“I left the ATV just outside the front doors last night after my perimeter check.” Lukas tossed the keys to him and shoved on his sweatshirt.
“Good.” Jinx caught the keys midair. “While I’m giving you duties, I want two guards outside the house at night, and I want you to find yourself Elder guards.”
“But I don’t have a mate. I don’t need them,” Lukas argued.
“You know what’s coming as much as I do. You’ll have guards on standby for when they are needed. I won’t have you killed because of an oversight.” The elevator doors opened and Jinx ran full speed through the entryway to the front door and out to the ATV.
The ATV roared to life. A split second later, Lukas jumped on board and they were hurling down the path to where the alarm had sounded. Around the houses, and through the trees before he could open it up completely. The cold night air and snowflakes nipped at Jinx’s naked chest, but he barely realized it; all he cared about was getting to wherever the threat was. No one would be screwing up his mate’s first night with the clan, or putting the fear back into Claire.
With a wave of his arm, a guard at the inner perimeter stopped them.
“What?” Jinx barked, irritated.
“It’s a bear, animal not shifter, and they’ve dealt with it.”
“Damn it. Is no one marking the territory? We shouldn’t have animals traipsing through the area if it was marked properly.”
“I can’t answer that, sir.” The guard shrugged. “It hasn’t been one of my assigned duties. I believe the front line handles it.”
“I’ll see to it in the morning, and make sure everything is marked,” Lukas told him. “Let’s get back to the house. We’ll let the guards and Summer know everything is safe.”
“Richard, isn’t it?” Jinx wasn’t sure in the darkness.
“Yes, sir.”
With no desire to make the trip to the perimeter and back, he sent Richard instead. “Go tell them I’ve been alerted of the issue and they are to report to the meeting room at nine o’clock.”
“Very well, sir.” Richard hopped onto his own ATV and took off.
“Add marking the territory to your list,” Jinx told Lukas. “I want you to make sure it’s done by nightfall. I do not want a rehash of this again.” He turned the ATV around and started heading back to the house. “See what I mean about the hours you’ll put in for the clan?”
“I understand, and can still do everything. I’ve made arrangements for Eric to accompany us when we go to Alaska. We’ll only be away two days, so don’t worry about the clan. Eric and I will fly out with you. I’ll get Ty to approve Eric, and then we’ll fly back the next day. Everything will be fine.”
“For your sake and sanity, I hope Ty will approve Eric. If not, you’re going to be exhausted rather quickly.”
“There’s no need to worry, he will. Eric has the skills Ty needs and with me overseeing everything there won’t be a problem. I can do this. Just have a little faith in me.”
He took his gaze off the path for a moment and glanced at Lukas. “I’ve always had faith in you or I wouldn’t have asked you to be my Lieutenant.” The ATV came to a halt in front of the house where lights gleamed from the third floor. Before he went inside there was one thing he wanted Lukas’s opinion on. “You’ve had some contact with Meshell in her guard duties.”
“Very little, why?”
“I’m considering adding her to the team to protect Summer and Claire. She’d be the additional guard for the time being, always the third on when guarding my family. Jackson believes if we give her a chance she’ll live up to the task.”
“But you’re worried.”
“I have confidence in Meshell when it comes to ground duties, even considered moving her to the outer perimeter, but this is my family we’re talking about. I won’t risk them.”
Lukas turned slightly to look over at Jinx. “If you think Meshell is up for it, do it on a trial run. Always keep her with guards you know will protect Summer and Claire no matter what happens. Even use her only here on our land, where the security is higher, at least at first. I have to agree with Jackson, she could be a good guard with a little more training, and having another woman around might be good for Claire.”
“So you think I should try Meshell?” He had a feeling Lukas would say that.
“I’ve seen her in training and when on duty. She’s dedicated, the skills are there, and she cares about the clan. All qualities in a good guard.” Lukas nodded. “What does Summer think?”