Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,8
us know what hell my father probably put him through. Daniel isn’t one to say anything. He puts it behind him and moves on. He’s… Christ, he’s the best of our family. He’s the son our mother hoped he’d be. I can’t lose him. I…can’t.”
“We’re not losing him,” Gideon reiterated. “We’ll figure this out.”
Laura cleared her throat. “Someone needs to go get his mate.”
“Laura.”
“No, Finn. I know you’re worried about her. I know you think she’s fragile, but she’s not. She couldn’t be to have survived what she did, otherwise. And she did survive. She’s stronger than she thinks, stronger than others believe her to be. It’s time someone reminded her of that. And by god, her mate needs her. She could be the difference between Daniel lying here or opening his eyes. We need Ariel here, and if none of you are willing to go get her and drag her here if needed, then I will.”
“She’s not at the cabin,” Gabriel said. “I checked earlier. I was going to do some begging of my own to get her here.”
“She hasn’t been staying there,” Laura told them. “When Daniel’s gone, she goes to his house.” Laura let out a cross between a sob and a laugh. “Funny how she seeks out the scent of her mate when he’s gone but won’t be around him when he’s here.”
Ariel went to his house? He’d worried he was losing it when he’d scented her in his home. He’d thought he was imagining things. She’d been there. Maybe sleeping in his bed. Touching his things. Surrounding herself with him. It should make him angry that she would choose that over the flesh and blood man, but it only made him sad. For both of them.
“Gideon, we’ve got a problem.” Griffin’s voice carried as he entered the room. He’d been with Ariel at Thomas Walker’s. Walker had taken them both in, though Daniel hadn’t decided yet if Thomas’ motives had been good or not. The man was an enigma. Everything they learned painted him as a man obsessed. Daniel wasn’t sure with what yet. Revenge. Justice. Family. He doubted they’d know for sure until Thomas showed up. If he were still alive. That was questionable, as well.
“What’s wrong? Is Dr. Jensen okay?” Gideon asked. Dr. Jensen was a good man. A physician who worked with the local shifters, helping take care of more serious injuries. He and Griffin had gone to check on several shifters who were in the doctor’s care. Daniel hoped they hadn’t been attacked. It wasn’t uncommon. God knew, hunters were growing more and more bold when it came to their annihilation plan.
“It’s Ariel,“ Griffin panted as if he’d been running the whole way. Daniel held his breath as he waited for the other man to finish.
“What?” Finn demanded. The other man along with his brother, Murphy, had taken to Ariel when they’d first met her. Murphy had told Daniel she reminded them of their sister, and that’s what she’d become to them.
“What’s wrong with Ariel?” Gideon asked. Gideon was the one who’d often held Daniel’s mate through her nightmares. The one who’d offered comfort. The one she still turned to, staying by his side most of the time.
“I went to check on her as soon as we got back. When she wasn’t at the cabin, I headed to Daniel’s. I was going to tell her he was back and what had happened. I didn’t figure anyone else had done that yet. She deserves to know,” he challenged though no one said anything. Daniel wondered what Griffin had seen in their expressions. “But she wasn’t there. And…his car was gone. I tried to call but it keeps going to voicemail. She’s either ignoring it or has it turned off. I’m worried. She…she left an envelope on the counter addressed to Daniel.”
“And?” Laura prompted when Griffin stalled.
“I don’t think she’s planning on coming back.”
Daniel ignored the rest of the conversation surrounding him. None of it mattered. His mate was gone. She’d left. Alone. For what reason, he wasn’t sure. She’d gone to his home first. Taken his car and left a note for him.
He had to wake up. Had to go after her. She might need him. He wasn’t going to let anything else happen to her. She was his to shield and protect. His father might have thought him weak, but Daniel would prove to his mate, he was more than capable of protecting her.