it,” he yelled as he pointed the gun at her.
“You asshole!” she spat, curling her hands into fists. Suddenly the ground under their feet started shaking, the quaking getting harder. They had to evacuate now. “We have to go!”
Looking concerned, Tom pushed Mark toward the hole. “Kid, get down there and help her. There’s more, and I want it all out of there before we go. We got time.”
Mark stared over the rim, his gaze unsure his features pinched with fear. “Shit, man, I’m not taking a chance. No money’s worth me dying. Let’s get her out of there before it all goes to hell. We can’t let her die. Ash and Smoke will kill us both.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ash was relieved with the news from Dr. Ishman at their meeting. He and his beta could now focus on their mate. Walking out of the office door, Ash noticed the air was cooler and scented fresher.
“You smell that?” Ash asked Smoke.
“Back to normal. Finally. The dead grass splotches were going away, being replaced by thick green grass.”
Ash would bet that the palm tree where he found the dead frond the other day was coming back to life. “Of course, Isa was correct with her idea of the magic needing to be replenished by our triad. I cannot wait to see what happens when we completely claim our mate.”
“Has she ever been wrong?” Smoke grunted. “I guess we’re calling off any ideas of evacuating the island, right?”
“Yup, no need to. We should put the word out that the volcano isn’t going to erupt, and things will be getting back to normal.”
Smoke grinned. “And with our new and beautiful PR rep, tourists will be pouring in.”
“Yes, but I think our new employee needs more training,” Ash said with his own grin.
“Training in certain areas of island life, yes?” Smoke was getting more excited than he normally was.
“I’m thinking Lovers’ Cliff needs to be closed to tourists for a few hours tonight. You know,” Ash punched his beta in the arm, “closed for maintenance.”
“Yes, maintenance on our mate is perfect,” Smoke agreed. They had reached their mate’s bungalow and knocked. When she didn’t answer, the guys glanced at each other, brows down. Ash knocked again and, turning the knob, found it was locked.
“At least she locked it this time,” Smoke said.
Ash pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed her number. It rang through to voicemail. Strange that she didn’t pick up. Was she on a tour and out of cell range? If that was the case, she was either in the forest or inside the volcano caves. Neither of which he was thrilled with seeing she was probably by herself.
He searched for the security guard watching her home. He sat in the perfect spot on the employee beach where he could see if anyone came to her door. Hidden, yet in plain sight.
“Let’s talk to Niko. Maybe he knows where she went.” The man saw them coming and met them halfway.
“Hey, Alpha, Beta, if you’re looking for your mate, she hasn’t been here in a while.”
“She said she was going home after breakfast,” Ash commented. If she wasn’t here, where was she? “But didn’t say anything about going on a tour.”
The taxi helicopter flew slowly overhead, probably preparing to drop off a Hollywood celebrity who had booked one of the deluxe ocean rooms. Ash hadn’t heard of the guy when Kristin told him who booked the house.
The two backtracked the route, asking those at the edge of the park if they had seen her. No one had. His phone rang again. The ID said chopper pad.
“Hey, Alpha. I dropped off a VIP on the main pad, thinking the person to take him to his room would be here soon. But I’m back, and he is still waiting, and not too happy. Do you know who’s getting him?”
“I’d guess Mark,” Ash answered.
“No, sir. He’s on the volcano with others.”
“Oh. Give Kristin a call.”
“I will, Alpha. Also, I want to tell you the female folk here will love your mate. She’s a darling. That’s it. Bye.”
“Wait, Chopper,” Ash hollered.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Have you seen Valentina this morning?”
“Sure have. Took her up to the crater with the other group.”
The ground began its rumble. What the hell? He thought Dr. Ishman said it was safe. Besides that, the magic should be controlling it. Like Isadora said, as soon as the three were mated—
“We’ll be there in one minute. Be ready to go,” Ash hollered into the phone as he and