Ulric shrugged."To undo the ward?To exclude himself from it?I don't know."
Geri continued forward, walked right through the ward without any reaction from Ulric.
"So he's left pack land."Farkas spoke low, more to himself than to anyone else.
Fuck, this wasn't good.Rourke followed Geri with gritted teeth.
They moved quickly, almost jogging, but it kept on and on and on.The trail was twisting and turning with no real aim.How long had he been out here?Geri trotted forward, then took a sharp turn to the right.What had made Ezra shift direction?Did he have any idea where he was going?
"He must've walked for hours."Ulric frowned at him."Did he leave...right after?"
Rourke didn't know.How had he gone out without anyone seeing him?He didn't expect his pack to keep track of his mate, but someone always noticed something.
Geri followed a game trail out onto a clear-cut area.Rourke had no idea who owned this land, but it wasn't theirs.Was there a witch clan in this direction?Ezra might not return to his clan, but maybe he sought out another.
There was no scent of witches other than Ezra, and he didn't smell like a witch.He smelled like Rourke.He rubbed his chest again, more worried than angered by the clawing there.They had to find Ezra.
Geri stopped, making snuffling sounds as he lingered on a spot on the ground.Rourke crouched.The scent was more intense.Ezra must've lingered there.
As they moved forward, Geri moved a little slower, his nose against the ground.Rourke had the feeling Ezra had slowed down.Maybe it was the darkness falling that kept him from moving as fast as he had before.Did it mean they were close?
Minutes slipped by as they walked, then Geri stopped.Rourke inhaled and caught the coppery scent of blood.His heart leaped to his throat, and he rushed forward.
Ezra sat slumped against an oak tree, his head lolling to the side.Rourke snarled and ran toward him.When he was a couple of steps away, Ezra jerked and screamed, a blood-curdling sound that tore through Rourke's soul.
"Easy, easy.It's me."But it didn't relax Ezra at all.He scrambled backward, tried to put distance between them, tried to get away.His frightened gaze jumped from Rourke to the shadows around them.
Ulric, Farkas, and Geri stood some distance away.Smart of them.
"Ezra.Calm down."Fuck, the scent of his fear was so strong Rourke looked around too in case he'd missed something, but no.He was the only one close enough to pose a threat.
"Ezra."He held out a hand, but Ezra ducked as if he believed Rourke would hit him.It made him freeze.What the fuck?
"Easy, honey.There is nothing to be afraid of.It's only me, Ulric, Farkas, and Geri."
It didn't soothe him.
Rourke sighed and grabbed him.Ezra pushed and kicked, a terrified whine building in his throat, but Rourke wrapped his arms around him.If he'd lied about his skills, this would be the moment he'd turn Rourke inside out.
Nothing happened other than Ezra struggling in his hold.Rourke cooed and rocked him slightly."Shh."He didn't know what else to say.A minute or two of Ezra's struggling ended with a sob as he slumped against Rourke.
They stood there for a few seconds, then Rourke lifted him into his arms bridal style.Hopefully, he wouldn't trip on anything.
Ulric gave him a disapproving look.Farkas didn't look at him at all, and Geri was too busy sniffling the ground to pay them any attention.Yeah, Rourke might have fucked up.How many could say their mate tried to run away from them?He'd never heard of anyone.Mates wanted to be together,neededto be together.The clawing in his chest calmed to a pleasant glow as he held Ezra in his arms.Ezra should feel the same.
* * * *
Ezra's heart was pounding so fast, he feared it would overdo it and stutter to a stop.
Rourke had found him.
He should've known he would.He hadn't considered him asking one of his men to shift into a wolf and track him.He should have.Stupid.They weren't human, but he'd forgotten what it meant.
Had he ever stood a chance to disappear?Car, he needed a car.Wolves couldn't track them, right?But Ezra didn't know how to drive.It was never something Shixyll had believed he needed to learn.
"Are you hurt?"Rourke's voice was low, growly.
He didn't reply.He was cold, hungry, and scared.But he wasn't hurt.
