Forever Is Not Enough [Council Enforcers 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

sure no one else is out there.” Mitch sighed as he stepped up next to him.
    Ben sighed as well. He knew his mate was safe and sound locked in the basement, but he didn’t want to leave her. He also didn’t want her coming out until he was positive the threat was gone.”I’ll go,” he told Mitch. “I’m faster than you. If you go, it will be months before I see my mate again.”
    Mitch grunted, but the corner of his mouth tilted up as though he was trying not to laugh. “You’re just jealous. An animal as marvelous as mine doesn’t need to run. He deserves to slowly lope, allowing others the time to marvel at such a magnificent creature.”
    Ben snorted as he began taking off his clothes. “You are so full of shit sometimes,” he said, laughing. He shifted into his wolf and shook his head as he leapt off the porch and headed toward the woods. The sad thing was Mitch had been completely serious. Sometimes Ben found it shocking Mitch was such a fierce enforcer. The man was known to stop whenever he came across a mirror and adjust his “mighty mane” and smile at himself before continuing on, but there was no one Ben would have rather had at his back.
    His lion is really pretty.
    Ben laughed at his wolf. Yeah, he is, pup.
    He never wants to play though. All he seems to do is lie in the sun and sleep. That’s no fun.
    Ben ignored his wolf as he ran through the woods, scanning for more intruders. He circled the perimeter several times to make sure he hadn’t missed anything before finally heading back to the house. Mitch was still on the porch when he got back along with Ryan and Ken.
    “Does anyone else think this was too easy?” Ryan asked when Ben had shifted back to human.
    Ben grabbed his clothes and began putting them on. “This was way too easy,” he agreed. “We didn’t even break a sweat taking the ones down that came through the front.”
    Mitch nodded in agreement. “This was all a test. That bastard was testing our defenses, seeing what we would do so he could go back and plan the real strike.”
    Ben had a feeling Mitch was right. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that sniveling little coward was outside watching the whole thing as he sent his rogues in on a suicide mission.” It angered him that Percival could be so callous and cruel when it came to sacrificing lives for his cause. The man was a danger to everyone and needed to be put down as soon as possible.
    They worked in silence as they all dragged the bodies out of the house and piled them in the clearing at the back of the house. Once all the bodies were gathered, Mitch poured gasoline on the pile and set it on fire. As Ben stared at the flames, he felt bad there would be no memorial service for these men. He didn’t know the circumstances surrounding them or how they’d become involved with Percival, but he felt everyone’s life deserved to be remembered. Unfortunately, they had to do it.
    Once the fire was going good, Mitch turned and headed toward the house. “After I get my mate and cub out of the safe rooms, we need to sit down and come up with a strategy of our own. It’s safe to assume this was just the first wave, and we need to be ready when the next one comes.”
    Leaving Ken and Ryan to watch the fire, Ben followed Mitch into the house. He let out a sigh of relief as they headed to the basement first.

Chapter 10
     
    Jacqueline was starting to wear a hole in the floor with her pacing. She had no idea how long she had been trapped in the room because, for all of Mitch’s preparedness, he had forgotten one thing. The one thing, which in her opinion seemed like a good idea to have, was a freaking clock. She didn’t even have Nico to keep her company because the boy was currently curled up on his bed taking a nap. She couldn’t concentrate on reading a book, so Jacqueline was stuck pacing.
    A tapping noise on the door had her whirling around. Before she could rush over to the door, Nico was there, grabbing her hand. “Daddy says you have to listen for the code.”
    It made sense, but she had no idea what the code was. Apparently Nico did because, after a few more taps, he smiled up at her and ran over to the door. Jacqueline followed. She had trusted him so far, so she helped him turn the lock. As soon as she heard the locks thudding, the door was wrenched open. She heard Nico’s squeal as he rushed past her and leaped into Mich’s arms. She could have sworn she heard purring coming from Mitch, but her focus