Page 51 of Hellhound AU

As I sat there, though, I heard a scream from somewhere in the distance, then another one. I lifted my head up, smiling.

“I think Rowan’s here,” I said. I heard a screeching yell loud enough to make everyone cover their ears and duck, and when it was done, I added, “And I think he brought backup.”

21

Author’s Note:

I know I keep apologizing, but this time the late chapterreallyisn’t my fault. I was hoping to be done by now, but there was a teeny tiny little fire in our toaster. Well, actually, a tree branch came down and took out our electric, and then there was the little fire. It was really fine, but with the downed wire and the small fire, the sheriff insisted on callingthe fire department. Then a bunch of super hot firemen came over, and my bf did a lot of growling, but he knows he’s the only super hot guy for me. They took away the toaster, and we should have power back soon, but in the meantime we’re staying with my bf’s brother, who lives next door. But here’s your chapter!

ROWAN

They’d been taken in a car, so I had no scent trail to follow. I went back to my car and did the only thing I could think of at the moment; I called my big sister.

As soon as she picked up, I said, “I need Troy to do a search on cameras in an area. I know there’s none here, but if we can figure out who came in this direction, maybe we can figure out who the car belonged to.”

“Hello to you, too, Rowan,” she answered.

“This is serious, Raina. Milo is missing. He was taken.”

“Shit. Tell me everything,” Raina said.

So I did. I felt like time was slipping away, but maybe she’d think of something that I hadn’t.

When I was done, she said, “We’ll be there in half an hour. Can you wait for us? From the sound of it, you guys have been busy over the past few weeks. Anyone could have taken Milo andEthel, from the dog fighting ring masterminds to the cult you burned out if some members survived.”

“I’m a hellhound, Raina. I can handle anything. It’s not like I’ll be hurt,” I growled. “We need to find him. Have Troy start looking.”

“You need to listen to me for a minute. First of all, I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about the two humans who were kidnapped. Second of all,youcan find Milo.”

I had a moment of total confusion before it clicked. Mates. If Milo was my mate, then I should be able to tell where he was. But… “We haven’t decided anything. I didn’t give him the option yet. I didn’t formally make him my mate. Fuck, we've barely even said I love you yet.”

“Well, then rescuing him is the perfect opportunity to tell him. Nothing says I love you like being covered in the blood of your mate’s enemies.”

“But I can’t find him! We aren’t mated yet!” I ran my hand through my hair in exasperation and anger. Time was slipping away, and it felt like each second could be one moment closer to Milo’s death.

“Take a breath, little brother. Your Milo is a capable killer. He’s not going to go down easily,” Raina said.

She was right, but the need to find him still pressed against my chest. “I know, it’s just…”

“You have a sense of urgency. Maybe an ache in your chest,” Raina finished.

“Yes. I’m worried about him.” Of course I had a sense of urgency. I was getting frustrated, and Raina must have sensed it.

“Rowan, stop for a minute. Close your eyes, and take a deep breath.”

“Raina—”

“Just do it!” she commanded. “Close your eyes, and take some deep breaths. Let everything but Milo fade from your mind. Can you do that?”

Of course I could do that. Milo, with his freaky way of eating apples. Milo, who could trip on thin air but somehow manage to take out the enemy while doing it. Milo, who was sexy and sweet and perfect for me in every way.

Raina’s voice seemed more distant when she said, “Now focus on that ache in your chest. That feeling of Milo. It has a direction. Can you feel the slight pull of that direction, Rowan?”

I focused on that ache, my hand once again rubbing at my chest. Milo, eating an apple from the bottom up, seeds and all. Milo, who couldn’t bake for shit. Milo… I let the need for him fill me, and I focused on that ache. There was a tiny pull, and it came from the right side of my body. I opened my eyes, clocking where the sun was.

“West. He’s to the west,” I said.

“Go. We’ll track your phone. We’re on our way,” Raina commanded, and then she hung up.