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opportunity he has to advance this pack. I’m sure he is already contemplating all of our futures.”
    Marcus gritted his teeth and growled low in his throat.
    Emily closed her eyes. “All I’m saying is we need to approach him at the right time. We need to think this through. You’re my mate. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” She reached up and pushed her hands through his thick, dark hair. “I love you.”
    “I love you too.” He smiled and placed a kiss to her forehead before resting his head against hers.
    “Will I see you later tonight?” she questioned, biting her lip.
    “Probably not. I’m going out with Dev and Vincent after dinner.”
    Emily huffed and pulled away, bending down she tossed his shirt at him. She knew he was faithful to her while out with her brothers—if he did they would tell her—but she resented the freedom they got.
    “Hey, I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I have the whole afternoon free.”
    Emily shivered as heat flooded her, anticipation rolling in her belly. She bit her lip and met his gaze.
    Marcus inhaled, leaning in to kiss her lips again, and mumbled, “I wasn’t thinking that, but...” he deepened their kiss his, tongue gliding against hers. Emily ran her hands up and down his smooth, taut back.
    “I wish we had more time today,” she whispered, pulling back.
    “If I were meeting anyone else...” he trailed off.
    “You can’t be late.” Emily stepped back. Her father, the alpha, couldn’t stand tardiness.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “Bye,” she said softly, offering him a small smile. Marcus gave her another chaste kiss before tugging his shirt on and hurrying off to his meeting.
    ***
    E mily shot out of bed. A loud wail echoed throughout the house. Her breath quickened as she darted to her window. Men sprinted across the lawn, heading to the south side of the property.
    She ran a hand through her hair and surveyed the men. Her heart tightened in her chest as Marcus came into view. Please don’t let him get hurt—please don’t let anyone get hurt tonight.
    Her doorknob jingled and the door swung open. Emily spun on her heel, hand flying to her chest.
    “Mom,” she gasped. “You scared me.”
    “I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Claire McKinley said, entering the room.
    “I’m fine. How are Maddie and Amelia?” Emily asked, referring to the two younger, female wolves.
    “Comforting each other for the moment. I wanted to check on you too.”
    Emily nodded and sighed as she turned back to the window. “This is the third attack in six months.”
    “I know,” Claire breathed. “We have been lucky so far. But luck will only get us so far.”
    “What is father going to do?”
    “He has been approached by Fernando Juarez of the Gulf Packs.”
    “Oh?”
    “Juarez has been assembling packs for the past few years under his leadership. Together, they are making a stand against the renegade packs and lone wolves in the area,” Claire replied.
    “Will we join them?”
    Her mother let out a long breath. “I’m not sure they are any better than the wolves attacking us.”
    “Why?”
    Claire smiled. “It’s nothing.”
    A sense of foreboding filled Emily, causing goose bumps to erupt across her arms. It’s not nothing.
    “They want me, Maddie, and Amelia, don’t they?” Emily asked, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
    “Most packs anymore are lucky to have one fertile female, let alone three.”
    “Will our pack be able to protect us—can we protect ourselves?” Emily asked quietly. Her stomach churned and she closed her eyes.
    “For the moment, I believe so. But we will need allies.”
    “Is there anyone else who can help besides this Juarez guy? What about Devon’s Uncle Rick in Texas?” She held her breath.
    “No, there is no one else close by. Emmett would never work alongside Rick.”
    Emily sighed. Her father hated the Harris’ with a passion.