My Laughable Fate

25. This is your last mission

ROBBIE POV

I wish my mate wasn’t so damn amazing. Having a powerful, intelligent, and beautiful witch as a mate sounds great on paper but ... f**k that, it’s great in general and I don’t wish s**t. Fuckers just need to stop monopolize her time with all this werearmy bullshit. I didn't sign her up for that.

Don’t they get that she’s busy baking the future Gamma of Golden Moon? “In and out.” I reminded Ember. She looks way too excited to be taking part in this mission. Something I was vehemently against, but that other witch, Ariel, was too busy to do her damn job.

Red curls bounced around as she nodded her head. “I joehst (just) need to plant dis little (this little) beauty in de (the) right spat (spot).” She opened her palm and revealed a small piece of fuzz that looked like an oversized lint ball. “Hope the assholes aren’t clean freaks, otherwise that’s going to end up in a dust bin.” I’d noticed that tumbleweed.

Roman snorted behind me. It made me question why I had suggested he back me up and not Dev. “It’s going to take its proper form once Maeve plants and activates it.” He responded with too much snark for my liking. “Just because they allow you to listen in doesn’t make you an expert asshole.” d**k.

This mission happened on the fly. One call from my cuz had everyone moving. I was busy making sure everyone knew their parts while Maeve and a few other witches worked on their part. “I’m an official strategy advisor on this mission.” I wanted to smack the smarmy look off his face. “I didn’t just listen.” He then turned to my mate who gave him a thumbs up. Traitor.

“I don’t need to know the details about the lint ball, that’s why I have you.” I pointed at his stupid mug and grinned. “The details I focused on were any that would cause my mate to be in harms way.” I gave each of them a look that reminded them of the twenty-minute warning speech they rolled their eyes through.

They both raised their arms in defeat, then busied themselves. Roman pretended to check his pockets while my little witch checked her goodie bag. What the f**k were they looking for, gum? They act like I'm crazy, but what sane wolf takes his pupped mate into danger? “We leave in five.” Roman said, after looking at his watch.

Conner paced in my head, having also voiced his warning to Ember. We had both been assured over and over that she wouldn't be going into a battle zone. If everything went as planned, they wouldn't even know we were ever there. Famous last words. If everything goes as planned. It had better go as planned.

Roman checked the gun in his holster, again, annoyingly. Having a former Hunter as a pack member sounds ridiculous, but it has its benefits. Roman knows how they think, their strategies. He had martial arts and military training before even becoming a wolf. The Goddess didn’t just give Mel a mate, she gave me a second in command. Title pending… if I don’t kill him first.

He worked with Maeve to ensure we knew the best path to take to complete this mission quickly. Ember prepared her little fuzz ball, and I knew better than to question her. I might poke fun, but I know my mate knows her s**t. I only made a remark to watch her bluster. It’s damn adorable. There had been no need for the third wheel to speak.

I glowered in his direction and nodded. My mate leaned into my side and held onto my arm. “Rahman's joehst (Roman's just) excited! 'e 'elped (he helped) me peck de (pick the) perfect mark.” She grinned up at me. “Mark?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at Roman. The asshole smiled at me. “Me target!” She exclaimed.

Shaking my head, I pointed my finger at her. “Don’t get too excited. This is your last mission.” If I have anything to say about it and I DO. Her nose scrunched up like a rabbit. One of her hands dropped on her baby bump and I knew what was coming. “Not up for debate Ember.” I cut that s**t off before it started.

She huffed in irritation but didn’t argue. I’m not stupid enough to believe that’s the end of it. My Ember is a strategist herself, and she knows less than five minutes isn’t enough time for her to start and win that battle. Hell, a year wouldn't be enough. "Why does our mate have to go?" Conner asked for the hundredth time.

"Replay any one of our earlier conversations and stop wasting my time." I didn't need him working me up again. I agreed with him, but I was dancing a complicated dance with my mate. I had agreed to let her work with the council but had been adamant she would be nowhere near battle. "Should have specified nowhere near danger you prick." As if that would have mattered.

She and the assholes that be are experts at getting around any wordplay we might come up with. This time it was "It's our only opportunity" and "They will be gone by morning". Followed by every assurance in the world that all precautions would be taken to protect my mate. I'm an i***t for letting them convince me, but at this point, the only thing I can do is protect my mate.

Roman picked up our walkies and handed me mine, game time. We strapped them to our necks. They would remain in place if we shifted. “Time.” He said, and all unnecessary conversation ended. Ember put her hand on Roman’s shoulder, her other hand still around my waist. Within seconds, we were in the woods.

She squeezed my hand, reminding me she couldn’t see. We had waited till it was pitch dark because the darkness wasn’t an issue for us. “I got you.” I linked her. “We have the all clear?” I asked Roman. He raised his hand, asking for a minute, then whispered into the walkie.

We weren’t the only wolves and witches out here, but we were too far to link anyone. Ariel and Maeve were the only witches capable of getting in and out undetected. They had the skills needed. That doesn’t mean we’re going to go in there a team of three against all of them.

Luke set things in motion as soon as I gave the go ahead. Which brings me to another reason I agreed to this mission. The fear of her going behind my back and doing her own little mission. f**k that! This way, I had eyes on her and my cuz had a fleet of warriors sent to appease my beast. “Not enough.” Conner grumbled.

It had to be enough. The warriors surrounding the camp, miles away to avoid detection. The witches were placed much closer, providing additional protection for Maeve. I made sure I specified that their job was to protect my Ember. She would be busy creating a cloak of sorts, so that we could go undetected.

Roman gave a curt nod. Without waiting for my go ahead, my soon-to-be red-bottomed mate zapped us just outside the camp. “The f**k Ember!” I tried not to growl, but I’d been very clear with her that she was to make no moves without my approval. She had the decency to look guilty before smiling at me.

“Sahrry (Sorry). Dahn't wahrry, dey (Don't worry, they) can't see oehs (us), remember.” The sheepish look she was giving me and the explanation was beside the point. I pointed one finger at her in warning. With a little huff she nodded and Roman tapped me on the shoulder. It was time to move. The plan was to be in and out of here in less than four minutes, five at the most.

Finding my Embers mark wasn’t going to be that challenging. My nose led us right to the tent that didn’t smell like a human. The only tent that reeked of witches. Not sweet and spicy like my Ember. I walked into the tent first, my mate behind me and Roman bringing up the rear.

My mate wasted no time and searched the tent, her eyes widening when they landed on a satchel. It looked similar to the one she had back at home. “Dere (There)!” We rushed over, keeping her between us. Opening it quickly, she whispered a few words before placing the lint ball inside and shutting it.

She smiled wide and placed her hands on our shoulders. I prepared for the balls in my gut feeling that I knew was coming, but instead, I felt a pain there. Ember’s hand slipped off my shoulder and Roman’s eyes bugged out, and I knew something had gone wrong.

My arms went around my mate, she had doubled over, holding our pup. Before I could lose my s**t she squeezed my hand. “Sahmeone's combing (Someone's coming). I joehst (just) need a secahnd (second).” She tried to assure me, and placed her finger to her lips. Signaling me to be quiet. I was about to pick her up and run out when her words registered, and I felt someone approach the tent.

Roman and I locked eyes, as he quietly pulled his gun from its holster. Pointing it in the direction of the two people that entered the room. The look on my mate’s face was her attempting to be strong, and it was killing me to see the strain in her eyes. She was shielding us, keeping us invisible while in agony.

Fucking hell, we needed to get out of here, but she was fighting the pain one of these assholes was causing her. She couldn't zap us out of here in this condition. “I swear, I can feel one of my kind here.” The slim brunet with the stupid smile scanned the room, her eyes landing on our spot more than once.

If I moved quickly, I could slit her throat. "Don't leave out mate." Conner roared. He was right, I had to protect her first. I kept my arms around my mate but took a glance at the witch. She held a shinny cloth tightly in her hand, while whisper chanting some s**t. The witch’s eyes landed on her satchel which was right next to us. She rushed over, nearly brushing her side with my shoulder.

She didn’t feel or sense us, too focused on the crap inside her bag. The cloth fell from her hand and my mate shot up, quickly gripping my arm, and pulling Roman towards us. Within seconds, we were back home, in mine, an Embers house. She threw herself into my arms, sobbing, and I fought the urge to beat every asshole who assured me my mate would be fine to a bloody heap.

Or to yell at her for convincing me that nothing would happen to her or our pup. It was more important for me to take care of her. “I got you love.” I patted the red curls that were unde army chin and held her face to my chest, her hands clutching my shirt. I kneeled on the floor, cocooning her. I would become one with her if I could.

I darted a glare at Roman who was already walking away, backward, keeping his eyes on me. Yes fucker, sleep with one eye open. The logical part of me knows that neither he nor my cousin would ever put my mate in danger purposely. Neither would the council. Still, this will NEVER happen again.

I have no idea if the b***h found the tracker or not, but that doesn’t matter. One way or another, I’m going to find her and her little friend. Then I’m going to cause both of them then times the pain my Ember felt. “I’m going to take you to the doc.” I spoke softly, the words felt thick and hard to spit out.

Her little face turned up, eyes wide. Panic was rising in them, and she didn’t need that right now, our pup didn’t need that. “Our pup is fine.” I assured her, those words were much easier to say because they had to be true. Because believing them was what was holding me up.

My Ember looked fine, no scratches or blood. While she looked scared and regretful, she wasn’t in any pain. But I’m no doctor and I need one to tell me that my mate and pup are fine. That I’m right like always. The sooner that happens, the sooner I can kick my own ass for letting my mate go into harms way. Then the real ass kicking tour begins.

Maeve had been thoughtful for a moment, but soon nodded in agreement. Her arms went around my neck, her head resting on my shoulder. Dejectedly she whispered. “Sahrry. (Sorry)” I shushed her because while she owed me an apology, it brought negative connotations and neither of us needed that right now. She is fine, our pup is fine. They had to be unless the Goddess wanted death and c*****e.