Page 55 of Midnight Mate
“Sure. I’ll call you later,” the sheriff said, my father ranting on deaf ears as they went.
I forced deep breaths into my lungs, fighting the urge to go after my dad and rip him apart. Tobias stepped in front of me, distracting me from my murderous thoughts.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’d be happy here,” he said.
“For what it’s worth, you’re probably right,” I told him, thinking of Cat.
I saw the surprise register before he covered it up. Good, keep him guessing. “If your father wasn’t a factor?”
“I’d probably never have left in the first place.”
He nodded knowingly then brought his hand down on my shoulder.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe,” he said quietly, his gaze pinning me until I was sure he was looking right inside my head. “Your mother won’t be harmed again. When you leave, we’ll look after her.”
It was more than I’d expected, and I wasn’t entirely sure I could believe him. But Tobias didn’t blow smoke. He’d keep his word.
I blew out a breath. At least now, I had the option of going . . . if that’s what Cat wanted. The way she’d spoken earlier, I couldn’t be sure if she’d want me even if I stayed. Mating was something my wolf wanted to do with her, but that didn’t mean she’d choose me back. Humans didn’t work the same as wolves.
“I appreciate it.”
Tobias cocked his head. “Something else troubling you?”
“I was curious about another member of the pack. Travis Burns.”
“He’s a newer addition. Just moved to town in the last three years or so. What about him?”
“Any issues with him losing control of his wolf?”
“None reported.” The lie was half-ass at best. My gut tightened.
“Never known you to lie outright, Tobias.”
Angus tensed beside me, but Tobias nodded, expression sober. “The case was sealed. I’ve already said more than I can. He giving you trouble?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“East, if one of mine steps out of line, I have no problem rounding him up.”
Yeah, right. Like he’d rounded up my old man all those years ago. It only took him ten years and my mother nearly dying for him to act.
“Tell you what. If I do run into trouble with him, I’ll call you.” But only after I had proof enough to get Travis run out of town.
“Deal.”
He shook my hand one last time, nodded to Angus, and we parted ways. By the time we left the clearing, I’d already shifted and was running for town.
15
Cat
In the darkness, a figure moved across my bedroom. I squinted, trying to decipher whether Rudy had crept in to check on me or East had returned from his meeting with Tobias. But the shoulders were wrong. And the height and hair—
“Cat.”
I stiffened as the figure bent low, his voice—and the stale breath—washing over me like a bucket of cold water.
Panic rose.
