Before he can change direction, Murdoch barrels into me sending us both rolling across the ground. I hear fabric tearing apart from the direction of Alpha Rick and the councilman and I know it is Alpha RIck who has shifted. What I don't expect is to see Caspian's wolf shifting and dashing behind me to put himself between us. This is really getting out of hand.
"Jennifer. Are you okay?" Cayden growls out but I can tell it is more for concern for me than anything.
"All good." I blurt in reply before turning my attention back onto my brother "Murdoch come on, you need to go run it off. I can handle this but if you attack it will cause alot of problems." I plead, if he doesn't stand down I will have to use my authority and it will give away whom I am and I need to wait until my birthday.
'He needs to pay.' They both snarl through the link, both my brother and his wolf don't fail to hide the anger thrumming through them at how we were mistreated, how he couldn't protect me and the fustration of them not leaving us alone. I can also feel the pain hidden underneath, he was finally happy, felt like he had a family again. Joe had made sure of that, him and his mate taking us in and caring for us as their own pups. 'He is always destroying our happiness. We were finally happy and you were finally safe'
I will never be safe and he knows this but this really isn't the time to remind him when he is on edge, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck I hear gasps but also the low growling behind me.
"Alpha Rick. If you attack my pup I will not tolerate it." Joe snarls throwing in all his authority. Great, that is all we need now. Everyone getting all Alpha on everyone.
"See bro. We don't need to fight anymore. Not on our own, everyone has our backs. So go find Connor and burn this off." Snarling at me he turns tail and sprints off, feeling out the link to Connor to make sure he is doing what I say I find him nearby with the other pups, right in the direction my brother is going.
"Right." I tell myself standing tall and facing the new commontion behind me. Finding not only Caspian but Cayden in their wolf forms blocking Alpha RIck approaching whilst Councilman Daryll stands stiff, hissing at Alpha Rick to stand down and refusing to use his aurora to solve the situation.
"I think everyone needs to calm down." I calmly state and head over to Councilman Daryll and hold up the phone with a single photo of Danny. "I have further proof but I think this will satisfy you." The picture shows the whip marks across Danny's back and causes the Councilman to flinch and stare at Alpha Rick in shock.
The latter seeing the change in his so called allie, leaps above the two wolves protecting me and goes to latch his claws and teeth in me but with my training he fails as I twist in time and pin him to the ground. The single glance I turn on the Councilman is all I need to get him to take control and send is power out and make Alpha Rick shift back, stepping away from him the men that came with him take him in to custody but I am not stupid, I know they will be calibrating again as soon as they leave pack grounds. One wanting to make me pay and the other determined to take down Joe's pack for some reason.
Turning to face Joe, he gives me a slight nod in the direction of my brother and I gladly take the hint and head off, surprisingly Cayden and Caspian in wolf forms follow either side of me, their postures tense as though waiting for an attack. Silly boys they should know by now that I can handle myself. Without thinking I slide my hands into their luxourious soft fur at their necks and up towards their ears for a scratch earning a purr from them both, making me weak at the knees, damn.
'After my birthday.' I remind Val before she can respond, earning a small whimper in my head. 'Sorry.' I tell her feeling guilty and send her all the love I can through our link.