Brick told them about Cinder’s pregnancy and her belief she wouldn’t be able to shift until after the baby was born, which would leave the pack without her protection.
“And Foley’s paying attention to us,” Brick said. “It’s twice we’ve seen them now, and with how he operated with the tiger pride, we know it will just get worse.”
“He and his men are dangerous, but we can hold them at bay with our magic. The Corners and I will come to the pack tonight and set up protection wards.” Lorene gave Brick a long, quiet look. “The wards are effective in many ways, but they won’t stop everything. It’s important that your people are being careful.”
“We will be. Thank you.”
He thanked the Corners, and he and Jade walked out of the office with Lorene. While he and Lorene discussed her trip to the pack, Jade wandered around the store, chatting with Lulu for a bit before Bitty came out and talked to her.
“We’ll do our best to help you keep your people safe,” Lorene said. She glanced at Jade and Bitty, who hugged briefly. “She’s got some shadows in her aura.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s scared. It’s a deep-rooted fear that will only heal with time. The fear will keep her from truly embracing happiness with you.”
“Even though the female who helped her get free from her old pack said she’s safe now, she still harbors some fears that herold alpha will come for her,” he said after giving a brief rundown of Jade’s situation.
Lorene shook her head. “I hate antiquated males like that. It’s the twenty-first century. Get with the dang times.”
“Agreed.”
Lorene rested her hand on Brick’s shoulder and he felt her warmth and power. “She’ll find happiness with you and the pack, but it will take time. Love her to the best of your ability and trust that she is happy with you and she does care for you, but all those emotions are bookended by fear.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Jade walked up to them and Lorene dropped her hand and turned to her. “Did you have a nice chat with Bitty?”
“Yes, she’s really sweet.”
“We’ll see you tonight. Safe travels.”
Brick and Jade said goodbye and left the store with Dove and Linus. On the way back to Thorn Hollow, he noticed she was holding something in her hand.
“What is that?”
She opened her fist and he saw a carved pendant and a silver chain. “Bitty gave it to me. For protection.”
“Really?”
“I was looking at the pendant and she told me it was for protection and asked if I felt like I needed some. I said yes, and she handed it to me. She said that protection wasn’t just about keeping danger away from us but also about building up our own strength. Every time I start to really feel safe with you, the fear bubbles up inside me like a tea kettle on a hot stove. I don’t feel strong enough to handle things.”
He covered her hand and the pendant with his own. “You’ve got more strength than you realize. You left everything you ever knew to start over with strangers, protecting yourself from whatever designs your alpha and that dangerous male had foryou. That’s not something a meek person could do. I think the pendant is a great idea. I want you to feel safe, but I know it will take time. You’ll find your inner strength, and I’ll do my best to help you.”
She gave him a grateful smile. “I’m so glad I met you.”
He smiled back, warmth filling him. “Sweetheart, I’m so glad I met you too.”
Chapter
Thirteen
The next day, Alli came to visit and brought the clothes that Jade had picked out during one of their shopping trips since the pack was on relative lockdown with no unnecessary trips out of town.
They walked through the territory with Brick and Solan trailing behind them, the summer sunlight streaming through the branches and the oppressive heat making everything feel sticky.
“I was not built for hot weather,” she said, wiping her brow with the hem of her tank top.
“Oh, me either,” Alli said. “Air conditioning was one of the best inventions. That and refrigeration.”
