3. Two

Two

Sloane

I balled my fists until my nails dug into my palms and then punched Lincoln's hands with everything that I had. He harrumphed but smiled and inclined his head for me to go again.

I was still being watched, scrutinized with everything I did. But the challenges had stopped, for now. While I had sated most everyone's concerns, I had no doubt that I was just one screw up away from having to fight for my spot again.

I didn't want that, which is why I was training nonstop with Lincoln.

I gritted my teeth and jabbed again. Pain ricocheted up my arm, sending pin prick tingles down into my fingers.

I shook out my hand and huffed before falling back into my stance. Lincoln dropped his hands, his brows knitting together. "You okay? We've been going at this for a while now."

His gaze dropped to my hands. The knuckles were raw and on the verge of splitting open.

I flexed, the whole hand stiff and beginning to swell. I tilted my head from side to side as I bounced on my feet, trying to work out the kinks. "We have to keep practicing. It's only a matter of time before Alpha Dane is back."

Lincoln shook out his hands. "Sawyer says that he's taking some time to regroup. His priorities are elsewhere...for now."

I rolled my eyes. Maybe. But we both knew that this was temporary. He didn't like that we defied him. "Lincoln, we need to use this reprieve to our advantage. It's our chance to be ready and if we're really lucky, get the upper hand."

Luna, it would be nice to be on the offensive for once.

Lincoln shook his head, but slowly lifted his hands back up so I could start punching again. "I just don't want to see you get hurt, Sloane. You're pushing yourself awfully hard."

I bobbed and weaved before I threw another punch. "I know my limits."

I heaved in a giant breath, trying to catch it. "Besides, no one in Pack Wolf Blood is going to stop because I need to take a break. I need to be ready. We all do."

There had been a few people that had been resistant to doing some of the training. I didn't want to force anyone because that wasn't how it worked, not in my pack. It didn't mean that I agreed with it. We all needed to be prepared because we were all target. I wished I could make everyone see that.

At least I could make sure I was prepared.

Lincoln grunted as I nailed him with an exceptionally well aimed punch to the hand. He stumbled back and looked at his palm.

He shook it out. "You are getting better. I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that with my face."

I cracked a smile. "I could never hit you in the face, Lincoln. I already feel bad enough about hitting your hands. Look at them."

They were worse than mine. Bruises peppered his skin and one of his fingers was bent at an awkward angle.

I gulped. It was broken. I'd hurt him.

Guilt weighed on me like a punch to the gut. Maybe he was the one that needed to stop and I'd selfishly kept going.

I'd offered to buy pads or whatever they were called to go over his hands, but he'd refused, so had a lot of other people. I might be proud, but I wasn't too proud to admit I wanted to protect my hands from being punched repeatedly because we were practicing.

Lincoln smiled and kissed me on the lips. "I'm all right, sweetheart."

I took a moment to savor the feel of his mouth caressing mine. I breathed him in, sighing and falling into his embrace as he deepened the kiss.

He pulled back all too soon and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "Are you about ready to head inside?"

Unease gnawed at my belly as I eyed his poor hands again. A shift would heal them, but that had to hurt. I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a long breath.

I glanced up at the sky. The sun hung overhead, peeking out from the clouds. It was probably close to lunchtime, which meant we'd been out here for several hours.

I rolled my shoulders back and stretched my upper back. "We should head in. I bet my mom made something amazing for lunch."

Since we'd lost the main house and everyone was crammed together in the pack house or tents, she'd been making sure every meal was exceptional. I worried she was doing too much, but she always shooed me off, and it helped the pack's morale.

It didn't mean I didn't worry. Mom was grieving her husband and son still. Then again, maybe the extra work took her mind off everything.

Lincoln wagged his brows, drawing me from my thoughts. "I heard it was going to be some amazing sliders and homemade pasta salad."

He gave me another kiss, lingering just long enough before pulling back to leave me wanting more. And judging by the sly grin, he knew what he was doing.

I leaned in and kiss him again. "Just a few more minutes out here." My hands slid down his back until they were resting on his butt. I gave it a pat.

He growled as his tongue flicked against my lips. I hooked my leg around his hips, pulling him closer. "I feel like we haven't seen each other very much the past week. One of us is always doing something. By the time we get to bed, we are both wiped."

He gave me a quick peck. "I know, with the rebuilding and training everybody, it's been busy."

I pressed my forehead against his and closed my eyes. "We need to make sure that we make time for each other. And Sawyer. We've seen even less of him." I blinked my eyes open and groaned. "It's been four days since he checked in, Lincoln. I'm scared."

There was a constant weight pressing against my chest. He was okay; I knew that, but I wasn't sure if it was my fear or his. Probably both. And even Lincoln's too.

Lincoln sucked in a breath and exhaled loudly. "I know. I'm worried too, but we would know if something was wrong." He put his hand over my heart. "We would feel it. Trust me, okay?"

I pulled back and glanced out at the trees, watching as the branches swayed in the breeze. Most of the leaves were gone now, and the few left were dropping like flies.

Tears pricked my eyes. "I just hate the fact that your dad‘s trying to push that woman at him. Willa was happy to play along as the dutiful mate. This girl doesn't seem like she'll do the same."

Lincoln scrubbed a hand over his face. "Sawyer is loyal to us. He would never ever be with someone besides us. I promise you that."

I nodded. In my heart, I knew that was the truth. It didn't stop me from worrying. It was that girl. She wanted him for power. It made her dangerous. "I know. It's just I wish he was here."

We hadn't been together in what felt like years. I knew it hadn't been anywhere close to that, but I just wanted my mates here with me, where I knew they were both safe and out of danger. The longer Sawyer stayed at his father's pack, the more the worry poking a hole in my chest grew.

Lincoln gave me a smile. "We will all be together soon. That's what we're fighting for. We're all going to make it out of this in one piece."

I glanced at the ground fixating on a spider that was scurrying across a log. "I'm just worried. I have a bad feeling and I can't shake it."

It kept me up at night, and it haunted me when I slept. Something bad was going to happen.

Lincoln pulled me into a hug and rested his chin on top of my head. "Sawyer knows what he's doing. We have to have faith in him."

I did believe in him. It was his father that I didn't trust. One slip up and I knew he would kill Sawyer. I shuddered, making Lincoln hold me tighter.

My phone shrilled in my back pocket, breaking our moment, and making me jump.

I dug it out of my pants pocket and glanced at the caller ID. I didn't recognize the number. I flipped the screen around so Lincoln could see.

He shrugged. "Not sure. Answer it."

I swiped my finger across the screen and hit the speaker button. "Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Alpha Sloane?"

I didn't recognize the voice. It was masculine, and it sounded like an alpha at least to my ears. It commanded attention.

I stood taller, stiffening my spine. "It is. Can I ask who is calling?"

I shared a look with Lincoln before shrugging my shoulders.

"Alpha Sloane, my name is Isaac Harrington. I was good friends with Charles Denning. His son, Leo, reached out to me a few days ago and told me what happened." He exhaled loud enough to make the phone crackle.

I opened my mouth, but said nothing. What was I supposed to say? Thankfully, my lack of words didn't matter.

"Charles and I grew up together. My wife is actually Charles's sister." He let out a long breath. "When she heard what happened to her brother and nephews, well, she was upset to say the least. We've heard rumblings about Pack Wolf Blood the past few months, but unfortunately we waited until now to do something." He sighed again. "A regret I hope to make up for."

I put a hand on my chest and held my breath as I met Lincoln's gaze. His brows knitted together, and he motioned to the phone.

I licked my lips. "I'm sorry for your loss, Alpha Isaac. Charles Denning seemed like a good man and Leo has become a valuable member to my pack."

Even if Alpha Charles had potentially sold us out in the end, I guess I couldn't blame him too much for trying to protect his family. That's all I wanted to do too after all.

Isaac made a noise in the back of his throat. "I would like to offer you some help. I'm afraid I'm not close enough to bring my pack there like some of the other alphas, but I've been conferring with a few others in the Pennsylvania area and we will send some men to help assist you."

My heart leapt into my throat, and I drew in a shaky breath. I gripped the phone so tight I worried it might crumple. "That would be very helpful. We, of course, would appreciate any help that you can give." This was it. This was our turning point. I swallowed down the excitement bubbling up. "We are doing our best to make sure that we stop Alpha Dane and his pack before he travels further east."

The phone crackled. "Yes, all the alphas I've spoken to are quite concerned. We've seen chatter on the DarkSide website from other alphas and packs. The community is growing quite alarmed and there are talks of more packs joining the fight to assist you."

I rubbed my hand over my chest and glanced at Lincoln who nodded for me to continue. "I am happy to accept any enforcer that you can send and truly appreciate it. We will protect them like any other members of our pack."

If word was getting out on Lincoln's website, then maybe more alphas would reach out too.

Please, Luna, please help us.

He hummed. "I have already planned for some of my men and the others to make their way there."

I suppressed a giddy squeal. This was good news. I clamped down on the inside of my cheek and counted to three to keep myself in check and not get overly excited.

Alpha Isaac was quiet for a moment, and all I could hear was his breathing before he continued. "The only thing I ask is that you send the men back to their respective packs once the war has finished."

That was something I could do easily. "Of course. I wouldn't want to keep anyone from their home. That's why we're fighting Alpha Dane, to make sure that we have the freedom to choose our own packs and path. No one should rule with tyranny."

He made a mmhmm sound. "I didn't know your father, Alpha Sloane, but I heard good things about him, and it appears he did a good job raising you to take his place."

A lump formed in my throat. I blinked rapidly. Darrin was the one who should've been alpha. I was the second hand fill in and winging it as I went.

I only hoped I was making Dad proud. "Thank you. He, like so many others, was taken well before their time."

I chewed on my lower lip as I wrestled with what to say next. "May I ask when I can expect your men and how many so we can prepare?"

There was still the issue of lodging, but I couldn't turn men away.

"There will be a total of seventy-five men, and they'll be leaving later this afternoon. It'll probably take them a few days to drive there," Isaac said.

I blew out of breath. That was a lot of guys, but with that many more people we could move even faster with our rebuilding, and we'd be better prepared for when we took the fight to Alpha Dane.

That was my goal. Attack him before he could come back here. I hoped it would give us the element of surprise.

I closed my eyes. "That is very generous of you. I am very thankful for what you are offering. It means the world to me and my pack and everyone that has taken refuge here."

"I will see what I can do to round up assistance from other alphas in our area. I know some wish to pretend that this isn't a problem, but when an alpha goes rogue, the entire wolf population has a problem." Isaac sighed into the phone. "It is unfortunate the alpha must be stopped. We can't have our business out in the open or have someone trying to dictate the rest of us into submission."

Luna, it was like he was taking the words right out of my mouth. Finally another alpha who got it.

I gripped the phone tighter. "I am very thankful for all you are offering, and I do promise you that your men will be treated like family here and protected to the best of my abilities in the war."

I just wished I could promise they would all go home.

"That is all I ask Alpha Sloane, and I am happy to help. I will be in contact with you soon if I can lend more enforcers to the cause."

A slow smile slipped over my features. "Thank you. We will talk soon, then."

We said our goodbyes, and as soon as I hung up, I flung myself at Lincoln.

He lifted me up and spun me around. "That is amazing, Sloane. I told you things are starting to look up."

Maybe he was right. But it still didn't stop the feeling of foreboding looming over me like everything was about to come crashing down and there was nothing I could do to stop it.