Ismiled and when Max went to pull his arm off of me, his skin touched myshoulder and I was pulled into a vision.
Tara,Max’s mate, was roaming a wooded area. She was a changed wolf and like allchanged wolves, her human DNA, when mutated into the werewolf, left her with agift. Tara’s gift was similar to that of a chameleon.
Inmy vision, every time she passed a tree, her fur would change to match. Shelooked frightened and she had the feeling she was being stalked. I could feelher fear, her thoughts. Then, I heard footsteps behind her and she froze,crouching down. Suddenly, a dark-haired vampire came out of nowhere and pouncedon her. She tried to howl but the vampire knocked her out quickly. Then asilver net was cast around her.
Icame back to myself lying on the floor of the barn. Max was used to this by nowand he sat patiently with my head in his hands.
“Youback? What happened? New mate couple?” He didn’t seem too alarmed becauseusually my visions were about mates and they were happy visions. I had alreadytold him Tara was his mate and they were dating and taking it slow. He stillhad a lot of healing to do from losing his mate and child during labor yearsago. The thought of having two mates in a lifetime was not easily accepted inwerewolf culture. Technically, Tara was still his first mate, only reincarnated.
Ididn’t know what to say. “Max, it’s Tara. I need to call Kai.”
Hepulled me up into a standing position quickly. His face looked serious. “Whatdo you mean?”
Ididn’t know when the reality of the vision would happen or if it already had.My hands trembled slightly as I pulled out my phone and dialed Kai. I didn’tknow how far away he was and calling him on the phone was 100% foolproof, whereour mate bond had potential issues. This was time sensitive. How long ago hadhe left to talk with Earl? Ten minutes?
“Aurora?”he answered.
“Quick,search the pack bonds. Is Tara okay? I had a vision. She’s in trouble. I can’ttell if it’s happened yet.” Timing in my visions was weird and sometimes thefuture could be changed. My birth mother had a vision I was going to die at fiveyears old if she didn’t do something drastic, but luckily that vision nevercame to pass. I could feel Tara through the bond but not like Kai could. Kaiwould be able to tell if she was in danger and what exactly was going on withher.
“She’sfine. She’s been a bit depressed lately with how slow things are progressingwith Max. She went for a run. I just checked in on her,” Kai said.
Maxwas close enough to hear that. He winced.
“Checkagain, Kai. She’s in danger!” I told him.
ThenI felt Kai’s fear through our mate bond. “Oh, shit. Something’s wrong,” he saidthen hung up.
“No!”I cried out in frustration. It happened. I knew it. She was taken. I could feelher panic now. Dammit!
Itore out of the barn, blindly running through our property with no idea where Iwas going. Max was right beside me, panting frantically.
“Tara!”He tore off his shirt, shifting into his wolf form.
Maxran off into the forest and I stood there frozen, sniffing the woods trying tocatch her scent, any scent.
Justas Max’s wolf retreated into the thick trees off to the left of the barn, Earlcame running from another part of the woods. His arm was bleeding, his chestcovered in vampire dust.
“Iwas deep in the woods with a few of my guys when Todd came over the walkietalkie saying that Kai was looking for me. I was hiking back towards yourproperty when I heard a howl. The bloodsuckers got one of your girls. I’m so sorry.”
Ifell to my knees. “Which way did they go?” My voice sounded hollow. This wasawful. This wasn’t happening. If Jeremy was right, Tara was going to be used asan incubator for vampire spawn. No, no. Don’t think about it. Oh God.
Heshrugged. “They were in an all-terrain vehicle. We got a few of them, but shewas taken, back behind Red Creek walking trail.”
Ipounded my fists into the cold, hard ground. No! Tara. I had to control mybreathing to keep from shifting. My wolf wanted free but looking at Earl, I sawthat he was hurt.
“Letme look at your arm.” I stood. It was bleeding pretty bad. I wasn’t sure how hewould feel about me healing it with witch magic he didn’t know about. “I cancall our pack doctor.”
Heshooed me away. “Nah, we have our own medics. I ripped my stitches from thebullet wound. I’ll be fine, just wanted to tell you about your friend.”
SweetTara. I sighed. “Thank you.”
Henodded and turned to walk away, but I grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently.“For everything. I would be dead if you hadn’t pushed me out of the way theother night.”
Hechuckled. “I think I am the one that should be thanking you. You drapedyourself over me like a shield. I’m an old man and I’ve lived a good life. Nexttime don’t bother.” He winked and tipped his hat. “And I’m sorry again aboutyour friend,” he added.
“We’llget her back,” I declared.
Hetwisted his handle-bar mustache and said, “Okay,” and walked away.
