Truth be told, I loved the protective part of both of my mates.
Tris took one step back and was the first to lower his gaze. “I am here for her. I knew you wouldn’t have a problem with extra security when it comes to Christie. There’s someone out there taking young women, and we can’t be too careful.” He stepped toward Samson again and this time whispered. “We can’t be too careful in keeping our mate safe.” Tris made the statement so matter-of-fact. He knew Samson wouldn’t argue because he loved me just as much as Tris did. Samson was just more practiced at being an ass about it.
Samson stepped back like he’d been slapped but then shook it off all in one second. He happened to be really good at schooling his face in times of distress.
“No, not at all. Thank you for coming to help the pack.” He spoke though his jaw was clenched. I didn’t know what had changed, but it was risky to start questioning it. They had come to some kind of understanding, and I was glad for it. If nothing else, it would ease my heart enough to focus on the task at hand, finding as much as we could to help our people.
Samson looked at me and opened his mouth but then snapped it shut. He breathed out slowly, putting his fists on his hips. “Let’s go. Keep your eyes peeled. Anything could be a clue. If you find something, shift and call it out. Even the normal-seeming things could be clues. Whoever this Opal person is, she’s apparently very good at hiding things. We have to be better at finding them.”
Those who had shown up to search shifted immediately and ran off. Samson, Tris, and I picked up the rear. We spread out, but at all times, I was in their view. If Samson ran ahead, Tris was right next to me, and if Tris veered off, Samson returned and took up his place.
Gods they were acting like they should, and I didn’t know what to do with myself.
All this normalcy was unnerving.
Go figure.
I made sure to run slowly this time, letting my wolf fully take over my senses. We sniffed out every rock, every hanging branch, took stock of every blade of grass. Samson said no stone should go unturned, and I meant to honor that. I stopped at nearly every tree and random piece of trash, sniffing each one and making sure I didn’t stomp over any tracks.
This had to end. Now. No more kidnappings or waiting in the wings while my pack suffered.
If there was something to be found in these woods, then I would find it.
I spotted a heap of dirt with some child’s footprints in it. Samson and Tris passed it by, but I stopped dead. Something about it smelled off. Yes, I could scent candy from a wrapper nearby, but there was something more—something beneath the surface.
I scratched at the dirt. The deeper I went, the darker the dirt became, and soon, what was once an innocent heap of dirt revealed more.
“What is that? Did you find something?” Tris shifted and walked over. Samson followed suit, and so did I after I let my wolf claws do most of the digging.
“Smell it. It’s a campfire. Look, they took the time to make a circle of rocks.”
Samson was pacing now and kept looking at the thing like it might burst into flames and give us all the answers in one swoosh of heat. “Samson, have some kids been camping out here, maybe some families? This is recent. I can still smell the embers.”
Samson stopped in his tracks. “No. Everyone was on curfew after the first disappearance. No one should’ve been here.” He scanned the area then the trees. He was so desperate to do something for his pack, to make their worries go away.
“Samson, this isn’t your fault,” I offered, taking a chance I was correct in guessing what he was thinking.
He whirled on me, pain and aggravation clear on his face. His brow dipped, and he was grinding his jaw again. “How is it not my fault, Christie? How? They were here, fucking camping out right in our backyard. They were here…” He kicked at the remnants of the fire. “Burning wood and stalking us right under our noses. What kind of alpha allows that?”
Tris sighed and took a step toward his brother. “Samson, look at me.”
Samson cursed under his breath, refusing to meet Tris’ gaze.
“Grow a pair and look at me. Get over your self-pity shit because it’s not helping your pack, and it sure as hell isn’t helping Virginia.”
“Fine. What?” he barked and tugged at the roots of his hair.
“If everyone was in their houses, including you, then how in the hell would they notice a fire way the hell out here. We’re almost to the other pack’s lands, right?”
Samson took in the area. “Yeah.”
“There’s no way you or anyone else could’ve known people were out here. Your anger isn’t helping these girls. Get your head on straight and be the alpha you were meant to be. Let’s keep looking.”
I held my breath while Tris spoke and watched while it broke Samson down little by little until he’d squared off his shoulders and shifted back to his gorgeous wolf. He came over and nipped at my knee, wanting me to shift as well.
I let Samson run a little in front of us before I whispered
