Chapter 14: Cavalry

Present Day

The cavalry arrived in a convoy of six trucks and SUV’s, led by my new Betas. Mike parked his F-150 in front of the last door to the garage, while the others backed in near the pole barn. I waited for them at the front door, Larry and Donna waiting behind me.

Mike was carrying a few large bags, while Anita had a backpack and a rolling suitcase. “Is that all your stuff,” I teased.

“Hardly. When we got the call, we grabbed what we would need for a week or so. We’ll get the rest when it calms down around here.,” Anita said.

The others had come prepared; I saw rifle cases, winter gear, and sleeping bags with their bags of clothes. Six men, four women. “Come on in,” I said. “It’s going to be tight for a while.” The dozen people filed into the house, removing their boots and leaving them by the door. I sent Mike and Anita down to their room in the basement while the others gathered around. “How many mated pairs are here?”

Three couples raised their hands. “You will have rooms, the rest of you will bunk where you can on the couches or floor downstairs. There are two bathrooms downstairs and one on this level; we have to share, so don’t make a mess of it. You two,” I pointed at a young couple.

“Craig and Connie,” he said.

“You will take the guest room on this level when the guests are out of it. Leave your bags here. You two couples, you’ll be in the guest rooms downstairs. Put your gear away and be back here in five minutes,” I said.

They all dispersed. “You’re starting to sound like an Alpha again,” Larry told me.

“I need to BE an Alpha again,” I said. “It’s only going to get worse. We can’t avoid the shitstorm in the press and on television from an attempted child kidnapping and murder. Their names will get out, and the ones after her will be even MORE desperate to get her.”

“I’m more interested in why they tried to kidnap both of them,” Donna said. “They were already in the house, waiting for you. They didn’t wake up Vicki until Liv got home, and Natalie must have been dead already. Vicki said she didn’t see her as they were taking her out of their apartment.”

Larry shook his head. “If they wanted the mantle, all they had to do was kill Vicki, and it passes on to their next child! Why kill Natalie, and why wait around to capture Liv too? It’s a huge risk to take, waiting around like that.”

“Maybe Brenda wanted to kill Vicki, then kill the woman who stole the mantle herself? Could that bitch be so heartless to want to do it herself,” I wondered to myself?

Larry put his hand on my shoulder. “If they hadn’t, you’d have lost Vicki.”

“It’s not like they told me why they were kidnapping us,” a voice said from behind me. Liv was in the hall, looking tired but angry. She moved to me, wrapping her arms around me as she hugged tight to my chest.

“How long were you listening,” I asked.

“Long enough. You tried to warn me, and I didn’t listen. Now my grandmother is dead, and my daughter is traumatized.”

“We’ve got company,” I said. I turned Liv until she was at my side, her hand gripping mine. The room rapidly filled with the new arrivals. I waited until they had all returned, then had them sit where they could. I couldn’t help but notice one of the young men had wide eyes, his nose up, and he worked his way around the room towards us. “Everyone, this is Liv Andersen. Liv is a friend of mine; she and her daughter, Vicki, are the ones you have all come to protect.”

“Thank you all for coming,” Liv added. “I don’t know why you need so many,” she said to me.

“It’s not over,” I said. “Last night, two werewolves from the Stillwater Pack entered their home and murdered her grandmother. I managed to stop the kidnapping, and the pair who did it died at the scene. The people behind this are likely John and Brenda Petersen of the Marengo Lakes Pack.”

One of the volunteers looked at me in shock. “Your brother?”

“My brother got Liv pregnant within a month of getting mated. Her daughter carries the Alpha Mantle that John received when he mated Brenda; as long as she lives, their Pack will not have it.”

“What are you going to do,” Craig asked.

“I haven’t talked to Liv about this, but this is my plan. We establish security here for Vicki; if they get to her, it’s over. Liv, we need to keep her in the house and under guard. No going near open windows, no going outside.”

“She’s going to hate that,” Liv said.

“It can’t be helped, just like it can’t be helped that you will have to go out sometime. The police will want to follow up on last night, and you need to make funeral arrangements for your grandmother.”

“Shit, that means my parents will be coming,” she said.

“I’ll help you deal with them. I’m more worried about the attention it will draw. I plan to be at your side wherever you go, and I’ll have two others nearby as security.”

“Whatever you think is best. I trust you to keep us safe, Leo.” She looked at my parents. “What are you going to do?”

“Oh, we’re going for a scenic drive up north,” Larry said. “I’m going to stop in and talk with the Stillwater Pack Alpha and let him know that Vicki is under the protection of Alpha Volkov.”

“I’m not a full Alpha yet, I still need one more Pack member,” I said.

“I’ll join your Pack,” the young man who had worked his way near us said. “Brent Lawrence,” he said as he stuck out his hand.

I looked over at Larry, who nodded while Donna buried her face in his shoulder and tried not to laugh. “We’ll take care of that in a minute.” I turned a painting around, and on the back was a satellite view of my land with the borders marked. I briefed everyone on the property. “Starting in ten minutes, we have a gate guard and a patrol 24/7. We can use a vehicle to block the entrance road, and a snowmobile or ATV during the day to run the perimeter. At night, the patrol goes in wolf form. Mike, you come up with a rotation for that.”

“Got it, boss.”

“I’m not stocked to feed seventeen. I need two people to make a grocery run and pick up supplies for a week.”

“Craig and I will take that,” Connie said. “I’ll put together a menu and a shopping list.”

“Thank you. One last thing,” I said. “Vicki is still sleeping, and she doesn’t know you. Stay downstairs, use the patio entrance for now. When she wakes up, I’ll move Liv and Vicki to the apartment over the garage. They will have their own kitchen and spaces, and the closet is a panic room.”

“We don’t have anything but what we were wearing,” Liv said.

“Give your sizes to Connie, she can pick up some basics for you at Sam’s until we can get your things out of your apartment.”

Donna looked back towards Liv. “Give the Sheriff’s Department a call and ask when they can give you access to your things,” she said. “I’ll watch Shark Bait while you’re gone.”

“Thank you, Donna. You two were lifesavers last night. Well, almost as much as Leo.”

I sent the wolves off with their orders, and Liv yawned. “Go back to bed,” I said. “I’ll have my lawyer call the detectives.”

“Thanks, Leo.” She headed back down the hall.

The only ones left in the room now were my Betas, my in-laws, and Brent. I leveled him with a stare. “Why did you offer to join my Pack, and why should I accept you,” I said.

“Liv is my mate,” he said. “This is where I have to be to protect her.”