Page 115 of Wanted

“Ashley?” All I can think about is getting to my sister.

Suddenly, I’m grabbed from behind. I want to lash out at whoever it is but then I hear,Let me.

Mate.

Chance pulls me aside and then with a quick shove of his shoulder against the door, it explodes open.

I rush in behind him and come to a sudden stop about three steps in. “Where…” I pant, my chest rising and falling from my quick intakes of air.

It’s empty.

Save for a few cardboard boxes, a chair with a white sheet thrown over it and an old pair of running shoes, there’s nothing inside of my sister’s room.

Though Ashley had her own apartment, our parents kept both of our rooms the way we’d left it when we moved out for college.

“You said she was staying here,” I say to my parents who’re now standing at the door.

My mother moves to take a step toward me, but Chance blocks her. His broad body keeps both of my parents away from me.

“Where is she?!” I demand. “Why did you get rid of her stuff? You lied to me. Where? How? Where is my sister?”

The questions come out rapid fire. Fear, anger and doubt all mix together, and I can’t tell which one prevails. My heart rate increases and my body starts to tingle.

Emery, you have to calm down.

But I don’t hear Chance above the racing of my heartbeat.

“Where is she?!” I scream once again.

My mother narrows her eyes, and for the first time I notice it. The pure malice and hatred in her eyes.

The realization that she harbored this level of emotion nearly chokes me.

“She’s gone,” my mother says in a voice so cold it could freeze hell over.

That’s when the tingles take over my body and before I know what’s happening, I’m turning from my human form to my wolf.

One second, I’m standing in front of my parents demanding to know where my sister is and the next, my four paws are scraping against the hardwood floors of what should be my sister’s bedroom.

“Ahhhh!” My mother’s loud, hysterical shriek rents through the air. “Kill it! Get that thing out of my house!”

I don’t even realize she’s talking about me until my father attempts to move in my direction. He doesn’t get a full step before Chance wraps a long, thick arm around my father’s neck, easily stopping in.

My mate remains in his human form but he doesn’t even look as if he’s breaking a sweat as he holds my father in a headlock.

Emery! Emery!

He calls out to me, but I can’t answer. My mind is too clogged with the last two words my mother said.

‘She’s gone.’

“Where is Ashley?” I think I say it, but it comes out in an aggressive growl that shows off my incisors.

“Tranquilizer gun. Give me that!”

I watch as my mother retrieves what looks like a weapon from a silver tray held by the staff.

She aims it at my mate.