Silence fell as the others digested this bit of information. In recent decades, the pack had become more social with the humans in town, but they hadn’t ever heard this story, I felt sure. But they were not the problem now.
“Gigi,” I asked, “what about now? Do we have any other historical enemies who might be involved in the issues we face? Maybe someone we’ve never heard of?
She faced me, eyes glowing in the firelight in a most eerie way. “We can talk of this later.” Gigi waved the others away. “Enough stories for tonight. Go and enjoy your party.”
It still was one for those who had not heard about the latest kidnapping. But I needed to tell Samson it was time to talk to Gigi and find out what she might know that could help us.
Chapter Eleven
Samson had gotten wind of Gigi’s knowledge of all things historical, particularly enemies, and called us in to talk about it. Party over. He thought there might be clues as to what the hell was going on. I was there first and saw the strain all this was putting on him. There were dark crescents underneath his eyes and his hair was disheveled as though he had taken some of his frustration out on the roots.
“Are you okay?” I whispered as my heart wrenched. I wanted to do anything and everything I could to soothe this man I loved, but there was a canyon between us that, no matter what I did, we couldn’t bridge.
“Of course, I’m not okay.”
I had actually expected him to bark at me or yell, but his voice was as soft as mine. He stopped pacing and looked at me. His Adam’s apple bobbed as I drank him in.
If only I could touch him.
Acting on instinct and not giving three shits about who was about to walk in, I crossed the room and took one of his hands in mine. The gesture seemed to completely deflate him. His shoulders, once stiff, loosened as a long breath came from his mouth. His eyes rolled back in his head before he shut his eyelids.
“How can you do that?” he asked, his voice floating from his mouth and straight into my soul.
“You know why, Samson. Why do you fight it so hard? Why must you fight me so hard?”
“Because you’re so much more than you seem. I’m doing this for you.”
I opened my mouth to argue, question, scream, all of the above, when Brandon and the other betas entered with Gigi right on their heels. She had a shit-eating grin on her face as I removed my hand from Samson’s. The effect on him was immediate. His jaw clenched. Those shoulders rigid. His breaths shallow.
He couldn’t breathe without me, and the feeling was mutual.
“Mrs…” Samson began, stepping away from me.
Gigi waved him off. “It’s Gigi…for all of you. No more of this Mrs. bullshit.”
Samson let out a chuckle and, though I had begun to walk away from him, it teased me from head to toe as though he were laughing at me for trying to leave. My wolf whined at the loss of his touch.
“Gigi, then. We need to know all you know about these tales of enemies and wars. I think it would help us. History repeats itself after all. Don’t you agree?”
“No, I don’t. And I don’t care for you pulling us all from a perfectly good feast to talk shop. I said what I said and no more. Now, you have to wait for the warrior to emerge. They will come, and then and only then will you claim victory over your enemies.”
Samson stepped forward. Gigi had already said her piece and was now on her way out of the room, dismissed or not. I wished someone would tell her she wasn’t dismissed from the meeting. I’d love to see that person get torn up in the one-of-a-kind Gigi way. No action movie could compare.
“Wait, when will…they come? How long must we wait? How many more of my people have to disappear before they step forward?”
Gigi looked at me then to Samson. “Time is never wrong. It’s just the way we expect things to go is skewed.”
The fuck?
“Gigi, wait?”
“Hell no, I’m not waiting. This is bullshit. I didn’t get any of that banana pudding. Gigi out.”
Brandon kept his laugh in for only a few seconds before cracking up completely. “Wow. I hope I’m as spunky one day.”
“You wish!” Gigi yelled from the bottom of the stairs, making Brandon double over, his laughter could not possibly be contained the second time around.
“So, what…we just wait around for this warrior person?” I put my fists on my hips. “Meanwhile, girls are getting kidnapped and who knows what else? That’s bullshit.”
Now, I was starting to sound like Gigi.
Samson’s glare was on me. His jaw worked back and forth, and he was all stiff and rigid. “I guess the warrior will come when we are at the lowest. We just have to endure until then.”
Endure.
Sounded like the worst plan ever.
“Well, I’m not waiting on some dude with nun chucks or whatever. I’m going to find that girl and bring her home.”
“You’re not going alone.” My other mate’s voice—the voice of the mate who should’ve been home watching movies—tore through my anger.
Samson pounded across the room and got into his face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”
“I’m here because there’s a chance my mate is in danger.”
Samson reeled back. Tris’ words had pierced him.
“She can take care of herself. Besides, you think I would let anything happen to her? How did you know what was happening? You’re not pack anymore. You made it clear a long time ago where your allegiance is.”
Tris looked at
