Page 2 of Into the Dawn

“If you dent my truck, I’ll be sending you the bill.” I growl, even though it’s already battered to hell from driving off road. It’s hard to keep anything in pristine condition when you live somewhere as rugged as this.

Vanessa curses, but the kicking stops.

“I can’t believe you, Ben. I can’t believe you have the nerve to do this to me,” she hisses.

Grinning, I picture her trapped in the tight space, arms folded sulkily and that adorable little line between her eyebrows as she rages at me.

If she wanted to, she could escape. Her beast could easily escape by violently punching and kicking her way out of her metal prison.

But she wouldn’t get far, and she knows it. She might be faster, but I’m faster. And there's no way I'm letting her out of my sight until I get what I want: Information.

I've got all the time in the world, especially now that I’m more than likely unemployed and on the run. So much for being the golden child of the King family.

Still, burning my life to the ground will be worth it if I can find out what happened to John.

“Ben, this is ridiculous. Can’t we just talk, face to face, like mature adults?”

I scoff. Now she wants to talk. Where was the talking when she abandoned me without a word?

“No, we absolutely cannot.” This woman has played me for a fool once before, and I’m not going to let it happen again. Getting too close to her, scenting her, looking into her pretty eyes… I don’t trust myself not to fall under her spell.

“I had nothing to do with John going missing,” her voice is quiet, a tactic, no doubt designed to make me feel sorry for her. Well, it’s not going to work. I shift in my seat and roll my shoulders, steeling myself against her wily charms.

She’s not as upset as she sounds. Don’t fall for it.

“So, you just happened to be in the woods while your dumbass brother was trying to murder my cousin? Spying on the cave where John used to go, which alsojust happensto be on the border of your clan’s land, where the map he left me led straight into?”

Silence.

“So the maze of caves and tunnels doesn’t lead straight into your clan territory?”

More silence.

“For fucks sake, Ben. Just let me out.” Vanessa loses her temper once more and lashes out, hitting the inside of the truck bed cover with her boot heel.

“I knew it.”

I can still read her like a book. All this time apart hasn’t made her a better liar.

“Okay, fine. I followed them out there because I knew they were up to no good, but I was there tohelp intervene, not to hurt Kali. I would never. She and John are the only people who didn’t treat me like scum because of my family.”

I scoff but then freeze, scarcely able to breathe. Did I hear that right? Is that the confirmation I thought I’d have to grill her hard to get?

“Are. Present tense.”

Deafening silence.

John is still alive.

“I didn’t know, Ben. Not until recently. You have to believe me.”

God damn it. So she does know about John, and she said nothing. While her mangy, filthy family did god only knows what to him.

“Believe you? Oh, that's rich. The very last person I would ever believe again isyou. I made that mistake once. I won't be making it again.” A mixture of hope and anger bubbles up inside me.

And betrayal. My own mate didn’t tell me where the only person in the world who looked out for me as a kid was, knowing that our entire town was out looking for him for months.

“Tell me where he is, right now.” My tone is harsh. No more mister nice guy.

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