Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

“So what’s the plan?” Elias asked.

Leah was wondering the same thing.

Owen nodded. “Felix and Gavin are going to patrol outside. The women will stay inside with you. The rest of the team of Protectors waiting outside will split into groups and scour the mountain in search of the rogue bears.”

“Except me,” Olivia declared. “I will stay on the porch.”

Damon growled. “Olivia, we talked about this. I want you inside with the others.”

She shook her head. “No, Daddy. You talked about it. I never agreed. If you want everyone to be safe, you’ll ease up on your rules and let me stay on the porch. I promise I will not step one paw onto the grass.”

He scowled. “The last time I left you with the girls, you did much more than step a paw off the back deck. You waltzed right up to a pair of bears you knew nothing about and faced them from less than a yard.”

Leah gasped. She had about a million questions.

“It won’t happen again, Daddy. I promise.”

He stared at her.

No one breathed. The room was silent as everyone waited for him to speak again.

Olivia didn’t back down or tremble. She put her hands on her hips and seemed to stare right into his eyes. No one who didn’t know better would believe she was blind.

“She has a point,” Arion said.

Leah reminded herself Arion was Damon’s brother. He was probably the only person in the room who was comfortable challenging Damon.

Damon’s nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath, not looking away from his mate.

Arion continued, “She has abilities none of us possess. You know this better than anyone. No one is suggesting she romp around in the woods, but she wants to be helpful, Damon, and the best thing she can do for the pack is shift and sit on the porch. She’ll scent bears coming long before Felix or Gavin will even have an inkling. She can warn Elias, and he can call us. I know we didn’t specifically discuss it this morning, but this is why we’re here, Damon. We’re here so the women will be in one place where Olivia can keep them safe.”

Damon reached out and stroked his mate’s cheek. “I know,” he said gently. “I just don’t like it. And the porch? I hate that part.”

“I can scent them faster if I’m outside, Daddy,” Olivia informed him as she set her hand over his and tipped her cheek into his palm.

Leah still had a ton of questions, but she was starting to piece it all together. Apparently Olivia had abilities no other wolf shifter had, not even the Alpha Protectors.

“I won’t step off the porch, Daddy,” Olivia repeated. “If I sense bears approaching who aren’t Surge or Thorn I will run inside and let Elias know.”

Damon’s frown didn’t soften, but he pulled his mate into his arms and held her close. “I love you, Little rebel. Please don’t make me regret this.”

“I won’t, Daddy.” She hugged him back.

Suzette wrapped her arms around Brock, while Jezebel did the same to Arion, and then the men filed out of the house to join the others who were waiting outside.

Iliana went with them.

“Mom?” Elias asked.

She turned back at the door. “I’m not staying, son. We will be going right past Germain’s house. I will stay there with some of the other elders and their mates.”

Elias nodded. “Be safe.”

“You, too, Elias.” She smiled at Leah before leaving with the men.

“Who is Germain?” Leah asked. It was the first in a long list of questions she had. Might as well start with the most recent.

“Germain is one of the most senior elders in the pack and among the Alpha Protectors. Most of the older elders no longer patrol or hunt.”

“Oh. Why wouldn’t we all go where they are?”

Elias finally lowered her to her feet and smoothed her dress down her back. It was obvious he was frustrated and trying not to show it. Frustrated that he wasn’t out helping the other Protectors. It had nothing to do with Leah’s questions. She knew by the way he tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear that his mood wasn’t related to her. Maybe it would even be helpful if she kept asking questions.

He pulled her against his side. “Because it’s safer if the women are divided into multiple homes. When I go back to working patrol, I will always leave you with one of my friends or my brother. You’ll never be alone.”

That surprised her but only because they hadn’t discussed it before. It made sense. She couldn’t imagine him leaving her alone. Heck, he rarely left her alone in the bathroom let alone the house.

Leah turned her attention to the three women watching her. They looked slightly nervous.

Olivia spoke first. “I want to get to know you, but I’ll have to do it another time.”

“Of course,” Leah responded. “We’ll do something another time.”

Olivia headed toward the front door.

Elias hurried over to open it. He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Do not step off this porch for any reason, understood?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I mean it. I know you want to help, and we will all learn to appreciate and accept your help, but this is a matter of safety. Damon will spank your bottom until you can’t sit for a week if you break this rule. If you scent something, you come back inside immediately. I’ll leave the door open a crack. All you’ll have to do is push it open.”

“Yes, Sir. I promise.”

Leah was mesmerized by her Daddy’s interaction with Olivia. Apparently these Alpha Protectors were bossy with each other’s mates, too. It was an interesting dynamic.

Olivia stepped out onto the porch and shifted into her wolf form. She lowered onto her haunches near the edge of the porch, ears perked up, gaze scanning the area.

Elias pushed the door almost closed and turned toward Suzette and Jezebel. “I’m glad the three of you will have this chance to get to know each other, but today is not a day for shenanigans.”

“Yes, Sir,” Jezebel and Suzette said at the same time.

He turned toward Leah. “You can show the other girls your nursery, play a game or something. I’ll make lunch. No plotting.”

Leah was amused. Apparently these women were professionals at naughty behavior, and Leah was more than willing to learn from the pros. Perhaps today wasn’t a good day to implement anything that would get them in trouble since there was a serious threat to the pack, but Leah intended to ask a lot of questions and find out what it meant to be a Little girl to one of these Alpha Protectors.