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Even though Khan was sure Sam knew that Anthony couldn’t see it, he still nodded. “Thanks, Anthony,” he muttered before disconnecting the line. After inhaling deeply, Sam dialed another number.
After a couple of rings, a deep, lilting voice answered, “Good morning, Beta Sam. I think I know why ye’re calling.”
While Sam arched a brow, he kept his voice respectful and even. “I hope so, Alpha.” He again pinned his attention on Khan. “We’re looking for Deputy Nathan Kaldwell. He’s not at home.”
“Khan’s mate. Aye.” Declan sounded amused. “He’s sleepin’ on my office sofa right now.”
“Why?” Khan burst out before he could control himself.
“Who’s that?” Declan asked cooly.
“I’m sorry, Alpha Declan,” Sam quickly stated, obviously attempting to soothe things over. “That’s Khan. We’re at Nathan’s empty house, and he’s naturally worried about his mate.” Sam clicked the phone off speaker and started walking toward his motorcycle as he brought the phone to his ear. “Is Nathan okay?”
While Khan desperately wanted to know the status of his mate, he realized that Sam taking the phone off speaker meant he wanted privacy. He resisted the urge to follow and bowed his head. A tremble worked through him as his wolf howled softly in the back of his mind, wanting information on their mate.
His wolf was not on board with Khan’s decision.
Feeling a slender arm wrap around his waist, Khan blinked twice, refocusing his vision. He met Yuma’s gaze, and the other man gave him a smile and a squeeze. Then Yuma began guiding him toward the motorcycles.
Khan realized that everyone had already mounted up, and he wondered how long he’d been zoned out on Nathan’s porch.
Without a word, Sam handed Khan his helmet and waited for him to get situated. He wondered at the big shifter’s relaxed expression. Khan didn’t know how the man could be so confident while heading to the house of another alpha.
Weren’t there protocols for that?
Khan couldn’t imagine the beta of his old pack heading over to another alpha’s house without the pack alpha with him, no matter the situation.
It just wasn’t done.
Twisting his fingers together uneasily, Khan watched the trees whirl by once more. He didn’t really see them, though. Instead, Khan let his imagination play out all sorts of reasons why Alpha Declan had kept Nathan over at his house the prior night.
Please, don’t let him have been hurt by the alpha or something.
Feeling a hand on his nape, Khan looked up to see Sam giving him half his attention. “I can scent your panic and fear, Khan,” the big beta rumbled. He had to let go of him to shift gears, then immediately returned his hand to the back of Khan’s neck and massaged gently. “Try to relax, little wolf. Declan said that your mate is fine. He was just tired.”
Following Sam’s urging, Khan nodded and began to do just that. He took long, slow, deep breaths. The feel of the wind on his face, coupled with Sam’s occasional squeezes to his neck, helped, too.
Khan was beginning to feel calm again when Sam released him to turn into a driveway. Seeing a large lodge-style home come into view, he tried to disguise his gasp. The place was gorgeous, with stone halfway up the first-story wall, followed by wood paneling the rest of the way. There was a large stone porch with several rockers out front.
Then Khan found his gaze riveted to the old pick-up parked off to the side that he’d seen at their place the prior evening.
My mate is here.
With his wolf’s increasing excitement building in his mind, Khan hoped he would be able to stick to his guns. He had to do everything possible to keep his mate away from hunters. They were vicious, and no one ever knew exactly what lengths they would go to to get what they wanted—namely, shifter pelts.
When Sam stopped, Khan quickly shucked his helmet and climbed from the sidecar. He followed the beta up the walk, nerves firing through him at the prospect of facing an alpha wolf. Khan fought against his desire to strip, shift, and run away.
I can do this. For my mate, I can do this.
Then the door began to open just as they reached it, and he spotted the huge African American standing there waiting.
I can’t do this.
With a squeak, Khan slipped off his jacket as he stumbled backward a step. He grabbed the hem of his shirt, but before he could whip it over his head, strong arms wrapped around his torso. For an instant, Khan wriggled in their grip, trying to break free.
Then his holder’s scent hit his senses.
Nathan.
