I told her where to go, and she gave a stiff nod, turning her back on me and walking toward the door. She paused, hand on the doorknob, and threw one last question over her shoulder.
“Why didn’t you go to the funeral?”
“I did.” The words left me before I stopped them. Her gaze lifted to me, a question in them. One I didn’t answer. I couldn’t tell her I hadn’t belonged at her brother’s graveside. That I’d watched from a distance. Grieving not just Aaron but any hope of a future with my mate.
She waited a beat, but when I offered no more, she left, the door closing behind her with a soft click that echoed through my soul. I dropped my head into my hands, taking several deep, shaky breaths as I wondered if fate was punishing me by putting my mate back in my life. I didn’t know how I’d get through her stay. Maybe she’d leave now that I’d refused to give her answers.
My heart ached. I’d never wanted anything as much as I wanted her.
Knowing she was my mate had put a lot of things in perspective. Aaron and I had clicked immediately, and the first time he’d pulled out her picture to show me, I was smitten, as if something in me recognized her for who she was to me.
That had been the start of my problems with Vince. The closer I got to Aaron, the more Vince pulled away. We’d been best friends throughout our teen years and signed up for the army together. But something about my relationship with Aaron had bothered him.
Then came that final mission.
Familiar noises invaded my head again. I growled, spinning on my heel and flipping the table behind me, tractor parts flying to the floor with a crash. My shoulders heaved as my breathing intensified. I needed to run.
I yanked my shirt over my head and left out the back door, dropping my pants and shifting into my large brown bear. I kept enough control to prevent him from seeking his mate but otherwise let him take over. My thigh ached even in this form, but despite the limp we shared, we were strong and could run for miles. I’d pay for it later, but I needed to stop thinking.
Still, no matter how much I ran, I couldn’t outrun the thought of her.
Brooke
I maneuvered myself to sit next to Emily, Vince’s sister, at supper. She had come up in my research, and I recognized her immediately.
My eyes had sought Mason the second I walked into the pavilion, but I didn’t see him anywhere. There was a twinge in my chest at his absence, though I didn’t understand why. He had been less than receptive when I questioned him.
He claimed he’d been at the funeral, but I found it hard to believe I hadn’t seen him. He had a presence that drew me in. Grief had consumed me that day, though, so I might have missed him.
“How do you like your cabin?” Emily batted her mate’s hand away when he tried to steal a slice of meat from her plate. “Austin, go get your own. Hannah and Mae make enough for your shifter appetites.”
She shook her head as he gave an exaggerated pout and headed back to the buffet. “Sorry about that. So, the cabin?”
“It’s lovely.” It really was. It contained a cozy sitting area in front of a fireplace and a huge, very comfortable bed. Everything was decorated in a charming rustic style that wasn’t too masculine. “The artwork is incredible.”
“Sierra curated the pieces. She runs the art gallery. The paintings are mostly Gabriel’s, and the photographs are Chloe’s.” She took a sip of water. “You should definitely make time to see the gallery while you’re here. It’s amazing.”
“I heard about the gallery. Didn’t it have to be rebuilt?” I asked casually, like I hadn’t read all the news articles about it during my research on the ranch.
Her eyes shadowed. “Yes. That was before I came here.”
I waited a beat for her to say more, but she didn’t mention the sabotage or her brother. I’d hoped she’d volunteer the information, which would allow me to ask about Vince, but I might need to be more direct. “We actually have a connection. Our brothers were friends and squad mates in the military.”
She paused, hand on her glass, before twisting on her chair toward me. “Is it a coincidence that you’re here, or…” Suspicioncolored her expression as she trailed off, looking at me to fill in the blank. She was sharp, and I immediately realized I needed to be honest with her. She’d see through any attempt to pry info out of her.
“Not a coincidence. My brother died while they were in the service together. I was hoping to find out what really happened.” I saw the sympathy flash through her eyes and took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. “All I have to go on is his last email to me, which mentions Vince and Mason.”
Emily took her time responding. When she spoke, she did so with a sigh. “Vince was never the same after he came home. He was always serious, but it was the kind of serious that came from being the eldest, from being groomed to take over our family ranch one day. He still had friends and would laugh and joke… But when he got back, that changed. His seriousness had an edge of darkness to it. He no longer joked around, and he and Mason never spoke again.”
“He never talked about his time away?”
She shook her head. “Never. And we learned quickly not to ask. He has a grudge against Mason, which is why he’s targeted Shifter Ranch.”
“Do you know what the grudge is about?” I picked at my food, appetite gone.
“No. Mason’s the one you should talk to about this.”
“I tried.” I pushed my plate away. “He wouldn’t answer my questions.”
