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Teresa had a strange feeling that something was wrong. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was, only that something terrible had happened. She grabbed her cell and headed down the path to make sure China had made it back to Oz’s. If China was hurt, she didn’t know what she’d do.
She didn’t see China on the path, but she heard something nearby. Turning to the left and then the right, she picked up faint voices and headed that direction, deeper into the woods and off the path. Lifting her head, she inhaled, found China’s scent, mixed with red wine and cookies, and followed.
Just as she rounded a wide tree, she saw Justin punch China square in the face. She barely stifled her gasp of dismay as she ducked back behind the tree, her heart pounding.
She listened intently until the voices faded and then she carefully peeked around the tree, verifying she was alone. Then she took off like a bat out of hell, racing for Craig’s home, her phone at her ear.
* * *
Oz’s heart felt like it fell out if his chest as he listened to Aunt Teresa’s panicked call about China. His surprise was quickly replaced by rage. The fuck someone would take his mate like that! There would be hell to pay.
“I’m on my way,” Oz said. “I’ll find her scent in the woods and follow it to wherever they’re keeping her.”
“I’ll have Craig meet you. I’m at his house now.”
“Thanks.”
His phone buzzed and he ended the call with Teresa and switched over, surprised by the “blocked number” on the screen.
“Don’t even think about trying to find her.” The voice was muffled, and Oz couldn’t tell who it was. Teresa had only seen Justin punch China, but Oz was sure that all of them were in on it. He froze, his hand clutching the phone.
“Let my mate go.”
“Not until the battle.”
“I’m going to the battle, I agreed to fight. Why would you take her?”
“Because we need some insurance that you’re going to really fight.”
“I said I would. Let China go now!”
“You need toreallyfight. You think you can just take a dive and the pride will accept whoever wins? Fuck no.” The male growled. “If you won’t fight for real because you respect the alpha position, then you’ll fight for real because your mate’s life is on the line.”
Fury turned Oz’s vision red, and his lion roared. “I’ll find you and I’ll kill you.”
“You can try,” the male said, chuckling darkly. “When we meet at the battle, remember to fight like someone’s life depends on it. Because it does.”
The call ended and Oz lowered his hand.
“I could hear the conversation,” Angel said. “You have to go to the battle. I’ll find China. My mom just texted me and said that Craig and his sons are going to look for her. I know her scent, so I’ll help.”
“I… No, it’s my responsibility to find her.”
“If you don’t show up at the battle, they’ll kill her. Obviously, there’s someone watching her so the others can go to the battle. As long as you’re at the battle, she’s alive. That much was clear.” Angel put his hand on Oz’s shoulder. “I’ll find her, bro. I swear on my life.”
The rational part of him, which was getting drowned out by the roaring, rage-filled lion, knew that Angel was right. They were using China as bait to get him to put on a good show for the pride. She’d been worried this whole week that someone would betray him, and it turned out she’d been psychic. He’d expected they might come for him; he hadn’t thought they’d go after her.
“Get her back for me,” Oz said. “Please.”
“I will. You go kick some tail and make sure they know to never put their hands on a mate again.”
Oz nodded. He was angry that China had been taken, but if he went looking for her and didn’t show up to the battle, then there was no telling what would happen. It warred with him not to find her, but he trusted Angel to get her to safety.
The two parted ways, Angel running off into the woods and Oz moving the opposite way and stalking toward the clearing where the battle would take place. He hadn’t wanted the position of alpha, but he was going to fucking get it now and put everyone down who’d been party to China’s abduction.
He’d killed for her once. He would fucking do it again.
Chapter Ten
