Page 91 of One True Mate

"Hello."

"Kyle, It's Leo. Look I don't want to worry you needlessly, but Ted was making a run of the north pass and he's nearly an hour overdue on return."

I shot up out of bed and immediately began dressing.

"Leo, sound the alarm."

"Look Kyle, we've had three false alarms already, and this is Ted we're talking about, are you sure about this?"

"I don't give a shit if this is a false alarm or not. Sound the alarm. Full alert until Ted is found."

As I hung up I saw Kelsey was up and staring at me with wide eyes. I went to her and kissed her forehead hugging her close to my chest. "Go back to sleep, babe. It's probably just a false alarm."

"No, I'm up now and I won't sleep without you anyway. Let me come with you."

I nodded praying it really was another false alarm. Then as she began to get dressed I called Patrick O'Connell.

"Hey man, already got the alert." He answered before I could even speak or ask. "Got a few guys from Collier and two from Longhorn on their way over now, along with Cole. We'll head up to the north pass and see what we can find. Keep this line as open as possible, okay?"

"Thanks Pat. It really means a lot to me having you here."

"Don't go getting all sappy with me. I'll touch base every fifteen minutes till we find him just as we rehearsed."

Hanging up the phone I immediately set the timer for fifteen minutes. I knew once I got busy I would otherwise lose track of time. Then I made one more phone call to my dad and was pleased to find him not only awake, but in full action. We had had three false alarms already, two just in the last week, so hearing everyone taking it seriously gave me a calm and strength I didn't realize I was missing.

With Kelsey ready, we strolled out hand in hand as if there wasn't a care in the world. But not ten yards off our back deck, I smelled them on the wind. Immediately I called it in, and raised the alert to battle mode.

They're here.I told Kelsey through our bond.

I know. I can smell them. They are north about a hundred yards and closing in.I watched as she took a deep breath.Kyle, I know that smell. It's Kamen. He's here. He's not alone, but he's here. I don't know how I know it, but I know it's him. And this is going to sound crazy, but I think I smell my mother too.

Kelsey, shift and run.I told her as I grabbed my phone and quickly texted Dad that it was not an alarm.Run to Dad's. I'll be right behind you.

Come on, they're headed this way. Quick Kyle!

One thing I was certain. The wolves who turned and started to give chase were never going to catch my mate and they weren't going to catch me. We were too fast for them, but they had to know now that we were on to them. I could feel the distance growing between us. Kelsey was quite some ways ahead of me. She got to the house a good five minutes before me and even though she was not talking to me, I could feel her and understand that she was confirming my text and getting everyone in position.

"This is what we've been training for. Everyone at the ready. They are coming and they are coming fast." I announced to all present when I entered my father's house.

“How many?” my dad asked.

“I'm not sure, but it felt like a lot. Kelsey smelled Kamen. Would he really come all this way for her himself?”

“Titus seemed to think he was more than a little obsessed over this, so yeah, I believe it's possible.”

The house phone rang and I quickly picked it up.

“Kyle.”

“Hey man, we found Ted,” Cole said solemnly. “He's dead. Looks like a large group came through the north pass.”

“Damn it. Okay, come on back, and prepare your team. I'm already at Dad's. Kelsey and I almost ran into them near our house. We need to organize the teams, just as we practiced. They never should have gotten this close.”

“I'm sorry. The guys were starting to get a little lax. You were right to keep on us.”

“No time for that now, Cole. It's go time.”

As I hung up the phone, Liam came into the room. “All the women and children are accounted for and safe inside the pack house. All but, Kelsey.”

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