Page 49 of Can't Be Love

Lily told her about her brother, Chase, and his mate, Jenna, who were currently attending the ARC. They had caused quite the uproar around campus the previous semester when his wolf bonded with her panther. Of course, word of their mating had already reached the Alaskan Pack, who had stood with them when Jenna’s father had declared war against the wolves in protest of their relationship.

It had been a sad time for the packs. Many good men and women had lost their lives in the battle, but it had also helped to unite the packs stronger than ever.

After lunch, Lily changes her shoes and the ladies took off to join Amka on her afternoon walk visiting others in the area. She was loaded down with a basket full of baked goods to distribute. Each Pack Mother brought their own unique touch to the Pack. I couldn’t wait to see what Lily brought to Collier.

Finally, alone with Tulok, we could talk freely. “Tulok, Dad did not explain what you needed assistance with, only that it was urgent and I should go. What is happening?”

The older Alpha hesitated and stared out the window, lost in thought, before finally speaking. “The shifters are under attack. There is no other explanation. A puffin, a polar bear, and now one of my wolves have gone missing. Always just before a fresh snowfall. No tracks, no scent to follow. I am at a loss of what to do. I do not know the enemy we are facing. It has been very disturbing and has my people scared. I reached out to your father for any suggestions, and he offered your assistance to come up with fresh eyes to look over the facts.”

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. It was not normal for any of these people to just disappear. The wolves, puffins, and polar bears had lived in harmony for as long as human history could remember in these parts.

“Show me where they disappeared and let me speak to those who last saw each of them. I am not sure what I can do to help, but I will look over all the facts and hopefully see something that was missed along the way.”

“Thank you. That is all I can ask. The forecast is calling for snow again tonight, so everyone is anxious. Do not confuse that for guilt when you speak with them,” he warned.

I nodded. “I understand.’

We first headed to a house on the outskirts of the village. He explained this was where Yutu had been taken, one of his wolves. We started there because he was the last to disappear.

Yutu’s young mate greeted us at the door. Her small house was packed full with worried loved ones.

“Tulok, have you found him?” she asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.

He shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid we have no new leads yet. This is Thomas of the Collier wolves. He has some questions.”

“I do not know anything,” the woman sobbed, as three women surrounded her, offering comfort. “He was feeling restless and said he needed to go for a run. That wasn’t abnormal; he got like that often. I was sitting on the back porch and I could feel him getting closer. He was coming home. I know he was. There was a strange howl and then nothing. His spirit started slipping further and further from me. I ran out towards the forest where he usually runs, but he kept drifting away from me. I ran and ran, but he slowly faded away and I haven’t felt his connection since. Something happened to him out there. He wouldn’t just leave like that.”

“She called right away,” Tulok added. “It was dark by the time we arrived, and a fresh snow overnight covered any tracks that may have been there.”

“Trackers?” I asked.

“I brought in two, but they turned up nothing,” the old man said.

I nodded. “Can you point me in the direction you felt him heading?”

“Yes, of course,” the young woman said, leaving her guests and ushering me outside immediately.

We walked around the small house and down towards the woods. She seemed confident in her actions and the direction we were headed.

She stopped suddenly about half a mile from the house, surrounded by nothing. “This was as far as I went. By the time I arrived here, I could no longer feel our bond, yet somehow I know he’s still alive out there. Please find him and bring my Yutu home.”

“I’ll do the best I can,” I promised. I wasn’t a tracker and I didn’t know this area, so all I really could do was promise to try.

I advised her to head home. I knew there were others waiting who would worry about her. She hesitated but agreed. I continued walking in a logical path through the woods. Not far from where she left me, I smelled a strange metallic odor. Channeling more of my wolf senses, I let him lead me to the source of it. Coming to an abrupt stop, I dropped to my knees and began pushing snow aside.

Tulok caught up to me just as I uncovered a small needle. I held it up and sniffed, confirming what I already knew.

“What is it?” I asked aloud.

Tulok took the object from me and examined it. His eyes shone with fear. I was not accustomed to seeing an Alpha afraid of anything.

“Tranquilizer,” he whispered. “Someone shot Yutu with a tranquilizer. They must have taken off with his body, but that would reaffirm everything his mate relayed to us. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

I nodded. “Yes, but who? Why?”

“That, I am not sure.”

“She said he continued to pull away from her, but that she no longer felt his presence a few yards back. Let’s continue on and see if we can determine where they took him. It couldn’t be far. If her story is correct, he would have been here when she heard his yelp. She immediately got up and came after him. She noted he was moving away from her the entire time. It took what? Maybe fifteen minutes to get to the spot she said she turned around at? If they were dragging him, she would have walked faster than they would have been moving. Come on,” I urged him.

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