The two cahirs stared at her in shock, then—most wisely—nodded. As did the Cosantirs.
“Good.” Vicki ran her hand over the road on the map. “Once I’m armed, I’ll find a spot on the road to the west and deal with incoming vehicles and disembarking troops. I’ll try to direct my fire away from the forest and fighting. Wells?”
“I’ll take the road to the east.”
She nodded and addressed the shifters again. “When setting up positions, consider the road itself as a kill zone and stay the hell off of it.”
As Tynan studied the map for where the wolves would best be useful, an icicle of fear stabbed into his guts.
How long ago had Meggie headed north with Oliver? He’d been grateful she was well out of the fight, but if the Scythe didn’t plan to attack until sunset, they could be positioned miles north.
By the Gods, he’d give anything to have her close where he could protect her. Know she was safe.
But at this point, the farther away she was, the better.
Stay safe, little wolf.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Unclaimed territory - one night before the full moon
On the west side of the meadow, shifters milled around. These were the agile noncombatants, Margery thought, as she helped line up the younglings. Owen’s group had the cubs who were too young to shift, but old enough to traverse bad terrain as well as females and elders who weren’t up to helping with the fighting.
Emma and Ryder waited in the line, each assigned a batch of children. Minette had a tight grip on Emma’s hand. Once they arrived, the bard would take charge of keeping the cubs calm and hidden. Many mothers were remaining to fight.
Oliver joined Margery, a pack with food and water on his back. After smiling at her, he looked at Owen who stood nearby. “Cahir, I’ll go with your group. I’m crap at sneaking around, but effective at fighting from a fixed location. Guarding is where I’ll do the most good.”
Owen eyed him, then nodded. “I can use you. Bring up the rear and make sure no one falls behind.”
With the cahir leading, the line of shifters headed into the forest.
“After you.” Oliver motioned to Margery to take up the tail end in front of him.
She shook her head, her heart aching. “I can’t. My ankle makes me a liability on rough terrain.” She was already limping from the run to warn the shifters. “My place is here where I can help with the injured.”
“But…” He scowled, then shook his head. “Arguing with a banfasa never works. Be safe. Please.”
“You, too.” She hugged him and gave him a push to join the line.
As he followed the others into the woods, she leaned on a tree to figure out where to go next.
On the other side of the grounds, Ben’s huge shape in his grizzly form led away the pregnant shifters also in animal form, followed by females carrying the youngest cubs and infants. Heather was there, Sorcha in her arms.
Margery spotted Donal who held Vicki’s other cubs. Attention on the footing, he hadn’t seen her. The ache in her chest grew.
Donal. Be safe. I love you.
Near the dining tent, the wolves were dividing into three groups. On the left, Shay and Zeb had charge of Cold Creek’s pack as well as the Rainier wolves.
On the right, Tynan stood with Warren, a younger male. The wolves from other territories gathered around them.
Patrin and Fell would lead the shifter-soldiers who were wolves. As they all formed up, Patrin was giving hasty instructions on how to pair up and attack a human, much as he’d taught Shay’s pack last month.
Gods, she wanted to go with her pack. Or to be with Tynan. She could fight—or at least be the diversion teammate. But the wolves would be traveling fast to get behind the attackers. And, once again, her damned ankle would slow her down.
No, she was best staying here.
“Let’s go.” Shay motioned. The leaders trawsfurred, and the three groups of wolves filtered into the forest, heading north.
Be safe, Tynan. I love you.
He hadn’t seen her either. He and Donal probably thought she was well on her way to Canada. That was good. They didn’t need to be worrying about her right now.
She was worried enough for all three of them. How foolish she’d been to decide she couldn’t handle watching them mate with others. Right now, she’d be delighted to see them at a Gathering, no matter who they flirted with. Knowing they were