Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,50

her face up to him, dropping a kiss to her lips. “I love you, Ariel. I don’t expect the words back from you yet, but someday… Someday, I hope you’ll love me, too.” He dropped another kiss onto her lips, patted her softly on her ass then stepped away, linking their hands as he tugged her along with him. “Now, let’s stretch our legs and take advantage of this stop. I’ll check the vending machine while we’re here. See what they have to offer.”

“We grabbed two bags of snacks.”

His grin was boyish, and she felt more of the cracks in her heart fill in. “I got hungry while you were sleeping.”

He swung their joined hands as they walked, bringing a lightheartedness she hadn’t felt since she was a child. Maybe, she’d been wrong. Maybe, her pieces could fit back together. Maybe, she could learn to be a mate. Maybe, she could find a new beginning. With Daniel.

Chapter Fifteen

“This is ridiculous,” Daniel fumed, glancing between Aleksy, Tony, and Gabriel. “We’re on a wild goose chase. If Talbot was here, he isn’t now. How long do you plan on us chasing the wind?”

Talbot wasn’t in Wyoming. At least, nowhere they’d searched. Daniel couldn’t even blame Talbot alone for his mounting frustration, though finding a group of hunters and engaging in a good fight might help him expend some of what was building inside him. He’d hoped to explore a little more with his mate the night before, but Ariel had been sound asleep when he’d finished in the shower and joined her. She’d woken once from an obvious nightmare, and the fact she hadn’t yelled or called out in any way broke his heart more than if she had. He’d wrapped his arms around her and held her close while he vowed to her over and over again that he was there, that he would never let anyone hurt her again.

“We need to regroup,” Gabriel agreed, coming to stand beside Daniel.

Aleksy stood silently, his gaze fixed on Tony who paced back and forth with clear agitation. Lyra stood beside her mate. Hell, Daniel rarely saw the two apart. He had to admit he was envious of their deep bond, as well as how quickly it had been established between them.

“Why don’t the four of you head back to Oklahoma, and Lyra and I will go with Tony in the bird and check a few more places before we head back,” Aleksy offered. “We need to make a stop in Chicago anyway. Lyra wants to check on a friend.”

Tony made a savage sound, a low, guttural growl that would have rivaled one from any of the shifters present. Then he turned and walked away. Daniel was pretty sure Tony didn’t have a trip to Chicago on his agenda. But whether it was an aversion to Chicago or an aversion to anything that took him away from his obsessive need to find Talbot, Daniel wasn’t sure. It made him wonder who exactly Talbot had taken and left to die, and what that person had meant to Tony.

“We could do that,” Gabriel agreed. “We should update Tah and the rest of the council in person. See if anyone else has heard anything. We have a lot of people in the pride, each with their own connections. Hell, Darcy might know something. She can check with the watchers, see if there’s anything on Talbot’s movement there. I’m sure Gideon’s probably already spoken with her and Calloway.”

Darcy and Calloway were recent additions to the pride. Calloway had been held in captivity by hunters along with Gideon. They’d escaped together and stayed in touch with one another. When Calloway had mated Darcy, the two had made the trip to join the pride in Oklahoma, though Daniel had the impression Calloway hadn’t meant to stay. They’d had twin boys since joining the pride. Hell, the pride was exploding with babies. Abby had Regan. Diane had Amalia. And Laura was pregnant. Was it wrong of him to imagine Ariel round with their child? Wrong to want that at some point in their future?

“Sounds like a plan then,” Aleksy agreed. “We’ll regroup back in Riverton and compare notes. Hell, we might beat you there.”

“Watch out for him,” Daniel said, and Aleksy didn’t seem to have any problem understanding who Daniel was talking about. They both knew he was referring to Tony.

“I always do,” Aleksy agreed. “Listen, I know you haven’t had any major problems with the drug Tony gave you, but