“Fine,” Noah said. “Sydney…”
Sydney walked to the center of the lobby with Oscar and Livia behind her. It didn’t escape the pack’s notice that the wolves were fully healed.
“Noah, can I speak with you privately?”
He growled but followed her out the back door and far enough away this time that no one could overhear.
“You gave them your blood didn’t you? I can’t believe that you would…”
“Noah, shut up.”
He looked angry and then hurt, and then angry again.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You are kidding yourself. You are an alpha. You took control in there when the magic users came. Yes, there were casualties, but no one would have survived without you, and they all know that whether they are ready to admit it or not. The humans would have won and taken those they didn’t kill captive.”
Noah’s jaw clenched. “They don’t want me. They don’t want you.”
“Give them time. They loved Shira. You need a pack. You know you do, and you’re not going to be content to integrate into your dad’s pack. You need your own people. This is them. If you think fate brought me to you, maybe it brought us to them, too. I can get every single one of them on our side if you give me a chance.”
Noah pulled her to him and held her. “You’re right. I know what you’re going to do. At least feed again first.”
Sydney drank long and deep, no longer afraid to absorb that kind of power because she needed it to help lead this pack. And they needed her. She wouldn’t continue to be afraid and back away from something she needed to make her strong.
She turned and started back for the door.
“Hey Sydney?”
“Yeah?”
“You know I love you, right? It’s not just fate and blood. I’ve loved you since we were kids.”
“Noah. Dammit, don’t make me all weepy before I have to go in there and be a bad ass.”
He chuckled.
“I love you, too.”
The room was still tense when they returned to the lobby.
“I’m going to make the same offer I made last night,” Noah said. “Anyone who wants to stay behind can stay behind. Anyone who wants to come with us can come with us.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want us?” one of the wolves asked, sounding bitter and hurt.
“Didn’t I also say I was kept captive for years? I’m not going to be perfect, but I won’t threaten to abandon any of you again. I swear it.”
“What about Oscar? What will happen to him if we follow you?” Livia asked. She gripped his arm as if it were a lifeline holding her stable out at sea.
Sydney hoped with every fiber of her being that Noah would make the right call on this one.
“Nothing will happen to Oscar. Do you guys not understand when I tell you I was their captive for years? I’ve watched them torture. I’ve watched them kill. I escaped most of it by being quiet and not looking threatening. The only thing they wanted from me was my blood. But when they want anything else from someone, it’s much worse. Oscar can choose just like the rest of you. No grudges. No punishments. No killing.”
Sydney moved through the group of wounded werewolves and fed them each her blood until they began to heal.
As the wolves healed, Noah moved to one side of the room. “Sydney and I will commit fully to you if you commit fully to us. If you’re going with us, join me on this side of the lobby.”
One by one the wolves came to stand with Noah until the only wolves not standing with him were the ones that were dead.
Noah watched as the wolves joined him on his side of the room. He’d half-believed they would reject him now that they knew the truth of things. He’d been a fool to ever think it would remain a secret forever. When he’d been ready to run, it didn’t seem to matter that they knew. It felt like the last word in an argument. Look how stupid you were to follow me. You don’t even know anything about me.
The beta stepped forward. “Noah, sir, You want that motorcycle lesson now?”
He glanced at the other wolves to see if any were laughing at him, but they were all deadly solemn.
“Yeah, that would be good.” He turned back to the pack. When he’d seen the motorcycles the previous night, he’d noticed they all had saddlebags on the sides. “Guys, pack whatever is necessary that you can fit on or inside your bike. We’ll scout out a place tonight and get Sydney settled before sunrise, you can follow the scent when the sun comes up.”
This time the wolves scattered to carry out the order. Some of them looked distraught. He didn’t blame them. In the space of twenty-four hours they’d lost their leader, several other wolves, and now their home. He had no idea why they would follow him after all of that, but if the vampire alliance had broken down now and the humans knew the location of the den, it wouldn’t be long until a lot more danger was on their doorstep. They had to move fast.
Sydney didn’t say anything as they went to their room. Milo followed.
“Saddlebags for Shira’s bike are in her closet. Sydney can use that. I’ll get you some others from one of the fallen wolves”
“Thanks.”
The beta started to leave.
“Hey, Milo. Tell them after they pack, they can bury those that died.”
“They’ll appreciate that.”
Noah sat on the edge of the bed and watched while Sydney went through the clothes to find the few she could take. Possibly the only good thing about this was that they could all travel light. They had weapons already: fangs, claws, brute strength. They were weapons. Even Sydney, now.
They hunted, so they didn’t need to pack food. Just clothing. And in truth, in a worst case situation they could simply live as wolves in the woods. It wouldn’t be the first pack that had tried to blend as animals in that way to avoid the humans, but it didn’t always work. Some of Noah’s fellow prisoners had come from packs using that strategy. Their magical signature followed them wherever they went. Too close to a city or a strong magic user, and it was only a matter of time before they were found out.
Milo returned with saddlebags for Noah. “I’ll wait downstairs for you guys.”
When the door shut, Noah went through the clothing the pack had brought him and tried everything on to determine what would fit best, what he could move and fight in if necessary and then put the chosen items into the bags.
“You’re awfully quiet,” he said. Sydney hadn’t spoken a word since they’d left the lobby.
“I’m just thinking. I feel bad about everything they’re leaving behind.”
“They’re taking their lives. It’s leave and live or stay and die.”
“We don’t know they’ll live. We don’t know we will.”
“I know we will.” Fate couldn’t be that cruel to bring her to him against all odds only to take her away again. He wouldn’t allow it to happen.
When they were packed, Sydney gave the room one last look. “I kind of liked this place. Even though I knew we were never staying.”
Noah led her down through the lobby one more time. The metal was playing again. Milo had been kind enough to explain immediately after the fighting why that music played and why it had been so loud.