“I hear you,” she said, and it sounded like maybe there was a small smile involved. “Thank you, Dalton. I’m glad that the mate bond being destroyed didn’t end us. I’m glad thatyou’remine.”
He closed his eyes as he let her words soak into him. She claimed him. His wolf was howling indelight.
“Why won’t you tell me where you are?” he askedgently.
“Because I still have things I need to do, and if you’re with me you will distract me, and most likely try to stop me,” sheadmitted.
“Is it dangerous, whatever it is you havetodo?”
“Is anything in our world not dangerous?” shecountered.
“Touché.” She was right. They did live in a dangerous world. But, as her mate, he was supposed to be protecting her while they maneuvered the wilds together.Soon. He would be with her soon. All he needed was to get Gustavo out of the pixie realm. The Spanish Alpha would be able to hunt for his mate through their bond, and Dalton would just have to follow whereheled.
Dalton was pulled from his thoughts when he heard Jewel gasp and then a man’s coldvoice.
“Time for round seven.” The male purred. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed with yourstamina.”
The sick, twisted delight in his tone caused Dalton toseered.
“Jewel,whois—”
“I have to go,” she said cutting him off. “I’ll call again, pleaseanswer.”
“I’ll always answer, Little Dove, but firsttellme.”
“I love you, Dalton,” she said, once again interrupting him. Before he could respond, she was gone and the call wasended.
He fought the urge to throw his cell phone. The only thing that stopped him was her promise that she’d call again. He threw his head back and howled in rage as he thought about what the manhadsaid.
“Are youalright?”
Dillon’s voice broke through the haze of anger that had wrapped itself around his brain. Dalton turned to look at hisAlpha.
“If I say yes, will you go away?” Dalton askeddryly.
“Notlikely.”
“Then no, I’m not alright.” He barked as the rage returned full force. “That was Jewel.” Dalton held up thephone.
“Shecalledyou?”
“Anna gave her my number. Apparently, she got it from Gustavo who got it from Crina.” Dalton said tersely. His wolf didn’t want to explain anything. It wanted to killsomething.
“Sounds like a bad teen drama.” Dillon let out a sigh. “Is shealright?”
He shook his head. “No. She’s far from alright, but she won’t tell me where she is. And just before she hung up there was a male voice in the background.” The large wolf’s words came out in a lowgrowl.
“What did this man say?” his Alphaasked.
“He said it was time for round seven and was impressed by her stamina.” The words tasted like ash in his mouth. What they implied made him want to puke. His gut clenched, and he felt his teeth elongate, as fingers morphed into claws. He waslosingit.
“Did Jewel tell you anything that could help us find them?” Dillon didn’t address what Dalton had just revealed, and Dalton knew it was because speculation wouldn’t helpanything.
“The only thing she told me was that her mother is dead. She died right in front of Jewel, but I don’t know the circumstances. Just that Jewel hadn’t expected her mom to be wherever it was they were.” That sounded about as clearasmud.
“Take comfort in the fact that Jewel is alive,”Dillonsaid.
Dalton snorted as he whipped around to glare at his Alpha. “You know as well as I do that sometimes death is preferable to simply beingalive.”
