Smokey checked the rearview mirror. Harte was still sleeping, but Elen was awake, keeping watch over him. He was thankful the spirits were able to help Kevin’s father but couldn’t relax until Harte got a medical check-up. According to what Glenn had told him, Sawyer’s twin brother Mac was a doctor and was waiting for them to arrive at the Blackwood Pack. Though Smokey was eager to get back to LA and interrogate the humans Ghost had captured, it would have to wait until Mac gave the all clear for both Harte and Elen.
Flicking his eyes to the rearview mirror again, he caught Elen staring back at him, exhaustion clearly lining her face. “Hey, you okay?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“Stop worrying, Gabriel, we’re fine.” Stuffing a pillow under her head, she stretched out to relieve the kinks in her back before asking, “Do you know why humans were after us?”
Keeping his eyes on the road, Smokey shook his head. “Ghost is lookin’ into it, so maybe there’ll be some news when we get to the Blackwood Pack.”
“Why is your bear agitated…and don’t deny it…my horse can feel it.”
Smokey chuckled. “Never could fool you even though I tried to so many times. You could always tell what I was feeling through my bear.”
“Smart boy…so tell me, what are you feeling now?” asked Elen.
“Honestly? I haven’t figured it out yet.” Checking the GPS, smokey slowed down before making a right hand turn onto a wooded road.
“Is it about the humans? Or about Kevin? Does your bear think he’s in trouble?”
“It’s not Kevin,” Smokey quickly reassured Elen. “I don’t know what happened that caused him to disappear but I know I’ll find him.”
“Then it’s the humans.”
“Not really,” Smokey insisted. “I mean, yeah, I want to know why they were after you and Harte, but I’ll find out about that, too, when I question them.”
“Hmm…” Elen grew thoughtful, then after a minute asked, “What’s your bear doing right now?”
“Now?”
“Yes…what is he doing?”
“Uhm…pacing…why?” asked Smokey.
“What about you…how do you feel?”
Like my skin is suddenly too small for my body,but Smokey wasn’t about to tell Elen that. She’d probably laugh if he ever said it, but damn, it was the truth. Ever since being in the lake with Harte, he felt as if the water had shrunk his skin, making it so itchy, it felt like a thousand ants were crawling all over him. He’d ignored it the best he could until Elen brought his attention back to it. Shifting in his seat, Smokey rubbed his back against it, trying to relieve the itchiness.
“Gabriel?”
“What?” Smokey barked, instantly regretting his sharp tone. It wasn’t Elen’s fault he felt so agitated. “Sorry…didn’t mean to be so abrupt,” he apologized, his voice calmer.
“Gabriel,” Elen said softly, “do you feel strange? Like…like…”
“Like my skin doesn’t belong to me anymore? Then yeah, definitely strange,” Smokey muttered. “I must’ve picked up something when I was in the lake…some damn parasite, maybe.”
“Oh…OH!” Elen said, before falling silent.
Glancing at Elen again, Smokey found her staring out the window, a small smile on her face. Returning his eyes to the road, he shook his head slightly. He knew that look. It spoke of a secret only Elen knew and, from his past experience, it would remain one until she decided to share it. His thoughts went back to the humans, trying to figure out if his missing friend had something to do with it, but after examining the idea, he discarded it, Kevin would never put his parents in harm’s way.
“What’s your friend’s connection to the Blackwood Pack?” asked Elen softly.
Jarred from his thoughts, Smokey looked in the rearview mirror, smiling at her. “Through one of his mates…well actually through both of his mates. Sawyer is a cousin of the Alpha and Alex is a member’s brother and both of them are mates of Glenn, my friend.”
“Do you know who the other members are?”
“Nah…I know Sawyer has a twin who’s the pack doctor, but that’s all. I was kinda busy trying to find you guys and Kevin so I wasn’t paying too much attention.”
“Is the pack just wolves?” asked Elen.
“I don’t…wait…Alex’s brother is a dragon…just like him,” Smokey answered.
