The Runt's Human Mate

Chapter 19: Willa POV

Chapter 19: Willa POV

Once again I found myself in the safe room with the females, pups, elders, and my son-in-law Alec. He tried to argue he should be given a gun and allowed to fight. I honestly didn't think he could handle it. He wasn't a hunter. He said so himself. I convinced him his job was to protect the people here in the safe room. When that got a protest I asked if he really wanted to leave Lily. One look at her and his argument was gone, non-existent.

Days passed. Nate had blocked our mindlink to conserve energy. I knew and understood. When that began to slip away and reopened involuntarily I could tell they were worn down. I came up with a plan. I wasn't sure it would work but I had to try.

On the morning of the third day I stole Alec's phone from his pocket. He was half-asleep, cuddling a sleeping Lily. I looked through the contacts. I didn't find a number under "Dad" or any references to relatives like expected. I did find one that said "The store." I dialed to see who would answer.

"Matthews and Sons Guns and Range. This is Joe, how can I help you?" He sounded young. "This is Alec's mother-in-law. I need to speak to his father." Silence. "The hell? Alec got married? Pa!" His voice was distant. He was yelling to someone on his end instead of responding to me. "Who is this?" Another voice came on the line. Also male, older and more gruff. "Hello, my name is Willa. Your son Alec is married to my daughter Lily." Silence. "The hell? Alec got married! Gary come here!" Do these people not hold single conversations? "What can I do ya for?" He asked, finally talking to me. "Alec is in danger. A pack of mutts is threatening him and my daughter. He said y'all could help." Silence. "Little Joe, get a truck, some boys, and some equipment. We got mutts to hunt." He sounded excited. "Where he at?" He asked. His grammar was killing me. "I will tell you, but there is one catch." "Yeah?" "You kill the mutts and leave. Then meet me at my house to discuss our children's futures. No matter what we are family now." Silence. "I hear ya. The boy is soft but he is my boy. Family is important," he said. Finally a sentiment we shared. I gave him the coordinates for the clearing and told him he would get the house address from me at the clearing when it was done. "I'm a tiny redhead. You won't miss me!" He said goodbye and hung up. I prayed I made the right decision.

An hour later my mate linked me that he was regrouping with Daniel, Matthew, and Thomas. I figured it was about time to let him in on my plan. He didn't react well but gave in. It was the only strategy we had. An hour after that Nate linked that they had successfully redirected the enemy. I got out of the safe room, climbed to the roof, and used binoculars to watch.

Unfortunately I had to see Shawn fall into a sandpit with his opponent. It didn't look like either survived. I linked Daniel to keep everyone fighting a little longer when I saw a line of pickup trucks pull up on top of the cliff. Several tall burly men climbed out, all equipped with guns and what looked like crossbows. I watched in anticipation as they stood together in a circle and then lined up with their weapons pointing down.

"Mate! Mate! Nate!" I alerted Nate to get our pack into the cave at the base of the cliff. Be did as I said. I watched as Alpha Phillip attempted to follow them but failed to get past the boulder. He kicked and punched it without success. Suddenly a rain of gunfire and arrows came down upon Phillip and his army. I watched in discomfort as wolves went down. The clearing that was once green grass was drenched in blood. I couldn't tell if Phillip was dead or not. I watched and waited. I even saw the hunters peer over the edge of the cliff. When it looked like the enemy was dead I climbed down from the roof and went to the safe room. I led Alec and Lily out to escort me. I decided Alec would be a good way to keep things calm in case they sensed Lily and I were werewolves.

At the base of the cliff I waited with my daughter and son-in-law. A few minutes later the trucks appeared in a perfect line like a convoy. Alec pointed out the men in the first truck as his family. The told me who was who as the men climbed out of their trucks, some bouncing out of the truck beds. A large man with a beard approached first. He was Alec's father. It was hard to believe they were related. The only physical trait their shared was their hair and eye color. Otherwise they had nothing in common. Alec had to take after his mother. Behind the man who introduced himself as Martin Matthews were his two other sons Joe and Gary. Unlike Alec they looked like their father: tall, muscular, hairy. Alec was definitely the best looking in the group, though they weren't ugly in the slightest. They were just a different type of attractive. The other men who stood in the background were built similarly with different features.

Martin Matthews looked at me with scrutiny at first as if he sensed something off but then offered his hand. I shook hands and gauged him before allowing Lily to approach. He shook Alec's hand but hugged Lily. "Lord have mercy, you are the cutest thing I ever did see!" He yelled, smiling down at Lily. She had him wrapped around her finger in minutes. After I gave him the address to the pack house the hunters disappeared as if they had never been there.

When the coast was clear I alerted Nate it was safe for the pack to exit the cave. He came out first and checked the scene. He looked disgusted by the bloody mess before him. He immediately rushed into a hug with me. He held me tightly. "See Nate, it worked out." I said, smiling. He pulled away. "But the hunters!" He seemed anxious, which was understandable. "We already have them in the palm of our hands," I purred. "Who?" He asked. I smirked and said "Me and Lily of course."

Nate rolled his eyes. He didn't like that one bit. He had a fit when he found out I had let them meet Lily and they were coming to the pack house. "Mate, it will be fine. They want Alec to be happy. They acknowledge him as family!" Nate wasn't as confident. I told him to shower, eat, and get over it. "This meeting is happening!" I yelled, frustrated. I needed him to have more confidence in my plans.