35: Hiding something.
**Enzo pov**
The patrol lions looked like they were expecting me to deliver a speech about some disaster, while Khan paced nearby, his massive frame radiating nervous energy that I could feel even from a few feet away.
Every few seconds, he’d cast a glance toward the tent entrance, as if expecting some unseen threat to appear and ruin all of our lives. I couldn’t blame him, he had reason to be on edge, but if he tried to leave this meeting again, I’d have his head.
“You’re staring too much,” I muttered under my breath, mostly to myself, but Khan’s ears probably caught it.
He didn’t answer, only muttered something about needing to check on Aife.
“Khan,” I called out, stepping closer. “Not now. First, we reinforce the camp, or there will be nothing left to check on.”
He turned and glared at me. “She’s out there pregnant. You can’t stop me from-”
I cut him off before he could finish his rant. “From doing exactly what I just said? You stay here and I’ve got your back, but if you leave now, I swear to the Goddess you’ll regret it.”
Khan huffed but didn’t argue. When I was sure he wouldn’t cause more trouble, I focused on the patrol lions. “We need reinforcement. After seeing how close the villagers got to the camp, we can’t afford to slack. Every patrol must be doubled, tripled if necessary. We can’t give them a single opening.”
A lion sitting across the circle snorted, tilting his head. “You mean we’re freaking out over a few humans, Enzo? They’re more human than anything. How dangerous can they be?”
“You clearly underestimate them. These aren’t normal villagers - they’re skilled hunters, driven by gluttony and greed. And now that they know there’s a pregnant woman in the woods, they won’t stop. Once they see a weak target, that’s when they become lethal.”
The patrol lion let out a low whistle. “So all the fuss is justified, huh?”
I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “It’s more than just justified. Every misstep can cost someone’s life. We’ve seen what these villagers are capable of, they’ve been at it for generations.”
A few of the lions shifted uncomfortably, realizing this wasn’t some minor inconvenience. I glanced back at Khan, he was still restless, eyes flicking to the tent entrance every few seconds.
Sighing, I approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “She’s safe.” I reminded him.
Khan’s jaw tensed, and for a moment, I thought I’d see him bolt, but then he exhaled and stopped pacing for good.
Turning back to the lions, I continued, “I want every trail checked and blind spot covered. The villages think they know the forest, but we know it better. They have greed in their veins, all they need is one mistake on our end and they’ll strike without warning.”
A younger lion raised his hand hesitantly. “But they haven’t captured a pregnant woman in years. Isn’t it possible they won’t actually succeed this time either?”
I shook my head. “Just because it hasn’t happened recently doesn’t mean it won’t happen again. And now that there is a target in our forest, a woman and a child yet to be born, they will try.”
“Gluttony makes them blind, yeah, sure, but is it really worth overreacting?” Another lion muttered.
Sensing the change in Khan’s demeanor, I pinned the lion with a glare. “Yes, it is. If we assume we’re safe just because history hasn’t repeated itself recently, we’re all going to regret it. I won’t let our pack suffer because we decided it was a false alarm.”
Khan stepped forward. “If something happens-”
I cut him off with a sharp glare. “If something happens, I will handle it. You stay here, that’s an order, not a suggestion.”
He grunted but finally relaxed, and sat down, but his eyes never left the tent entrance. Khan might be restrained by his own sense of duty, but I knew his mind was still racing a thousand steps ahead.
Turning back to the patrol, I cleared my throat, “we’re not doing this to scare you, but because we have to. You know the importance of what we protect here.”
A lion near the back muttered, “so, we’re basically babysitting the camp for a bunch of paranoid adults?”
I shot him a glare. “No, you’re keeping everyone alive, families safe, and that includes the cubs, the mates, and the pack you call your own. Maybe it seems paranoid, but it’s absolutely necessary.”
Khan’s low voice broke the silence that took over. “Are the cubs in the healer’s care? Are they safe?”
“They are,” I reassured him. “Protected by those trained to guard and heal. Your job here is to ensure the camp is protected too.”
He exhaled and nodded. “I just.. I don’t trust humans.”
I approached him and gently placed my hand on his shoulder again. “You focus on keeping calm and I’ll handle the rest.”
For a moment, Khan looked like he might argue, but then he leaned back and crossed his arms in front of his chest, completely silent. His eyes softened when he caught mine, so I gave him a nod, reassuring him that we’ll get through this together.
When I was sure Khan was more at ease finally, I went over the last details of patrol’s duties with the lions. “Double check everything, change shifts every two hours to ensure every man is on high alert. I want you to report every move the villagers make. Also, send two lions to patrol the area closest to the river and remind everyone that nobody leaves the camp without a partner. Keep every communication open at all times.”
The younger lion piped up again, “and what do we do if the villagers strike? Are we allowed to attack or do you want us to get out of there?”
“Don’t risk getting caught alone, call backup and if we have to fight, we protect every inch of this camp with everything we have together.”
They all nodded while Khan shifted again, muttering about wanting to check on Aife again. I gave him the “she’s safe” look before I turned back to the lions for the last time. “Remember, we don’t underestimate the villagers. Their greed blinds them, but their skill makes them dangerous - the moment we assume we’re safe, that’s when they strike.”
“Gluttonous hunters, sounds like a nightmare.” One of the lions muttered.
“It is,” I agreed. “But right now, we’re the nightmare they’ll never see coming.”
Khan exhaled, finally leaning back fully, and I could feel some of his tension slowly fade away. It wasn’t much, but the fact I managed to hold the meeting without him storming off already was a success for me.
Before the lions could leave to take their positions, I spoke one last time. “Any unusual movement or strange signs, you send a runner immediately, don’t wait for confirmation. If anyone acts recklessly or doubts the orders, I will personally remove them from this camp. Understood?”
“Understood,” they all repeated before they left the tent one by one.
Khan still sat in his seat, arms crossed, a sour look on his face, but I didn’t comment on it. For as long as everyone knew their duties and my beautiful, fussy mate knew the importance of being present, I believed we would be okay.
“I swear, your heart is bigger than your body,” I told him with a wink before I approached the tent exit and glanced over my shoulder. “Follow me when you calm down, okay? The jumpier you are, the more people will understand we’re hiding something.”
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