In Love Through War - Book 3

Part 104

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'Jena! Jena, where are you?' Al'Aeen yells over the mind link, while his bear form roars, announcing his approach.

The war-forms in the A1-force take notice of him, parting ranks so he may pass, expecting the bear to head directly to the front line, some of them visibly pleased with the number of reinforcements that follow. They may not be many, but in this situation it could be just what is needed to tip the scale in their favor, regaining the momentum to push the largest warhog group back as it was initially planned.

'This way, Al'Aeen!' Joel links him, his wolf form snapping his teeth at the bear with a warning snarl, before turning to lead him away.

'I'm going to find the Alpha. Seeing as she's not there, my team takes point. Meiarr left side, Emremil right side, Vi and Seisyll take mid, RoRi free roam as needed. Any of you get hurt, I'm gonna chew your arms off! Rest of you lot, spread across the front line. Nobody pushes yet unless they easily give way and if they do, don't fall for traps!'

His instructions are given while he follows after Joel, and he soon finds himself with Jena's human form, being tended by Hannah in a position that Al'Aeen finds satisfactory safety-wise, or at least as much as possible given the circumstances.

"Is she all right?" he asks, switching to human as well.

"I'm fine. Ouch! Watch it, Hannah!"

"Sorry!" Hannah says, smiling sheepishly while tightening the Alpha's bandages even further.

Jena grinds her teeth and struggles to keep back a grunt, her face showing what she refuses to acknowledge.

"How the hell did you get hurt when you were staying in the middle of your group, acting average?" the big man demands but Jena seems to be very interested in counting the grains of sand by her feet.

"You didn't, did you?"

"Oh, you should have seen her, Al'Aeen! She was awesome! Jumping, stabbing, slashing! She must have killed or incapacitated about 15 of them before that lucky hit..." Joel adds before being silenced by glares from both Jena and her mate.

"And where the hell where you? You were supposed to protect her!" Al'Aeen turns to Alastair.

"I couldn't keep up with her! She was trying to be the entire frontline by herself, moving from one side to the other. I..."

"If we weren't in the middle of fighting for our survival, I'd break your jaw right now!"

"I wouldn't stop you. I know I failed," Alastair finishes, looking defeated.

"So how hurt is she?"

"You know I'm right here, right? You could look at me and just ask."

No, because if I look at you, so vulnerable with your bandages as your only clothing right now, I'd just have my hands searching all over to make sure you're still in one piece and safe from those assholes!

"A professional opinion is what I'm after right now!"

"She's in no danger; had her side punctured, with two of the lower ribs broken. She won't be able to fight anymore though."

"Good. And you – he says starring at Alastair – make sure she fails if she tries to come back to the front!" The underlying threat in case he should fail obvious in Al'Aeen's tone.

Alastair just nods his acknowledgment.

"You needn't be so harsh with him, you know? He had already prevented me from being hit three times before it happened. In fact, you should be grateful!" Jena scolds him.

"Did he now? In that case, I am grateful he only failed once."

"He also covered for me when I was being taken behind our line and back to Hannah."

"Fine! He was doing his job. But I specifically remember telling you to lay low!"