Page 15 of Destined Mate

“It’s not, actually.” Jerome gazed out the den window, his eyes on the horizon where the sun was slowly dipping below the edge.

The days were getting shorter. While some people didn’t like it getting darker sooner, Jerome relished the longer nights. It meant more time to lose himself as a wolf on the quiet, moonlit paths.

“How do you figure?”

“It means what I saw is still going to happen.”

“But that could change tonight if you have another vision. And we’re doing all that we can. I have patrols running twenty-four seven, and I’ve even pulled in our enforcers and some non-rank members to help with shifts.”

Cross Creek pack had three gamma enforcers—Poppy Smith, Damar Jackson, and Alfredo Sanchez, who they all called Al. The betas were Lakisha Cooper, Bay Ung-Jook, Jensen Hart, and Marcia Dillard.

Yes, thanks to Alpha Li Li, they had female betas and gammas who held rank. Not all packs did. The really hardcore traditional packs even refused to admit females could be born to a rank.

“It won’t be enough.”

“Maybe it will.”

“There has been no change in my visions. That’s not good, Henry.”

Henry ran a hand through his hair. “I could ask the council for protection. Maybe they’ll send some extra enforcers? But I doubt it, since the challenge is in a week.”

“A week. We just need to get through the week,” Jerome muttered. That was a hundred and sixty-eight hours. A lot could happen in that time. “Yeah, ask the council for help anyhow.”

“I’ll call now, but it’s after hours. Unless it’s an emergency, I doubt I’ll get a hold of anybody until tomorrow.”

“Then tell whoever answers the phone it’s a damn emergency!” Jerome exclaimed. “Why is no one taking this seriously?”

“Jerome, we are taking this seriously.” Henry swiftly went to Jerome and took his hands. “Taking you seriously. But even if the council sent enforcers, it’d still take them time to get here.”

“Dammit.”

“And would it matter if they even did? In your vision, you said you saw Alpha Wesley defeat the rogue.” Henry led Jerome over to the couch and pulled him down. “So far you haven’t had another vision showing you something different. You said that, right?”

“You’re right.” Jerome gently pulled his hands out of Henry’s.

“Then we pray to Fenrir.”

Jerome kept his mouth shut on that one, since his treatment throughout his life had solely tested his faith in their wolf god.

How could their god permit omegas to be regarded as possessions rather than as individuals with their own worth? Wasn’t each one of them crafted with equal importance and dignity in His divine image?

Others regarded Jerome merely as a commodity, something to be used and traded. No other wolf of rank received such treatment. Yeah, faith wasn’t a comfort to him as it was to some.

“Sure.” Jerome shrugged. “I don’t guess it could hurt. Anyway, I’m going to have dinner. Are you coming?”

“I’ll be there shortly. Let me make this phone call.”

Their pack house stood as the bustling heart of their community, a central gathering place teeming with life andactivity. Alpha Li Li had expanded it, nearly doubling its size to accommodate the growing needs of their people.

The kitchen had undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a sprawling commercial-sized hub capable of feeding anyone who wished to stop by during designated hours.

The aroma of freshly cooked meals wafted through the air, inviting members to gather, share stories, and enjoy the camaraderie that the pack house had so warmly fostered.

It now boasted a gaming room filled with plush chairs and a variety of entertainment options, from classic board games to the latest video game consoles. On the opposite side of the house was a conference room with a huge homemade oak table that someone in their pack had crafted for Li Li.

The master bedroom was a sanctuary of comfort and authority, adorned with plush furnishings and personal touches that spoke of Li Li’s status.

Beyond that, there were empty bedrooms set up for guests or pack members who might choose to reside there temporarily. Each room was simple, yet welcoming. Most pack members, however, preferred the comfort of their own homes scattered throughout the territory.

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