Page 67 of Tempest

Nero shrugged. "Well, yeah, but they're probably expecting you to go about it diplomatically. Put together a formal request,go through all the red tape, yada, yada, yada. I doubt they're expecting you to show up with force tomakethem turn over the girls.”

“And anyone else who wants to leave,” Dare added gruffly, keeping his eyes on the road.

“Rivera mentioned on the plane ride from Michigan that he and the rest of the Kincaid Pack contingent will be staying if everything goes to plan,” Nero added, distracted by something outside the window. “I guess they’re going to help whoever steps up to be the new alpha get settled and make sure the Enforcers don't stick around or try and come back.”

Ore was a little surprised at that. He'd assumed they would have to immediately get back to their own pack and their duties. It seemed like most of them were Enforcers, after all.

Cash must have read his mind because he said softly, "Kincaid's pack is a lot bigger than ours. He has a lot more Enforcers to pick up the slack."

"And betas,” Saint added. "I heard once he has like thirty of them."

Ore whipped his head around to stare. "Seriously?

"I don't know if it's thirty,” Nero said thoughtfully. "But there's definitely a lot of activity at HQ there. But since so many people are coming from other packs to help get the new government set up, it can be hard to tell who's a part of his pack and who's there for that. It also benefits them if people think they have so many Enforcers and betas to protect their territory."

Ore nodded. "That makes sense."

Still, being around all of that activity sounded stressful to him, especially since Kincaid had only made his pack an even bigger target by building the new government just outside of his own territory.

He much preferred the small, more intimate pack in Silver Oak. He didn't know how long they would have that peaceful existence before new members started arriving, but he had no doubt they would. Once word got out that a strong alpha like Liam was looking for new members of any shifter species, they'd be running to apply.

It only took about twenty minutes to get to the Barney Pack territory. Ore shivered as they crossed over the boundary line, not because it was imbued with magic like the Silver Oak Pack’s were, he just wasn't looking forward to the confrontation coming up.

He had so many bad memories of Gladstone harassing him and all of them were beating at his brain, trying to distract him. A big hand he was achingly familiar with slipped underneath his own where he was clutching at his jeans and thread their fingers together.

He smiled up at his mate.

"It's going to be okay," Cash said firmly, no doubt in his voice or scent.

"I know." Ore nodded, looking back out through the windshield as they passed through the small human town at the outskirts of the pack's territory. Most of the pack lived clustered around the alpha's house a few minutes away from the edge of town.

"Yeah, we're going to kick ass and be out the door before you know it," Nero said cheerfully, pointing at some store and nudging Dare with his elbow. "We should stop there before we get back on the plane."

Dare grunted at him, not bothering to respond.

Saint shot Ore a grin, seeming more amused than anyone else by the vampire's weird behavior.

As soon as Alpha Barney's house came into view, Ore's hands started shaking, a trickle of sweat dripping down his spine between his shoulder blades.

Cash didn't say anything, but he did squeeze his hand harder.

That show of support helped calm him. It would be fine. They'd tell Barney what was going on, get his sisters, and then get out of there. Marcus and the others could deal with all the rest.

The three other SUVs pulled up behind them, and they all parked in a line directly in front of the dilapidated porch on the front of the house. Ore vaguely remembered it once being in good condition, but that must have been when he was a kid because it looked like a strong wind would knock it down now. The house itself wasn’t in much better condition. Anger over his sister’s being trapped inside helped push the rest of his fear away.

"Ready to do this?" Nero asked, turning to look at all of them in the back seat, his gaze landing on Ore and holding. "You can stay in the car if you want. Once we've handled things, you can go in and get your sisters."

Ore shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Let's do this."

He tried to insert more confidence in his voice than he was feeling, but he doubted any of the parahumans in the car with him bought it. No one said anything though or tried to talk him out of it. Cash opened the door and stepped out, dragging Ore behind him.

The others jumped out of their vehicles as well just as the screen door slapped open, and Louie Gladstone stepped out, a scowl on his face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" he yelled, eyes locked on Cash.

"Cleaning house," Cash said clearly and calmly, and then nodded toward the Kincaid Pack members.

Marcus stepped forward, his red hair nearly orange in the bright sunlight. "Are you Enforcer Gladstone?"