“No,” Pryce and I say in unison.
“She wouldn’t use us like that,” I continue. “Angel was free to leave anytime, could have asked for a ride to town anytime if that’s what she wanted. No need for subterfuge.”
“Agreed,” Damien says. “That means someone took her.”
“WSSO,” Hayden offers. “We took her from them, now they want her back.”
“Why her, when they could grab any female shifter.”
“Not many female shifters leave the safety of their packs,” Callen speaks up.
“How would they know she was in Devil’s Peak?” Frank asks.
“Another good question.” Damien again.
“We’re fucking wasting time talking as if this is another op that we can spend weeks planning, Damien. The longer we stand here, the farther away her kidnappers are taking her.”
“And where would you like to mount a rescue, Garrett, if we don’t know who took her or where?”
“Fuck!” I yank free of Frank and Callen’s grip and pace in a circle, trying to think this through.
“Pryce, tell us about the other scent?” Damien asks.
“Two, actually. One in the alley, overlaying Angel’s.”
“Carrying her,” Hayden surmises.
“Yes, could be. The other was at the end of the alley. All three converged, then disappeared. No discernable tire tracks, but I picked up the scent of motor oil, gas, rubber, and mud.”
“Like every other fucking car on the road.”
Pryce doesn’t meet my eyes. “They weren’t human, Damien. Shifter.”
“Fucking big detail to forget.”
“I was so focused on following her scent… Damn it, I should have been working backwards.”
“Frank, take Pryce, return to Devil’s Peak. Work your way from the hardware store out, see where else you can pick up the scent, then start talking to the locals. See if you can get a description.”
“She doesn’t know any shifters outside our pack, Damien,” I point out.
“We’re not the only pack that goes to Devil’s Peak for supplies.”
My eyes snap to Hayden.
“You can say it.” Hayden folds his arms over his chest. “Males from the Novak pack could have been in town, caught her scent. She has a very unique and…” He halts himself, uncrosses his arms. “…Alright, I’ll just say it, but don’t tell my mate… Your female has a verytantalizing scent, that’s what made her such good shifter bait for the WSSO. This kidnapping might be as simple as two shifters coming across her scent and seeing an opportunity to… to take a female.”
I charge at Hayden, but Damien slams me to the ground. “That’s Hayden you’re attacking. Mysecond, heir tothispack. Responsible for every shifter here, including Angelina. Do you really want to spend the next few weeks locked up under guard, Garrett, or do you want to help find your female?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to find her.”
“Good, because you’re going with Hayden and heading south to Drake’s pack.”
“I have no interest in your female, Garrett, other than retrieving her. Safely. I know my former pack, what some of the males are capable of, but I’m not them.”
“I know.” It takes everything I have to say those two damn words, because Hayden’s one of us. Has been for a long time. I need to harness my rage, focus on Angel’s kidnappers.
“Garrett, I’m trying to piece this together like everyone else which is why you need to understand all the possibilitiesandkeep a level head. If you can’t do that, then you’re staying here. Getting us killed won’t help anyone, certainly not your female.” Hayden lowers his hand to help me up.
