Suddenly exhausted, I drag my tired self back into the Clubhouse to wait for them. The last thought I have before I pass out on the couch is that we really, really, need to exchange phone numbers.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: EARL
NOT EVEN WIND THERAPY can fix this. Our Mate is missing. The witch told us she ran off, escaped from the wolves, but the trail went cold as soon as she entered the forest.
She’s out there somewhere. Lost and alone. Any number of dangers could have found her. I’m surprised by how deeply I care. My chest feels raw and tight, and there’s a deep throbbing behind my left eye.
We’d just found her. We can’t lose her. I’ll rip this town to shreds before I allow her to be harmed, or worse, taken.
Trevor called in the dogs, and Glenda and Asha called in the council. Even the elk herd came down from the high meadow to search.
I know she’s alive but something is blocking us. Our bond with Ronnie may be incomplete, yes, but it’s still there. I should be able to track her, feel the flicker of our matesbond, something.
But it’s gone silent..
I punch the nearest tree in frustration. “Help me! Help me find her!” I roar into the wind, pleading to Fate or the forest gods or anyone to assist me.
But no one answers me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: RONNIE
HAVE YOU EVER GONE on a beach vacation and then walked past a dock where a ton of sea lions are basking in the sun, barking their fool heads off? Remember how loud that is?
Imagine that next to your head. In surround sound.
That’s what I woke up to. Except they weren’t sea lions anymore. They were men. Large, loud, naked men. And they were all yelling.
My eyes are bleary, my head is aching, and I would probably kill someone for some coffee but I stay put, content to let them yell it out.
That’s the thing about these kinds of men. The protective types? They have to yell. It helps their process. Especially when they’re worried.
There’s a lot of worried, yelling testosterone in the room right now and I just have to sit back and endure it. At least the view is nice.
Ten minutes of stomping around later, they finally realize that I’m not engaging and the fight goes out of them.
“Are you ok, Ronnie?” Trevor asks quietly, placing his hand on my shoulder. I reach up to cover it with mine and the yelling starts again. I have to take some deep, cleansing breaths.
“Did they claim you?” Earl asks dangerously, his eyes glued on my newly acquired jewelry.
“Did who claim me, Earl? The wolves? Do you really think if I had been claimed by those misogynistic assholes, I would be here just calmly sitting on your couch?”
“Answer the question, Ronnie.” He digs in deeper and I start to lose it a little bit. I am tired of being chastised and treated like a child in a situation I have no choice in.
“No! I don’t answer to you, you bully!” I shout. I place my palms on his chest and shove him away from me.
“Did any of you bother asking me why I chose to go to the fucking wolves in the first place? No. You did not. All that matters to you is whether or not you can own me or if someone else got there first.” I am crying angry tears and shoving against Earl over and over again. It’s like being angry and shoving a brick wall. It seems like a good idea at the time but in reality, it kind of sucks.
“This ring,” I yell, stomping around Earl to get to the hallway. “This ring is another thing I didn’t ask for. It’s from Bill. He saved me in the forest. I owe him a favor someday.”
That shuts the entire room up and makes both Bryan and Darren sit down in shock, which puts a damper on my plan to stomp out of the room. Curiosity is a powerful drug.
“Ronnie,” Darren says calmly, beckoning for me to come closer. I hate that I actually want to. Touching Earl has taken a little bit of the edge off and I have a sinking suspicion that touching the rest of them will probably make me feel better. Freaking Matestone.
I edge closer to him, but remain out of reach. Mostly out of spite.
“Who’s Bill? Tell us who we have to thank for bringing you back to us safely.”
I shake my head. “No. First tell me that Glenda and Asha are ok. I need to know that.” I feel terrible that it took me this long to ask about them.
Trevor moves to stand closer to me, reminding me yet again that they are all naked. Sigh. What even is my life?
“Glenda sustained some injuries from her fight with Fintan, but she’ll recover well. Asha was able to portal them both out and get to us to let us know you had escaped. Asha went back to look for you but was unable to find you. Both of her mates, as well as the coven, were searching the woods but found no trace of you at all.”
“I don’t understand. I ran for about 5 minutes straight, into the woods, and then I couldn’t run anymore so I walked, and my Fae Ring showed me the way. I ended up in what I thought was a Faery Circle but it turned out to be just a circle of mushrooms. I could hear the wolves all around me.”
Bryan exchanges a long look with Darren. “Honey, the wolves weren’t chasing you. Glenda made sure of it. When Asha portaled us back, she brought the coven and they restrained the entire Pack.”
I purse my lips. Huh. I know I heard those stupid wolves. That leaves.... Bill. Bill is an asshole. He saved me. But clearly, an asshole.
“What lives in that forest?” I ask quietly, “Any demons or
