Page 59 of Healing Creek
“No,” said Creek. He thought back to the moment he met her, standing tall, clutching the bed frame and warning them all to stay clear. She’d trembled, yes. But forced to face that fear, she’d faced it with courage.
He remembered when she’d faced the pack and told them about Patel, the mercenary. She’d been afraid of their reaction, but she’d faced that fear. They’d faced so much together. Always together. They were mates. He should have told her.
Creek shoved back his chair and stood. “She wouldn’t leave willingly.” Just because she had not yet been ready to tell him this one thing did not mean he didn’t know his butterfly. Let others search the base but he would waste no time in looking further for her.
“Come,” said Mercury. He made a low bark of comfort before directing his words to Eve. “Show us the way to the assembly hall so we can get started.
Eve stood without delay. “Of course. This way.”
Mercury extended a hand to Samantha to help her stand. She clutched it tightly and the look they exchanged spoke of shared understanding. Creek regretted putting off claiming Grace as his mate. She was his and had been since that very first day. He’d been a fool to hesitate.
As a group, they moved into the hall. Pent-up need to move faster tightened Creek’s muscles.
With a short yip of respect to Mercury and Samantha, he took off in a jog and Neri joined him. The others would follow at a pace suitable for Mercury’s pregnant mate.
Walking into the assembly hall Creek saw a room full of Arena Dogs and the humans who worked daily to free them and teach them to survive in the human world. Would his mate want to live in the human world. When he left the first time, he’d thought he could find a place across the border. That he could live away from his kind. That it was his only choice.
He spotted Saturn and Lo and they joined them. Jupiter came in just behind.
“We have news,” said Saturn, holding a tablet in his hand. A list of names scrolled on its surface. “We’ve accounted for everyone. The only ones missing are Grace and Zachary.”
“Zachary, the medic?” Jupiter’s face formed a frown.
“Yes,” answered Saturn. “He’s a member of the council. He’s been with us for many years.”
Creek looked to Jupiter. “Any news from the Hawley?”
“Not yet,” he said. “But Max checked the base security logs. Someone used a code to enter a secured exit tunnel out of the base. One that leads to the face of the ravine.”
Creek knew the tunnel and knew Grace could not have founded it on her own. “How long?”
Jupiter’s frown deepened. “About seven hours ago.”
“Damn!” Dread exploded through Creek. It was a significant head start.
Jupiter looked through the crowd toward the door. “Max is bringing short range communication devices. We’ll organize a search.”
Creek turned to see Max arriving with Eve, Mercury, and Samantha. He carried an equipment box.
Saturn waved an arm to Max but spoke to the group. “If they’re on foot they could still be climbing the ravine wall. I’m told the woman struggled coming down the ravine.”
Creek was not appeased. “If he managed to get one of the jungle bashers you use for supply runs, they could be halfway to the port.”
Jupiter huffed. “He could be meeting a ship like Feeona’s with surface landing capabilities.”
“We should check the lander bay,” suggested Saturn. “The codes on the ravine side exit tunnel could have been triggered remotely as a distraction.”
“Lander bay?” asked Jupiter.
Max and the others joined them and Max explained about the small hanger camouflaged some distance away from the edge of the ravine.
“Does the medic have the knowledge to fly one of the ships?” asked Jupiter.
Eve shook her head, looking much more concerned than before. “I don’t believe Zachary has any piloting skills, but I wouldn’t have thought him capable of kidnapping someone either.” Eve hugged her arms around her body as if chilled. “I can’t believe Zachary would do this.”
Creek wondered if she was still making excuses for the man in her mind, while he could have been working for Roma the whole time.
Mercury clasped Creek’s shoulder. “Calm, my brother. Let us organize this search together.”
