Mackenzie knew that Nico would have noticed something was wrong by now.They were supposed to meet, and Mackenzie always called if he was delayed.He didn’t want Nico to worry in his state, even though Nico teased him for being overprotective.Maybe he was, but a pregnancy was the right time to be overprotective, wasn’t it?
Anyway, Nico would know that something was wrong already.If Mackenzie knew him, Nico had driven all the way to fox territory to find him.When he realized that Mackenzie wasn’t home and that his car was still there, he’d try to find him.
Mackenzie’s stomach churned.He hoped Nico would do the smart thing and call his father or Jerome.He had to know it would be stupid to try anything on his own, right?He’d want to protect the baby.
Or maybe he’d freak out so badly that he’d do something stupid like coming after Silas on his own.
Mackenzie couldn’t think of that.He had to believe that Nico would be okay and that someone was coming after him to help.
Hopefully, before Silas did something irreparable like killing him.
Mackenzie had no idea where they were in the forest, but he wouldn’t be surprised if they’d left fox territory since they’d been walking a while.He didn’t recognize anything—not that there was anything to recognize.The only things around them were trees, trees, and more trees.
And a cave, apparently.It took them several more minutes to get there, but when they did, Silas pushed Mackenzie forward.Mackenzie hit the closest stone wall, glad for the support.He pressed his back against it and watched Silas, but the man wasn’t looking at him.Instead, he was rummaging in a pile of something on the other side of the cave.Unfortunately, the cave was so small that even if Mackenzie tried to run, Silas would only have to reach out to be able to grab him.
Mackenzie looked around.There was a bunch of blankets bundled on the ground, surrounded by empty food wrappers.It was obvious that Silas had been living here, probably for a while.The cave smelled of dampness and earth, and even with his human nose, Mackenzie could smell the blood.It made him want to throw up.He doubted Silas would take that nicely, though, and Mackenzie needed to stay alive until Nico and the others found him.
He wouldn’t let Silas win.Mackenzie might be human, and he might not be able to defend himself from a shifter, but hewouldsurvive this.He had too much to lose, and too many people would be hurt if something happened to him.He was going to live and meet his child.He’d have a long life with Nico, and he’d be happy.
He wouldn’t consider any alternative.
* * * *
NICO WAS PACING INfront of Mackenzie’s house when Jerome arrived.He wasn’t alone.Nico wasn’t surprised to see that his father was with him, but hewassurprised that he’d gotten here so quickly.It should have taken more time.
“What are you doing here?”he asked as he threw himself into his father’s arms.
His father hugged him hard.“Jerome called me.He said something’s happened to Mackenzie.”
“I think Silas has him.”
And he wanted to go after the asshole.Maybe he should’ve bitten Saul when he’d tried stopping him.
It had taken a lot of guts for the human to do that.Nico had been in his bobcat form, yet Saul hadn’t hesitated.He’d grabbed him and had held onto him until he was sure that Nico wouldn’t do something stupid.Once this mess was over, Nico would have to thank him.
Or scream at him, depending on how things went.
But he couldn’t think like that.He couldn’t think that it was too late.It couldn’t be.
“I don’t know if it’s Silas because I could barely smell anything, but I agree that something is going on,” Saul said.“Nico and I found a lot of blood.”
“That matches with it being Silas,” Jerome said.
“I’ve heard he was wounded, so I think it does.At the very least, we should act as if it is.”
Jerome nodded.“I knew that man wasn’t gone.”
Nico had known, too, but unfortunately, it hadn’t helped.Silas had still managed to get his hands on Mackenzie.
“Saul, I want you to grab as many guards as you can find,” Jerome said.“Find us in the forest.They can follow our scent trail.”He turned toward Nico’s father.“What do you say we go out there and finally put an end to this?”
Nico’s father nodded and gently pushed away Nico.“Let’s do this.”
“I’m coming with you,” Nico said in what he hoped was an uncompromising tone.They werenotgoing to leave him behind.He’d just shift and follow.
Nico’s father looked at him.He was clearly hesitant, but he knew Nico.Nico might be an obedient son, especially when it came to his future role as an alpha, but not in this situation.If they left without him, he’d find his way to Mackenzie anyway.
“Telling you to stay here isn’t going to work, is it?”Nico’s father asked.
