Chapter 32

Running a finger across each of their hands, Zeke marveled at their size.  They were even bigger than they were before.  Pretty soon, they’d be teenagers, and he wouldn’t know what to do with them.  Stopping with his hand on Noah, Zeke smiled.  The boy had power, but in the literal sense.  Zeke knew that when he was older, he would show strength that bypassed others before him.  And with those light eyes and dark hair, he was going to be a lady-killer. 

Zeke glanced towards Zoë.  She was where she should be, in the middle of her two siblings.  When he reached towards her, twin growls echoed from Jesse and Noah, making Zeke’s smile widen.  They protected her too.  Good, it was what Zoë needed if she planned to rule.  With her, the power ran so deep that Zeke was afraid for her.  So much power shouldn’t be harnessed in such a small package.  He just hoped that when the time came, Zoë would know how to handle all that power.

Finally, he leaned over Jesse with a large smile.  She was the glue that kept the three of them together.  While Noah was the protector, and Zoë was the leader, Jesse was the one that kept them connected. Without her, all would be lost.  It was why Zeke knew she would need to be protected.  It was why at this exact moment, five guards of his choosing were standing around the crib.  He trusted them all even if not all of them were part of Ally’s personal guard. 

Even as he wondered about their lives, he could feel the air around them shifting.  The time was coming soon.  Was he prepared?  Would he be able to keep everyone safe? 

His unease must have been palpable because a hand clamped on his shoulder.  Glancing back, he saw Drew's smiling face.  “Come on, man.  They’ll be fine.  If you think I’ll let anyone touch a hair on their heads, then you’re an idiot.”

Behind the smile, Zeke saw the complete seriousness on Drew’s face.  He would do anything to protect those children, and that was the main reason Zeke had ordered him to stay back with them.  If Drew was with the others, all Ally would have to do is nod at Drew, and he would leave her side to protect the triplets.  It didn’t take a genius to realize that both Andrew and his twin, Anthony, would let Ally die to save her children.  They knew that Ally wouldn’t be able to live without them, that she would rather be dead than see them hurt. 

“I know, Drew,” Zeke mumbled aloud while turning and taking a step away from the overly large crib.  “I just worry.”

Andrew blinked at him before widening his eyes.  “Holy shit, what’s wrong with you?”

“What do you mean?” he asked mentally, knowing that even though Drew wouldn’t talk aloud with females around, this conversation was better left unheard.

“I can read you.  I know what you’re going to do, Zeke.  I can’t let you do that.”

“You can’t stop me,” he growled before cutting the mental connection off. 

Drew winced slightly, but narrowed his eyes.  “If you think I’ll let you go through with it,” Drew growled, “you’re mistaken.  Your just as important, if not, more so than anyone else.”  Drew paused for a moment with a small smile.  “Besides Ally and Seb.”

With a small chuckle, Zeke nodded.  “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let anyone else die.”

“That doesn’t mean that I’m going to let you—”

A moan echoed through the room, making them all glance towards the door.  Standing there, with a dazed expression was Sara.  Her eyes were locked on Drew and a purr flew from her chest.  “Yummy,” she growled under her breath.

Drew's eyes widened as she took a step towards him.  “Get her.”

Zeke laughed while walking towards Sara.  Before he left the room, he glanced over his shoulder at the guilty look on Drew’s face.  “You can’t control what power you’re born with.”

“But you can control when you use it.”

With a nod, Zeke left the room.  Sara fought him the entire time, trying to get away from Zeke and back towards Drew.  He kept pulling her until they reached the outside of the cabin.  The cool air hit her body, making her shiver.  Good, it was what she needed to snap back to herself.

After a while, the dazed expression left her, leaving the Sara he knew.  With a shiver, that he knew had nothing to do with the weather, she stared at him.  “What in the hell was that?”

“Andrew’s voice has a certain effect on unmated females.  Hell, even some mated females who aren’t in love with their mate have no choice when he utters a word.”

“That’s his power?” she asked with slight panic.  “He can make someone love them by talking?”

Zeke shook his head at her.  “No.  He can make people want him so much that they will do anything to gain his favor, but he cannot force love.”

Something flashed in Sara’s eyes.  He knew that look. The woman was planning something, and Zeke didn’t know whether he was going to like it or not.  “I have an idea.”

“What?” he groaned.

A large smile flew onto her face as she shook her head at him.  “If you won’t tell me your plans for whatever battle is coming our way, I’m not telling you mine.  All I can say is that Andrew needs to be with us.  He’ll be more of a help in the battle than out of it.”

Before she finished speaking the words, he was shaking his head at her.  “Not happening.  They triplets need all the guards they can get.”

“I know which is why I’ll stand in Andrew’s place.  For what he is going to do, it will be better for me not to be out here.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, she ran off.  Standing there, he watched her go.  He hoped that whatever her plan was it would not take long to prepare, because if his dream was right, the battle was about to happen, sooner than they thought.  As a yell echoed from the forest around him, he knew he was right.  People flew from the cabin; amongst them were Blake and Amaya, two people he hadn’t seen in what felt like years.  Behind the two of them, Ally, Seb, Adam, and Andrew stepped out.  All their faces showed complete concentration, and as a scream echoed through the woods, he knew that they were already beginning their attack.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to face the battle to come.  Hope blossomed through him as he stood in front of his friends.  It doubled when he felt a presence beside him.  Glancing over at Charlie, he sighed.  “Together.”

She smiled back at him with a nod.  “Together,” she whispered as they both let the change take over their bodies.