Page 56 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

“SarahisReese’s mate for all intents and purposes,” I said, lifting my nose to the breeze. For a second, I detected a familiar scent, but then it was gone. “After she went missing, he not only expected, heneededall of our support.”

Melanie slapped her hand in exasperation against a tree trunk. “I’ve already apologized for that, like, a million times.”

I stopped and turned to face her. Her cheeks were pink with anger, and several strands of light blond hair had escaped her ubiquitous ponytail.

“Mel...” I said, drawing her name out with as much patience and empathy I could muster. “Maybe you haven’t pieced this together, but when you weren’t there, Reese was terrified. His first thought was that you’d been taken too.”

A little of the anger faded from her face. “It was?”

“It wasn’t until we were asking staff if they’d seen you or Sarah that Abby said she’d seen you—voluntarily—hop into a car shortly after the party began.” I lifted my eyebrows, giving her the chance to explain where she’d gone.

She ignored my unspoken question, instead saying, “If I’d known something bad was going to happen to Sarah, I wouldn’t have left.”

I gave her a nod. I knew I could sometimes be faulted for assuming the best in everyone, but I had no reason to doubt my sister on that point. And I was sure she’d tell me the truth about where she’d gone. When she was ready.

Resuming our patrol along a granite outcropping, I sniffed the air, searching for the familiar scent I’d detected a few seconds ago. The wind had changed so quickly, it had disappeared before I’d been able to catalog it.

This would be so much easier in animal form, but with the potential for more cameras, I didn’t dare risk it. “Keep up, Mel. I swear you’re theslowest.”

A pinecone pinged off the back of my head, and I turned to see Melanie tossing another one up and down in her palm. “Shut up,” she warned, “or you’ll be eating your tail for breakfast.”

I chuckled and bent to pick up my own pinecone missile when my attention was suddenly snagged by the sound of a distinct snap. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Melanie asked. She stopped tossing her pinecone and held it tight in her fist.

I took another step. My foot landed on something that felt different from the normal forest floor. Smoother. Duller.

I took another hesitant step and my footfall was followed by awhooshingsound.

Melanie screamed, and I watched the earth get sucked away from under my feet.

My stomach plummeted. I had no idea what was happening, but the surprise of it all called my lion to the surface. Without any plan or intention, I was shifting. My jeans and T-shirt shredded all around me.

“Toby!” Melanie cried, but she wasn’t behind me anymore. She was...belowme?

I snarled and swiped with my paw, one sharp claw catching in a thatch of thick ropes. I was suspended fifteen feet off the ground, in a net that swung from a tree.

Bits of my tattered clothing were caught in the ropes. Other smaller scraps rained to the ground where Melanie stood, staring up at me in horror.

“I’ll get Reese!” she cried, her eyes wide. “Stay calm. I’ll get Reese!”

I curled back my lips and released a wild mountain lion scream, encouraging her to be quick. Because a familiar scent was undeniably in my nose, and time was not on my side.

18

REESE

Iwas up to my elbows in my father’s old accounting ledgers. John Riordan’s mention of “Hook ‘em Horns” had triggered déjà vu, and while the answer still remained out of reach, I had a niggling feeling it was buried somewhere on my desk.

Ithadto be, because this time I wouldn’t be calling Uncle Joe for help. When I’d followed Angel’s suggestion before, and asked Joe for his insight into Lady Luck—or more to the point, whether he knew if Dad had been connected—our father’s best friend had been furious.

“Let him rest in peace,” he’d said. “For God’s sake, Reese, hasn’t there been enough tragedy? If Tony wanted to keep parts of his life private from you kids, respect his wishes.”

I’d pushed, arguing that the truth might help us find his killer.

Joe had retorted, “And what if the truth only taints your memories? Or worse, makes more trouble for you kids?”

The conversation hadn’t gone any further. We were at an impasse, and he didn’t have any useful information anyway. Or at least, none he was willing to offer.

---