Twenty-three-Time speeds by

Andrea wakes up and stretches and stiffens her body when Rafe says “Baby…if you don’t want round 7, you should stop rubbing that cute ass on my hard assed cock!” She sprung out of bed landing on her feet and a pleasurable pain nearly dropped her to her knees. She straightened up and waddled to the bathroom and Rafe laughed and said “Sorry…Not sorry” and shot after her to pick her up and set her on the counter while he ran the tub full of warm water…adding epsom salts and lavender oil.

He swished his hand around making sure it was all mixed and lifted her into the bath, he slid in behind her. He bathed her gently and she just laid back against his chest enjoying the feeling.

When they finally made it to their seats in the dining hall, she was still waddling and sat gingerly on Rafe’s lap as he fed her a bite of eggs. Damon said “Luna are you okay? Have you been training too hard? Do we need to call today off?” She looked at him and said “No! I’m a victim of riding the Big D down to Poundtown but I will be at training “ Rafe choked on his own spit and the table erupted into hysterics.

Andrea walks into the training center to meet Rafe for more fire training. He’s much better, we haven’t burned anything down in 11 days. She steps out into the clearing behind the center and pulls the earth’s water to her while he lines up to take his shot. She watches as the flames move down his wrists to his palms..he rounds the flame into a loose ball and it hits target dead center. He does it 5 more times in rapid sequence hitting each random target on point! She scurries around putting out the fires then runs and puts all the fires out then runs squealing at him and leaps in his arms.

She said “you did it!!! I am so proud! That’s all of it.. we know the depth and strength of our shield…we are going to be so good together!!” She walks back into the center while Rafe and Jax head to the firing range. Observing her fighters , she calls out “April your left foot is too far back. Right arm elbow bent…chest high..Good! Good!”

Rafe links her to meet him outside..they’re needed at the border. She runs out and strips, shifts and meets Rafe outside the firing range, They run toward the border. He links “I want you to stay in Adira’s form. They don’t know you have a wolf.” She linked back “Okay. We can try our shield.”

They pull up short of the border and Rafe shifted back, grabbing shorts and getting dressed before he stepped into view. He runs his hand over Adira’s back and he felt their power ignite…erecting a shield in front of their border. A tall-ish man steps to the treeline and Andrea links “that’s Beaumont” Isaac Beaumont walks to the edge of the border. And looks at Rafe. He paces back and forth a few minutes while Rafe stands perfectly still. Beaumont says “The full moon is in three days” Rafe said “I’m aware. Why are you here?” Andrea links “offer no more than he asks. Play offense. He’s baiting you. Search his aura and determine his colors..you will see if he means to try anything right now “ Rafe nods, imperceptibly and clears his mind to see a clearer aura. Beaumont says “My son, of course..and the girl!” Rafe says “I see”

Beaumont waits..when he sees Rafe is saying nothing else he starts to show frustration. “Is that all you have to say?” Rafe nods…knowing not giving a verbal response will further his frustration. “You have 5 days! 5 days to turnover the girl and release my son. Or you all will die.” Rafe again nods and turns to walk away…then he turns back and says “Just to be clear….this was your declaration of war?” Beaumont bellows..”Are you dense boy? This pack will burn!l Rafe shrugs..and says “Good to know!” Shifts into Baron, leaving the shield standing a few more minutes was worth it to make Beaumont feel disrespected! Rafe calls everyone into the office….as soon as everyone was seated Rafe says “We have 5 days. Are the traps set?” Damon said yes…they ran the last wires yesterday.

Rafe says “I want lookouts in all 16 towers 24/7 and drones up and out a minimum of 30 meters running 360 degrees around the territory day and night! I want to know where these fuckers are coming from…their numbers and when they will be here! No surprises! We lose no one!” Andrea decides to go to kitchen and make a few tonics for the warriors. Nothing major… just coagulants to heal wounds faster..a preventative against wolfsbane poisoning and a topical ointment to soothe silver poisoning. She needs a quiet time…she and Rafe will have to talk tonight about the best use of their gifts and powers because it may not be feasible to be together all the time.

At dinner, Andrea told Rafe and the boys about what she had done in the kitchen today and turned to Madi…she said “Hey my right hand lady..wanna help me tomorrow?” She says “Sure..I am visiting Cassandra to bring her breakfast but after that’s done, I’m free” Andrea reaches over and asks “How’s that going? I know you still hope for a relationship with her. And no.. I don’t care.. but I care about you and if something that makes me unhappy makes you happy…then I want that for you “ Madi laughs and says “that is the most convoluted ‘you have my blessings’ I have ever heard” and Andrea just shrugs in her unapologetic way and Rafe chuckles. He pulls her up to sit in his lap and says “ there’s that shining heart I love so much!”

Andrea tells Rafe she wants a quiet night without any drama so they can talk and perfect their battle plan and he agrees.

They’re settled in for the night and Andrea turns to Rafe she starts to talk “I know our people can’t die unless their heart or head is removed. And I know we haven’t told them about that because we didn’t want them overconfident going into this fight. But, they can still feel pain and that devastates me. I want to spare them that. Here’s my thought… what if it’s possible to separate at the beginning of the fight and place shields opposite each other to guide the majority of the enemy directly to us. We have the intel coming in.. If we can determine the direction of the attack, we will have the upper hand from the jump!”

Rafe says “you’re talking about a bottle neck effect where we control the traffic, per se?” She jumped in his lap and says “Yes. Exactly! Can we discuss it with the boys tomorrow and get their opinions? I have several things to start tomorrow…I want to get my potions tonics and ointments to the warriors in the morning. Then, I want to get the women and pups set up and comfortable in the bunkers so there is no mad rush. We don’t have to close and bar the door until the attack begins.”

Rafe says “ We will head to the office first thing in the morning. Then, before breakfast we will call a pack meeting to alert the women of the move. I will be so glad to put this behind us..we have so much to do. We have to screen candidates for a new Elder..then, we have to schedule the vote. The mating ball is in five months and we haven’t found a proper venue.. It’s a lot” she leans in and whispers “you are not alone” He pulls her in tight and kisses her so sweetly that her eyes tear up.