“Just ignore him,” Ethan tells me softly from my other side.
Reid, now standing behind me, simply grunts noncommittally.
Ashton looks between his three best friends and scoffs, rolling his eyes.
“Whatever.” He clumsily staggers to his feet, wiping dirt and loose leaves off his pants and shirt.
“And to answer your question, shit for brains,” I begin, my tone scathing, “I’m here because Christian is my mate. Or did you forget?”
Ashton sneers at me. “I love how you conveniently use the M-word only when it serves you.”
I take a step forward, anger coursing through me and morphing into something akin to adrenaline. “What thefuckdo you mean by that?”
“I mean you’ve been denying this mating bond from the very beginning, and now that you need something?—”
“Are you for fucking real?” I explode, eating up the distance between us so I can get in his face. “You’rethe one who told me you were mating Desiree when you knew I was your Heart.You’rethe one who made me out to be some evil villain?—”
“And you’re saying you’re completely innocent in all of this?” he shoots back, and there’s a wild sort of desperation in his eyes I’ve never seen before.
The sight has some of my anger fading, replaced by trepidation.
He’s almost being…too mean.
But why?
“Enough, children!” Hale moves to stand between us, forcing us apart.
Ashton’s chest heaves as he glares at me—and that glare only hardens at whatever expression he sees on my face.
Probably suspicion.
“We’re here for a reason,” Hale continues, glancing at me and then Ashton. “We need to find Christian before he becomes a danger to himself or others.”
Mention of my feral mate instantly cools the remnants of my anger, leaving behind nothing but flickering embers.
Christian needs me, and out of everyone here, Ashton and I have the best chance of making him see reason.
“We’ll split into teams to canvas as much of the forest as we can before dark. When it turns five o’clock, no matter where you are, return here. We do not want anyone alone after dark,” Hale continues.
Gerry steps forward. “Em, Ethan, and Reid will go together. I want you heading east, but stop when you reach the river.” He reaches into his bag and grabs a walkie-talkie, which he hands to Reid, who won’t be able to shift with the others. “If you find him, do not engage. Simply trail from a distance and report back. Every team will have a walkie-talkie.” He turns from Reid to face me. “Izzy, you’ll be with Silas, Kyle, and Travan?—”
Oh no, I won’t.
For one, I’m not ready to confront them.
For two…
“I’m going with Ashton,” I say determinedly.
“What?” Ashton spins to face me.
I don’t know if the shock on his face should be considered hilarious or insulting.
“Ashton and I together are most likely to lure Christian out. His mate and his brother,” I reason.
Gerry blinks. “I can go with you?—”
“Anyone who comes with us could be harmed. Christian won’t hurt us,” I continue resolutely.
