“I know what you’re feeling. Hell, all of us who are mated know what you’re going through. I’m not going to make you spill your heart out to me, but I am offering you an ear should you need to talk about it. I can’t give you all the answers, but I can be a friend if you need it.”
“Fuck, man,” Taze drawled as he wiped his hand over his face. “She’s been gone for four days, Noah. Four…fucking…days. And her brother is disappearing when he’s not on shift. I think he’s out looking for her even though Talon told us not to go.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’s defying my brother’s orders, but you let Talon handle that,” Noah reminded him.
“Do you know where she is?” Taze asked, hopeful the Guardian knew something.
“No.” Noah frowned, shaking his head in shame. “I really don’t. I wish I could give you an answer.”
Noah slapped Taze on the back, promising to see him at nightfall. Taze kicked off his boots as soon as he walked in the door. For the fourth day in a row, it didn’t matter how dark he’d made his bedroom, he couldn’t sleep, wondering where she was and if she was okay.
He sat heavily in his recliner and reached over to crack the blinds so he had a direct line of sight to her tiny home. The brown slatted siding and green tin roof blended in with the land, but her white sedan stood out in contrast. It hadn’t moved in four days, and he’d checked the camera he’d installed at her work, proving she wasn’t there either.
His beast rumbled in his mind, pacing as it voiced its concern over her well-being. Taze had to close his eyes and force the beast to settle, but it was hard. His human side wanted the same thing, and he was at a loss over what to do.
Movement a few doors down caught his attention as the healer’s mate, Luna, walked out to her car and got inside. His brow furrowed. Why was she leaving the pride so early, and without her mate? It was odd for Luna to head out so early in the morning.
He came to his feet when she stopped at Calla’s and went inside. She was only gone for a few minutes, returning with a small duffle bag. She tossed it in her car before hurrying down the driveway.
His mind immediately went to the worst. Something was wrong. Fucking hell, his suspicions were going to drive him mad.
He was torn as to what to do. The female was missing, and no one seemed to care. That told Taze everything he needed to know. The alpha and the healer knew where she was, and he didn’t realize he’d left his house and marched right up to the door until he knocked hard to get the healer to answer.
“Taze,” Harold greeted, but he didn’t look happy to see him.
“Where is she?” he growled, feeling his canines grow thick in his mouth. There was a burning deep in the pit of his stomach, and he caught his own mating scent as it thickened. It was time to stop playing games and touch the female. He, and his beast, knew she was going to be his whether she wanted a mate or not.
“I cannot say,” Harold replied softly. Stepping back, the healer made a gesture for Taze to come inside, but the male watched him with a keen eye. Taze knew he was sizing him up to see if he was going to go feral.
“You don’t have to sedate me…yet,” Taze snarled.
“Let’s go into my office,” Harold offered after giving him a narrowed look.
Taze marched ahead and took the seat in front of Harold’s desk, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the tops of his legs. “She’s my mate, Harold. I have to know if she’s okay.”
The healer took to his seat and remained quiet for a few minutes before letting out a harsh sigh. “She’s fine.”
“So, you know where she is?” Taze’s head popped up so fast, he felt dizzy.
“Yes, I do,” he admitted, narrowing his eyes as Taze’s beast growled. “I am not telling you where she is, but I can promise you she will be home in a day or two.”
“Fuck,” Taze grunted. “I’m losing my mind.”
“By the alpha’s order, and out of respect for Calla, I cannot give you any information,” Harold stated. “Her brother came here two days ago, demanding information. I couldn’t even tell him.”
“What do