her head at the expressions around the table. “At least, not the suffocating kind that you Holloways seem to think we do anyway. Most of us were protected by the males of our families, and it did no good when it really mattered. We were caught unaware. We’re survivors. We need to feel empowered. To know when they strike again—and no matter how scattered they are, we know they will—that we can stand and keep ourselves safe.”

“What are you suggesting?” Laramie’s voice filled the room as he stepped in with Em.

“Stop treating the women who’ve been returned to you as if they’re made of spun glass. Treat them like you do the male survivors. Heal them, train them, and let them defend their home.”

“Fuck, yes,” Xandra agreed while Rissa nodded.

“Have female enforcers and interrogators. Give us a role in this war that doesn’t keep us hidden and waiting to see who returns and who doesn’t,” Jemma continued.

“Easier said than done,” Laramie said as he placed his hand over the swell of his mate’s belly where their child grew. “The thought of my mate engaged with hunters makes me feral. Not because I consider her weak, but because I wouldn’t survive if anything happened to her.”

“Don’t you know that’s exactly how I feel about you?” Em asked, pressing her palm over his. “Losing you would destroy me.”

“I didn’t understand it when Fletch said Helen could go with him on the rescue missions,” Brock admitted. “I do now. Hell, I don’t want Jemma out of my sight. I’d rather have her fighting beside me than have no idea where she is. Or worse, to feel her needing me and be unable to get to her in time. That would kill me.”

“Our mating vows may begin with asking our males to protect us, but they conclude with a request to be by your side,” Xandra reminded them all. “And if anyone is training to be an enforcer or interrogator, then it’s me.”

Declan laughed. “Hell, you already are.”

“Damn right,” she agreed. “Rissa?”

“I’ll have to wait a bit,” she admitted with a grin at her mate. “At least, until the baby is born.”

There was chaos for a moment while all the brothers hugged her and offered congratulations to the couple. That made four pregnant mates now: Em, Jaeda, Sidia, and Rissa. Three of them were mated to Holloway brothers, showing the potency of their line, but Jemma wasn’t worried. She knew her bear wouldn’t allow conception until she was ready, and as much as she loved Brock, she wasn’t there yet. She wanted time with her mate first. Just the two of them.

“What would you like to do?” Brock asked her as soon as the congratulations had died down.

“I think I’d like to train under Jensen. Learn how to assess and field triage injuries.”

“From what Jensen says, you’re a natural at it,” Brock offered.

“He’s said many times what an asset you’ve been to him since you’ve been here,” Laramie agreed. “You and Helen both.”

“Your quick thinking saved Titus’ life. You’re alert to danger and already doing immediate first aid. He’s grateful to you, by the way,” Em told her.

“Why would Caleb Oaks shoot him? What was he thinking?” Jemma asked.

“He’s been trying to get to Lawrence Walker since we brought him in,” Declan answered.

“We have a lockdown on who has access to him, of course,” Laramie added. “Caleb blames Lawrence for the disappearance of his older brother, Roco. No one’s seen or heard from him since the initial attacks. Caleb figured if he couldn’t get to Lawrence, he’d get to Titus.”

“How does that even make sense?” Jemma questioned. “Any Walker would do?”

“Logic played no part in his choices,” Slade answered. “That was rage and pain.”

“And no excuse,” Laramie growled, his mate reaching out to take his hand with hers. “He fired a gun in a place where my family stood. Pregnant mates. Baby Bear. The lifeblood of this den. He put every single person in this den at risk. There are consequences for that.”

“Damn straight,” Xandra agreed. Jemma figured she was thinking of her sisters.

“Where’s Ruby?” Rissa asked.

“With her dad.” Em smiled. “She’s going to stay with him and make sure he’s here for breakfast in the morning.”

Laramie didn’t look happy about Ruby not being with him and Em. Jemma knew how much the alpha had grown to love Malachai’s daughter. Hell, Malachai had sent Ruby and Em to Laramie, for him to watch over and protect while Malachai stayed in Washington, chasing down leads on the attack there and who in the Langston den might have been involved. Jemma had wondered how he and Malachai would get along since Em and Malachai were best friends and shared his daughter since Ruby’s mother, who’d been Em’s cousin, had died after giving birth to Ruby. Em was the only mother Ruby had ever known, and she was super excited about having a new baby. However things played out, Jemma had a feeling it would be interesting watching the dynamics between the two men.

“We should all head down to get some sleep,” Laramie ordered. “Lawrence Walker will be dealt with in the morning. We’ve waited long enough for justice.” He shared a look with Em. “Plus, Em and I want to make a statement about the Langston den members and what it means for our two dens to merge as one.” He glanced at Jemma. “It’s time to move forward.” He winked at her, took his mate’s hand, then led her out of the kitchen.

“What was that about?” she whispered to Brock as everyone cleaned up after themselves, rinsing dishes and stacking them into the dishwasher.

“Which part?” Brock asked.

“Where your brother looked at me and winked.”

“I’d say you gave him things to think about.” Brock dropped a kiss on her lips. “You should talk to Jensen tomorrow. He’ll be happy you want to keep working with him.”

He took her dishes and fell in behind Slade to rinse and load. Then he had her hand, threading their fingers together before tugging her back downstairs. She shivered at the heat in his gaze. She had a feeling he had much more in mind than sleep.