“Something’s happened to your daddy,” I told her. “But we’re going to fix it. Don’t youworry.”
“Is it that scary alpha?” sheasked.
“Yes,” I growled. “Your dad is going to get rid of him once and for all so that he can never scare youagain.”
We pounded through the woods, following Jericho. We cut through the trees and stopped briefly near the cabin to refresh the scent. When I saw the broken shards of glass and the empty window, the fur on my neck rose in fury. A deep growl full of rage built in my throat. The air was thick with Charlie’s stale fearscent.
I was furious with myself. I should have been here for Charlie. I should never have left him alone. With a snarl, I swiped my claws through thedirt.
“Stay calm,” Jericho said. “We’ll find themsoon.”
“How can I stay calm?” I snarled at him. “My mate is missing and there’s an enemy alpha on ourterritory!”
Jericho’s ears swivelled back at the force of my words, but he said nothing. He turned around and flicked his head towards the north, indicating where we were goingnext.
I shut my eyes tightly in anguish. There had to be a way to fixthis.
As Jericho led us to the northern border, I tried something crazy. I’d always known mated alphas and omegas had a special connection - but could regular shifter telepathy extend beyond its usual short range? I forced myself to concentrate. With all the inner strength I could muster, I reached out to Charlie, hoping and praying he wouldreply.
“Charlie…? Charlie, please hear me. I don’t know where you are, or if you’re safe, and it’s making me insane. Please let me know you’re out theresomewhere.”
There was no response. I was stupid, thinking that would work. I growled at myself for being such an idiot and wasting time when we were supposed to be finding mymate.
Then, suddenly, something reached out and brushed the edges of my mind, like smoke across the water’ssurface.
“Flint?”
I stopped. My eyes went wide as the moon. It was just a whisper, only barely audible. But I heard it. Charlie’svoice.
“Charlie? Can you hear me? Where areyou?”
I paused, holding my breath for the next communication. It came quietly again, but I could definitely hearhim.
“I’m okay. I’m in Indigo Mountain territory, but not sure where exactly. I’msafe.”
Hearing that made me breathe a huge sigh of relief. My most important concern was eased. Now all that remained was finding him and bringing himhome.
“Can you describe your surroundings?” I askedhim.
He paused, and I hoped our mental connection wouldn’t fade before he replied. But then he said, “I’m close to the top of the mountain, I think. There’s less trees and I can see the whole sky. There’s an old den. I’m hidingthere.”
My heart raced at his choice of words. He was hiding - but from who? I think I had an idea. I had to get to him before Hectordid.
Filled with new adrenaline, my pace exploded. Soon I was ten feet ahead of Jericho. Suddenly I realized that I couldn’t bring Casey with me - it was too dangerous. I skidded to a halt and faced myfriend.
“Jericho, I need you to take Casey into town. She won’t be safe with me right now,” I toldhim.
He flattened his ears and whined. I knew he wanted to come with me and help find Charlie, but this was important too. He fought an inward battle with himself for a moment before sighing and saying, “Fine. But I’m warning the guys. There’s no way I’m letting you do this alone. Tell me where you’re going so I can let themknow.”
I described the location Charlie told me, then I watched Jericho gently nudge Casey around to return to town. When I was sure they were leaving, I turned and bolted off towards the mountaintop.
Every cell in my body vibrated with fury. It was like the Moon herself had breathed life into me, spurring me onward. My paws hit the ground fast and hard. Every stride threw up dirt behind me as I darted across the territory with all my might. The image of my mate was etched into my mind. It was almost physically painful that I wasn’t by his side right now - but soon, I would be. And when I was, I swore I would never leave him aloneagain.
As I tore up the side of the mountain, my muscles strained with effort. I forced myself to keep running. Soon, the trees thinned out and I reached a clearing. I skidded to a halt. I was on the edge of a cliff overlooking a deep, rich wilderness - unclaimed lands. I wondered briefly if anyone even knew this cliff and this view existed. It was valuable land that we could add to ourterritory.
But that wasn’t the point right now. I sniffed the air carefully, trying to pick out any trace of Charlie’sscent.
But I couldn’t senseit.
