Page 105 of Wanted

He sounds detached. It’s like he’s speaking about a revered king and queen and not his parents. The people who birthed and raised him.

I turn to Chance.

This picture is from their mating night, wasn’t it? Someone imprinted their image on the wall.

His eyes shift from me to the picture and back to me again.Yes.

Tell me about them.

He shakes his head, making my shoulders slump. I move to place my hand on the wall, but he stops me.

You need to get back. I’ll bring you out here again but now you need to get home to rest.

I don’t have the energy to fight him. Despite wanting to stay, to take in more of the images on the walls. To ask about how they came to be here.

I want to know it all.

But my mate is right.

I’m drained and weary.

My wolf can barely keep on her feet. Yet, she’s rearing to break free again. To have one final run back to the commune before we’re forced to sleep.

CHAPTER 30

Chance

“Yes, mother. My internship has ended and I’ll be home in a few days.”

A tightness squeezes around my chest as I watch Emery speak with her mother on the phone. We’re inside the bedroom and I swear if I could lock the door behind me and trap us both forever, I would.

The reality, however, is that we need to leave. Both of us. After the new evidence I uncovered, I need to go to New York to find the doctor who prescribed Emery those fucking pills. I’m certain he’s connected to the lone wolves who want to penetrate the Alliance.

Emery needs to return to New York for her sister.

Even if I didn’t need to investigate this doctor in New York for my alpha and pack, there’s no way in hell I would let Emery go anywhere by herself. This is her home now. Where she belongs and if she needs to leave, it will be with me.

“Is Ashley there?” she asks her mother while her eyes meet mine.

I don’t move as I watch her bite her lower lip, listening to whatever her mother’s saying on the other end.

“Oh.” She pushes out a breath. “It’s nothing. I just wanted to check-in with her. Tell her to give me a call when she’s awake.”

I narrow my eyes. It’s mid-afternoon in New York currently. Aside from that one time they spoke days ago, Emery’s sister is either occupied or asleep whenever Emery tries to reach her.

My wolf paces back and forth inside of me. He’s feeling as restless and on edge as I am. Both of our instincts tell us something is wrong.

“Well, I’ll see all of you in a couple of days, anyway.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Emery’s smile falters. “Yes, ma’am.”

I drop my arms to my side. Emery only refers to her mother as ‘ma’am’ after the older woman admonishes her for some minor bullshit.

I don’t like the way my mate’s shoulders slump or her face falls whenever she speaks with her mother. Without thinking, I take a step forward. I don’t even realize my intention to take the phone away from her until Emery’s eyes widen on me.

“I have to go,” she says, looking up at me. Then she holds up her hand, stopping me. “Yes, I will tell you once I’m home. Bye.”

She disconnects the call.

I take her chin in my hand, trapping her gaze on me. I search her eyes, not liking the withdrawn look inside of them.

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