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“We’re disconnected, brother,” Mase says, putting his hand on my shoulder.
Though I feel my connection with him, it’s like the volume is turned down low. And I know it’s because of whatever is going on with her. Mason didn’t feel right from the time Ivy neared the village the night Ty claimed her. He was right again after he mated with Amelia.
“I need you guys to give me space, leave me be. Please guys,” I try.
“Claim your woman and we’ll do that,” Ty volleys.
This fucker has certainly taken his place as firstborn alpha of our pack’s council. And I should find it irritating to the nth degree right now, but instead, I get him. Despite the muted connection, I feel a stronger connection to Tyson Savage than anyone. My father tells me he’s a lot like Uncle Tiberius. And I’d never hurt my council brothers by saying it, but from the moment we met I knew he wasn’t just perfect to fill the missing piece of our council, our pack, but also that he was deeply connected to me. Our fathers were two sides of the same coin. I know this not because I had a chance to get to know Uncle, but because I’ve grown up learning who he was to our pack, learning who he was to my father. Who he was to my Aunt Cat. Everyone who knew Uncle Tiberius does their best to keep his memory alive.
And though Tyson is a blood relative, related to me on both sides of my family since our fathers were brothers and our mothers are sisters, he feels like family. This soon.
Despite my anger at the situation with the witch, my feelings for Ty aren’t dulled. I do like that he’s fallen naturally into step with us, and it gives me some peace of mind that though I’m giving the pack very little attention right now, these guys can handle things and they’ve got Tyson to help pick up my slack.
But I’ve got half a mind to draw their attention to the fact that we need more intel about Grey’s mate. I know that’d be taken as me deflecting from my own situation. The fact is that she’s there, under his care, smelling like him, and if he felt there was still risk, he’d deal with it. Maybe he’s still getting answers. Maybe she’s hostile. New mates can sometimes put up a fight. I know these guys are watching for threats, that all members of our pack are on alert.
“Rye, I told these guys you scented shifters in The Hollow last night,” Joel says. “And you’re thinking it might have to do with Grey’s mate.”
“Yeah,” I reply. “Maybe some of you should scour The Hollow. Make sure nothing else is afoot. I can’t be sure, but one scent might have been related to Grey’s mate’s scent I caught in the town hall yesterday.”
Mase speaks up. “Already had a couple guys scour The Hollow this morning. Nobody caught any scents.”
“Maybe this needs stronger noses.” I look to Linc.
“Good idea,” Mase agrees.
“We can do that,” Jase says. “Right, Linc?”
“Cicely says she’ll keep an eye on Erica,” Linc says, looking at me.
“Yeah. Let’s go. Comin’ Rye?” Joel pushes.
“We should leave an alpha to watch Erica Young,” Ty states.
“We’ve got surveillance on the corner,” I mutter.
“You comin’?” Linc asks.
I shake my head. “Negative. Told you already. Need space.”
“It’d help since you know the scent,” Joel presses.
Our eyes meet.
Shit.
“The more you distance yourself from us, the worse you’re gonna feel,” Mase advises.
Ty adds, “Unless you do what you were born to do. Take her.”
I grind my teeth so hard they squeak. “Change the fuckin’ record, Tyson.”
“I know you want space but I want to understand, cousin. What is it? Is it that you’re pissed? You don’t want the truth? Don’t want her?” Ty asks. “Are you rejecting your mate and just not telling us?”
“There’s two issues at hand here, boys. Let’s deal with one issue at a fuckin’ time,” I state.
“Which issue then?” Mase asks. “Your mate or these unknown shifters?”
“Fuck sakes,” I mutter. “Let’s go to The Hollow.”
I catch them giving one another concerned looks. Yeah, they think I’m picking the wrong area to focus on right now. But I pretend not to notice.
***
“It’s there, in my head, but…” I shake it off. “Can’t find it.”
“Should be there somewhere,” Linc mutters, looking at me with concern. “Let’s do another loop.”
“We’ve already done two,” I bite off.
I bite because he’s right. I should be picking it up where I found it last night, even a trace of it and I’m not finding it at all. And if I caught a bit of it and could get on the trail, Linc could help. He’s got the best nose of anyone I know.
“They must be using the scent masking agent she used,” Jase offers.
