Page 38 of Protector

Fallon points at it. “I made that for you. Eat.”

No one ever makes food for me, and if they did? I’d refuse—except for Lorelei and that makes sense because, as my twin, we’ve always taken care of each other. But Fallon… that’s what she’s trying to do now. There’s no other ulterior motive, not like other shifters putting a plate in front of me, hoping it’ll get them laid.

It’s not the sort of meal a shifter usually eats—this definitely human fare—but right now? It’s not worms, and that’s all that counts.

I move toward the table as Fallon explains, “You haven’t eaten in five days. I’m not sure how it is for shifters, but humans need to start small after that long. Eat this. If you’re still hungry, I’ll make something else.”

Shifters can go longer than five days without it doing too much harm, just like I could probably eat half the pantry now and have no ill-effects. It’s the thought that counts, though, and I’d rather eat something quick to get it in my belly before I go searching for Tristan.

Or maybe?—

“Is there more bread? I can make a sandwich for Tristan, too. He didn’t eat, either.”

Except for that one worm, and I would’ve added just to get a shocked reaction out of Fallon if it wasn’t for the way she suddenly nibbled on her bottom lip like that.

Uh-oh.

“Fal?”

“Yeah, Jeannie?”

“Is something wrong?”

She laughs uneasily. “You mean apart from one of my best friends being missing for five days? Or how I sold my soul to the devil… well witches, but you know… to find her?”

Well, when she puts it like that… “Yes.” I wait a second, then say, “Let me guess. It’s about the Beta.”

I can’t even say his name. When he didn’t follow me right to the pack house, I instinctively knew that something was wrong. Add that to the way his face fell when I told him we were rescued… he wasn’t happy. I thought he would be, but he wasn’t.

And he’s not here.

Neither is Lucas, come to think of it. But Fallon doesn’t look nervous about her own mate. Oh, no. She looks sorry for me.

“Where is he, Fallon?”

“Jeannie—”

“You know where he is.” I could use my connection to the Luna to compel Fallon to tell me, but I don’t have to. For all the years we’ve been friends… Please works on me. I know it’ll work on her. “Tell me where he is. Please.”

She shudders out a breath. “Don’t get mad, okay?”

Anyone who says that is just priming me for my temper to go off. “I won’t,” I tell her. And it’s true. Whatever she says, I highly doubt ‘mad’ is the emotion that’s gonna control me.

“Okay. Um. You see, Lucas came back when you were in the shower. He wanted to grab a couple of things for Tris and let me know what was going on. Tristan… he decided he needed to head into the human part of the twon square for some reason. There’s something he needs to do and if it takes too long…”

I swallow my growl. “Yeah?”

Fallon winces. “He said he’ll spend the night at the Alpha cabin so he doesn’t disturb you.”

Translation: he’s avoiding me again.

Oh. Look at that. I’m not mad at all.

I’m embarrassed—and furious.

Fallon gasps. “Jeannie! Your eyes.”

I can only imagine. She’s used to the human brown. When the Luna makes me her avatar, they turn silver.

---