Mason's words lingered in her mind for a second as his raven hair glistened at Ayla in the sun.
He was baiting her, and she knew it, but why?
It didn't take long for his plan to work.
"Do I need Protection" she chuckled.
"Do I look like I need protection? You have tried for how long to catch me, and the only time you managed to get close is when I let you" she snarled, her fangs gleaming slightly.
"Son, I don't think she needs us, let alone wants us around" Mason said.
He meant every word of it.
Dominic and his men were still looking over the edge, wondering just where she came from.
"You would have to prove yourself to someone like her, Mason. Would you expect someone like her to just let us help her? Would you respect her if she did" Dominic asked, returning his attention to the pack of wolves.
Mason stood there processing his rival's words, looking at him as if he had stolen his favorite toy.
As he stood there, he turned and started looking at Alexander.
A sense of realization, trying it's best to hide Mason's eyes and not be discovered.
"Wait a minute. You were outside earlier. How come I can't pick up on you? Julius said she had two wolves protecting her. Are you not one of them" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know why you can't sense me. That isn't my problem. I'm amazing at concealing myself" Alexander smirked.
His chest puffed just slightly as he boasted and stared Mason down.
Alexander wanted to make it clear he did not trust him.
"I'm not surprised she evaded you for so long, Dom. These three are talented. Look, I know I can't go home, and neither can you. I wouldn't mind seeing what the offer is. It's better than losing my head" Mason said.
Ayla was quietly watching, listening, and observing everything from just outside the group at that point.
Even though it was directed at Dominic, it was plainly addressed to everyone.
Julius was confused by Mason's statement, though as he questioned him.
"What do you mean by that"?
Mason was happy to explain.
"I can't go back to my pack without her. As of now, they know I defected. I can't and won't catch her. I have two, maybe three options. One, stay and vacation while waiting for them to kill me. Two, return and let them kill me. Three, see what you have to offer, which I hope isn't to kill me because I kind of like my head".
Dominic was quick to add.
"Yeah, options are fairly similar for myself. Unfortunately, because of me, Phoenix and Raphael are right in the boat too. Phoenix can probably say I held him captive or something, but Raph is screwed. Abandoning the mission will cost me my head. Alpha Theo already sent one Colonel after me. Before long, my head will be on a pike by his duty house".
Raphael jumped in for the first time, "I have no problem with not pursuing her and staying. I would love to never go back to that pack, actually. Plus, I think it's the right thing to do"!
"Agreed! You didn't force us. We chose to follow you and see this through, so we are. We trust you" Phoenix added.
Ayla cleared her throat.
"How is that going to help me" Ayla blurted, then stifled a laugh.
"You now all have people potentially after you for failing to capture me. Trying to find you will inevitably bring attention to me. Isn't that what we are trying to avoid"?
She was probably the only one who saw that slight hiccup with the plan.
Was she supposed to provide these men protection?
They had to think about her words for a moment after they got over their astonishment at how strategic and smart this captivating young woman was.
"The added bonus that comes with us is we know all your enemies, because apparently they are ours too" Phoenix said, nodding confidently with a sly, flirty smile.
Phoenix realized that his point didn't dispel hers, and she didn't seem amused, so he went another direction.
"Plus, I'm nearly the same age as all of you. Do I deserve to die, or Raph, because we don't want to take you to some greedy Alpha"?
Ayla knew that the two men with Dominic were young, and he had a point.
Did they deserve to lose the rest of their lives for not wanting to catch her?
Plus, they weren't the ones who aggravated her wolf and got under her skin.
Honestly, she thought that Phoenix's joke was funny, but she refused to show any signs of trust for the time being.
Finally, she gave them a sliver of hope to gauge reactions.
"If I consider it, what would be the plan"?
"To protect you. Personal bodyguards" Raphael said proudly, "Not that you need us" he added, giving a single shoulder shrug.
Ayla pulled a hand up and started pushing the tips of her fingers up and down her forehead with more force than she intended.
"You don't have to agree to any of this, Ayla" Alexander said, trying to ease her mind.
She felt responsible for them in a way, the younger two at least.
There would still be caution moving forward, no matter what.
"Yes, I do. Where can they go if I don't? They are left with nothing because of me. What was this brilliant plan for the team, Julius"?
She could see nothing but smiles on the six men who stood around her.
Alexander seemed excited to have more friends and potential help, but something was lingering just under the surface level that Ayla could not necessarily see, but maybe sense.
Apparently, she had a team to protect her that consisted of Alexander, Julius, Dominic, Phoenix, Raphael, and Mason.
How that happened, she still wasn't sure.
It was like nature was gathering all of these werewolves around her to protect her.
"Thought, but what about those two that just came in. Is there anything you know about them? What did you all make of them? How much of a threat are they" she asked curiously.
In reality, this was a test.
All eyes were immediately on her.
"Why" Mason spilled out instantly.
"I think if we have a team, and we are offering each other protection, we should maybe start with the current threat. If they aren't a threat, maybe they would think about joining us".
"You mean Shaw and Orion? I didn't think about it. They are not quite as young as you all, but young. I can see where they stand with everything if they're still here" Dominic said.
Ayla was curious about the younger wolves, no offense to the two elder men in the group.
"Do you honestly think they would be willing to join this little protection squad Julius started"?
It was as if all their eyes were burning a hole through her.
She realized she spoke too fast.
"In time, in time. You don't have to say anything about me just yet. Find out if they are here first. Calm down".
"Now, about these plans you have, Julius. How do you see this working" Mason asked.
Ayla was just as curious, but she had an idea.
Julius was ready with the answer.
"Room and board for protection. That simple. You help us protect Ayla. We help with an apartment on the second floor. It's easy access for us and you with team matters, plus protection for you. While here, you don't have to worry about anyone making their way in easily with the locked access".
Phoenix and Raphael looked at each other before looking back at Julius.
"What kind of apartment situation are we talking about here" Phoenix asked.
He was getting used to the luxuries of the suite and wondering what he would be giving up.
Julius wasn't sure if his idea would work, but it was worth a shot.
"Everyone has at least their own room. Most apartments are two bedrooms. I thought that you and Raph could room, and Dominic and Mason could room, for now anyway".
They all seemed to shrug their shoulders around the same time as a way of agreeing.
It was obvious that Mason and Dominic didn't trust each other, but this was a way for them to both work on that and keep an eye on each other for peace of mind.
Ayla was not as settled.
She knew that it was a deal made in her best interest, but it would take time to see if it was a good one.
"Hey, Dominic, can you stay behind after everyone heads down" she asked.
"Sure" he smiled.
He was delighted to finally be really meeting her, and not in the woods after being busted by a packmate.
Everyone made their way down so the two could talk.
That included Alexander, who didn't want to leave her.
"He cares for you, they both do, but that one has a strong bond with you" he told her.
"I can tell. It's mutual" she said.
"Mates then" he asked.
"I don't know. How am I supposed to know that? I just found out I'm a wolf. Give me a minute to breathe" she smiled.
Her smile told him everything he needed to know.
"I saw the two of you coming back. You should be more careful now. They wanted you before you figured out who you were. Now that you know, they will be coming for you harder, and for more wicked reasons than finding you and the lost children".
Ayla felt like she knew exactly what he meant.
"You mean to match me and breed me"?
He nodded.
"Yep. You are strong. It's a good quality. Strange that all the alphas are fighting for you. They all seem to be claiming you as their daughter. I don't know how to figure out the answer to who your real parents are yet, but I'm working on it".
She appreciated his honesty.
It was obvious that he was telling the truth.
"Do you think you can trust the man your Alpha sent after you"?
"Of course. Well, to a degree".
He thought about it.
Was he like Raph and Phoenix?
"I gave him hope to rise in ranks at the same time as his visit. If he believed what I said, then he went back to the pack. You hopefully helped with that. He may even come back to assist me if I know Alpha Theo. If he does, I'll try to recruit Lucas then".
Ayla didn't like that answer.
There were too many unknowns.
They both knew that the more unknowns they had, the more danger there was.
"Do you know what happened to Mason's other men? The ones he arrived with"?
He was surprised at her questions.
"You are a smart and observant girl. First thing he did was send them with a false tip I circulated, as far as I know. Not to say they won't be back. You will have to ask him about those guys, though".
"How many kids are missing"?
Dominic looked down before answering.
"Too many. I don't know the exact number. I know all the high-ranking families at that time lost their children. Then it was sporadic after that, with the choosing of families. They included people in the ranks like me, betas, deltas, and gammas. If they were anything other than an omega, they had their children stolen. My guess was so that it would be impossible to figure out who we found because of who was taken".
Ayla couldn't control her face from showing the sadness that washed over it.
"It wasn't your fault. You were a baby. That does mean that you probably belonged to someone important, just like Alexander did. Chances are higher of that than you two being omega families".
That thought never occurred to her.
She was so focused on fighting alone that she didn't think to ask how he was doing.
He was experiencing everything right alongside her.
Ayla felt even more like crap.
"Do you have any ideas as to who his family is"?
"Other than a family with status, nope. Only the family that knows his name will figure it out, or I assume. It wasn't until Julius said his name to me that I saw him as my son. I could finally see who he really was".
Ayla had lost her desire to prod the old man for information any longer.
There was one more thing she needed to know, though.
"Do you know who all is after me"?
He nodded his head and began speaking while pointing in general directions. By the time he was finished, it was like a half-moon around their current location.
"Obviously, there is Alpha Theo with Luna Theresa of the Silver Moon pack. Alpha Phelan and Luna Livana after that with the Skin Walker Pack. Then, you have the Red Wolf Pack next to them, with Alpha Maccon and Luna Nikini. Followed by that, you have the Black Forest Pack, with Alpha Canagon and Luna Tala. I haven't heard much from the Crescent Moon pack with Alpha Kenneally and Luna Aruna, but that doesn't mean anything. The same goes for the Blue Moon pack with Alpha Seff and Luna Zella. That also includes the Moonlight Shifters pack, with Alpha Aysel and Luna Alina. Those three packs are close and private. They keep out the things that cause problems like kidnapping. That leaves the Sharp Fang Pack with Alpha Declan and Luna Cressida. Wait, I forgot about the Deep Fang Pack. Can't leave out Mason's Alpha, Ulfric, and his Luna Ylva" he smiled.
Ayla was trying to comprehend just how many names and packs that was as she tried to run the names through her head again, lifting her fingers as she did.
"Nine" he whispered.
"Like I said, two or three of them might not be after you, though" he shrugged.
"Up to nine packs are after me"?
She was wiping her forehead nervously again.
Maybe she did need all of their protection.
Ayla knew that men were after her, but that many?
It didn't miss her that he nearly made a complete circle around them as he was pointing them all out, either.
Her hand went up, and she started pointing them out herself.
He watched her, waiting for her questions.
"Are we surrounded by enemies here"?
"No, No. You misunderstood my gesture. I nearly wanted to show you the direction they were in. It wasn't to say that they were close in that direction. Moon goddess knows that if wolves are that close to each other, they end up being too territorial or blending into one pack. There are others, too. Those are just the ones that are within a week of running".
At least that made her feel a little bit better about the situation.
Ayla had more concrete knowledge about who was after her.
"More than likely, I am from one of those packs. Not just me, but Alexander is from one of those packs, too. Right" she asked.
He was almost positive that it was the case for all the missing children.
Dominic had only heard about children disappearing from those packs.
"I would say it's a high probability".
"Good. Maybe we can figure out who I belong to soon and put an end to all of this nonsense. Then, we can find his family too. It doesn't have to be in that order" she winked.
He didn't have the heart to tell her that it probably wouldn't be that easy.
None of what followed could possibly be that simple for the cursed werewolf before him.
His sympathy only grew for her.
Now, he understood why Julius and Alexander felt the need to protect her so strongly.
With that being the apparent end of the conversation, the two headed toward the elevator.
Standing in front of the elevator, one thing was still burning on Dominic's mind, "I'm still curious how you made it up here like that".
"Magic" she laughed, doing classic magic dancing fingers.
"Really, that was incredible".
"I would say that I thought it was too, but I'd be lying. Jumps like that are easy for me. I just grabbed the top of the open window and sort of jumped and flung myself where I wanted to be. It was like I could see where I wanted to land, I held the top of the window to swing myself, let go, and wished myself to be there, and then I landed there".
Pride was plastered on her face like a badge of honor.
"If I had known what you were that capable, maybe you wouldn't have been able to escape me all that time" he said, nudging her shoulder.
"You wish. You knew what I was capable of the whole time. That's why two things happened. You couldn't catch me, and you didn't want to, not really" she laughed.
He rolled his eyes at her and didn't say anything because deep down, he knew she was partly right.
"Even knowing what I can do, you would never be able to catch me. One day, I'll let you try. It might not be a bad idea to train some. With nine packs after me, it's probably a really good idea for all of us to train. We can do it here, on the rooftop, because I think people have noticed the uptick in 'dogs' running around".
Dominic gave her an odd look.
"What makes you say that"?
She walked to the edge of the building with him and pointed down to a vehicle.
"Animal patrol rolling around the streets. That only happens when wild animals or random dogs are running around and are reported. I saw them on our street earlier today. Something tells me that isn't a coincidence. Someone saw something and called them".
They both started thinking about all the wolves present lately.
"It wasn't me. I've only shifted in the woods..." he said, thinking, "and in Julius's office, and off my balcony".
"You what" she said, laughing, "That's incredible".
"Not if someone saw me. Getting back to the problem. Phoenix and Raphael haven't shifted since we've been here, except when we went running in the woods. They only did it deep in the woods. So, it wasn't them".
They were stepping onto the elevator as they continued talking.
"How do you know that"?
"We have a special connection because of a lot of factors. One, our rankings, I have to be connected to them. Raphael and Phoenix being like sons to me ties us emotionally too, so I can feel them, as it's bonded us over time. I can feel it when they shift".
Ayla found the information fascinating.
Would she be able to build bonds with Alexander, or any of the rest of them, that strong?
Was she already?
It was as if he could read her mind.
"You will. Just give it time, as you said, it's all new. The Moon Goddess put the string between you and Alexander already, though. At least it seems to me like she has".
She was trying to understand what Dominic had just told her.
"What" she asked.
Ayla had just exited the elevator when the words began to leave Dominic's mouth.
Guess the answer would have to wait until next time.
She wasn't sure what he was talking about until she realized that Alexander was standing right there, waiting very impatiently for her to come down.
He wanted to give her the freedom to make her own choices, even if he didn't like them.
That didn't mean he didn't worry about her.
The wave of relief that washed over him when he realized that she was perfectly fine could be felt by everyone.
Alexander was visibly inspecting her for any signs of distress or injury that she could be hiding.
What if he did something and she couldn't show it?
She was calm as she spoke, trying to ease his mind.
"It's okay, Alexander. We talked. That's it. I'm happy with Julius's plan".
His eyebrows came together in an angry fashion.
Then he released them.
"You agree," he asked.
Ayla nodded.
"Yes, I think after our talk that it's smart. These men know their Alphas and who they will send. We don't".
That was all she said, and all the information she offered.
The calm manner in which she spoke, partnered with the tight-lipped mannerism, gave him PTSD.
"I don't believe you. This is another trick" he sneered.
"NO, it's not. I promise, I agree with Julius. I accept their protection, and they accept ours in exchange. Honestly, it's a win, win, right"?
It almost seemed like he growled a little, but he tried to hide it.
She was hungry, dirty, and felt defeated.
"Honestly, I just want to eat and take a shower".
The last thing she wanted to do was make Alexander worry.
How could she show him that she meant what she said?
Thinking quickly, she started walking toward him.
Grabbing his hands, she leaned into his and kissed him.
"It's a good plan" she whispered as she started to pull him toward the bedroom with her.
"Oh no, no you don't" he said, stopping her.
"You will not be tricking me into thinking everything is fine with your amazing sex, just to disappear when you finish with me".
All of the men in the room had to hold back the laughter that was building inside of them.
They had no intention of making it obvious they were still there.
"That is not what I'm trying to do" she smiled and raised an eyebrow, continuing to pull his hands.
Once they reached the bed, she went to climb on top of him.
"No, you don't. I won't fall for your tricks this time" he said, flipping them over and pinning her down.
That only aroused her more, making her wolf almost purr inside.
"You just plan on bolting the second you please me and knock me out. With everyone here, it will be a piece of cake for you. Not this time" he said.
Holding her with one hand, he rummaged through his nightstand with the other.
Looking like he had finally found a million dollars, his hand flung up with pride.
Handcuffs.
He was holding a set of handcuffs in his hand.
"Not this time" he muttered.