I will save him. I’ll be damned before I lose another person I care about to a berserker’s madness.
I smile, hoping my lips don’t tremble. “I’ll get started right away.”
“Good morning, love!”
I barely open my mouth to speak when Mum throws her arms around me.
“It’s your big day soon!” She squeals, squeezing me so hard my ribs almost pop.
“Mum, can’t breathe!” I choke out, patting her back.
“Oh! So sorry, darling.” She lets go, and I draw in a deep breath.
“Is everyone home?” I march past her and into the living room. Goddess, it feels like yesterday Gunnar and I were sitting together in this very room, telling my family about how he proposed to me. Tears sting my eyes. I’ve got to find him.
“Yes, why?”
“It’s an emergency.”
Mum calls for Dad and Nan, and I wear holes in the carpet while I wait for them to take their sweet time and get over here.
“Everything all right?” Dad asks, carrying his mug of coffee in from the kitchen. “What’s happened?”
Before I can speak, there’s a knock on the door. I let in Rodney and Imogen, whom I had called and asked to come over on the way back.
“Don’t tell me you guys broke up,” Rodney says.
Imogen smacks his arm. “Don’t be an ass, Rod.”
Derek shoulders his way in after them, frowning as he crosses over to me. “Hey. You okay?” He gives my shoulder a squeeze.
I don’t know how to answer that. Once, his touch could brighten my day. Now, it takes everything I have not to squirm out of his reach. Goddess, I want Gunnar back. Now. “Can everyone have a seat? Thanks.”
Nan bustles inside with a tray of tea and biscuits. “Here you are, everyone!” She smiles brightly. “Now, where’s that handsome man of yours? I’ve got the scones he loved so much.”
“I don’t know,” I answer.
The weight of their confused stares makes me want to sink into the floor.
“He left this morning, wouldn’t tell me where he was going.” My throat thickens, but I clear it. “The TTA summoned me for a meeting. They told me he went berserk.” Mum’s gasp makes me wince. “They want me to track him down, and I need help finding him as soon as possible.”
Dad nods, face set in a determined frown. “You’ve got it.”
“Of course we’ll help!” Mum rushes to sit beside me, putting a warm arm over my shoulder.
“That poor dear,” Nan says, tears shining in her eyes. “How could this have happened?”
Imogen grips my leg. “Weren’t you working on some potion? You should make that while we focus on finding your guy.”
“She’s right,” Rodney says. “Just tell us where you think a berserk werewolf might run off to. A butcher shop? A zoo? A dog park?”
I wish it were that simple. When ulfhednar go berserk, they surrender to their instincts. He hasn’t killed anyone, thank the goddess, but he did run from the scene of the incident. “He’sprobably hiding out in a huge forest,” I say, shoulders sagging from the weight of my worry. “It could take days to find him.”
And what if it’s too late? What if I can’t bring him back?
“Hate to say it,” Derek says, “but what makes you think he can even be saved? You know for sure this potion works?”
My hands flex. I want to say that of course it works. But maybe it doesn’t. If not, then Gunnar will be truly lost to me.
