My chest is tight. My alpha is raging, pacing against the inside of my ribs, screaming to find whoever sent that letter and break them into pieces. The sheer distress rolling off her is devastating. I hate it. I hate seeing her like this.
“I’m so sorry,” Chloe says, her voice trailing off. “I can’t promise anything but... I can talk to the owner and see if there’s any way to override it. I’ll call you back as soon as I can. Tomorrow at the latest.”
“Yes,” Luna whispers, her voice hollow. “Yes, please do.”
“Okay. Talk soon, Ms. Sae.”
“Bye.”
Luna hits the red button on the screen. The kitchen is dead silent.
She looks up, her eyes wide and glassy, staring right through the island.
I can’t stand it. Bram and Ash are already moving, both of them rounding the corner of the kitchen island to get to her, but I’m faster. I take two long strides, cutting across the floorboards to step directly in front of her before my brothers can reach her.
“Hey,” I say, keeping my voice low, steady. I force my hands to stay at my sides, fighting the urge to pull her against my chest. “It’s okay, gorgeous. It’s going to be fine.”
She shakes her head, her arms wrapping tightly around her ribs. “But the money—that deposit was so pricey and non-refundable. My whole vacation’s falling apart, and I don’t know what more I can do to fix—”
“Hey. Look at me.” I duck my head to catch her gaze. “I heard the retreat’s at Serenity Ridge?”
She blinks, struggling to focus on my face. “Yes.”
“That’s good news.” I exhale, keeping my tone steady to anchor her. “Yeah, it’s only forty minutes away. Did you know that retreat sits right on the edge of Honeycreek Hollow’s jurisdiction? I was out there a while back for a false fire alarm in a yoga studio. The owner was there, and he seemed like a good guy. If the receptionist is taking it to the owner, they’ll fix it. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Luna stares up at me. The wild, hunted look in her eyes slowly begins to dial back. Her shoulders drop a fraction of an inch, the agonizing spike of sour fear in the air shifting into something slightly less distressed.
“You think so?” she whispers.
“I know so,” I say.
She nods, slipping the phone back into her pocket, taking a shaky but complete breath.
I watch some tension ease out of her spine, my jaw flexing as I stare down at her, my Alpha vibrating with a dark, violent urge. I don’t know who the fuck impersonated her, but if that person thinks they can terrorize my scent match, they’ve got another thing coming.
Don’t worry sweetheart. I’ll make everything fine.
11
Ash
“Hold on!” I slap the side of the car, jogging to keep up. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Stop this car right now, Reed!” Bram shouts from the other side, running alongside the passenger window.
Reed’s hands are white-knuckled on the steering wheel, the car rolling down the driveway. The engine screams in second gear, kicking up a rooster tail of dust.
“I’m not waiting here a second longer while our scent match is trying to hide her distress by helping Jenna prune some trees or whatever!” Reed shouts, staring straight ahead.
“Goddammit, Reed.” I slow down just enough to let his window pass, manage to yank the back door open, and jump into the backseat.
“What the fuck is this all about?” Bram jumps into the passenger seat, slamming the door.
“I’m fixing it,” Reed says, his jaw locked tight.
“Fixing what?” I ask, my brows furrowing. The scent of Luna’s distress still clings to his clothes—to all of ours—making my Alpha demand I go back to her and pull her into my lap. Hebetter have a damn good reason for making me get away from her.
“That fucking retreat.”
