Several knocks reverberated through the house, ending my moment of peace. It was time to face reality and whoever the hell was on the other side of the door.
I carefully climbed out of the bed, tugged on my pants, and pulled the covers over Aylin. She moaned, then shifted into the warmth of the blankets. I couldn't help the grin that split my face. She looked so small and peaceful in sleep. Nothing compared to the spitfire woman who kept me on my toes every second she was awake.
Bang!
The knocking becomes more insistent.
“I'm coming,” I half shouted once I shut the bedroom door and headed for the living room.
I jerked open the door and stared into Drew's angry blue eyes. “What the fuck do you want?” I snarled.
Drew eyed my half-dressed state. “Where is she?”
“Seriously?” I glanced around my empty living room, noting the absence of my coffee table and a wobbly chair that I had pushed to the side intent on fixing it. After the last time he showed up at my house seeking his sister, I couldn't afford to replace furniture every time Drew got his panties in a twist.
“We aren't going through this again, are we? You know she's here, and she's sleeping. I'd prefer to keep it that way.” I thought of how tired she seemed last night when she finally succumbed to sleep.
“Not her.” Drew shoved forward and ran a hand through his shaggy red hair. “We'll discuss my sister later. I'm her to talk about Luna.”
“Luna?” I asked, dumbfounded. “Why would she be here?”
Drew paced around the living room before coming back to where I stood in the foyer. Cold air prickled my bare chest. I shut the door.
“I've been doing security rounds every two hours, and she wasn't at Liam's during the last three check-ins. I thought maybe she came here to hang with Aylin.”
“No, man. I haven't seen her since last night at Aylin's.”
Drew's eyes narrowed and his brows pinched together. “I told you guys this was a bad idea. I told you not to trust her, and now, we have a loose...”
I leaned against the wall with a raised eyebrow. Drew was beside himself, and I doubted it had to do with fear of what Luna was doing or could do. My gut told me she was savvier and more capable than she let on.
“Cannon? Drew, seriously? She's a young woman.” I pushed a little harder, enjoying his discomfort. “Maybe she went to get a piece of ass before you went all macho on her.”
He lurched forward and swung, connecting with my jaw. Here we go again. I let him strike twice before I swung back. He staggered, but didn't fall.
“Stop!” I held up my hands. “We're not waking Aylin. She's tired and emotionally drained.”
Drew must have heard the sincerity in my voice because he stopped cold and wiped his bloody lip. “Fine.”
“C'mon.” I grabbed his shoulder and squeezed. “Let's go to Liam's and see if he knows anything about your Luna. Hell, she's probably there fast asleep.”
“She's not mine.” He spat.
I laughed. If only he saw his reaction at the thought of Luna dating another man. Pure rage.
***
After I scribbled a note for Aylin and left it on the fridge, I followed Drew to Liam's. The farther the distance between me and Aylin, the more my body objected. It was as though a thousand little warning bells were going off. I ground my hand against the steering wheel and gritted my teeth. I would help Drew prove that Luna was safe, then return home to Aylin.
But the damn hair on the back of my neck stood on end. My heart sank lower with each passing second, each mile that distanced her soul from mine.
Something was wrong. My gut told me to turn around, but I had promised to help Drew. I'd have to hurry.
Maybe Luna or Bryn held some insightful advice on Aylin's and my bond. I glanced at the light flickering of the pulsing half moon—not nearly as strong as it had been yesterday. Was it fading?
Get back home, my mind chanted. Hurry!
“I don't like this,” I said to Drew as we walked up the porch steps. “Something isn't right.”
He opened the door. “That's what I've been saying, man.” He tapped his chest. “I feel it in here.”
Normally, I would have made some smartass comment, but how could I when I felt the same thing? The quiet before the storm. As if I were trapped in the eye of a hurricane, watching the outer wall barreling toward us.
“Liam!” Drew called.
I followed close behind, yet was curious about Aylin's sluggish presence in our bond. Last night, that presence was hellfire; today, it barely existed. I ran a finger over the fading light. I missed its vibrant colors.
“C'mon, gentlemen.” Liam led us to the library, and Bryn followed.
“Welcome.” Bryn kissed each of our cheeks then asked, “Where's Aylin?”
“She was so exhausted, I didn't want to wake her.” I sat in the large chair in front of Liam's desk.
He bypassed the chair behind his desk and took a seat in the plush, black leather love seat, tugging Bryn to sit beside him. She eyed me carefully, but asked no more questions.
Drew paced the floor. His red hair stood on end as he ran another hand through it. “Luna's missing. I told you not to trust her. Now, she's gone. Doing who knows what.”
“Are you sure she's gone?” Bryn asked. “I don't believe she would have left the house. We had a nice chat last night, and she showed no indications of taking off. Actually, she's knowledgeable about potions. I think she will make a great healer for our pack.”
“What?” Drew asked. “How do you know she isn't a seed planted by Gabriel? A thorn to take root and destroy us.”
“Aylin read her. She's fine.” Liam spoke. “I trust Aylin's
