“I’ll go help her.”
He grinned. “Right. I guess take your time but don’t mess shit up in there.”
I smiled back, rubbed my hands together. “No problem.”
People moved out of my way as I cut through the bar and toward the back hallway. The storeroom door was open, and I strode inside.
It was empty; the box of rags on the floor was tipped over. I couldn’t miss my mate’s scent. It was strong in the room, but I picked up another scent. Human. Male. But this was a bar, and there were a lot of humans here. I spun around. Walked into the hall.
I sniffed again, thinking I’d follow Summer’s scent to the women’s room, but instead, her scent went the other way, mingled with the same human’s scent. It was stronger here–there was less confusion for my nose with others’ scents because not many came this far back. The only thing down this way was the emergency exit.
I stared at the door then back at the storeroom.
My mate went from the storeroom out the back door with a human male?
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Something was wrong. My wolf growled. Then my eye caught on something on the wall.
There was wood wainscotting that came a few feet up the wall, but above that, the walls were painted white. A few framed photos were spread out depicting historical images of Cooper Valley.
I didn’t notice them. I noticed the smear of blood. I leaned in and sniffed it.
Summer.
Fuck! My mate.
My mate’s blood.
A genuine wolf-growl ripped from my throat. Someone once compared me to the Avenger who turned into a huge green monster-like version of himself when he got angry. That was me now. I almost spontaneously shifted.
Summer was in trouble. I threw open the emergency door, breaking one of the hinges. Out into the parking lot I scanned for my mate. She was nowhere to be seen. Her scent wasn’t in the air. It was snowing, and the wind was blowing. Footprints were there, but filling in quickly.
He took her. It had to be her asshole ex. Summer hadn’t mentioned he was in town or coming to town or him even contacting her. Which means she hadn’t expected him. He hurt her, and he took her out of here forcefully.
I was going to tear his arms and legs from his body.
I ran the path. Two sets of footprints. They led to an empty parking spot. Tire tracks were visible. The vehicle had backed out to the right, then went left… toward the lot’s exit onto Main Street.
He had my mate. She was bleeding. There was no way in hell she’d have gone off with someone without telling at least Cody. And she wouldn’t have been able to go with someone unwillingly through the main bar.
My fists clenched. My wolf pushed to the front. I couldn’t scent her any longer.
Ever since the first time I picked up her scent here at the bar, I’d held myself in check. I was cautious. Afraid I’d hurt her or scare her away. I walked gently. Talked softly. Fucked carefully, even when she said she liked it rough.
Now? Fuck all that. I was done being careful and safe and cautious. I was tired of pretending I could be any of those things because the real me, the vicious, ruthless, dangerous me was coming out.
I tipped my head back and roared into the night.
26
SUMMER
* * *
“Take me back, Marty,” I said from the passenger seat of a small car. It was definitely a rental because it was spotlessly clean and had the brand-new car scent. Marty wouldn’t be caught dead in this basic car in LA.
I shivered, my hands tucked between my thighs. My cheek throbbed from where he hit me. I only briefly entertained the thought of opening the door and throwing myself out of the moving vehicle, but even if I survived the impact, nothing would stop Marty from stopping and shooting me.
If I stayed put, I doubt he’d kill me since he seemed intent on taking me back to LA, but I wouldn’t put him above shooting my kneecap to keep me from running then blame it on me for making him do it.
