Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
ZANDER
My gut clenched at the desolation in his tone.
“I do, little one, but I know how panic can distort things.”
“He was here,” Reid insisted. “And I know I recognize him. I know it.”
“Then I believe you.”
“Do you really?” Hope and doubt twined together in his voice.
“Yes.”
“Please come quickly.”
“I will.”
The call disconnected.
I gritted my teeth. “Fuck.”
“Sir?” Hawk’s voice burst through the radio. “We have a call about a situation at the Omega House.”
I pulled to the side of the road and turned the car around. “Tell Bea to meet me out front. We’ll assess and let you know if we need backup. Meanwhile, I want two units patrolling the township for any vehicles or people that don’t fit.”
He nodded. “Will do, sir.”
Bea was an alpha shifter, but at least she was female and a bird species, which might render her less intimidating to the vulnerable omegas who lived in the home. She was relatively petite but could still pack a punch when needed.
I arrived outside the station just as Bea emerged from the building. She opened the side door and slid into the passenger seat.
“How much did Hawk tell you?” I asked as I pulled back onto the road.
“Hamish was preparing dinner with Reid when Reid became alarmed and ran outside. Hamish followed and found him magically attacking a car that had driven past. Reid claims that the car was being driven by an acquaintance of his late mate.”
I growled. “That man wasn’t his mate; he was his captor.”
She ducked her head deferentially. “My apologies, Sheriff. I misspoke.”
Thankfully, the drive didn’t take long. Hamish was standing in the front garden, rubbing Reid’s back. Reid, for his part, didn’t look as panicked as I’d expected. Instead, his chin was up and he glared at me balefully.
“He was there,” he said, yanking away from Hamish. “I saw him and I know I didn’t imagine it.”
A slight tremor rippled through him and I had to dig my partially shifted claws into my palm to stop myself from hauling him into my arms.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, opening myself to all of the scents in the area. I picked up many familiar scents and a few less so, but none of them were completely foreign, which meant I’d either smelled them around Grizzly Ridge before or elsewhere.
“I can’t detect anyone unfamiliar,” I said gently.
His eyes narrowed. “He didn’t get out of the car so maybe none of his scent transferred to the surroundings, or perhaps he has someone masking his scent. You know that can be done.”
I did. After all, Reid had masked the scent of some of the Red Moon Pack wolves while they’d terrorized Grizzly Ridge.
“Besides,” he continued, “if it was someone from within the clan then I would have lost my magic when I attacked them.”
That was also an excellent point.
A raindrop landed on my forehead and I looked up. Dark clouds were gathered overhead and I was sure it would start pouring down at any second now.
“Let’s get you inside,” I said, trying to figure out how best to proceed.
“I’m not lying,” he snapped.
“I don’t think you are.” I glanced at Bea and motioned for her to take Hamish inside and get his statement. “But that does raise some questions. Trent is gone, so what would his associates want with you?”
At that, he fell silent. A groove formed between his eyebrows. Most likely, he’d been so consumed by fear that he hadn’t paused to consider that question.
He pressed his lips together and something dark passed across his face. Whatever it was, it gave me pause. It was clear that something had occurred to him but he didn’t want to share his thoughts. Perhaps he feared I’d dismiss him.
“I need as much information as I can get,” I murmured, silently pleading with him to open up to me. There were so many things he wasn’t telling me and it made it difficult to protect him. I wanted nothing more than to keep him safe, but how could I do that if I didn’t understand the threat?
Reid nibbled his lower lip and for a moment, I thought he might fold, but then he straightened his shoulders and said, “He was here. I can even describe him. I don’t know his name but he’s about five foot ten and built stocky.
His hair is brown and he has a beard. I think his eyes are brown too and there’s a sickle-shaped scar beneath his right eye. ”
“That’s very useful.” I smiled at him as another drop of water landed on the bridge of my nose. “We’ll look into it. I’ll run your description through the database and see if we get any hits.”
Dark haired, bearded men of that height were a dime a dozen in the area, but perhaps the scar would make it easier to find something useful.
“Can you…” Reid trailed off before squaring his shoulders and starting again. “Will you walk around the property perimeter with me before we go in? I want to feed some more power into the wards.”
“Of course.” Whatever he wanted I’d give it to him if it was within my ability to do so.
We wandered the edge of the property and I split my focus between him and our surroundings, wary of anyone who might be watching a little too closely.
For once, Reid seemed confident in himself. If anyone ever trained him properly, I was sure he’d become a force to be reckoned with.
Once he was satisfied with his efforts, I escorted him to the door. My heart panged in protest as he disappeared inside, but I kept my feet planted firmly on the doorstep. Hamish had been clear that I wasn’t allowed in.
I only had to wait a minute or so for Hamish and Bea to emerge from deeper in the house. Bea was tucking her notepad into the front pocket of her uniform shirt and Hamish’s face was set in harsh lines.
Hamish stopped a couple of yards from me and crossed his arms. “I hope you’re taking this seriously.”
“I promise we are. Your safety is our priority.”
Hamish smirked. “Especially with your mate here.”
I tipped my head, unable to deny that. “Speaking of.” I looked around and lowered my voice. “I’m concerned about Reid’s state of mind. Between that magical attack at the supermarket, him not leaving the house, and now this... Have you talked to him about seeing a therapist? It might help.”
There was a gasp behind me.
My stomach lurched and I looked over Hamish’s shoulder. Reid stood in the hall, his expression one of betrayal.
Fuck.
“I’m not crazy!” he shouted, then stormed away.
I started into the house, moving on autopilot, but Hamish blocked my path.
“Get out of my way,” I growled. “My mate needs me.”
He planted his hand on my chest. “He doesn’t have his magic fully under control at the moment. Upsetting him will only make that worse.”
I cursed, knowing he was right. Chasing Reid right now would only add to his distress and if he lashed out and lost access to his magic again as a result, there wouldn’t be any consoling him.
“You’ve got a point.” I closed my eyes as fur rippled across my skin and I struggled to suppress my bear’s protective instincts.
We can’t crowd him. He needs to feel safe, I reminded him.
Ours. Protect. Defend, he retorted.
I grimaced. Clearly, I was going to have to force him down. I clenched my fists and channeled my energy into retaining my human form.
“I’ll set up a watch,” I said, clinging to the frayed remnants of my humanity.
Hamish nodded. “We’d appreciate that.”
He closed the door and I strode down the path, dropped to my knees at the roadside and succumbed to the animalistic need to roar my frustration.
Releasing that tiny bit of energy allowed me to find my phone and send a message to my family’s group chat, letting them know we needed to be on guard, then I headed back to the station to make sure someone would be patrolling the town constantly.
No one would be getting near my mate again. I wasn’t leaving his safety to chance, even if it meant doing things my human side found… questionable.