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“Closer to Hanley lands,” Caleb commented and I nodded.

“Communicate how?” Anna demanded to know. “She’s not Pack and you’re not mates. Unless, you are?”

I hesitated, but she didn’t back down. “Maybe,” I hedged and her mouth dropped open.

“There’s no maybe in mating, Dom,” she snapped and I growled, tired of arguing.

“What can I say? Jess is special.” I looked at Caleb. “Are you going to help me?”

“Are you going to jump out of the Jeep and go on a rampage?”

“No?”

“Dom,” Anna grimaced, rubbing her hands together nervously. “Are you sure it’s Jess?”

“I’m positive.”

Caleb glanced at Anna, then nodded. “We ride the highway, that’s it,” he said adamantly. “See if you can get a read on her and then we decide together what to do.”

I nodded in agreement as Anna stood there, her face worried. “What did she say?” she finally asked, taking a deep breath.

“Don’t come here,” I answered, repeating the phrase I’d heard. “I know she’s okay. I don’t know how I know, but I know. Trust me, Anna.” I inhaled, staring at the ceiling as I trusted Jess. “I’m coming, Jess. I’m coming,” I whispered internally, hoping she could hear me.

***

Caleb drove the same stretch of highway for the hundredth time as I leaned out the window, trying to get a sense of Jess.

“Where are you?” I sent the thought out for the thousandth time, my instinct telling me she was close.

“Are you sure she’s out here?” Caleb asked. “It seems like she’d be at their compound. We’re riding empty highway here.”

“She’s out here,” I answered without hesitation. We rode for a while in silence before I barked, “Slow down.” He hit the brakes and again I focused on Jess, pushing every bit of will into our link as I asked, “Where are you?”

“By the road.”

Relief coursed through me, but I managed to tell her, “I’m coming.”

“Slow,” I ordered Caleb. “Go slow. she’s in sight of the road.”

He slowed to a crawl, flipping on the high beams as I scanned the darkness for any sign of her. Her mark burned, beckoning me toward her, until finally a small form stumbled from the trees. Caleb hit the brakes but I was already out of the Jeep, sprinting to her.

“Are you okay?” I rumbled, lifting her in my arms. She didn’t speak, only nodded as she wrapped her arms and legs around me tightly, and buried her face in my chest. “Let’s go home,” I whispered, cupping the back of her head as my eyes burned. I inhaled her sweet scent, knowing she belonged to me and I belonged to her.

I brought her to the Jeep, climbing in as Caleb muttered, “Thank God.” I nodded at him to go as Jess rested her head on my chest, still cradled in my arms. Caleb made a U-turn, taking us home as I held Jess.

“You’re safe now,” I murmured, rubbing her shoulders as she relaxed, her breathing turning deep and even until I knew she slept. Twigs and leaves tangled in her hair and her jeans were soaked, but none of it mattered as I pressed my lips to her forehead, knowing she was safe in my arms.

***

She woke with a gasp, sitting straight up, and I could hear her heart race.

“You’re safe,” I rumbled, keeping my voice low and nonthreatening. She immediately relaxed and turned to me, taking the glass of water I offered her. “I’d hoped you sleep longer,” I told her as she gulped the water thiristly. “But you were restless once I stopped lying next to you.”

“You slept next to me?” She repeated, adorably uncertain. A smile tugged at my lips, but never reached my eyes.

“I did.” My mouth tightened. “I was afraid you’d disappear,” I admitted roughly, rubbing one hand over my jaw, scraping against day old whiskers.

“Not on purpose,” she replied without thought. She drew her legs up, not realizing I’d removed her jeans. She slid her legs back under the covers hurriedly and I reached over to tuck one edge of the blanket in.

“Your jeans were wet,” I told her. “I took them off so you’d be more comfortable.” She nodded automatically, her eyes avoiding my bare chest. Her wet clothes had soaked my own and I’d tugged on workout pants, but hadn’t bothered with a shirt after I’d gotten her to my cabin.

“My dad,” she shouted suddenly, causing both of us to jump.

“He’s safe,” I rushed to reassure her, having checked with Trent once I’d brought Jess home.

“But what does he think happened to me?”

“Anna called and told him you were staying with her,” I explained and she eased back on the bed.

“Oh, okay,” she responded, calming down. She gingerly reached up to touch her cheek, seeming surprised when it didn’t hurt.

“We healed that wound. I wasn’t sure where else you might be hurt,” I ground out, my eyes flickering everywhere but to her.