Chapter 4
The atmosphere in the days of Matheson’s abduction had been depressed and terrified. A dark cloud of uncertainty hung in the air, touching each one of his mates. Nobody wanted to think the unthinkable--that Matheson was gone forever.
But after the initial shock had passed, they knew it was time to mobilize.
The group sat around a campfire near the border where West Pack met the human settlement. Crystal and the Madame set side-by-side, apparently putting aside their past conflict in the wake of this new tragedy. Noro stood the furthest away, staring up at the dark sky.
Ramsay was in a state of shock, staring at the fire with none of his usual happy-go-lucky attitude, and Colton hadn’t spoken since Matheson’s abduction.
Eric growled, wondering why he seemed the most angry. Maybe it was because he had tried to protect Matheson by holing up in the house, a plan that had failed miserably. Maybe he blamed himself for this.
He knew likely that Ramsay and Colton, who had been there when the gryphon attacked Matheson, blamed themselves too.
“All of you,” Eric barked. “Enough moping around. It’s clear what we have to do, and every second we waste sitting here is a second we could have been spending on saving Matheson.”
Nobody replied. They all continued staring at the fire, or at the ground, or the sky. Eric snarled, letting his wolf’s voice lace into his own.
“Fine! If none of you care about him, I’ll go by myself!” he snapped.
“You can’t go by yourself,” Crystal immediately argued. “You’ll get yourself killed.”
“Then come with me.”
Crystal, who usually followed her pack leader everywhere, hesitated. Eric knew two wolves walking into the gryphons’ lair was a death wish.
But what else could he have done when his mate was in danger?
When hischildwas in danger?
“I don’t know if you two have forgotten this,” Eric said venomously, glaring at Colton and Ramsay, “but it’s not just Matheson whose been abducted. It’s our child.”
Their gazes snapped up, both filled with grief and agony. But Eric didn’t have time to feel sorrow. He needed to concentrate on saving Matheson, and he was going to do it whether Matheson’s other two mates joined him or not.
“What can we do?” Ramsay asked weakly. “We’re four wolves, one gryphon and a human.”
“I cannot stay,” the Madame said suddenly. “My own people need me. I’m sorry.”
Eric didn’t have time to feel sorry for the loss of one extra person. He glanced to Colton, who had remained silent.
“And what about you?” he barked. “Don’t you even care? You haven’t said a word since he was stolen!”
“Lay off, Eric,” Ramsay snapped, getting to his feet. “Colt’s just as upset as you are. Just because he’s not bossing everyone around--”
Eric got in his face. “I’m not bossing anyone around, I’mtryingto save our mate before he’s killed, or gods know what else!” He snarled, jabbing a finger into Ramsay’s chest. “You two should have been protecting him! You were there in the room with him! This isyourfault!”
Ramsay attacked. In the blink of an eye, two wolves stood where there had been two men, and their bodies were a blur of red and black as they fought. Spit and fur flew into the air, and their snarls rang out, grief-filled sounds disguised as anger.
The Madame looked away. Crystal frowned, looking like she wanted to interject, but didn’t. She knew they were figuring out their emotions in the best way they knew how. Noro still stood further than the rest, staring into the sky.
A white wolf--Colton--approached the fighting wolves and stood an inch away from the fray. In their distraction, Eric and Ramsay didn’t notice him until one of them--it didn’t matter who--struck Colton by accident, clawing his shoulder and drawing an angry red wound, bright against his white fur.
Eric and Ramsay stopped, immediately shifting back.
“Shit, Colt, are you okay?” Ramsay asked.
“Colton, I’m sorry,” Eric said.
Colton nodded, still a wolf. Satisfied with breaking up the fight, he went to lay beside the fire. He didn’t bother licking his wounds.
