Page 57 of The Thief

“Oh no,” I whispered. “That must have been her galloping toward the road.”

“Be right back,” Virgil said while striding down the hall. “You’ll need her halter if you want to bring her back. Maybe some rope.”

Thunder cracked like a whip, and the wind whistled outside as darkness blanketed the room.

In the shadowy hall that led to the kitchen, Joy and Salem emerged from the staircase. Joy cupped her elbows and watched the men with a worried countenance.

“Where’s Krys?” I asked.

Salem joined our group, his hair pulled back tidily. “Taking a shower. I warned him that lightning can travel through pipes.”

“There aren’t any tornado sirens around here,” Robyn said. “I need to download one of those weather-alert apps on my phone.”

Bear stormed toward us, and I was slightly disappointed by his long-sleeved shirt and jeans. I missed seeing the man beneath. His black lace-up boots thudded against the wood floor with every heavy step, and I half expected him to swoop me up in his arms and plant a kiss on my mouth. My heart picked up speed, nervous that he might actually do it.

Instead, he raised his hand, showing everyone his key fob. “Let’s go.”

“Virgil’s getting something,” Montana informed him. “Robyn, come with us.”

Her eyes widened. “I’m in my pajamas!”

“The horse likes you better. We might need you there in case she bolts. She doesn’t care how you’re dressed.”

Robyn gave an exasperated sigh. “Catcher ran off, and I was going to go look for him. I can only handle one crisis at a time.”

Water rolled off the brim of Montana’s hat when he looked down at her. “Catcher’s fine. But if Tak comes home and finds out we lost his favorite horse…”

“Say no more.” She spun on her heel and headed down the back hall. “I’ll get my shoes.”

* * *

“She couldn’t have gotten far,” Robyn insisted from the back seat.

Montana sighed. “Those things run fifty miles an hour.”

Bear drove the vehicle, the windshield wipers flipping back and forth. Each clearing he passed, he slowed down so everyone could scan the area. There were miles and miles of hill country—that horse could be anywhere.

Bear observed an open field on the left. The previous night flooded his mind like an ocean, memories of their talks and lovemaking pulling him under. After Mercy had fallen asleep for the last time, his wolf emerged. He didn’t remember anything after that until he shifted in the pouring rain and Robyn was yelling for him. Then he spotted Montana trying to call the horse in. A pop of thunder had made the horse rear up before she took off.

Now that the adrenaline was tapering down, regret overcame him for having left the house without saying a word to Mercy. He should have said something. He still wasn’t certain what they planned to tell the pack, if anything. Hell, he didn’t even know her thoughts about them becoming a couple, especially after she expressed regret for jumping in too soon. Maybe all she wanted was a physical relationship with him. One night together was hardly enough time to map out a future.

If only his mother had never abandoned him. That screwed with his mind more than anything else. Leaving a relationship was one thing, but why leave her own child? Bear had spent his life believing he wasn’t good enough. Worse, knowing that he had never been loved.

Mercy made him feel good enough, though, and for that reason, he wanted to believe their connection was real.

From the back seat, Virgil started singing a slow rendition of “Satisfaction.”

Montana twisted around from the passenger seat. “Keep it quiet. I can’t think.”

“I love the Rolling Stones,” Virgil said, amusement in his voice. “What about you, Bear?”

“I think you need to keep your eyes focused out the window, son.”

“We need to stop off at the store on the way back. Mercy said she wanted a candy bar. Do you know where we can find a Big Hunk?”

Scanning the road, Bear dodged a water-filled pothole. That was one reason he’d chosen a larger vehicle. Not only was it roomy, but it would navigate country roads far better than a compact car.

When Virgil resumed singing, Bear’s thoughts drifted back to Mercy.

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