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“What’s the news?”
“Not good. The scouts can’t find Quinn. She’s not in the pack house, and she’s not at Jake’s house. She’s nowhere to be found.”
Whipping around, I punch the bag so hard it splits my knuckles. I pace the room, anxious to find Quinn; it looks like I have no other choice but to go over there and start interrogating the pack. I had hoped to keep it isolated, but if war is what Jake wants, war is what he’ll get.
“Get everyone ready to head out. Someone in that pack knows where she is, or at least where we should look.”
“Of course, Alpha.”
Dominic leaves while I change out of my sweaty clothes. Buzzing comes from my jean pocket, and Mom’s name flashes across the screen.
“Mom? Everything OK?”
“It’s fine, Eli. Maddie just wanted to say goodnight.”
“Daddy?”
“Hi, Princess. Did you have a good day?”
“Yeah! Me jump in leaves.”
“Did you make a leaf pile? That sounds like so much fun.” Her sweet voice calms a part of me that desperately needs peace.
“Mimi says I have bath.”
“That sounds like a great idea. A nice warm bath before bed. You make sure to give Pengy kisses from me.”
“Okay!” Fumbling sounds come from the other end as Maddie hands off the phone to Mom.
“Guess that means she’s done talking,” Mom says.
“Thanks for taking care of her, Mom.”
“Of course, son. She’s my grandbaby. She means the world to me.”
“She means the world to me too. Have you spoken to Dad yet?”
“Yeah. Thanks for not calming him down,” she says with sarcasm.
“Did you expect me to be okay with you running off with my daughter and refusing to tell me where you are?”
She sighs. “No. You know I’m not doing this to be mean; neither is Quinn.”
“I know, I know. There is just so much I don’t have control of right now, which is frustrating…and humbling. I’ll figure out who the leak is.”
“I know you’re doing everything you can, you’ll figure this out, Eli. Maybe take your father along with you. I think he might be struggling right now, too. I know he feels awful about how he treated Quinn, then add in that I am being… How did he put it? Obstinate, I think, is the word he used. Well, Maddie is half dressed running around the place, so I should probably go. I love you, Eli. It will all be ok, I know it.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up and refocus on saving Quinn.
After getting myself ready, we all meet out front of the pack house and get ready to load up into the vehicles. Standing by my SUV, Dominic gives me a final report on our status.
“We have five full vans, four SUVs, and a few trucks. Some are on standby here at the pack house, ready to come if we need them, but are here to protect the pack while most of our warriors are with us. We are about forty-five minutes out before we get to their pack house. My scouts say there has been some activity in the area, with several vehicles coming and going, but no lead after following a few of them. They don’t have enough people to follow every vehicle; I suspect you’re right. Once we get there, we should be able to find out where she is.”
“Good work, Dominic.”
The crunching of rocks under tires sounds as several vehicles come up the private road leading to the pack house. Would Jake be stupid enough to attack us at the pack house where I have my whole pack? Black SUVs with tinted windows come barreling down the road. My pack lines up behind me as I go to face our likely unwanted guest. The leading SUV stops ten feet from me, with the other vehicles fanning out behind it. The door opens, and out stepped a tall shifter with jet-black hair, wearing tactical gear and a cold expression on his face. I look over at my Beta and raise an eyebrow in question. He just shrugs. Then the passenger door opens, and out jumps a curvy woman with long black hair in a single braid. She comes around to meet the driver, and they both head toward me.
