Page 11

K ai

I screamed Lily’s name inside my head, but only silence met me. Time seemed to freeze as I waited for it to happen again, all my senses sharpened and alert. It was gone, but the fact she’d reached me at all was a small miracle. The mind link shouldn’t have been possible before making a blood exchange. And yet it’d happened. Which meant it could happen again. I just needed to be patient. She was alive and with my father. The knowledge gave me a sense of peace. At least she wasn’t alone. My father would protect her with his life, this I was sure of.

Until she could link with me again, I had work to do.

I headed for the back of the diner, then went into a small room marked OFFICE. As I’d suspected, there was a monitor. I pulled out a chair at the old wooden desk and sat, then hit the power button on the computer beneath the desk. The monitor came on, but I could admit when I was out of my element. Computers were foreign to me. I pulled out my cell and called Miggs.

“What’s up?” my brother asked, answering on the first ring.

“There’s a computer monitor at the diner,” I explained. “How do I access the security feed?”

“Good thinking,” my brother praised. “I should’ve thought of it.”

“Just tell me what to do with the pile of junk and all’s forgiven.”

Miggs walked me through the steps of getting access to the cameras. “Got it?”

“Yeah, I’m looking at the parking lot now.” I fast-forwarded until I saw the white van, then stopped and hit play. Seconds passed before the three men got out. I zoomed in, tried to see the license plate, but the camera wasn’t the best quality. I watched as Patterson and two men headed for the front doors. I could see one of the men with his hand inside his jacket. Clutching the gun, no doubt. Subtle. Minutes drifted by before I saw them exit. One of the men carried Lily. The bastard tossed her into the back of the van, then took off out of the parking lot. “Fuckers,” I groused, clenching my fists tight enough to draw blood from my claws digging into the skin.

“Well?” Miggs asked. “Anything?”

“I can’t get a plate number, but they drove south.”

“Tessa got a partial plate,” Miggs informed me. “She’s in with Creeg now.”

“Good,” I replied. “Did you give the information to Brandon?”

“We did. They’re running a search.” Miggs sighed. “A white van and a partial plate. It might be enough to narrow down an address or something.”

I agreed. “Miggs, I need you to do me a favor.”

“Anything,” he offered. “Name it.”

I stood, heading for the front. “Can you do a search of Patterson’s properties?”

“We did that before, Kai,” he reminded me. “We searched all his known properties. Nothing.”

“I know.” I shoved the front doors open, then glanced across the lot. Lily’s van was still at the shop. I headed for it. “Just do it again.”

The clacking of keys on a keyboard came through the line. “You think he bought something recently?”

“I don’t know, maybe,” I hedged. “He’s got them somewhere. My bet is he’s not that far from town either. He’s comfortable here. Has everything he needs. And he wants to be close to us. To his source of guinea pigs.”

“Sick bastard,” he growled. “Okay, there’s something here.”

“Yeah?” I picked up my pace, running across the street to the front of the auto shop.

“I’ll shoot you an address, but you should wait for backup, Kai. He’ll have the place locked down.”

“Update Wyatt. I’ll meet you guys there.” I ended the call on Miggs’ tirade. I wouldn’t wait around with my thumb up my ass while Lily was being tortured by Patterson.

When I entered the shop and located Bridger under the hood of an old pickup truck, I called out, “Bridger.”

He lifted his head and smiled. “Hey, Kai.”

“Where’s the van?”

“Done, waiting for you to pick it up.” He went toward a workbench, then grabbed a set of keys off a wallboard with nails sticking out. “Heard all the commotion at the diner. What happened? Robbery?”

“No.” I caught the keys in midair. “Kidnapping.”

His gaze widened. “Damn, never heard of anything like that in these parts. Who got taken?”

“I’ll have Miggs wire the money,” I called out as I left, clutching the keys in my hands. I got into Lily’s van, then checked my messages. Miggs had come through with an address. Forty-five-minute drive. Tops. I prayed it was the place Patterson had Lily.

Before I could get the van in gear another text came through. This one from Wyatt:

On our way

I shoved the van into drive, then sped off. Patterson’s reign of terror was nearly at its end. The bastard just didn’t know it yet.

****

L ily

The guard escorted me into a small room with a desk and a couple of filing cabinets. Patterson sat behind it, staring at a computer screen. As we entered, he glanced up and smiled. “Ms. Hall, please have a seat.” He gestured toward the chair across from him. The guard shoved me onto it and left the room. Now, I was alone with a man capable of torturing another person. Capable of murder. The knowledge sent shivers down my spine.

“Why have you brought me here?” I asked, getting right to it. “I’ve done nothing to you. I don’t even know you.”

He steepled his hands in front of him. “But we do have a mutual acquaintance, yes?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Dodging the question was the only thing I could do. “I’m only passing through this area. I’m not staying.”

“You are from Walnut Ridge. Your mother’s name is Grace and you have a sister named Victoria.” He sat back in the chair, his brows pulling together. “I know all about you, Lily.”

He’d researched me. Jesus, did that mean my mother and sister could be in danger? “Great, then you know I’m telling the truth.”

He waved a hand in the air. “I also know that you are staying with the Ravenbriars. My understanding is that Kai has taken quite a liking to you.”

And how could he know that? Was someone watching Kai? Supplying Patterson with information? “He helped me with my van. That’s all.” I tilted my head to one side. “I don’t see how that’s any business of yours.”

“Everything about the Ravenbriars is my business.” He tapped his bottom lip with his index finger. “What do you know about them?”

“I know they were kind enough to help me out when I wrecked my van.”

“I see,” he mused. “Your knight in shining armor.”

“Why are you so interested in them?” It was time to get some answers of my own. “What do you care what they do?”

“They’ve become a rather important project of mine. A very personal project.”

Project? Nothing sinister about that. God. “Yeah, see, that’s super creepy.” I curled my lip to show my distaste. “A grown man, focusing so much time and energy on a family that—by all accounts—this town looks up to. Admires.” I narrowed my gaze. “Almost like you have a grudge against them. Why is that, Mr. Patterson?”

He slowly got to his feet. “Doctor Patterson,” he corrected me, moving slowly around the side of the desk. When he was standing in front of me, caging me in and purposefully making me feel cornered, he warned, “You should address me properly.”

“Doctor Patterson,” I said, using his name like a slur. “What is your specialty exactly?”

“I’m researching tissue regeneration in animals,” he answered, his entire face filled with excitement. “The lifespan is of particular interest to me. As is the reproduction cycle.”

“Fascinating,” I replied, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “That doesn’t explain your bizarre interest in the Ravenbriars.”

He chuckled. “They’ve really told you nothing, have they?”

“Like I said, they helped me out.” Maybe if the freak thinks I have no romantic interest in any of the guys, then he’ll release me. Slim hope, but something to grasp onto. “That’s all. I’m not their confidant. I’m not their anything .”

His facial expression changed so fast that it was as if I were watching a magic show. One second he was the indulgent doctor, then the next an evil demon. “You’re lying. I detest lying.”

“I told you, I’m only in Sach Valley because I’m waiting for my van to be repaired. That’s it.”

“Raymond!” he bellowed, fists at his sides.

When the guard opened the door, pulling his gun, I knew I’d made a grave error.

“Please show our guest to the medical bay. I’ll be along shortly.”

“Sure thing, Doc,” he joyfully agreed, yanking on my arm so hard I screamed from the pain radiating down my arm. Just before being dragged from the room, I peered over my shoulder at Patterson. His eyes were glassy. I let my gaze travel downward. An erection pressed against his slacks. My pain gave him pleasure. Who the hell was this monster?

The guard leaned close to my ear. “You’ll wish you were dead by the time he’s done with you.” His hold tightened, threatening the fragile bones in my forearm. “But that’s when the fun truly begins. You see, Doc promised to hand you over to Harry and me when he’s through.”

“No!” My knees gave out at the horrifying reality of it, earning me a punch to my lower spine.

“Don’t make me drag you, bitch,” he warned. “After all, Doc never said anything about keeping my hands to myself.”

The threat sucked the air from my lungs. As we reached another room, this one bigger, I saw several shiny metal instruments on trays. I didn’t want to imagine what they were used for. A large operating table situated in the center of the room with black straps dangling off the sides sent me into a panic. I yanked and kicked, screaming for my life. Raymond punched me again. This time his fist connected with my chin, throwing my head backward and stunning me.

Raymond took advantage, picking me up and throwing me onto the table. My head struck the hard surface, causing my vision to blur. I struggled and fought, but Raymond was stronger, bigger. Once he had me strapped down, my arms pulled tight above my head and secured by another strap, he placed a hand on my breast and squeezed hard enough to draw tears to my eyes. “No one is coming for you,” he grunted. “No one is saving you. The only way out of this place is in a body bag.”

I didn’t speak, only closed my eyes tight, refusing to give the sick bastard the satisfaction of witnessing my terror. I heard the ripping of cloth, then a rush of air blasted over my chest. He’d torn away my shirt. Raymond’s fondling continued, twisting and pinching until I was forced to turn my face to the side and vomit from the pain of it.

“Bitch!” he yelled, slapping me across the face. “Those are new shoes.”

“Raymond!” Patterson warned. “I need her coherent, you fucking idiot.”

The room fell silent, and I knew I was alone with Patterson. I could smell his pungent odor. I opened my eyes and saw his gaze trained on my bare breasts. A glob of spit at the corner of his mouth dropped to the floor. “Let me go,” I pleaded.

He laughed. “You are quite a sight, Lily.”

“They’ll come for you,” I warned through clenched teeth. “And there will be no mercy.”

His glee turned to hatred. “Who? The Ravenbriars?” His hand wrapped around my chin and squeezed. “I’m always one step ahead.”

“You know, in movies, the guy that thinks he’s the smartest person in the room is always the first to die.” I went silent, letting the words hang in the air between us.

Then I saw it. A tiny hint of fear reflected in his eyes. Patterson might hold all the cards now, but not for long. Soon, it would be his screams echoing inside the cold cement walls.

Patterson walked out of sight for a moment. When he returned there was a long metal object in his hand. At the end of the device was a pronged tip. Oh, God, a cattle prod?

“What are you doing?”

He waved the evil thing in the air. “I’ll get my answers, Lily. It can be difficult or easy. The choice is yours.”

“What answers?” I yelled. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

Patterson flipped a switch on the handle, then he jabbed it into my ribcage, sending a current of electricity through me. I screamed and he did again and again. Finally he switched it off and asked, “Now, let’s start over, shall we?” He placed the device aside, then picked up a scalpel sitting on a metal tray. He held it to my cheek. “Kai Ravenbriar, what is he to you?”

“I just met him,” I cried, every muscle in my body twitching from the shock from the prod. “He’s been very helpful. Offered me a place to stay while my van gets fixed.”

He tsked. “Now, now. We both know there’s more to you two than that.” A thin slice was my reward. I screamed, but the sound was drowned out by the laughter from the guard across the room. “Have you two had intercourse?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Please, you don’t have to do this. I’m not who you think I am.”

Patterson gripped my chin and forced my gaze to his. “I have all the time in the world, sweetie. We’re going to get very well acquainted.”

“You’re sick!” I shouted, jerking against the restraints. “What if this was someone you love on this table? Your daughter being tortured!”

Patterson jerked his head back as if I’d slapped him, his eyes wide. “What did you say?”

I stayed silent, unwilling to provoke him further. Patterson’s face had gone ashen, and I would’ve sworn he looked afraid. Afraid when I’d said the word daughter . Interesting. I stored the information away.

“You will talk to me,” he said, spit flying from his mouth. “You’ll tell me everything I want to know. Everyone always does. Eventually.”

I closed my eyes and clung to the knowledge that Kai would find me. As Patterson’s twisted interrogation continued to include his fists, a monkey wrench, even a ball-peen hammer, I slipped outside myself. Where pain no longer existed. And all that mattered was Kai.

Two hours later, Raymond dumped me on top of the cot in my cell, then shut the door with a loud clang. Patterson was methodical. A psychopath, but methodical. He’d known exactly how to inflict pain without causing me to pass out. Thin, small cuts with a scalpel, followed up with strokes of his hands along my body. The jolt of a cattle prod to my private parts until my screams reverberated inside my own skull, then more fondling, massaging. I was forced to lie there and endure it all. Helpless. And in the end, I’d been forced to listen to the grunts of his orgasm. The only satisfaction was the frustration on his face when he hadn’t gotten the answers he’d wanted.

A feathery touch along my cheek caused my eyes to pop open and fear filled me all over again. I glanced around the small cell and realized I was alone. Kai? I said his name inside my mind, not expecting an answer.

I’m close, Lily. Stay awake.

A shot of adrenaline flooded my system and I forced myself to sit up. Was I hallucinating from the pain? How could Kai know where I was? I slowly got to my feet, cradling my left arm with my right palm. I was certain it was broken, as were several other bones. I stared down at myself. Stripped of my clothes, I had full view of the bruises forming all over my ribcage, abdomen, and lower. I bent and snagged the sheet off the bed, then wrapped it around my body, before gingerly walking to the bars. “Lucian?”

“Lily?” he replied, his voice rife with surprise. “You ... you’re okay?”

“Not really,” I answered, then cleared the emotion from my throat. “Kai says he’s on his way.”

He was quiet for a moment, as if weighing the truth of my words. “Lily, I’ve had visions, too. Patterson has a particular talent for making his prisoners see hope where there often is none.”

No! My mind screamed the word. It was Kai. I was sure of it. It’d been his touch I’d felt. His warmth filling me. “It was him.”

I shuffled back to the cot and sat. He could believe me or not. I closed my eyes and attempted to find that link again. Inhaling deeply, then exhaling slowly. Kai?

Lily?

Your father thinks I’ve lost it.

Something similar to a growl filled my head. Tell him it was I who wrecked the Mustang. Not Trakker.

“Lucian.”

“Yeah?”

I repeated the confession, then waited. Lucian chuckled. “Damn, he really is coming.”

“I don’t know how he knows where we are, though,” I said, voicing my fears aloud. “What if he’s going to the wrong place?”

“He must’ve found something to lead him here. He wouldn’t have given you such hope otherwise.”

I stared at the cell door. “And if Patterson comes back before Kai gets here?” I didn’t want to admit it to Lucian, a man who’d endured two years of torture, but I didn’t think I was strong enough for another session with the sadistic man.

“He won’t,” he swore, his voice firm. “He’ll let you recover before he starts on you again. Patterson likes to wait until you’re fully healed before he goes for round two.”

“Okay,” I replied. “Thank you. For ... for helping me.”

“I would’ve killed them if I could’ve,” he admitted. “I’m sorry for what they did to you.”

“We’re both getting out of here,” I promised. “That’s all that matters.”

“You’re strong,” he praised me. “Kai chose well.”

“There are a lot of things about your family that I don’t know. For instance, how can I speak to Kai in my mind? That shouldn’t even be possible.”

“Kai will explain everything,” he said, after a beat of silence. “Have patience with him. He’s going to be ... agitated when he sees what they did to you.”

“Why is Patterson so interested in your family?”

“He believes our DNA holds the key to many of the answers he seeks.”

“That’s crazy. He talked about reproduction and the lifespan of animals. Their ability to heal. How can your family help with that type of research? You’re human, for crying out loud.”

“Lily, no one deserves to know the truth more than you, but it cannot come from me. Speak to my son.”

“Believe me, I intend to.”

He chuckled. “I think I feel sorry for Kai.”

A small smile played at the corners of my mouth, but it was painful. I winced, touching my lips with a fingertip. Blood. The horror swept over me in waves and this time I let the tears fall.

****

K ai

I stood outside of Wyatt’s SUV, staring at the building. “She’s here. I can feel it.”

Miggs cleared his throat. “He bought the place a month ago. That’s why we never knew about it.”

“An old prison?” Wyatt asked. “I don’t remember it.”

“It was barely used,” Miggs explained. “Not enough funding, the website said.”

Wyatt caught up to me, then said, “Kai and Fostine, go around back. Trakker and Creeg, scout the area. I don’t want any surprises.” He pointed at Miggs. “You’re with me.”

Creeg ran a hand through his hair, then shot a concerned look toward me. “I may be needed inside.”

A muscle in my jaw flexed at the implication. “Trakker, you good on your own out here?”

“Yeah. Just go. Bring them home.”

I nodded, then took off in a sprint, Fostine keeping pace beside me. We stopped near the tree line and I waited while she undressed and shifted. Within seconds we reached the back of the building. I saw the guard, but not before Fostine.

Tonight, my sister was on a mission, and I was here to make sure nothing went wrong.

She was a sleek, powerful figure moving stealthily. Her snowy white fur glinted in the moonlight, and I felt a surge of pride and concern. Fostine was relentless, but she was also reckless. I needed to be ready to step in if things went south.

The guard on patrol was oblivious to the predator stalking him. He moved casually, his flashlight sweeping lazily over the area. I watched as he paused to light a cigarette, the flicker of the flame momentarily illuminating his face. Fostine’s eyes narrowed, her claws extending as she prepared to strike.

In a blur of white, she lunged from the shadows, her powerful legs propelling her forward with astonishing speed. The guard barely had time to react. His eyes widened in horror as he fumbled for his gun, but it was too late.

Fostine collided with him, knocking the wind out of his lungs. He stumbled backward, struggling to raise his weapon, but she was relentless. Her large canines sank into his shoulder, tearing through flesh and muscle with ease. The guard screamed, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. This was Fostine at her most uncivilized, her most deadly.

The guard managed to lift his gun, pointing it shakily at her, but Fostine was faster. With a swift, powerful swipe of her claws, she knocked the weapon from his grasp, sending it skidding across the ground. The guard’s eyes were wide with terror as he realized his fate.

Her jaws closed around his throat, cutting off his screams and replacing them with a gurgling choke. Blood spurted from the wound, staining her fur a dark crimson. I watched in awe, and no small amount of horror, as the life drained from him, his struggles growing weaker with each passing second.

With a final, vicious bite, Fostine ended the guard’s life. She stepped back, panting heavily, her eyes wild with the thrill of the hunt. Her chest heaved as she looked down at the lifeless body, satisfaction and grim determination warring within her. Fostine had sent a message tonight, but the real mission was far from over. She glanced up, her eyes locking onto mine for a brief moment, a sense of triumph in her gaze.

As she melted back into the shadows, I followed suit, my own senses alert for any sign of danger. The hunt had only just begun. Fostine was determined to make sure Gregory Patterson paid for his crimes.

As we moved, I couldn’t help but feel a swell of admiration for my sister. She was all grown up, a total badass, and the realization hit me hard. Gone was the girl who needed protecting, replaced by a fierce warrior who could hold her own. Watching her in action, I was impressed by her strength and skill. Fostine had become someone to be reckoned with, and I couldn’t have been prouder.

We entered the building, Fostine went on a search while I was dead set on finding Lily. I caught up to Wyatt. “The back is clear,” I stated. “Fostine saw to that.”

Wyatt nodded. “Reach for Lily,” Wyatt urged.

I closed my eyes, slipping into my mind. The delicate brush of her fingers. I inhaled Lily’s peach scent, then lifted my head to the ceiling. “Up there. Three floors at least.”

Wyatt nodded, then headed for the stairs and stopped. “I’m shifting. I’ll be able to reach her faster that way and I can warn you if there’s danger.”

I itched to shift too, but I needed to stay upright for Lily. I had a feeling she’d need to be carried, and she wouldn’t recognize me in my Yucilon form. “Go,” I ordered, then my gaze landed on Creeg. “What about you?”

“She might need medical treatment,” he reminded me.

I let a growl escape before taking the stairs two at a time. A gust of air was my only warning as Wyatt leaped past me.

Creeg whistled low. “I always forget how fast he is.”

I didn’t speak, my entire concentration on Lily. When we reached the third floor, I stopped, using my senses to locate her. I heard a low howl to the right. Wyatt. I’d recognize my alpha anywhere. Creeg and I took off toward our brother. A row of cells. One after another, all of them dark and empty, until they reached the last two. Wyatt sat on his haunches staring at the first cell. When we reached Wyatt, we both stumbled in shock at the sight of our father. Two more steps and I saw Lily, and what Patterson had done to her. She lay there, on a dirty old cot, utterly unresponsive and completely unconscious. Her body was wrapped in a tattered white sheet, while her left eye appeared swollen and bruised, accompanied by a cut on her lower lip. I snarled, then gripped the bars and yanked, snapping the lock in two and letting it fall to the floor.

“Lily,” I murmured, entering the room and slowly pulling her into my arms. “What did he do to you, my love?”

She lifted her gaze to mine. “You came.”

“Always,” I swore, holding her tighter. She rested her head against my chest, and I could feel her body trembling as silent tears soaked my shirt.

I stood in the cell, my normally composed demeanor shattered by the sight of her. My towering, muscular frame caused the small space to feel suffocating. My fists clenched, knuckles turning white as the anger within me surged like a tempestuous storm. My jaw was set and my eyes blazed with an intensity that could ignite a fire.

Every fiber of my being burned with a fierce instinct to avenge. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, my heart pounding like the beat of war drums. My protective instincts roared to life, a primal force that overwhelmed reason. It was as though an ancient guardian spirit had awakened within me, ready to unleash its fury upon any who dared to harm my beloved.”

At Creeg’s urging to hurry, I pulled Lily away a few inches, then bent and lifted her carefully off the floor. “We’re going home.”

Creeg cleared his throat. “Patterson and the guards, they might still be here.”

“Fostine took care of one of them.” I wanted nothing more than to tear them all apart with my bare hands, but my first priority was getting Lily to safety. “We’ll deal with Patterson later.”

Without warning, Fostine leaped around a corner and headed straight for us. There was blood around her snout. “Perhaps the bastard is taken care of already,” Creeg mused as he gripped the lock on our father’s cage and yanked. It fell to the floor and he shoved the door wide.

“I never thought I’d see you boys again,” our father groaned, walking slowly from the room. He’d lost at least fifty pounds and was nothing but skin and bone. His careful movements and the stiffening of his shoulders were proof of the pain he was in.

“I take it you can’t shift?” Creeg whispered to keep Lily from overhearing.

“No,” he answered. “Drugs.”

I had seen enough of the place and I needed to get Lily away. “Let’s go.”

Wyatt led, heading back the way we came. When we stepped outside and spotted a van tearing out of the parking lot, I cursed. “Patterson,” I groused, tightening my hold on Lily.

“Where’s Trakker?” Creeg asked, staring at something on the ground.

I followed his gaze. Blood, a pool of it. I sniffed the air. “Fuck!”

Wyatt and Fostine disappeared around the corner. Within minutes the pair emerged, dressed. “They couldn’t have gotten far,” Wyatt bit out, heading toward the SUV. “Didn’t bother to slash the tires. Definitely in a hurry.”

“Lily needs medical attention.” I looked at Creeg for confirmation. “You agree?”

“Yes,” he reached out a hand. “Toss me the keys. I’ll drive her van.”

I didn’t want to release her. Didn’t want to put her down long enough to fish around in my pocket. “In my jeans. Front left.” After Creeg retrieved them, he got in behind the wheel.

“Lily,” I breathed out, staring down at her. God, she barely stirred. I needed her close. Feeling her heartbeat, the steady rhythm calmed me. Kept me from losing my shit. I held her against my chest and got into the passenger side of the vehicle. Before I could slam the door shut, Wyatt stepped up close, Miggs, Dad, and Fostine at his back.

“How is it possible for that bastard to have grabbed Trakker?” Wyatt bit out. “No way.”

“He must have tranked him,” Dad growled. “Patterson has a drug that he’s been perfecting for the last two years. One dart would’ve taken him down.”

Miggs leaned over and stared at our father. “What the hell is it?”

Dad shook his head and grimaced. “I don’t know, but it’s fast-acting and burns like acid in your veins.”

“Jesus,” I muttered, staring down at Lily. Her ashen face and still form sent fear barreling through me. What the hell had they done to her? “Creeg, maybe you should look her over now. Here.”

Creeg nodded, then leaned across the middle console and put his palm on her forehead. He frowned, then felt his way over her arms, then lower to her abdomen. “Multiple bruises are already forming,” he stated. “Her arm might be broken. But I need to get her to the clinic, Kai.”

Wyatt cleared his throat. “Go, we’ll video call from the truck.”

After he slammed the door shut, Creeg took off. I watched Lily. She was my world.

Creeg’s phone chimed. He tapped the screen and Fostine’s face appeared. She swiped sweat off her brow. I noticed my sister’s talons were still extended, blood dripping from the lethal tips. “What happened back there?” I asked, curious how many men Patterson had stationed around the building.

“One guard. Had a nice little reunion, right before I slit his throat,” she explained, her voice devoid of emotion. “He won’t be a problem anymore. Didn’t see anyone else.” She frowned. “You?”

On the phone in the background I saw Miggs open the side window, then sniff the air. He cursed. “Only the sounds and smells of the forest,” my brother muttered. “I’m not picking up anything.”

Wyatt cursed. “Yeah, I’m not seeing their van either. Bastards.”

Father reached for Fostine and squeezed her shoulder. “You recovered, sweetheart?”

She nodded. “Getting there. I’m sorry I couldn’t—”

“Don’t,” Dad warned. “You did exactly what you needed to do. What I wanted you to do.”

“Goddamn it!” Miggs yelled, pounding a fist against the back of Fostine’s seat. “How did the son of a bitch get away so quick?”

“He would’ve seen you guys arrive,” our father stated. “He hooked up cameras out front. He hadn’t bothered with the rest of the building. I got the feeling the place was a temporary holding facility.”

I stared at our father, noticing his hollow cheeks and gaunt appearance. He’d suffered greatly at Patterson’s hands. “He was taking you somewhere else?”

He rested his head against the back of the seat and let out a heavy sigh. “I heard the guards discussing it. I think it’s further away. Different county.”

Wyatt watched out the windshield. “As much as I hate to admit it we’ve hit a dead end. No scent. No sign of them at all.”

“We can’t abandon Trakker,” Fostine yelled. “Patterson will—”

“Quiet!” Wyatt shot back. “No one is abandoning him, but we need to use our heads right now.”

“I say we keep looking,” Fostine muttered.

“Damn, straight,” Miggs answered, his gaze boring into the back of Wyatt’s head. “Patterson isn’t torturing another member of this family. We’re getting our brother back.”

Dad cleared his throat. “That might not be so easy. I have a feeling the other facility is more secure. The guard said Patterson’s been working on the place for six months, getting it ready for something big.”

When we hit the driveway leading to our compound, Creeg spoke into the phone, “we can pick your brain about Patterson later, Dad. First I think you should head home. I need to run some tests on you too.”

Father smiled. “She’s tough, Kai,” he praised. “Not many humans could handle what she went through.”

I watched Lily sleep. “Patterson will pay for touching her,” I promised, allowing the rage to filter into my voice.

“Kai,” my father said, gaining my attention. “You have her back. Focus on that.”

“And the waiting is over,” Wyatt added. “You need to make the exchange.”

“Speaking of exchange,” my father said. “She was able to link with you. That’s one hell of a bond, son.”

I smiled. “The minute she wakes, she’ll hammer me with questions about that.”

“I suggest you take her to the cabin,” Father said. “Complete the mating there. In private.”

“Please do,” Miggs groaned. “The rest of us don’t need to be privy to that.”

Wyatt glared at Miggs in the rearview mirror. “Shut up for once in your life.”

Creeg ended the call. Neither of us said anything else. The only thing that mattered to me was Lily. Suffering through Patterson’s torture would take years to work through. That it was because of me, my kind, would surely send her running. The thought of never seeing her again, never holding her close, never tasting her soft breath against mine was not an option. Wherever she went, I would follow. I had no choice.