Page 62 of Bait Wolf
“Okay! Ready!”
Chuckling, I bent down, scooped her into my arms.
“There’s a bit of a mess out there,” I warned. “I want you to close your eyes, okay honey?”
She gave me a dubious look, but perhaps since she hadn’t seen me in a while, she decided not to argue, burying her face in my neck as I caried her out.
“Is he okay?” I asked uneasily.
Seymour’s eyes were closed now, but I could see his labored breathing.
“I don’t fucking think so,” Everest said. He looked like he was going to be sick.
“Don’t worry,” Aspen said, shifting back to human. “I could hear his heart beating strong. Come on.”
He waved me past, helping Everest to lift Seymour.
Understandably, they didn’t wait for me as I tucked Asha into her seat. She was sleepy but wide eyed, staring around at us curiously.
“Why did you come get me at nighttime?” she asked, yawning. Clearly, she had no clue what the heck was going on. Honestly, I was glad for that.
“I’ll follow you home and watch the house,” Aurora said from behind me. “Just in case they have someone come after you.”
I swallowed and nodded.
“If you don’t mind.”
She nodded, going to her car to tail us.
Worry for Seymour was eating at me, but I just had to trust that they got to the hospital on time because once we got home, Asha was so excited to be there, running around, pulling all her toys out of the toybox, begging for TV.
I didn’t usually let her stay up late, but I didn’t even think of dampening her happy spirit.
When she finally started to settle down, snuggling up against my side on the couch and asking for her favorite show, I put my arm around her small shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Finally, I texted Everest for an update and immediately received a response that set me at ease.The doctors are working on him now.
I let out a relieved sigh and let my head fall on the back of the couch, absently watching Asha’s show with her.
I was exhausted. The stress of losing her, and now losing Ember right when I got her back… I wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. I needed to be here for her now, but as soon as she was safe, I’d be out there again, finding Ember.
It struck me then: Alvy. The man had found my kidnapped daughter in less than twenty-four hours. Surely finding my runaway mate would be even easier.
I sent him a message and settled back, glad I had at least donesomething.
Whenever Asha fell asleep, I would have to ask Aurora to come inside and keep watch over her while I left to hunt my lover down.
“You smell different,” Asha mumbled. She turned her sleepy face, pressing it against my chest, unable to reach my scent gland with her small stature.
I wiggled down on the couch, allowing her better access. Her little nose rubbed against my gland, comforting her with my familiar scent. I wrapped my arms around her, knowing that my close presence like this often made her fall asleep.
“You smell sweeter,” she decided.
I knew she was smelling Ember on me. His scent was fully laced into mine. I loved it. How long would it take, I wondered, for Ember’s scent to fade into nothing but a memory?
“I met someone,” I said softly, “while you were gone.”
She was silent for a moment.
