Page 101 of The Secret Mate Society

"This isn't about approval," I snapped."It's about keeping him alive.The rogue is still out there, and now Ethan is running around Portland with evidence about our kind and no protection."

"The Council will want him eliminated," Ageratum stated flatly."You understand that, don't you?"

My wolf surged forward, a snarl ripping from my throat before I could stop it."Anyone who tries to touch him dies.Council or not."

Trevor stepped between us, hands raised."Let's focus on finding Ethan first.We can deal with the Council later."

"He's right," Patrick added, already pulling out his phone."I'll call the pack and start checking the downtown area."

"I'll take the east side," Trevor said."Calder, you know him best.Where would he go?"

I closed my eyes, trying to think past the panic clawing at my chest."Not his apartment.He knows that's not safe and that I’d check there first.Not his mother's hotel either.He wouldn't want to put her in danger."

"The newspaper office?"Patrick suggested.

I shook my head."Too obvious.He knows I'd look there too."I paced the room, my mind racing."He’d stay in public.But Halloween was yesterday.There’s no festival or anything going on today, so he might hit a coffee shop?Honestly… he could be anywhere in the city at this point.”

“Then we’ll need something of his,” Trevor said.“So we can track his scent.”

I nodded, moving quickly to the bedroom.Ethan's scent was everywhere, embedded in the sheets, lingering on the pillow he'd slept on.I grabbed his t-shirt from the floor where he'd discarded it last night, bringing it to my nose and inhaling deeply.His scent flooded my senses—earthy and sweet, tinged now with the sharp tang of fear and betrayal.My wolf whined, desperate to find him.

"This will work," I said, returning to the living room and handing the shirt to Trevor.He and Patrick both took turns scenting it, committing Ethan's unique smell to memory.

"We need to split up," I said, already moving toward the door."Cover as much ground as possible.If anyone finds him, call immediately.Don't approach him.He's terrified and thinks we're all… monsters… that want to kill him."The word caught in my throat, his accusation still raw in my mind.

"I can move faster in the shadows," Ageratum offered, his voice devoid of emotion."I'll search the waterfront and Old Port areas."

"Thank you," I managed, swallowing my pride.As much as I distrusted the demon, we needed his help.

"Calder," Trevor said, his hand on my shoulder."What about the Council?They'll sense this much activity from our pack."

"I don't care," I growled."Let them come.Nothing matters except finding Ethan before the rogue does."

Patrick's phone buzzed.He glanced at it, then back at me with wide eyes."A call just came in at the police station.Someone called in a person in a werewolf costume stalking through town.Thought it was suspicious.They were spotted down near Congress Street."

My blood turned to ice.That wasn't far from here.Ethan could easily have run in that direction.

"Go!"I ordered, already heading for the door."Patrick, take the pack and set up a perimeter.Trevor, with me."

We burst out of the house, the urgency of the situation overriding any concern about being seen.Trevor jogged beside me as we headed toward the last reported sighting.

"What if we're too late?"I asked, the question tearing from my throat before I could stop it.

Trevor's expression hardened."We won't be.Ethan's smart.He'll stay in public places."

"He wasn't thinking clearly," I countered, increasing my pace."You didn't see his face, Trev.He was devastated.Betrayed."I swallowed hard."I did that to him."

"You were protecting him," Trevor insisted."He'll understand once we explain everything."

"If we ever get the chance," I muttered, scanning the streets ahead.

We reached Congress Street in minutes, but there was no sign of either Ethan or the rogue or anyone in a costume.I pulled out my phone, checking for messages from the pack.Nothing.

"Let's split up," I said, already scenting the air."You take that side, I'll take this one."

Trevor nodded, his face grim with determination."I'll call if I find anything.And Calder?"He gripped my shoulder."We'll find him."

I watched Trevor jog away, then turned to scan the street.My wolf was clawing at me from the inside, demanding I shift and track Ethan properly.The human way was too slow, too inefficient.But I couldn't risk it, not in broad daylight with so many people around.