Wolf's Pack (Wolves Next Door #3) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,170

I could easily count five cars, and I had a feeling that was just the first wave. As Heather sped around the first turn, I lowered my window, then slowed down as I got to the guard shack.

"I think we have some behind us," I warned Sheridan. "I don't want you outside the gates."

"I'm ok with that," she promised, waving me in.

I kept going, aiming for the office parking lot, but what I saw behind me made me even more impressed by my community. Sheridan did something. I didn't even know what. A line of metal pillars, each one as big around as Gabby's waist, began to rise from the ground right in front of the gate. Behind that, the metal strip I'd always assumed was a weight plate turned, revealing sharp metal points. A tire strip, of sorts. The lights in the guard shack turned off, and then the little vixen hopped out and ran between the closing gate.

With only a foot left before the community was completely secure, the first car pulled up. We were piling out of the truck, so the driver decided to do the same. It wasn't anyone I knew, but he looked pissed, and his partially-renovated muscle car was still running.

"Give us back our packmates!" he demanded, yelling at the top of his lungs.

Sheridan answered him the way I wanted to. The girl lifted her middle finger and grinned. "Ours now, big boy. First rule of wolves: the bigger bitch always wins."

Gabby giggled. Ashley murmured her approval. Vic just cleared his throat. "I'm, uh, borrowing the truck because I still need some pants."

"Same," Lev said from the back seat.

Which was when I saw Ian jogging across the street toward me. "Elena, take the pups to the clinic." The rest of his betas were heading for the doors to the office.

"What's going on?" I asked just as he reached me.

Ian caught both sides of my face. "I'm so glad to see you, but you didn't think this would end here, did you? We're sending out a pack-wide alert. First, that you're back. Second, that Hidden Forest is coming for a challenge."

"No," I breathed, realizing what he was saying. "You fucking knew he'd do this?"

Ian just turned me back toward the SUV. "He has to, just like you had to do this. Get the Sisterhood set up there as a second line of defense, because that's where they'll go next. Damon's going to want his converts back - and his child."

In that moment, I realized why he'd wanted to leave it alone, but he'd let me run with this. This man had allowed his entire pack to be risked because I'd wanted to help these kids. Now, how many more had I just put in danger?

"Ian..." I tried, pausing to turn back.

He just pressed a kiss against my lips. "I'll run if I have to, Elena. If Damon wins, there's nothing saying Ashley can't challenge him. Any pack member, actually. We have options."

But Vic heard. "Any of us, Alpha?" he asked Ian, leaning out the window to be heard.

And Ian began to grin. "Technically, yeah," he said.

Vic chuckled. "I could handle being called the Pack Alpha. I'm also easily bought out. Don't act like a stupid dog, ok?"

"Watch my girls," Ian told him. "That includes my sister."

The men shared a look. Something had just been settled, but it wasn't Ian whose opinion had changed. No, Vic was the one who'd just found comfort with their agreement - but the guy at the gate was still ranting at Sheridan. The fox was still taunting him, but now there were three cars instead of just one. From the traffic on the street behind him, I was starting to wonder if the entire Hidden Forest pack had followed us.

And my guts clenched. "An army," I breathed.

"But we're a pack," Ian said. "Go. Protect the weak ones, Elena. This is your fucking den. These are your pups. Every last one. The pack will listen to you as much as they do me, so get ready for this to get ugly. And if it doesn't? Then we lose nothing. I'd rather be safe than sorry."

I climbed back into the truck, along with everyone else - and then Lane whistled. "Sheridan!"

The girl spun, raced across the street, and climbed into the back just as I started the truck again. There wasn't really enough room, so she claimed a spot on Vic's hip, sitting awkwardly because the guy still wasn't wearing pants.

"I need