"Andre," Heath called. "Need you on the northeast approach tonight. That's their most likely avenue according to Prescott's old maps."
Andre nodded, already visualizing the position. High ground, good sight lines, multiple escape routes if things went wrong. His bear approved.
The morning dissolved into preparation. Weapons cleaned and checked. Ammunition distributed. Radio frequencies assigned. Medical supplies cached. Through it all, Andre's awareness tracked to one person.
He found Joy at dawn on Saturday, kneeling beside the emergency nuc boxes she'd set up for her surviving bees. The insects circled in confused loops, homeless but alive. She wore jeans and a faded t-shirt, her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. Beautiful in her grief. Fierce in her determination.
"Hey," he said softly.
She looked up, and her eyes flashed gold. Her mountain lion was so close to the surface he could practically see it pushing against her skin. "They're settling in. Some of them, anyway. Maybe two thousand made it."
Two thousand out of over a million bees. Andre's hands ached with the need to touch her, to verify she was real and whole and here. He gave in to the impulse, his palm finding her cheek. She leaned into the touch, eyes closing briefly.
"After this is over," he started.
"I know." She covered his hand with hers. "After we defend my family’s legacy.”
The promise hung in the morning air between them. They'd claim each other properly when the threat was gone. Make official what their animals already knew. But the waiting made Andre's teeth ache with the need to bite. The mate bond pulled at him constantly, a physical pain that no amount of patrolling could ease.
"I should check the other positions," he said reluctantly.
Joy stood, brushing dirt from her knees. "Be careful."
"Always."
On Sunday afternoon, Andre watched through his scope as non-combatant family members began their carefully planned evacuations. Cars left for "shopping trips.” Daisy took baby Rose to a "playdate" with Laney and baby Sophia in town.
Everything had to appear normal. Just another Sunday dinner with the extended family. He watched Joy emerge from the main house, moving to the grill with a wire brush.
The radio crackled. "Vehicle approaching main gate," Rafe reported. "It's Cyrus."
More family arrived as afternoon stretched toward evening. Leland helped Sylvia set out food. Maria arranged flowers on the tables. Everything a perfect picture of a family Sunday dinner. Except for the weapons hidden within easy reach. The defenders in concealed positions. The trap waiting to spring.
Andre’s radio earpiece carried the quiet check-ins of other positions.
"Position one secure."
"Position two, all quiet."
"Position three, nothing moving."
Serena's voice joined the rotation, calm and professional. "Medical stations operational. Triage ready if needed."
The land itself seemed to hold its breath. No cricket song, no owl calls. Even the wind had stilled. Andre's muscles cramped from holding still, but he didn't move. His bear pushed against his control, wanting to patrol, to hunt, to act. He breathed through it, maintaining discipline. They had one shot at this. Prescott and Webb couldn't know they were ready.
"All positions, check in," Rollo's voice cut through the static.
"Movement, southeast quadrant." Damien's voice cut through Andre's earpiece like a blade.
Andre swung his scope south. There. Three black SUVs approaching at careful speed, too clean for ranch vehicles. His bear surged against his control. The enemy. Finally here.
"Maintain positions," Heath ordered. "Let them look."
The vehicles stopped just outside visual range of the house. Doors opened. Men emerged, dressed in tactical black despite the afternoon heat. Andre counted eight, but there would be more. This was reconnaissance, not the main assault.
They moved with military precision, spreading out to survey the property. Through his scope, Andre tracked the apparent leader. Tall, lean build. Webb himself, come to scout the battlefield.
"Easy," Heath murmured over the radio. "Let them think they're clever."
