“Well? Who is she? Is she hot?” Of all the stupid questions!
Gavin gave me a quick look before nodding and I grinned. Men.
“But there’s a problem … She’s … been kidnapped. She was in a jail or something with other werewolves. A cage,” Gavin exclaimed.
We all stepped a little closer then and Mason’s eyes went yellow. Mason was the biggest goofball I knew and couldn’t have a serious relationship to save his life but now, in this moment, he looked ready to kill for his mate. I think he just grew up in record time.
Gavin seemed to be stepping into this role with ease and I had to tamp down my jealousy again. What was the vision like? How special for Mason and it wasn’t me giving him this special news … but I told myself that I now had my own destiny. I was a Keeper and even though I was still learning what the hell that was, if it meant I could kill that raping Skin Walker, it was worth it.
“There’s more …” Gavin looked nervously at Jaxon and then to me. “Your dad was there.”
My body went numb but at the same time excitement thrummed through me. If we could find Mason’s mate, we could find my dad!
“Where are they?” My voice was demanding.
Gavin pursed his lips, looking anxious again. “I don’t know, some kind of government site. I got nervous and kind of … backed out of the vision.”
Mason let a curse word fly but I gave my mate a reassuring look. My mother had prepared me for years for the visions. I could understand how scary it might be to someone ill prepared.
“Let’s go home. My mom will know what to do,” I told the group.
After saying a quick goodbye, we piled into two cars and made our way back home. I could only hope that my mother wouldn’t completely flip out that I was now a bear and more importantly not the Matefinder. But at that thought, Gavin’s hand took mine and I turned over to meet his eyes. They were full of strength and I knew that together we could get through anything.
Chapter Eight
As we reached the base of Mount Hood, I was shocked to see two cars had parked sideways to barricade our entrance. Jaxon, Gavin, and I were in one car while Mason and Avery followed behind us.
“There’s check points now. Avery said no humans are allowed until we figure this out,” Jaxon said.
No. It felt so wrong. We had worked so hard to build a relationship with the humans. The evil bloodsucker vampires had been shooting up human teens with heroin and drinking off of them in an effort to get high. But my mom and dad had stopped all that, and the humans should be grateful. This is how they repay us?
Jaxon rolled down his window and I saw Max walk out from behind the car holding a semi-automatic assault rifle. Anna was with him. Holy shit, this was serious. Max looked tired and lethal, his blue eyes were threading with yellow, his bulking physique and scarred arms gave an air of ‘Don’t mess with me.’
“Thank God, you kids are okay. Your mother will be glad to see you,” he told us and waved us through the barricade.
I could only nod, as Jaxon wove the Land Rover through the barricade. Avery and Mason were right behind us. I felt like my innocent childhood was over. The mountain I once grew up on had turned into something else. Something … dangerous.
My stomach was in knots as Jaxon pulled our car up to my house. I recognized Gretchen’s car in the driveway and was shocked to see two armed pack members standing guard in front of my door with automatic rifles.
As I opened the car door to step out, my mother flung open the front door and charged toward us.
“Anya!” She crashed into me hugging me tightly. I squeezed her hard, relishing in the scent of her orange mint shampoo. Mom. Home.
After pulling away from me, she wrinkled her nose.
“What’s that smell?” Her nose scrunched as she looked me up and down.
Gavin stepped up next to me and my mom gushed over him, giving him a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. Both of you,” she told us as Jaxon made his way to her. They shared a quick hug before my mother smelled the air again.
“Anya … Why do you smell like–”
Shit, crap, frick! I decided ripping the band aid off quickly was best.
“Gavin and I are True Mates and so instead of him going on the spirit quest to find his animal, he stole mine. So I went on the quest and fought this Skin Walker and claimed my animal, which is a bear.”
My mother’s mouth dropped open as she looked to Gavin and back to me.
