It’s why he’s my beta.
There are times I fucking hate that he’s so rational, but there are times I need him to be.
Times like now.
I stare down the lonely stretch of road.
It’s quiet here, like most of this part of northern Montana. There are acres and acres of land all around. Mountains in the distance. Old mines. So many hiding places.
“I know you want to find her, but we need to know where we're running to," Cruz says.
He’s right. They’re all right.
But going home without my mate…
“She’s hurt,” I say, curling my hands into fists, wanting to rip whoever took her into tiny pieces, bring them back to life, and kill them all over again.
“We’ll get her back,” Emilio says firmly. “This is a pit stop, Aren. That’s all this is.”
I consider the road one last time. “Let’s go home.”
Wherever you are, Kitty cat, I’m coming.
2
KAT
The pain is excruciating.
I’m lying in a puddle of water with my cheek on the hard ground, and I don’t understand how I’m here and not at Joy and Emilio’s party.
Except, it’s not water. The copper tang of blood is heavy in the air, and the scent of the blood is familiar.
Mine.
I was sitting by the creek after arguing with Aren.
I heard a sound. There was pain. Then…
Nothing.
How did I end up here?
Someone is coming.
My wolf growls a warning, and I whimper as I roll over, clutching my stomach and trying to breathe through the pain.
I blink my eyes, and my world is dark. I don’t know where I am, but there’s no light here. No sound either, just the soft treads of something—or someone—moving closer.
Aside from the stench of blood, it smells damp and musty, and it feels like the walls are closing in on me.
Am I in another cage?
Underground?
Where the hell am I?
My wolf growls another warning in my head, and I reach for her, trying to shift to protect myself. It’s like sticking my hand into quicksand.
