“We could split up.You and Marcus go back to the Pride and search, and us three will go on to keep searching,” Adam suggested.
“We’re days from the Pride, we’re losing time,” Trip said in frustration.
“It’s better than all of us being out here chasing our tails.Besides the pride’s probably in complete upheaval with us all being gone,” Adam mentioned.
“Then you’re probably the best candidate to go back because I’m not in the mood to deal with them.My focus is on finding El.”
“If I go back with you, then I think Marcus should stay with these two.They can’t shift, and there’s no telling what they’ll run into out here.Someone needs to be able to shift.”
“I agree.Marcus?”Trip asked.
Marcus shifted then.
“I can do that.I think we need to have a way to check in with each other, though.”
The men fell silent as they thought.Ryan knew what it was going to boil down to.They would have to draw a line in the sand for how long they would continue to search for the cabin.It was the only way to guarantee their safety.The further they traveled from the Pride boundaries, the more at risk they were, especially him and Shawn since they were stuck in their lion and panther form.
“At some point, you will just need to call off the search and come back,” Trip told Marcus.
“Gives us at least seven more days.It’ll take you at least three days to get back to the pride.If we don’t find anything in four days, then we’ll come back, which will take us three days.”
“That’s a long time to be out here without any form of communication,” Trip said.
“If possible, I’ll find us a form of communication, but I don’t think any of us are ready to give up yet,” Marcus said looking over to Ryan and Shawn for back up.
Ryan and Shawn both dipped their heads in agreement.
“Seven days, I want to see you three on Pride land,” Trip enforced.
“Seven days,” Marcus agreed.
“We’ll go back and look for the cabin, and if we find it and leave, I’ll make sure to leave word with someone for you all,” Trip told him.
“Good luck,” Marcus told him.
“Be safe,” Trip replied.
Everyone shifted back, and they split into their assigned groups.Ryan hated to split them up, they were stronger together, but Trip was right.They were spinning their wheels all of them being in the woods chasing their tails.
Ryan, Marcus, and Shawn moved through the forest until they heard the roar of traffic nearby.Ryan couldn’t remember how far off the interstate the cabin had been, but it felt like they were headed in the wrong direction.He tried to force his shift, but once again, his lion was too strong.Ryan turned and then motioned with his head to switch directions.They were walking more due west at the time, and he was hoping that if they took a more Northern approach, they’d have luck.
Shawn refused to move, though he tossed his head to signal he wanted to keep moving west.Marcus simply watched the interaction between them.Ryan knew he and Shawn had some differences they needed to sort out.Ryan didn’t hold Shawn’s words against him.If anything, Ryan agreed with Shawn.Being stuck in his lion form right now was the absolute worst timing.Ryan was just as frustrated with himself as they all were, if not more so.
Ryan snarled to get Shawn’s attention, but Shawn didn’t stop walking.Shawn’s lion didn’t take the open display of disloyalty, but Ryan stifled his lion’s urge to attack.The constant battle of wills between him and his lion was wearing him thin.The longer he stayed in his lion form, the harder it would be to continue winning the battles, too.Ryan decided to just let Shawn take the lead for a while.Ryan had been leading for days, and they hadn’t found the cabin.Ryan was starting to doubt not only his ability to save El but his ability to lead as well.
It had always been his biggest fear when it came to being Alpha—the chance of failure.Ryan didn’t want to lead because he didn’t want to fail.There were so many that depended on him and so many expectations from them to do well, that it just seemed like a better idea to avoid it, but he hadn’t been able to do that either.So, he had spent most of his time as Alpha, playing it safe.He didn’t try to force new laws or rules even though he didn’t agree with all of them.When El had challenged him to change them, most of his anger and frustration had once again been at himself for not having had the guts to do it sooner.
Maybe he didn’t deserve any of it.He should just turn around and wander off and let his lion completely take over.They’d all be better off without him.Even his unborn child was already being let down by him.
Chapter 34
El
“Wouldyou like to go outside and sit by the stream?”Willow asked El surprising her.
“Really?”El asked, excited at the possibility of getting to go outside.
“Sure.We’ve all been cooped up too much.Fresh air is good for you and the baby,” Willow said.
