Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Never once in Brock’s life had he experienced an uncontrolled shift. As a member of the Alpha Protectors, he had more control than to allow something like that to happen, but he’d never been in a situation like this either.
Dozens of unwelcome thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to control his breathing.
More people arrived, including Elias. He was staggering, though, and a large gash on the back of his head was oozing blood.
Owen rushed to his second born son’s side and helped him sit as someone handed his mother a cloth to hold against the open wound.
Elias was growling and fit to kill. He looked as though he too might shift with very little provocation. “He came at me from behind. Slammed something into the back of my head. I assume he also drugged me because I was out a considerable amount of time.”
Brock gritted his teeth, fury growing inside him. Someone had touched his mate. Someone had hurt her. Scared her. Taken her. His temperature rose with each passing second. He wouldn’t be able to hold back the shift soon.
He was vaguely aware of the details being shared in the room as if he were underwater, listening to the facts. He gathered Suzette’s mother had been drugged, too. Her husband had found her on the kitchen floor. Nothing in the house was out of place, so whoever had entered had been stealthy and fast.
The craziest part, though, was that no one scented the man. Not even Elias. He hadn’t heard or smelled him. It was unheard of for someone to be able to sneak up on a wolf shifter, especially an Alpha.
According to Strogan, Suzette’s ceremonial gold sandals were still next to her bed, and the white dress she would have worn was lying on the bed. She’d been taken in her shifts without shoes.
So far no one had seen a thing.
When Owen set a hand on Brock’s shoulder, Brock was yanked out of his stupor and jerked his attention to his father. “You know I have no choice. I will find her.”
“I know son but control your anger. You won’t be able to track her with all this fury inside you. Take some deep breaths. Start from her house.”
Thank God his father hadn’t suggested Brock let some other group of trackers locate his mate. He would never have been able to sit back and wait. It wasn’t in his nature. He didn’t give a fuck how many shifters would be joining him today—and it would be hundreds—he would find her.
His mother gave his hand a squeeze on his way out the door, but he barely glanced in her direction before he was midair, shifting before his paws hit the ground. And then he ran.
Most people in town had no knowledge of the abduction yet, so they stopped and stared at the shifted male wolf galloping past them. It wasn’t common for their pack to shift for no reason in the middle of town. It was something they reserved for a romp in the forest surrounding the valley.
Brock didn’t give a fuck. He kept running until he reached his mate’s home. The back door was standing open, and he pranced past everyone in the area to enter the house and race up the stairs to her bedroom.
When he arrived, he forced himself to slow his breathing and his heart rate, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of his mate, which he knew well. There was no trace of the intruder’s scent, the man who’d dared lay a single hand on Suzette. How was that possible?
In moments, Brock spun around to leap down to the first floor and out of the house. No one tried to stop him. They knew who he was to Suzette even if they hadn’t known before today. Only a crazed mate would tear though town like this.
Whoever had taken Suzette was a moron if he thought Brock couldn’t track him and tear him limb from limb.
Brock easily galloped at top speed toward the edge of town and up the side of the mountain. Few regular shifters from town would have the tracking skills to locate a missing person with ease, but the Alpha Protectors had heightened senses that surpassed the townsfolk. That’s why they were the leaders and had been from the beginning of time.
That’s why the Protectors lived high in the mountains around the valley, protecting it from predators and keeping the rest of the pack safe.
Where are you my sweet mate?
Brock never stopped inhaling, tracking, scenting. He would find her.
Chapter Three
Suzette groaned. Everything hurt. Her head was pounding. Her body felt like she’d been beaten.
She tried to sit up, confused and dazed. The lighting was dim. Why was it so dark?
As her memory raced back into her, she stiffened and opened her eyes wider. The only light was faint and coming from one end of the room. Her pulse raced as she realized she was in some sort of kennel. She couldn’t even sit up straight. The top of the cage was too low. It also wasn’t long or wide enough for her to stretch out.