"I think maybe you should let your aunt try to catch up to all of that, Miss Kaylee Sugarmuffin McGee. Go on ahead and finish eating up now, pup,” the woman who had been identified as Tamika said. She had a huge grin on her face and Faith recognized the completely smitten look in her eye. Kaylee had that effect on people.
"It's so good! Thanks Jake's dad!"
"I'm glad you like it, kiddo," Marc grinned. "Can I get you two plates?"
"Could you, perhaps, set some aside for us? We are going to call the police to assist us in our search." Aldric said.
Kaylee's fork slowed down, and she turned to him. "You can't find my mom?"
"We will not stop looking, Miss Kaylee. I promise you that. I am certain that we simply missed her at the cabin, and she is out searching for you and your aunt."
"I bet that's exactly what happened. Those animals made such a mess I bet your mom just freaked out, sweetie. I wouldn't be shocked if we found her at the police station. But do you think it would be okay for you to stay here while Aldric and I go find out?" Faith glanced up at Marc to make sure that it was okay with him to leave her here.
"I've got some ice cream in the freezer and more Disney movies than you can take in one night. Sound like a good time?" Marc said with a wink at Faith.
"I get to have a sleepover? Jake! We're having a sleepover!" Kaylee gushed, and Faith laughed as she was immediately forgotten.
"Well, I guess that's taken care of," Faith said. She found herself feeling better than she would have expected after the events of the day. It was good to feel a little lighter, and at least Kaylee wasn't terrified. Tonight might be a different story, she knew. Sometimes fears didn't show themselves until the nightmares started, and this morning was nothing if not nightmare fuel.
She was pretty sure that Kaylee wasn't the only one at risk.
"Well, then let's get this done. Aldric, lead the way." Faith stood up and turned to him.
"Tamika, keep the schedule we discussed until further notice. I do not want to be caught unawares again," Aldric said.
"Sure thing. And I'll tell Marc all about everything, best I can," she said with a nod of her head that was almost a bow. Aldric nodded a quick acknowledgement and turned toward the door.
They were in the truck on the way back down the road before Faith turned to him and asked, "Tell Marc what?"
Aldric grimaced and his expression turned serious. "We scented wolves in town and at your cabin. Unknown werewolves that we have not yet identified. I do not like the idea that there are so many rogue wolves in our clan's territory."
"So why are we even bothering with the police? I can't imagine that they're equipped for this sort of problem," Faith chewed on her lip and gazed into the gathering dusk. "And where the hell is Crissy?" She felt the ice re-forming in her stomach and clenched her teeth together.
"I do not know," Aldric said. His voice was low and calm, but there was steel in it. "I have trackers out combing through the woods surrounding your cabin to see if we can find any traces, if they were waiting and watching from somewhere, or scouted in their wolf forms before trying to capture you. And I have sent a message to a friend who will be doing the same in your hometown, just in case."
"Aldric," Faith couldn't bring herself to look over at him. Staring into the dark on the quiet country road was much easier. Looking at him might make everything all too real. "She said that she’d felt like some creepy guy was watching her back home. That’s why we were here. Maybe it’s not because they just thought she was attractive or something. What if someone found out about us? And they took her because of it? “
When he didn't answer after a while, she glanced over at him and sucked in a breath. Aldric had the wheel in a grip so hard that his knuckles were white and the claws that had extended from his fingers were gouging the leather. He was snarling silently through his anger, and his fangs were clear.
For the second time that evening, she was staring into the face of a vampire, but strangely, once again she wasn't afraid of him. She knew that this aggression wasn't directed at her.
"If anyone has dared to come into Frostwalker territory and take someone– an innocent– right from under our protection, I will find them and make them regret their choices. I will free your sister," he snarled. "That these... creatures possibly came here deliberately in pursuit of your sister– or worse, in pursuit of all three of you– is unforgivable and I will see to it personally that they pay for their crimes. I will identify them. I will hunt them. And I will rip their hearts out of their chests."
Faith swallowed. She was damned glad he wasn't angry at her.
"Thank you," she whispered. Aldric simply nodded, like he had to Tamika in the kitchen, and Faith let silence fill the cabin of the truck.
She was about to reach out and put her hand on his arm to try to calm him down before they hit town in a few minutes, when a loud sound had her jerking her attention back to the road. Aldric slammed the brakes and was out of the truck in seconds, crouching over the body in the road.
He was standing up again and glaring into the gathering darkness around them and growling softly by the time Faith got over to stand beside him. The corpse– and there was no doubt that the man was dead. She assumed that not even a vampire or a werewolf could live long
