Page 7 of Wanted
The premises are secure. I’m going for a run before I start my long drive.I tell Chael through our sibling bond.
I dismiss his attempts to get me to stay longer. I have a long drive ahead of me, and I need to give my wolf some time outdoors before I go. He’s been cooped up for long enough and has been extra restless lately.
I ration that it’s likely due to the recent upheaval and changes in our pack. Our alpha finding his mate, the recent betrayal of our younger brother, and the attempts by rogue Alliance members to destroy shifters.
My wolf is on high alert because of all of this.
At least, that’s what I tell him and me as we exit the wedding reception. But before I completely leave, something compels me to stop and take another look. Chael and Reese are back on the dance floor. Again, they sway in one another’s arms while those around them dance at a much faster clip.
My wolf whines. This time it’s followed by a yip.
“Get it together,” I growl at my wolf. I spin and head toward the exit of the property. Before I’m halfway there, I’m tearing off my tuxedo jacket.
This beast needs out now.
Too much fucking weird energy for the long drive we’re about to make.
CHAPTER 3
Emery
“Do you have enough iron pills?” my mother asks from the speaker of the rental car I’m sitting in.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Are you sure? You know how dangerous it can be to not take your pills.”
Even though she can’t see me, I stifle the frown that tries to make its way through.Frowning causes wrinkles, Emery. Is that what you want?
Her words echo through my mind. I never remind her that I’m only twenty-six. A little too early to worry about wrinkles. She would just remind me that it’s never too early to mind one’s appearance.
“I take them every morning,” I assure her.
Instead of approving, a heavy sigh pushes through the car’s speakers. “For the life of me, I don’t know why you insisted on taking that silly internship. What is Billy to do for these six weeks while you’re absent?”
I bite my tongue to keep from telling her for the third time that Billy is the one who asked for a summer break from our so-called relationship.
“He’s concentrating on studying for his medical exam so he can get into the internship of his choice.”
“You should be here helping him,” she comes back. “Not out in the middle of nowhere, playing with rocks and dirt or whatever it is you’re doing.”
I go to reply but hold my breath when a young couple passes my car, giggling loudly. I do a quick scan of the parking lot. In the rearview mirror, the neon green sign of the bar and restaurant flashes brightly.
Mike’s.
I’m a few hours outside of Miami. Far from the Colorado mountains where my mother believes I am. She wouldn’t respond well if she knew I was in Florida.
And that would be before I even told her the reason. If she knew why I came to Florida, she would completely lose it.
Your sister is so irresponsible!
I know she wouldn’t react well if she knew that Ashley had come here first. So, I choose to keep that information to myself. Besides, finding Ashley is my priority. As soon as I make sure my sister is okay, I can take her back home to Upstate New York and get back to my anthropology internship.
“Anthropologists don’t simply play in rocks,” I remind my mother.
She huffs out a breath. “Whatever. What am I supposed to tell the Kings about your absence?” The Kings are Billy’s parents.
I want to tell her that she doesn’t have to tell them anything at all. Or better yet, she could go with the truth. But seeing as how I’m not even telling her the full truth right now, I opt to keep my mouth shut.