Page 66 of The Renegade Mate

The connection was there, distant and faint but undeniably present. It told me nothing, though, not how she was or where she was, just that she was still alive. I’d been obsessively checking the bond since she gave herself up, each time fearing the worst, each time relieved to feel her still there.

The ache in my chest deepened, a longing for her that was both painful and fierce. I wanted her safe, back by my side, where she belonged.

Derek’s words echoed in my head, a reassurance and a challenge. “We’ve got this.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. We had to succeed. We had no other choice.

A convoy of cars appeared on the south-western road, kicking up dust as they drew nearer. This was it. I grinned in anticipation. Derek and I both had an overdue appointment with Brock.

The cars came to a halt. The doors opened, and one by one, they emerged. Brock’s smug smile, Hayley’s cold eyes. Then, Sofia, hauled out of another car, disheveled but alive.

But no Mai.

My breath caught, a sharp stab of panic slicing through me.

“Mai’s not there,” I muttered. “She’s not with them.”

Derek’s eyes scanned the cars. “Are you sure?”

I reached for the bond, desperate this time. It was there; she was still alive, but it was faint. She wasn’t here, wasn’t anywhere near here. “I’m sure,” I snapped, anger and fear rising in a deadly mix.

Derek looked at me. “All our plans were based on rescuing Mai and Sofia, then challenging Brock and Hayley for the Alpha pair.”

I knew what he was asking. I had to make a decision, one that could change everything. Trust that Mai was okay, that she would get herself out of whatever situation she found herself in, and stay here and challenge for the Alpha pair? Or follow my instincts and find Mai?

There was no choice. The thought of Mai in danger overpowered everything else. I had to find her, to protect her. She was my mate, my responsibility.

Derek’s voice broke through my thoughts. “What about the Meet? What about the challenge?” He already knew the decision I would make.

“I trust you to handle it, Derek,” I said, my voice firm. “You have to stall them; buy us as much time as you can. We’ll be back before the end of the Meet.”

“Ryan—” he began, but I cut him off.

“Just get it done.”

And with that, I turned. I knew what I had to do.

Chapter forty-one

Mai

Iheaved Jase onto my shoulders, my muscles straining under his weight. His wolf form was heavier than his human one, but I had werewolf strength, and I’d be able to carry him for a few miles before I needed a break. His forelegs draped limply over my shoulder, and I gripped them tight. There was no sign of Carl as we slipped out of the cabin, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t close. My eyes scanned the dusk, the dimness casting shadows across the yard, my ears straining for any sound that wasn’t the forest whispering its secrets. Carl’s SUV was parked a few feet away.

I tiptoed down the steps, cursing every creak of the wood as my feet touched them. I looked around one last time. Still no movement, no sound, no recent scent of Carl.

Where was he?

I realized I didn’t care as long as he wasn’t near here. I crept closer to the car. Could we break in and use it to escape? I had no idea how to hot-wire a car, so unless … My eyes squinted as I focused on the keys lying on the dashboard. Jase’s phone was right there on the passenger seat.

No bad guy in sight, an open car with the keys inside and a phone to boot. How convenient.

“It’s a trap,” I muttered. “He’s baiting us.”

I put Jase gently on the ground and scanned the area. Seeing nothing, I fished out Jase’s phone from the car, pushed in Ryan’s number, then hesitated. What did Carl want? Was this the plan? That I would call Ryan and tell him to come rescue me? Carl could shoot him as he arrived. Even if I told Ryan not to come here but to meet me somewhere, Carl could shoot me and Jase as we were leaving, then wait for Ryan to realize we weren’t coming, track Jase’s phone, and come here—where Carl could pick him off too.

There were no good options. I hit the green button.

Ryan picked up on the first ring. “Jase? Talk to me? You got Mai?”

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