Page 56 of Hunted

Luke could not help but feel slightly delirious at the conversation, but after he was sure they would be as safe as they could be, he left.

We’ll just have to keep the fighting away from this part of the woods,he thought as he walked away.

It was time to find Abigail. There was always the possibility that one of them wouldn’t make it out alive—though Luke would rather it be him than her—and he wanted to talk to her before everything started.

The tension that had been palpable on the perimeter of the pack was even more tangible at the center of the compound.

Abigail was training again, and Luke watched as she sparred with Dominic.

They look good together,he had to admit to himself.

At least I have some peace of mind, knowing she’ll have him if anything happens to me.

The thought that Abigail wouldn’t be alone if something happened to Luke was indeed a comfort. Luke realized then how much he appreciated that Abigail had Dominic. The loss of one mate was so painful that it had the potential to kill the surviving mate.

“Darling,” Luke called and Dominic and Abigail stopped sparring right away.

When Dominic nodded at Luke, he knew Nic was thinking the same thing.

One of them had to survive, for Abigail’s sake.

Abigail ran up to Luke.

“I’m working out muscles I didn’t know I had,” she said breathlessly.

Luke laughed and lifted her into his arms. Then he put her down, and she grabbed his hand with hers.

They began walking, and Luke inhaled deeply. He wanted to imprint the scent of Abigail on his brain.

“I’ve missed you,” Abigail said absentmindedly. Luke’s heart leapt.

“I’ve missed you, too,” he said honestly.

Luke knew that they both meant it at a deeper level. They missed each other because they’d had virtually no time together.

Mere months was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Mates should have more time than that.

“Are you ready?” he asked her.

“Ready to fight off your father?” Abigail laughed almost bitterly.

“Yes,” he replied seriously.

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “I just don’t know how any of this came to happen.”

He knew she could feel it, too. The frenzy in the air was so thick they could taste it on the wind.

“Listen.” Luke cleared his throat. “If he gets you alone, he’s going to try and hurt you in ways you can’t imagine. Or maybe you can. Please, don’t let him break you. And make sure you shift as soon as we get the signal.”

Abigail nodded earnestly.

She’s so young. She doesn’t deserve this.

Maybe if I hadn’t gone looking for her, none of this would have happened.

Maybe if I had just listened to Christian’s lies, she would have been safe.

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