7. Gracie
Gracie
“I actually slept really well,” I said to Thornar.
His lips brushed over the top of my head as I curled up next to him in the car.
Despite having to wake up early, packing up the camp in what felt like record time, the exhaustion from traveling all day hadn’t followed me into the morning.
Or maybe I was just getting used to all of this.
I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
The landscape outside the window had changed once more, the terrain running harder with dense brush and rocky roads. Grimfur Skulk territory was still an hour or so north, but the time was flying as I wondered what we’d find there.
Only we didn’t have to make it all the way to the border wall to find out. We stopped just before the abrupt edge of the tree line, where Waylon and Bishu, along with a handful of their commanders and advisors, were already waiting.
The Grimfur Skulk had cleared miles of land near the border, leaving an expanse that reminded me of Cold Moon Pack territory.
Flat, open ground stretched in every direction, sparse brush the only interruption between us and the walled checkpoint in the distance.
Anyone looking outward from that post would have a clean line of sight.
“This isn’t what I expected to face at the border,” Ravik admitted as we stepped out of the car.
“Ah, just in time to help us solve our problem,” Waylon said in greeting.
“I’m guessing you didn’t order the brush removal?” Thornar asked.
“No, this was all them,” Waylon said. “But we have another issue as well—we’ve received word that some of the allied forces have been delayed by weather to the northwest. It washed out one of the connecting roads. They’re waiting until the storm passes to move the equipment across.”
My brow furrowed, suddenly worried about those from the Ironsun Pack who were set to join us. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yes,” Bishu said, “just delayed.”
The statement should have reassured me, but I still worried. Even so, I kept my head up, trying to mimic Bishu who stood next to Waylon with quiet certainty.
“How long?” Ravik asked.
“They won’t reach here until morning at the earliest,” one of Waylon’s commanders said. My gaze moved to the darkening evening sky.
“So we wait?” I asked, even though I somehow knew it wouldn’t be as easy as that.
“Unfortunately, we can’t,” the commander responded, nodding toward the open terrain. “Out here we’re visible. An hour after dark, maybe less, and that checkpoint will notice us. If word gets back to the capital before morning we’ll lose every advantage we have.”
Waylon’s gaze moved across the flatland with the calm of someone who had faced similar logistical challenges before. “We move tonight, then.”
“Agreed,” Ravik said. “If we don’t, we’ll have to retreat and approach from a different place.”
I listened carefully as the team crafted a plan, trying to take in every detail as my worry for my men and the part they’d play in this started to build.
The checkpoint was secure, supported by a military base.
It wasn’t as heavily guarded as the Cold Moon Pack’s border, but it was enough to pose a challenge.
We’d need to move quietly in order to keep the element of surprise so that no one inside would have time to slip out or send a message to Alpha Sharp.
Ravik and Thornar would lead the operation from the east, using what little cover the brush offered. Basir would come in from the north with Waylon’s two commanders. Each unit would have additional soldiers who specialized in operations like this. The infiltration would be quiet and clean.
My men would be in direct danger.
I knew they were capable of handling it, but I’d have to be oblivious not to notice how Basir’s demeanor had shifted when the border first came into view.
His emotions were locked down, and while he still kept me close, his hand wrapped in mine, I knew that going forward would be a heavy experience for him.
I also knew we wouldn’t have time to talk about it until much later.
“We leave in thirty minutes,” Ravik said, closing his tablet and offering Waylon a long look. “I know your forces are more than capable of handling this, but I still regret we don’t have our own forces to aid.”
Waylon offered a wry smile. “We’ll need your forces once we break into the territory. We can handle tonight. Easily.”
I hoped he meant that. I’d be counting on his teams to keep my mates safe.
As the meeting broke with a plan to move before the sun set, I followed my mates back to the truck.
The remainder of the convoy had stopped further back in an effort to remain out of sight, but it wouldn’t be enough once night came and the moon shone down on our exact position.
I was quiet as my men gathered their equipment and moved our bags to our tent. It was obvious I wasn’t going to be part of the operation. I figured I would shadow Bishu, but the idea of them just going off without saying anything felt…wrong.
I knew my worries were growing intense, surging through our bond, because after Ravik pulled on a bulletproof vest, he walked over to me and tipped my chin up. “Hey.” His voice was low, meant only for me. “We’ve done harder missions than this.”
I nodded, because he was right—they had infiltrated the Cold Moon Pack to save me—and because I didn’t trust what would come out if I opened my mouth.
He studied my face for a moment before pressing his lips to my forehead and wrapping his arms around me.
I breathed in his familiar scent, the tightness in my chest releasing just a little.
“Stay close to Bishu. I believe she’ll have you on the comms.” He pulled back, his expression settling into the controlled calm he wore so easily. “We’ll be back before you’ve had time to worry.”
It was a comforting thing to say, but I didn’t believe it. I was already worried about them and they were still standing in front of me.
Ravik held my gaze a half-second longer, ignoring one of the commanders calling his name.
He dipped his head and kissed me softly but deeply, and I let out a sigh, breathing every ounce of what I felt for him into it.
When he pulled away and called back to the commander, I barely restrained the words I so desperately wanted to say.
I love you.
I did, and I wanted to tell him—but not like this. The first time I told him, I didn’t want it to feel rushed or panicked.
“Hey, don’t look so grim, little flame.” Thornar appeared behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His eyes were lit with the same excitement I’d seen before the shootout at the border. It didn’t make me feel any better.
“I’m not grim, but…”
“Sure you are. You’re making that face,” he argued teasingly, turning me into him and picking me up. A squeak of surprise left me as he lifted me to his eye level, holding me against him tightly. “The one where you’re trying to be fine but look like you’re planning a funeral.”
My eyes went wide with a sharp inhale. “Don’t even say that, Thornar. It’s not funny.”
Thornar’s eyes lit with a small inferno as he let out a rumble of understanding before kissing me hard and placing me back on my feet.
“You’re right, it’s not funny. I’m serious though, Gracie.
We’ll be fine—I’m more worried about you.
What if you hear me do something stupid over the comms?
I’ll never forgive myself for looking uncool. ”
That pulled an unwilling smile from me. Uncool? I didn’t think Thornar could be that to me, even if he tried. He flashed a brilliant grin, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear before dipping his head down.
“Breathe, little flame. We’ll be back before you know it, and then you’re going to have to listen to me recount every damn detail of this mission whether you want to or not.”
“I want to,” I said, meaning it more than he probably knew.
Thornar kissed me again, and then he was pulling away and moving through the tent door. I could see the shift in his frame as he became the version of himself that was lethal.
Tightness built in my chest with each unsaid word, anxious at the prospect of them not understanding the intensity of how much I felt for them—how much I needed them to come back.
Basir appeared next to me quietly, already dressed and ready to go, his hand slipping into mine. I curled against his chest and buried my head there without a word. His hands wrapped around me, smoothing down my back, steady and unhurried.
“I love you, glow.” His voice was a rough whisper. “We’ll always come back to you. I promise.”
Tears threatened as I nodded. “I love you too. So much.”
“Basir.” One of the commanders appeared, drawing both of our attention. “We’re ready to leave.”
Basir pressed his lips to my temple before leading me toward the others. After one last kiss from each of my mates, I watched them leave the camp. I pressed a hand to my chest, resisting the urge to call out to them.
“First time watching them walk into something like this?” Bishu asked. I turned to answer, seeing the understanding in her expression.
“Not exactly, but this feels different.”
“War is different.”
Her words weren’t meant to be harsh, but they found their mark all the same.We walked toward the field coordinators and captains managing the operation. When Bishu motioned for me to sit with her at a separate table, I watched in surprise as she set up the communications equipment herself.
I suppose I’d expected someone else to do it for her—after all, the camp was full of people who would have done it without being asked. Instead she moved through the process with a quiet efficiency that reminded me she had probably done this many times before.
“Relax, Gracie,” she said, her voice not unkind, causing me to tense before letting out a long breath.
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke. The camp was in motion around us: low voices, equipment checks, the distant sound of vehicles repositioning.
I hadn’t been very surprised when Waylon had left with my mates—despite his age, he had the strength and vitality of youth.
The same could be said about Bishu, and yet she’d stayed behind. I wondered what drove that decision.
“It feels like I should be out there,” I admitted quietly.
“I know.” She didn’t look at me when she said it. “It always does but…” She adjusted a few more settings and sighed. “The battlefield isn’t the only place where war is fought.”
“Have you always done work like this instead of fighting?”
“No,” she said with an amused grin. “I used to love fighting, but after a while I grew bored of it. Waylon and I switch off every decade on who does what during conflict. You can’t imagine how boring day-to-day ruling becomes compared to conflict.”
“I would love a bit of boredom.” The authenticity in my tone made Bishu reach over and squeeze my hand in sympathy.
Then the comms crackled to life.
The first sounds were ordinary, the types of things I’d expect. The rustle of movement and low commands passed between units. I heard Ravik’s certain voice and the Stark Flight commander’s response. The more communication there was, the more I felt like I could breathe.
Bishu handed me an earpiece so I could hear better, and I took it without hesitation. Others gathered around us to listen in on the main board as dusk settled over the camp.
For a long stretch it was easy to follow along as they moved through the border station, removing the threat.
I felt ruthless for wanting it done, knowing it meant death for those in the base, but couldn’t help it.
I prayed to The Eight that it would be over soon and that my mates would return unharmed.
Then a burst of static came over the earpiece. A shot—two shots in the distance. Then nothing for almost a full minute, my heart beating so hard it nearly came out of my chest.
The comms came back. Thornar’s voice was low and focused, holding nothing of his usual warmth, as he called out a position. My breath returned in a slow rush.
“He’s fine,” Bishu said quietly, not looking up from the panel.
“I know,” I said. I didn’t know.
The silence had lasted long enough to do its damage to my nerves. In it, my mind had gone exactly where I’d been keeping it from this entire time—back to the three of them standing in front of me and everything I hadn’t said.
It wasn’t that they didn’t know. I was fairly certain they knew. But knowing wasn’t the same as hearing it, and hearing it wasn’t the same as hearing it tonight before they walked into the dark with no guarantee of return.
Another burst of static.
“That’s normal,” Bishu said. I knew she was saying it only for me, and I gave her a grateful look as I pressed the earpiece harder against my ear anyway.
More sounds of movement. Something that might have been a shout, cut off too fast to place. My wolf threw herself against my ribs and I pressed a fist to my sternum, breathing through it.
They’re fine. Our mates are fine. I had to believe that, and so did she or I would end up shifting and sprinting straight into danger. I sat stock-still as the minutes stretched, scared to move. She howled inside my head to the point that I almost couldn’t hear the comms.
Until they cut off completely.
Not static. Not a gap between transmissions. Just silence.
I looked at Bishu in panic, but she was already moving a hand toward the equipment panel. Her expression hadn’t changed, and I told myself that meant everything would be okay.