Page 42 of Bullied Mate

But before I could start running again, Raven called out from behind us. Several people were in tow, all the Elderlings present as well. I would have sneered at Galanthia if I had the strength. The scent of her strengthened to the point of being nauseating. Goddess, could I just get one break?

“Xavier, are you alright?” Raven asked. She took my hands and searched my eyes for the answer. “No, I’m sorry. Of course you’re not alright. What a silly question.”

“You’re just checking, Alpha.”

She nodded. “Killian and I will take a few shifters to the west. Andres and Spencer can go with Izdor. Juriah will take Mason and Sarah to the east.”

My eyes scanned the faces behind her. People were already breaking away from Galanthia. Pleas for Raven to tug me into a group with my half-brothers nearly drowned out her next statement.

“You’ll go with Galanthia and Sadie.”

Andres cleared his throat and started to speak. But he fell silent when his alpha sharply nodded toward Izdor.

When she turned back to me, she shook my hands once, firmly. “We will find him.”

“I know, Alpha, but can’t I—”

“Go with Galanthia. She’ll take care of you.”

A sour taste pinched the back of my throat as I turned to Sadie and Galanthia. Hesitance crawled through the air between us three. We were just an odd group to be matched together. Didn’t Raven understand that Galanthia and I would end up arguing? Then my kid would probably turn up dead because I kept getting distracted again.

“I’m not happy about this,” I snarled, “but I’m willing to be nice.”

Galanthia stepped up to me and boosted her size with enough power to stand over me. She looked down her nose. “I should be thankful you’ll consider being dignified about it.”

“Fine.”

I walked off for the trees, trying not to appear too disappointed about the matter. Nobody had much to say after I started walking. Which was fine by me because I wasn’t in much of a talking mood. Our focus was my kid, not the useless drama that had formed with some woman who couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to me.

Sadie paused at the fork in the road. She turned to the left with a worried expression. “I don’t know which way.”

“That’s the problem I was having,” I admitted with some relief. “It smells like he went in both directions.”

Galanthia made herself taller. “There are footprints in both directions.”

“Can’t you fly?” I grumbled, and instantly regretted saying it in such a way. Anger had to be set aside if we were going to find Leo. “I mean, would you be able to go up there and check?”

“Absolutely.”

Alright, that was interesting. She hadn’t barked back at me. Was it because she was trying to set aside our differences for the moment?

I stared up at her as her wings fluttered out and carried her into the sky.

Sadie made a sound of awe. “It doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t her clothes rip when she changes size?”

“I think that’s a trick Etta taught her. The fabric can be stretched and shrunk at will with the user.”

“That’s definitely useful.” Sadie patted her thighs. “Wish I could get some of that with my old jeans.”

I hummed. “Don’t we all.”

“Sorry about your son. I can’t imagine.” She glanced down the right path and then the left. “I hope the others are having more luck.”

“Me too, Sadie. Me too.”

Maybe if the others were having luck, I wouldn’t have to be with Galanthia for very long. But that wouldn’t make much sense considering my son had headed this way. When he did turn back up, it would likely be past this point that he had clamored to use as a setup.

Unskilled and unprepared, he sure did know how to throw his old man off his trail. I made a note to punish him for it later. Now, my only goal was to make sure he was safely returned to the neighborhood before the sun set.

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