“It’s been a couple of hours now.” Susan turned and looked at Freja.
“Shit.” Freja pressed her lips together tightly.
“What is it?” Chasen looked at her and could see she was deep in thought.
“They’re far enough ahead to be deep in demon territory.” Freja rubbed her hand over her brow. With a heavy sigh, she walked over to the far side of the building. She pulled a loose board over to the side and pulled out a bag.
“What are you doing?” Chasen looked at her, confused.
“It’s one of my stashes.” Freja waved her hand over herself. “I can’t go demon hunting in this.” She began stripping her clothes off, and Chasen quickly turned his head away to give her privacy. Before long, she was fully decked out as the demon huntress from head to toe, including her combat boots.
Freja walked back to Chasen and put her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll bring her back.”
“Wait a minute. I’m coming with you,” Chasen said immediately.
Freja shook her head. “You need to stay with Susan. She can’t be left alone right now. But more than that … I can’t do this with you, Chasen. I’m going to have to move through the area quietly. We can’t make any noise. I can make myself invisible when hunting. I’ve had years of practice.”
Chasen was adamant. “I’m coming with you. That is my mate. And I can’t allow you to go alone.”
Freja smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder.
“I’ll be okay on my own,” Susan said quietly.
“Chasen … I can do this better without you. I can avoid major groups. I can run through the trees. And?—”
“I can’t, Freja. I can’t sit here and wait. If that was Hunter missing and I told you that I could get him back better without you, could you just sit and wait?” Chasen looked at her almost pleadingly. If she decided to take off without him, there would be nothing he could do.
“Damn it, Chasen.” Freja shook her head angrily. He was right. She would demand to go as well. “You’re coming as my client, then. That’s it. You’re paying me for a job if we run into anyone. Susan, are you sure you’re okay to wait here?”
Susan nodded her head. “I’m sure my brother and Adam are already looking for me. I can wait here until they find me.”
“If anyone else comes, shift and run. Understand?” Freja watched as Susan nodded her head. She looked at Chasen. “This is about to get pretty risky, and potentially very dangerous.”
“It doesn’t matter. Just lead me to Jin. I’ll take out a demon army to get to her.”
“That’s good to hear, because we may have to.” Freja smirked and turned toward the door. “We’ll be back as soon as we find Jin, Susan … and if you see Hunter, tell him not to worry. He probably won’t listen, but tell him to wait here for us.”
“I will.” Susan watched as they ran out of the building, racing into the distance.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Freja stopped suddenly and lifted her nose in the air.
“What is it?” Chasen asked, looking around.
“The trail goes through the cursed forest, but the scent is coming from along the treeline here. They must be trying to throw us off. Anyone else wouldn’t have checked the air for their scent.” Freja looked away from the trees and upward, following the scent in a new direction. She led Chasen up the treeline. Little did she know, they were running farther and farther away from Jin.
I can smell Susan. She’s really close.Adam began to get antsy. His wolf was also restless. He struggled against himself to continue to follow his alpha and not take off running toward the scent.
I don’t like this. If we’re catching up to Susan already, then why is Freja’s scent not stronger?Hunter frowned as they continued to race through the woods. They’d been running in their wolf forms, since that was when they were at their fastest.Blaze was testing the air with his nose and was disappointed that Freja’s scent was so faint. Meanwhile, Susan’s scent was getting stronger. This was not a good sign.
They slowed down as a building came into view. Susan’s scent was strong, and Adam was starting to whimper, wanting to go to her.
Adam, fall in line or wait here,Sam growled lowly. He was anxious to get to Susan too, but they had to follow their alpha’s lead.
I don’t sense anyone else in there.Blaze lifted his nose and picked up Freja’s scent, heading in another direction.
I can hear someone inside … that must be Susan,Winston said as they all waited to see what Hunter wanted them to do.Thank goodness she’s alive.He sighed in relief. No one had said it, but they were all thinking the worst when they realized her scent was alone. They figured that for Freja and Chasen to not be there, the scent was going to lead to a lifeless body.
