Page 96 of His Wild Mate

“Thanks for helping them get here so quickly. You should know that if I had found him, I would have killed him. Still might.”

He held his hands up and shrugged. “I'm not going to stop you. In fact, if you need an assist, just say the word. I give great bear hugs.” The menacing look in his eyes as he said that told me that wasn't a good thing or the warm fuzzy kind.

“Come on, man. You need to get dressed,” Austin said. It was the first time I even realized he was there.

Everything around me was so surreal. I wasn't even sure what was real and what wasn't because despite my seemingly calm exterior, thanks to Thomas's insistence, I had a storm of fury brewing withinme. I feared that the slightest thing would once again trigger my wolf, and this time I wasn't positive that Thomas could subdue me again.

Still, I let Austin lead me down the hall to my room and hunt up a change of clothes. I was numb all over and knew it had nothing to do with the cold.

“Where are your shoes?” he asked.

“I don't know,” I told him honestly. “Probably out back somewhere with a pile of my shredded clothes.”

“Okay. I'll have someone go look for them.” He stood and stared at me for a moment. “Are you okay?”

“No, I'm not.”

“They're going to find them. Wyatt, Clay, James, Walker, Linc, and Killian are out there right now tracking him.”

“I should be out there too.”

“Let them do this for you.”

“I just need a minute to regroup and then I'm going to get back out there. I had her scent, Austin. I can find her. I know I can. I have to. I can't imagine my life without her.”

He sighed. “I know. If it were Angel, I'd be the same way and would dare anyone to keep me from finding her or die trying.”

“Then you know why I have to do this.”

He nodded.

“If my shoes survived, they'd be in the backyard somewhere. Can you get them for me?”

“Will you stay here and just take some deep breaths or some shit to calm down a little more?”

“Will you stop me from leaving when you return?”

“No, but I will come with you. I've got your six.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’ve been waiting to say that, haven't you?”

“Hell yes I have. Wait here, I'll be right back.”

I considered ditching him, not really caring about the shoes, but he was quick, and true to his word he returned.

“You're in luck. They look fine.”

“Someone's bound to come looking for you soon, so let's get out of here if we're doing this.”

“Thanks, man.”

We left the way I'd gone the first time. Neither of us said a word. Austin knew I needed this, and I loved him for being willing to have my back. Despite all the people that had come rushing to help, I still felt alone.

“You know, you made me get dressed, but it's probably best if we shift. My wolf can track her better than I can.”

He shrugged. “Sure, just take a second to strip first. I've never seen anyone massacre clothes they way you did back there.”

Despite the stress and anger of the situation we were in, I smiled and shook my head.

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