The Jaguar’s Arranged Mate

It should bother him, he knew that, but he had so many issues to worry about that he hadn’t the strength to fret over that, too. Although, maybe if he were to be on the same wavelength as Miera, they might be able to better work out how to bring the two packs together.

He had never felt so lost before. So many of his friends and comrades had fallen. Even if they were to find a way to get the Brutal Claws to leave them be, how many would be left to enjoy that freedom?

His fingers rubbed his temples, but the headache that had been plaguing him for days now would not relent. Stress induced, he knew, and there would be no shortage of stress for a long, long time.

Kathy had been a huge help to his father, and she had picked up her duties with Beric when he became the new alpha. She was the only other one to be with him in the alpha’s quarters. His quarters. It was so hard to remember that, or maybe he just didn’t want to think of it as his.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, everything looked peaceful, but that could only last for a moment. The Brutal Claws were wearing them down, and Beric could only hope they would continue to send small contingents of warriors, as they had been. Otherwise, the next battle would be their last.

He cleared his throat and turned around to face Kathy. “Could you please gather all of our warriors in here?”

“Just the Teal Warriors?”

“The Blood Roses as well, if they’ll come.” He had a feeling they wouldn’t, but he would extend the invitation all the same. He’d be damned if he would be the one to tick them off.

Kathy nodded and left. As soon as she closed the door behind her, Beric sat at the table, head down, his arms his pillow. He wished this all was a nightmare he could wake up from, even if that meant he had never met, let alone married, Miera. While he enjoyed her company, when they hadn’t been talking about the Brutal Claws or her pregnancy by another man she had yet to name, and he sure had enjoyed their time together alone in the car when they had gotten physical, he just didn’t know if he could see a future with her. Because of the Brutal Claws or for another reason?

Groaning, he rubbed a hand down his face. The last thing he needed was to be unfocused. Right now, all that mattered was trying to form some kind of strategy so they could survive the next attack and maybe even prevent future ones.

In groups of ones and twos, warriors trickled in. Not a single Blood Rose, not even Miera. The slight plagued him, but he shook it off and stood to address his people.

“Thank you all for coming and for your efforts so far against the Brutal Claws. It’s been a trying time…” He swallowed hard. His father had never been one for speeches, and he wasn’t quite sure where he was going with his. “We need to try and—”

“If you’re going to mention the Blood Roses, don’t.” Sam, the old seasoned warrior, crossed his arms. He had new scars on him, but otherwise, he seemed as fit and solid as ever, despite his age. “They’re worthless. Less than worthless. They—”

“They outnumber us, and we sorely need them,” Beric said pointedly. This animosity between the two sides—when exactly had it started? Not before the wedding. It must be all of the attacks. The Teal Warrior doctors refusing to heal the Blood Roses until they’d finished looking after their own hadn’t helped any.

“I say we turn them over to the Brutal Claws. Maybe then they’ll leave us alone,” a female from the back of the room suggested loudly.

A few of the others rumbled their agreement.

Beric slammed his fist onto the table. “That is your suggestion? To send my wife’s people out to be slaughtered?” He did his best to stare each one of them down. Only twenty, so pathetically few. “You honestly think that’s a viable solution?”

At least they all had the decency to look away, embarrassed.

“Of course not,” Beric snapped. “Have we seen any of the Brutal Claws with arrows?”

After a few moments of thought, everyone responded in the negative.

“Then we need to start a patrol on the top of the fence.” During the expansion of the fence, they had not only increased its height, they had also expanded its width. One person could walk around the perimeter. “I don’t like that we’re so blind, but I will not risk—”

“You could send Blood Roses out to be scouts,” Sam cut in.

“Or you,” Beric retorted.

“I would go.” Sam cracked his knuckles.

Beric sighed. “You won’t be going anywhere. Except on top of the fence. You’ll take the first hour of patrol duty. I want to be notified if you see a bush move, even if it only happens to be a rabbit. Is that clear?”

“Yes.” Sam nodded.

“Go now.” Beric waited for him to leave before continuing, “I married Miera for a reason—”

“Yes,” Mark, Beric’s best friend, said slowly, “but she isn’t here.”

“She’s pregnant,” Beric growled.

Several people gasped. Yes, they hadn’t announced it yet, but Miera’s condition was one they wouldn’t be able to hide for much longer. Loose clothes would only work for so long. She had maybe five weeks until the baby would come.

“And she’s wounded,” Beric added. Damn. It would’ve been better to announce her pregnancy to everyone, and it definitely would’ve been better to announce it with her present. Too late now.

That definitely seemed to be the recurrent theme in his life.

“You can’t blame her for not being here,” Beric said desperately. If even the few friends he still had were against him, what hope could he have of getting the others to listen to him? “Regardless—”

Sam strolled back into the room.

Beric scowled. “I gave you an order—”

“I’m here about the fence.” For once, the older were-jaguar looked troubled.

“What about it?” Beric’s headache had morphed into a migraine.

“It’s partially down.”