“You want me to call the guys? Maybe set up a meeting with the Council?”
I shook my head. “Call the guys, but don’t arrange a meeting. Have them look and see if there is anything they can remember. Anytime we bring this up to them, they shut us out, so we are doing this on our own without them.” I pinched my eyes. “Just let me know if anything else happens or if you hear anything more.”
I ended the line and stared across the yard into the woods. A shiver ran down my spine, hating where this was leading.
After a few moments, I headed inside, and I found the house was quiet, and Nina was gone. I went into the greenhouse and found she had left her phone behind. My stomach dipped with worry. I didn't know where she went. Maybe she wanted space or decided to go out, but either way, I felt my gut tellingme I should look for her. After the phone call with Kerr, I just needed to see her and make sure she was safe.
I grabbed my keys and left the house to go downtown. It was the location I knew she often went to, and it was my best bet for where she would be.
I drove by the town hall, scanning the benches to see if she was there. I didn't see her or her car, so I went to park downtown.
I got out of the car and started down the sidewalk. I scanned the other side of the street and froze when I spotted her car. I headed across the road and looked down the sidewalk. Still no sign of her.
I continued to walk until I heard voices.
“Zanth, stop! That hurts.” It was Nina's voice, and she sounded frustrated. And Zanth's name infuriated me instantly. I was still pissed about what happened at the party. I didn't know how it all went down, but I knew Zanth had started it.
I continued to walk, hurrying as I got to an alleyway between the bar and a small ice cream shop. The alleyway was dark, but I could still see from the little light that shone through. Zanth had Nina pinned against the wall, standing far too close to her for my comfort. Her arms were pinned to her side, his fingers turning white from how hard he had her pinned. His face was close to hers, and his lips turned up in a sneer as he spoke.
Zanth's head snapped to me, and his eyes widened slightly as he quickly let go of Nina, but I had already seen it. It was burned into my brain, and rage promptly took root.
I watched Nina rub at her wrists, which had red marks from how tightly he was holding them. She stepped away from him, her face pale as she moved.
“Hey, Frank,” Zanth spoke normally, as if he hadn't done anything. He quickly fixed a smile on his face, and I hated how perfectly he did it, acting like he'd done nothing wrong just a moment ago.
I stepped forward, grabbing his shirt and yanking him off the ground. His face went pale as I cut air from his throat. I lifted him up, knowing his legs were dangling.
“Frank!” Nina yelled, quickly stepping towards me. “Put him down! You're choking him.”
I ignored her pleas. “I'm not fucking stupid,” I growled as I got into his face. “You fucking put your hands on my wife, and you're a dead man.”
Nina grabbed at my other arm. “Frank, I'm fine. Seriously, put him down. He's going to turn blue for God's sake.”
Zanth tried to move, looking at me, terrified as I lowered him just slightly. I stared in his face, baring my teeth at him. “If you put your hands on my wife, so much as look at my wife, I will remove you from this pack without a single care what happens to you. And I can assure you no other pack will take you in if I let word slip what you enjoy doing to pack's wives.”
I knew fully well that Jay and Henrik would never allow it, and the others would follow in agreement.
I let go, and he gasped for air, falling over as he clung to his throat. He coughed, and I glared at him, feeling an urge to hurt him more. “Now get out of my face and know the only reason you are walking is because my wife wanted me to be nice.”
Zanth ran quickly, moving out of the alleyway. I watched him turn the corner, disappearing within seconds. I turned to Nina and found her staring at me with a furious look and herhands in tight fists. Her mouth was in a straight line, and I could see anger in her eyes. “Why the hell did you do that?”
I stared at her, confused. Why was she always mad when I stepped in to help her? Wouldn't a normal woman be happy about it? I stopped him from hurting her because I knew that was his plan.
I crossed my arms and sighed at her. “You mean helping you? I think you meant thank you.”
“You choked him, Frank! You could have killed him,” she snapped, baring her teeth at me.
I snorted. If I wanted him dead, he would be dead. “ He had you pinned against the wall, Nina. You have marks on your wrist from the amount of pressure he was putting on them. I was making a point.”
She huffed. “And I was going to get free. You didn’t need to butt in like that.”
I stepped closer, my shadow falling over her. “You couldn't even get free with me, so what makes you think you could with him?”
She shoved at my chest. “Because I've been practicing, and you didn't even let me try! You stepped in before I could even do anything! You tell me to learn how to protect myself, and you didn't even give me the chance to do it.”
“I was protecting you!” I snapped. “Why are you yelling at me for helping?”
“I don't need you to protect me! I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself!” She shoved at my chest harder, and I quickly grabbed her hands and pinned them above her. Nina tried to break free, but I held them firmly.
