Page 15 of His Treasured Mate

“You are not going out there. You're too valuable to this Pack. I'll find someone else to join us.”

“I've got this.”

“Thomas, don't be stubborn about this.”

“Stand down, Cole. This is something I have to do.”

Times like this made me feel helpless and trapped. I needed to get out of here and do something, anything.

This time he didn't argue with me as I divvied out the list sending Cole to Richie's place, Gage to Crat's house, and I headed for Hewitt's knowing he was the orneriest of the three men.

It was my first time really out in the storm. As Alpha I had a direct access to the shelter from within my house. The rest of my Pack did not. There were multiple entry points around Collier designed to give people the best chance possible, but they'd had to come out in the wind and rain to get to them. I couldn't help but begin to think of ways we could improve, even knowing it had been very purposefully designed to accommodate as many as possible with easy access.

My shoulders hunched and I curled into myself as I ran against the rain. Drops pelted my body and at times the wind was so strong that it made it difficult to walk through.

Gage was the first to reach his location and called in over the walk-talkies I'd insisted we each carry.

“No sign of them at Crat's.”

“Okay. Thanks. Head back to the shelter.”

“See you there. Be safe.”

I pushed on. A part of me wanted to shift into my fur where I could run faster and the rain wouldn't bother me as much. But with each gust of wind there was a part of me wondering if my wolf could stand it. What if he just took flight and was flung into the side of a building or something? I couldn't chance it. Not only did my Pack need me, but I had a mate and pups expecting me to return safe and sound. I never wanted to let them down, so I pushed on, keeping low and fighting the storm every step of the way.

Just as I stopped and started to call in for an update from Cole, there was a flash of light in the sky and a crack so loud that I reached to cover my ears and duck. Good thing too because a tree came crashing down right on the building I was braced against.I took off running as brick and wood scattered around me. I didn't even stop to take note of where I was or what we'd just lost. I just ran.

“Thomas, what the hell was that?”

I couldn't answer, still trying to find safety for myself.

“Thomas!” Cole yelled more urgently through the radio.

At last, I came to Hewitt's house and raced inside, practically knocking his front door in. I knew it wasn’t safe to stay long.

“Thomas!” Cole yelled again.

“Sorry. I'm here. Just made it to Hewitt's. It's getting bad out there.”

“What the hell was that noise?”

I hadn't realized I'd gripped the radio and turned it on as I ran.

“Tree came down. We're definitely taking damage with this storm.”

“But you're okay? It sounded terrifying.”

“I'm fine.”

Looking around the house, I wasn't seeing any signs of our missing men.

“They aren't here at Richie's place,” he told me.

“No luck here either. Head on back. I’m going to check one more place and then I'll return.”

“Just get back safely. I'm sorry but three drunks are not worth our Alpha.”

He was wrong, but I didn't say that. Every wolf in my Pack had value, even these fools. I had to find them.