Page 790 of Love Bites

He stepped closer to the cat. “I bet a woman gave you that.” Eagan gestured to Gash’s cheek and he stiffened. “Word to the wise, you’ll catch more females if you drop the sexist bullshit.” Eagan tipped his head toward Bailey, and Gash’s shoulders slumped.

Picking up the empty cookie trays, he pushed past Gash and headed for the lodge. He had a meal to prepare.

After considering his options all day, he’d realized he couldn’t just hunt his female down like he wanted. For one, it would probably scare her and send her farther into the woods. For two, it would get his animal amped up and wanting to mate. And that was unacceptable.

He had to think of the pact, of his clan, but he also had to think of her. He wouldn’t harm her by claiming her. He wouldn’t cause her more trouble than what she already dealt with. He’d protect her. And stay good and far away.

Eagan shoved the dirty trays into the wash sink, and gathered the ingredients for his mate’s meal. Dinner for his clan and their guests had been grilled chicken and salmon, which didn’t make for a good reheat, so he was going to make her something fresh. He was practically famous for his pasta concoctions. He’d keep it simple tonight. Alfredo with sun-dried tomatoes and chicken.

He bit his lip.

Did she like white sauce? In his experience, most people liked pasta. And most preferred a cheesy sauce. Maybe his female was the exception though.

Damn it. He knew so little about her.

He shook his head and got to work filling a pot with water and chopping the leftover chicken into thin strips. He functioned like a well-oiled machine. The kitchen was really just an extension of his soul as he poured himself into preparing food that would fill his female’s belly. The idea that she would eat something he’d made her, and it’d keep her full through the night made him practically glow with pride.

When he was plating the dish, his phone rang. He juggled the hot pan and pasta fork back to the counter and then fished his cell phone out of his pocket.

Magic’s number flashed on the screen.

“Yeah,” Eagan answered.

“You busy?”

“Almost done. What’s up?”

Magic’s tone was some weird cross between jovial and furious. “Come to my office. I have something to show you.”

His words set Eagan’s scruff to tingling.

“Give me a minute.”

“Yeah, hurry.” The line went dead.

There was no reason to believe Magic’s call had anything to do with his mate, but without knowing her whereabouts—or anything at all about her—he couldn’t shed the feeling of dread.

He finished packaging her food and then filled a cup with their special harvest sweet tea and a chunk of lemon.

Eagan sighed. It wasn’t enough, but it would have to do.

Pulling her notebook from his back pocket, he jotted her a new note.

I can’t return your book. I promise not to turn you in to the authorities as long as you promise to stop stealing. I will get you anything you need. Make a list. I’ll keep the book as assurance.

Quickly, he shoved the dirty dishes in the washer and started it up. Then he turned off the main lights and hurried to Magic’s office.

He found his leader and Gash huddled over his computer monitor.

“I think we caught her this time,” Magic murmured, his squinting eyes never leaving the screen.

Eagan’s steps faltered. They saidher. Not him. Not them. Her.

Gash nodded his head, grinning. “Run it back again.”

Eagan rushed forward to see the video they were reviewing. A woman wearing jeans and a dark shirt showed through the grainy footage as she walked quickly away from the lodge and disappeared into the line of trees that bordered the parking lot. Her hair was down and flowing freely this time, but there was no doubt this was the female he’d caught in the kitchen.

“When was this?” Eagan asked, his eyes taking in every blurry feature. There wasn’t much of her face. Just a brief glimpse of her profile. Magic and Gash would never be able to pick her out of a line-up.

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