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“Wait. I’ll come.” He followed, muttering,” I don’t think it’s a good idea, but I can’t stop you.” He was so much larger than me, he could have stopped me just about any time he liked, but he didn’t because he and the others respected me. It felt good. Different, but wonderful

And didn’t change the gravity of the situation.

I took Lark’s phone and tried to reach Rain then called Warren. “They aren’t answering.”

“That’s not good. I wish I could convince you to stay here while I go check on them. I promise to call as soon as I get there.”

“No.”

“Not willing to talk about it?”

“Is this how it’s going to be every time I want to go anywhere?” I gritted my teeth in frustration.

“I guess any time you want to throw yourself into mortal danger.”

I glared at him then marched toward the back door. “I’m going. Didn’t Rain mention something about the woods being a good way to get home without a car?”

“If he did, I’m going to punch him. I’ll drive you.”

We climbed into the car, silent, fuming on my side, and tension oozing from Lark. Usually his scent was a muted, pleasant version of the smells of his bakery, but now it was sharp, harsh. Anger maybe? Tension for sure. After a few minutes he said, “Try to call again.”

I picked up his phone from the console between the seats and dialed both of the guys. They went right to voice mail. “Nothing. If they have been harmed, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“They can take care of themselves,” he said.

Now that I remembered the woods was a shortcut, I realized how much farther we had to travel to go around it to our neighborhood. I should have gone on foot. Four feet. “You don’t know how evil he and his thugs can be. Drive faster, please.”

“If I get pulled over for speeding it will take longer, and I’m already pushing it.” But he sped up a little more, and soon we were pulling into the driveway.

Not waiting for him to put the car in park, I unbuckled my seat belt and flung myself out, landing on my knees. It hurt, but I didn’t care, just ran for the front door, which hung open. My wolf yipped in alarm. I knew I should wait for Lark to catch up, but my fear for my mates had me rushing into the house, calling for them.

Nobody answered, and I began to search the downstairs. In the kitchen, I glanced out the window over the sink and gasped. “Lark!”

“I’m here.” So close, I felt his breath on my neck. “What.”

“Look!”

Two wolves trotted out of the forest, fur splattered with blood. We burst out into the yard in time to meet them halfway across. As we reached them, a third wolf also appeared, this one a mess of gore coating the front half of him.

“Do you know him?” Lark asked. “Is this the one you ran from?”

“No, I don’t. I’ve never seen him before.”

Before we had much more time to consider the situation all three shifted.

“Lark, go get some shorts from the bin in the mudroom,” Rain asked. “While we sort all this out.”

Turned out, they didn’t know who he was, either, but as soon as all three had something on, Rain and Warren shook his hand and invited him inside for something to eat and an explanation.

The man, tall, blond, and with dark circles under his eyes, picked up one of Lark’s cookies from the day before and took a bite. “That’s the first thing that’s tasted good in a long time.”

“Thanks,” Lark replied. “But what happened out there?”

Rain poured milk for everyone and then sat down at the table. “Let’s all sit down and I’ll tell our part then our guest…” He looked questioningly at the blond man.

“Grey.”

“Grey can explain the rest.” Rain told Lark and I about the alpha showing up and trying to talk them into handing me over and all the rest and how they chased him into the woods.