Skye’s Limits by Stephani Hecht Page A

stay it will be suicide. Mr. Hankens’ house is just going to have to be a causality of the war. I know it sucks, but that’s how it’s going to be.”
    “That’s just fucking wrong,” Skye said.
    “I know it is. But we don’t have any other choice. We can’t win every battle. This is one that we’re going to have to lose. We’ll get them next time, though. I promise you that.”
    Skye nodded, but he didn’t look happy about it. Not that Alden blamed him. He wasn’t happy about it, either. No good soldier liked to lose a fight.
    Vapor popped his head out of the shed and said, “Okay, let’s go. I want everybody to have guns blazing. We’re going for the second van on the left.”
    They all ran out of the shed. Alden was careful to keep Skye close to his side. They shot and dodged bullets along the way. Ash took one to the leg, but he kept on running. Most likely because the medic was so used to being wounded it didn’t even faze him anymore.
    They were soon to the van. They helped Ash into the back. Alden wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Andrew was already there with the elderly shifter. Mr. Hanken s was looking at his home, which was already in flames, tears running down his wrinkled face.
    “I knew they would get me. It was only a matter of time,” the man said.
    Alden’s heart went out to the shifter. It must be hard to see one’s whole life literally go up into flames. Alden could relate since he had gone through the same thing when he was just a kid. He’d lost his parents and home during the mass Raven attack so many years ago, yet the pain still felt fresh in his heart at times.
    Logan jumped into the back of the van. “Okay, we can go. My entire team has been extracted. We even managed to remove the dead, so the birds couldn’t have fun with them.”
    As they pulled away, the flames of the home grew larger. Alden pulled Skye closer to him. While they might have lost this battle, that didn’t mean they were losing the war. It was just a little speed bump. The coalition would recover and be stronger than ever.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Once Alden got home and cleaned up, he went to Branson’s to meet Skye, so they could talk to his brother. While Alden wasn’t looking forward to the conversation, he knew it was one that had to be faced if he was to have Skye as his mate and living with him.
    Alden had dressed his best. While Branson might be blind, that didn’t mean he didn’t deserve to have all his due respect. Alden didn’t realize how nervous he was until he noticed his hands were shaking when he knocked on the door.
    Skye answered it. He was smiling, so that was a good sign. Or at least Alden hoped so. With Skye’s family, things could take a bad turn quickly. If there was anything that Alden had learned about them, it was that.
    “Are you ready for this?” Skye asked.
    “Yeah, is Branson in a good mood?” Alden asked.
    “He’s still feeling really bad about how he treated me the other night, so I think we’re hitting him at a good time.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
    “Come in.”
    Alden walked into an apartment that was much like his but with a much homier feel to it. There were various artifacts lying about, and the couches looked worn and used. A large screen TV sat in the living room. It was on, but the volume was set to low.
    Branson and Gage were in the kitchen, but Branson turned his head as soon as Alden and Skye walked in. “Alden, what are you doing here?”
    The question was one of curiosity, not out of hostility, so they were off to a good start. Alden let out a small sigh and rubbed his hands on his jeans. He knew the next few minutes were going to be the most important ones in his life. While Skye was going to be leaving with him either way, Alden didn’t want it to be on bad terms. He knew how much Skye looked up to his older brother, and he wanted them to be able to continue to have a good relationship.
    “Skye and I need to talk to you about