AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you beginning to lose hope?”
I shoved my hand against a camera lens and forced it away, then hit the button to roll up the window. What did I care if I clipped a few fingers or damaged some equipment in the process? Goddamn vultures, all of them.
A second later, the gates slid open. Clinton’s betas emerged from the gatehouse to drive the reporters back so they couldn’t follow us up the drive—though not for lack of trying.
I watched the reporters in the rear-view mirror, hating those hungry news crews even more than I despised the oblivious tourists. The former wanted to feed on tragedy. The latter ignored it.
I knew which one was worse.
* * *
Felicity had still been asleep when I headed out that morning—at least, she’d pretended to be. Neither of us had slept properly since the boys were taken. I wasn’t sure we ever would until they were safe in our arms again.
I’d left her in bed and slipped out quietly. I’d wanted to hold her, but I knew better than that. Every time I tried to touch her, she only moved farther away.
Malik might have been the one who drove out to find me, but Felicity was the one who brought me back.
Your woman needs you. Even if she does not say so.
I hoped there was some truth in Malik’s words.
As I got out of the truck, my only thought was to get dressed in proper clothes and find my mate.
Unfortunately, everyone else found me first.
Dylan sat on the manor’s front steps, his jeans ragged, his white T-shirt torn and full of holes. His shaggy, dark blond hair was slicked back with sweat. Dylan raised his head as I approached.
“We need to talk.”
I raised an eyebrow as he hopped up and fell into step with me. “You’re a long way from Evergreen.”
“Four-hour drive,” he confirmed.
What the hell was he doing here? He was meant to be back home, managing the pack, and he knew it.
Evergreen needed an alpha—one who could be present and engaged, and one who could be there. Every pack did. My business here in Portersmith had kept me away for far longer than I’d planned. Dad was a shadow of his old self while he waited for Ma to wake from the coma Quincy had put her in. And while Macy—the only actual alpha among my three siblings—would have been the ideal choice for my temporary replacement, she was due to give birth any day now. I’d forbidden her from leaving the safety of her mate Leo’s pack in Boston. With babies being abducted, and our sociopathic grandfather still at large, no precaution was too great.
Which left Dylan, a sigma, who was fully capable of leading but very much preferred not to. He’d been picking up the slack for months now, much to his dismay.
“You could’ve called,” I pointed out.
“I did. You didn’t answer.” He side-eyed the terrycloth tie at my waist. “Nice robe.”
I rolled my eyes, scanning the hall up ahead for any signs of Felicity. “Can whatever you need wait?”
“Not really.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Okay. Just let me go get—”
A set of doors burst open across the foyer.
“Xander!”
I turned to my aunt and uncle, dressed in their country-club-luncheon finest. They hurried toward us, their eyes haggard.
That couldn’t be good.
I clapped Dylan on the shoulder and gave him a firm look. “Wait here. I’ll be back down in a second.” I waved at Clint and Aubrey to follow me.
