Page 36 of Loved By the Wolf

“What?” I roared, reaching into the car and grabbing his shirt. “What do you mean she’s in danger? What did you do?”

“If you’d let me go and get in the car, I’ll tell you the story. You’re causing a scene right now,” he said, pointing out of the front window.

I looked about and, sure enough, we were getting looks by passersby. I let him go and walked around the car, sliding into the passenger seat. After closing the door and rolling up the windows, I said, “Start talking.”

“First off, I don’t know where she is.” At the sight of my clenched fists, Thomas held up his hands and said, “You’re starting to shift.”

“What? I can’t—”

“Your eyes are turning orange.”

I pulled down the visor and looked in the mirror. Sure enough, my fangs had started elongating, and my eyes were shifting. I could feel the first spark of transformation igniting inside me. It felt so good to have my wolf back, but I took some deep breaths and told him not yet. “You’re one too then.”

“I would hope you’d have noticed at Dewey’s Cafe.”

My wolf instantly went on guard. “I was distracted,” I said carefully, not willing to share that I had a limited sense of smell. I then swiftly changed the subject back to Becca. “What is going on with you and Becca?”

He lifted his lips in a brief smile. “You’re very to the point.”

“If you’ve harmed her—”

He held up his hands again. “Nothing’s going on. I promise.” Seeing that I wasn’t mollified, he continued, “I was interested in her, but once I knew she was already taken, I didn’t hold out hope.”

“Then why was she out on a date with you tonight?”

He looked embarrassed, and I braced myself for his story. What he told me made me dig my fingernails into my palms. It was all I could do to not run out of the car and begin smashing it to smithereens. Pac had tricked him into luring Becca away! It explained why Thomas smelled like me, and that was confirmed when Thomas shared he’d been drinking some of Pac’s potions. Thomas thought he’d been getting two lovers back together again. But by the time he realized that wasn’t the case and that tonight’s rendezvous was a setup, Pac’s goons had gotten into the car and tied him to his chair so he couldn’t get out. Then they had made him watch as Becca tried to escape Pac. When she tried to run and Pac attacked her, Thomas had tried to break his bonds, but the goons had knocked him unconscious, which meant he had no idea where they went with Becca.

I told him about the necklace, and the two of us got out of the car and went to the beach in search of it. The necklace had led me here, and even though I hoped Becca still had it on her and she was here somewhere, the dreaded feeling that it was lost in the sand was proven true when I saw the blue and silver stars glistening on the sand under the moonlight.

I picked it up and whimpered. Only one thought pounded in my head:I’m going to get my mate back.

Brandon

Borrowing Thomas’s phone,I dialed Luc’s number.

“You were right,” I said before Luc could get in a word. “I need help from the pack. Pac has taken Becca.”

“You’re kidding!”

“I’m not. He’s resurfaced and now has my mate.”

“So, you’ve conceded.”

“Yes! I’ve said it. Now, are you going to find Dad or keep talking to me?”

“I’ll get Dad,” he said, then promptly hung up.

“That went well,” Thomas said from beside me.

I gave him a curt nod. “Dad will call me back once everyone is rounded up.”

“You have a good family if they come running at your call and don’t ask questions.”

“Yes, a fantastic family. Do you not?”

Thomas grimaced. “Let’s just say I won’t be introducing anyone to them any time soon.”

“That’s too bad.”

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