AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Seven
KNOX
“What are you doing messing around with a wolf?” Kean asks when I finally make it home.
“She needed somebody, and I’m the one who could be there for her,” I say.
“Why can’t you show an interest in an alligator, like the rest of us?” He passes me a beer, and I take a seat in one of the camping chairs. My brother’s true mate is his best friend, Valentina, and they’ve been together for as long as I can remember. I’ve dated other alligators, but I’ve never found my mate or someone I’d like to settle down with.
“Lay off. Whom I decide to be with doesn’t concern you. It doesn’t matter if she’s an alligator, wolf, or even a human. It’s up to me to decide who’s right for me.” I take a drink of my beer. He had it easy finding his perfect mate. He can’t see why I want to live my life and let love happen naturally. I’m done trying to push something that’s not there. “Any news on the Gulf pack?”
He gulps down his drink. “All evidence is pointing to them being the rogue hunters. Our guys don’t think they’ve given up on finding Bea either. You need to be careful.”
Rage causes through me. I don’t want any harm to come to her. “I feel protective of her.”
“Is that all it is?” He has another drink of his beer. I guess he’s not ready to drop his curiosity about her yet.
“I’m not going to lie to you. We have good chemistry, but she’s lost everything. Besides, Colt isn’t going to leave her alone.” I like Bea. That part is simple, but we’ve just met, and she’s got a lot going on.
“You’re a good guy, little brother.” He smiles and holds his beer up, and I tap it with my own.
“Valentina’s making you soft.” He doesn’t usually throw around compliments.
He chuckles. “Maybe she is.”
“Guys, you’d better come quickly,” Valentina says with a shaky voice. She always shows up right on queue when Kean is gushing over her. Usually, I’d joke about how whipped my brother is, but something tells me now is not the time.
“What’s wrong?” Kean asks, taking her into his arms. His beer spills out onto the floor as he knocks his chair.
“Someone’s broken into the shelter,” Valentina says.
“I thought you said Carlos wasn’t stupid enough to do something like that,” I say to Kean.
“It wasn’t Carlos that was picked up on the shelter security camera.” Valentina frowns.
“Who was it, then?” I ask.
“Colt?” Kean questions.
Valentina nods. “Jeremy has suggested a team go to neutralize the situation.”
I’ve only had half of my beer and there is no way I’m staying behind. Jeremy, our congregation leader, won’t stop me from going along. I race to the van and climb in with five other guys. We make it to the shelter in record time, and we split up to cover more area. A few other local packs are here, and I give them a nod as I pass them.
I race to the main sleeping area and find Bea’s bed empty. “Where is she?” I ask.
Doc rubs his head. “I’m sorry, Knox. He took her.”
“Why didn’t you try to stop him?” I shout.
“We did. A few of the shifters got injured. He had a knife, and he took us by surprise.”
“Damn it.” I kick the metal post of her bed, causing pain to throb in my foot.
Jeremy and the other members of my congregation finally catch up with me.
“The intruder has gone and the perimeter has been secured,” Jeremy says.
“He got what he came for. We should be safe tonight. Thank you,” Doc says.
