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He heard the door lock as it closed, but he didn’t even have the energy to look up.

Chapter

Eight

Something was wrong.

Fen didn’t know what it was, but he knew something was wrong, and he knew it had to do with his mate. The problem was, he wasn’t exactly sure where his matewas.

He knew Rory was at the Calhouns’ place, but what that meant was kind of, at best, vague. At worst, it was a complete mystery.

“What’s going on, man?” Timothy asked after Fen had broken his third piece of pine and snapped one of his finer blades.

Fen shook his head, slamming the piece of wood on the worktable, the snap incredibly satisfying. “Something is wrong with my mate.”

Timothy tilted his head. “Okay. What are you feeling?”

Fen was super glad his new friend hadn’t just told him he was nuts. “I don’t know. I can just feel this…it hurts right here.” He rubbed his sternum. “And it’s like a dozen bees in the back of my head. Angry ones.”

“Crap.” Timothy took off his safety glasses. “Where is he?”

“I have no idea. He went to his brothers to get supplies, I think. He said he had a big load to pick up.” It seemed as if thatwas hours ago, but it was maybe…three? He hadn’t even had a break for lunch yet.

“Well, let’s go find the alphas. They’ll know exactly when he left. Can you hear him?” Timothy put a hand on his arm, steering him out of the shop.

Oh. Goddess, that was still so new…

Rory? Love, can you hear me?

He got no answer.

Timothy tilted his head. “Well, let’s go talk to Jameson. He’ll know what to do.”

Timothy was nothing if not all about the alphas, and so young and eager to please.

Still it wasn’t the worst idea in history. Jameson and Keegan would know where the Calhouns were, at least.

“I’m probably being ridiculous.” Fen started putting his tools away, though, and nodding because there was something wrong. Even if he was being ridiculous, he knew his mate needed him.

They headed out of the workshop, not running but worried, and Fen was shocked to see Jameson striding toward him with a serious expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?” He’d known something was off. He could feel it in his soul. “What’s the matter with Rory?”

Jameson waved Timothy off and his friend melted away like frost. “Well, we got a little bit of a problem. I’m going to need you to come with me, Fen.”

His wolf tried to rush to the fore, his body shuddering with the need to shift.

“Hey. Hey, I need you to keep it together, man. Your mate needs you.”

“All right, I can do that. Just tell me what’s wrong. Is he all right?” That was the most important part.

“He is. He’s finally shifted. He’s fuzzy and locked in one of the Calhoun’s guest rooms because he was a little stressed, andthey didn’t know what else to do. They didn’t want him to hurt anybody or himself.”

“Oh.” Well, that was…oh dear.

How wonderful.

Fen chuckled. “That’s—I’m sorry I missed his first shift, but I’m so pleased for him. Can I go to him?”