Chapter 4

Jacob shook his head. “Alright, so you heard what I told Cara. We keep this area safe. No matter what comes this way, we keep this area secure. We’re the only thing between them and everything else out there.” He gestured from the small group of humans to the world at large. “Every hour, we’ll meet on the south side. Every four hours one of us will go and sleep so that there are three of us doing rounds at all times.”

The three wolves all bowed their heads slightly in understanding.

“Good.” Jacob turned and walked back over to Cara, explaining the plan before stripping the jeans off once again and shifting easily back into wolf form.

He led the other wolves into the woods and they began patrolling the area together. Jacob could tell that two of the wolves were gammas and immediately submissive to him.

Those two were young and strong, but they were hardly more than pups just yet. The other one was a good deal older than Jacob. He was stubborn and strong but he bowed to Jacob after a time so that could only mean that he was a beta or perhaps an Omega.

Jacob was beginning to lean heavily toward Omega from the way the older wolf gave in so easily when Jacob mentioned that he was putting the entire pack in danger by challenging at that particular time. Many Betas might not have given up so easily at that particular statement but the older wolf had bowed just as easily as any Gamma when told his actions were endangering the pack. He shook his head as if that might clear the thoughts away. He needed to focus right now on keeping watch.

Since none of them were tired yet, at the end of the first hour when they were pretty certain that the area was secure, Jacob told the other wolves that he would go hunt while the other three continued their rounds. He’d use the hunt to scout out further into the surrounding area as well just to be safe.

Just before sunrise on the second day, a noise off in the distance brought the wolves to full alert. Jacob was already making his way toward the source of the noise when two of the other three wolves joined him. Whatever it was, it was still a ways off. Jacob growled orders to the others and they spread out, moving through the woods quickly toward the noise. All three of them caught the scent at the same time. Not everyone in the pack knew each other by name, but everyone knew the scent of the Alpha and his family.

Jacob shifted quickly into his human form and stood there waiting with a pleased grin on his face when Marcus appeared through the trees. “It’s about time you showed up.” He called out to the other man. “And who do you have there?” Jacob asked of the brown-eyed blond peeking out over Marcus’ shoulder which quickly disappeared the moment Jacob mentioned her.

Jacob had to laugh. “I mean, I see nothing. Nothing at all.” He corrected himself quickly, drawing a chuckle from Marcus. The sight of the girl sobered Jacob immediately as he remembered Lisa and Marcus’ own daughter. “Uh, hey Marcus… You should see if the little one wants to ride on old bones here and take a walk with me.” Jacob said, motioning to the older wolf.

Marcus gave Jacob a questioning look, but he nodded and shifted the little girl around. “This is Sara by the way. What do you think, Sara? Would you like to go for a little ride on my friend here?” He asked, nodding toward the older wolf. “His name is Gabriel. He’s very strong and he’ll keep you safe.”