Page 176 of Dominion

I snatch it from his fingers, jogging upstairs to my bedroom, already knowing what I’ll find. The safe is open; the gun, gone.

I tear the envelope open and read Colleen’s neat writing.

Mark,

Dirk’s pack is on the way from Kentucky. Please do not engage with them. I don’t want a pack war. I will take care of him myself.

If for some reason I don’t make it back, my sister Meagan’s number is below. She will arrange for the pups. I’m sorry to leave them with you, but I can’t let Dirk take them.

Thank you for everything,

Colleen

Thank you for everything?What the fuck? I hate the formal sound of the letter, like I am some stranger, not her goddamn mate. But that isn’t the part that has me frantic.

It’s knowing what my brave, beautiful mate is trying to do.Fuck!

I need to get to her. Stop her.

I put a tracker in her phone the morning after she arrived, fearing something like this would happen. I rush to open the app and draw a sharp breath when I see where she’s gone. She headed toward the mountains, about twenty miles west of Denver.

“Jayden, Angie, I’m going after your mother. I’ll bring her home safely. I’m going to call someone from my pack to come over and stay with you. Answer my call if this rings, understand?” I hand Jayden a tablet that I can call him on. “You can download games and play on that, if you want, or just keep watching TV.”

Jayden nods. Angie just watches me with big eyes. “I’m scared,” she says.

“Oh baby.” I kneel down in front of her and draw her into a hug. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”

“What about Momma?”

“I’m going to get her now.” I kiss the top of her head. “We’ll be back.”

I wish I felt half as sure as I sound. I run out to my SUV and jump in, starting it and backing up before I even have my seat belt on. As I drive, I punch in the number for Meagan that Colleen left me.

“Hello?” The female voice that answers sounds alarmed.

“Meagan? This is Mark Ruhl, I’m?—”

“Colleen’s mate. Where is she? Is she all right?”

“I’m on my way to her now. I put a tracker in her phone.”

“Oh, thank Fate.”

“Do you know what she’s planning?”

“I suspect she’s trying to draw Dirk away from you and the Denver pack. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of her.”

“She’strying to protectme.” I curse, gunning the vehicle forward, racing far above the speed limit.

“Dirk’s a real piece of work, Mark. He told everyone your pack kidnapped her. It would’ve been better if she’d let you mark her, but she was afraid he’d tear you both to pieces if that happened.”

I bare my teeth, a savage growl ripping from my throat. My mate had to live with this psychopath. “I’m going to tear him to pieces if he even touches her,” I vow.

“Be careful. Please keep me posted?”

“Yeah.” I end the call.

Colleen. My chest constricts tightly. She hadn’t been unsure of me. She’d been protecting me. My foolish little mate. Doesn’t she know I’d rather die than ever let her get hurt again?