Chapter 49
Forty-Nine
ETHAN
Iwake to my phone beeping incessantly.
Rubbing sleep out of my eyes, I throw an arm out and awkwardly fumble with my phone—cursing when it lands on the ground with a thump.
“Motherfucker,” I groan.
I was having the most amazing dream. Izzy, me, no clothes…
A flush spreads through my body like wildfire. I suddenly feel hot all over, my skin tingling.
I never expected to fall as hard as I did so quickly. I always heard stories of shifters meeting their fated mates, their Hearts, but I never thought it would happen to me.
And my feelings for her are not simply because of the bond between us. Despite popular belief, it doesn’t influence feelings or emotions.
No, it’s because Izzy is so utterly perfect for me. It was impossible for me not to fall—and fall hard.
I grab my phone and hold it above my face, wincing at the bright, blinding light.
An unfamiliar number blinks on the screen.
Huh?
I click on the text thread, my confusion growing with every new message I read.
Unknown
Where’s Izzy?
Unknown
Is she with you?
Unknown
Dammit. Answer.
Ethan
Who is this?
Unknown
Grayson
Grayson? Why the hell is he texting me at—I glance at the time on my phone—two in the morning?
Grayson
I tried getting ahold of you earlier. Went to your house. Got your number from the school directory.
My eyebrows draw together.
Ethan
Uh…why?
Grayson
Because I had a meeting with the vampire Elders. Saw Ashton and Kain meeting with them.
What?!? Shock thunders through me as I read through the text—once, twice, three times.
Ethan
That’s impossible. Kain is in prison.
Grayson
Trust me. He’s not. He’s out, and he’s working with Ashton. And they’re working with the vampires.
Ethan
The same vampires who attacked us?!? Ashton would NEVER do that.
Grayson
I don’t give a shit what he would or would not do. I just need to know where Izzy is. Is she with him?
Ethan
Why would she be with him willingly? She hates him.
Besides, if Ashton wanted to hurt Izzy, then he would’ve done so in the forest, right? Not that he would. I know my packmate, and despite what he says, he’s a softie at heart and as head over heels as the rest of us, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
Grayson
I can’t get ahold of her. She’s not at the house.
Ethan
And why would you assume she’s with Ashton?
There’s a beat, and at first, I think he’s not going to respond. Then my phone pings.
Grayson
When I couldn’t find her, I noticed her MacBook on her desk. Her messages there are connected to her phone. I didn’t snoop, but I saw she got a message from Ashton asking to meet.
Fuck.
Maybe Ashton simply wants to bury the hatchet?
Befriend her? Apologize for his past behavior?
Even as I think that, I remember the way he glared at her when she arrived at the clearing.
There was pure, unencumbered hatred emanating from his eyes.
I thought he was faking then, putting on a front designed to scare her away, but now…
“Fuck.” I throw off the covers and grab the first pair of jeans I can find, clumsily pulling them up.
I forgo a shirt as I race down the hall towards Emery’s room. When I arrive, I pound my fist on the door, then I barge in before he can grant me permission.
“Dude? What the fuck?” The first thing I—unfortunately—see is my brother’s bare ass.
Unlike me, who prefers to sleep in my boxers, Emery likes to go nude.
“Get up. Get dressed.” I reach into his laundry bin and throw a pair of jeans at his face.
He blinks at me wordlessly, his short hair tousled and his eyes glazed.
“It’s two in the fucking morning, man,” he gripes.
“It’s Izzy,” I tell him.
And that’s all I need to say.
Emery doesn’t need any prodding after that. He throws on his jeans, grabs a shirt off the ground, and then hurries after me into the hall.
“What’s going on?” he demands, his eyes alert.
Quickly, I explain what's going on, trying to keep my answers as concise and impersonal as possible. The last thing I want to do is focus on Ashton’s betrayal. I have to believe he had a reason, or else…
Emery begins to shake his head rapidly. “Ashton wouldn’t… I mean, he wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t betray the shifters like that.”
“We just need to figure out why he wanted to meet with Izzy in the first place,” I say curtly.
“You don’t think it’s because he has nefarious intentions, do you?” Emery chuckles, though the sound lacks any genuine humor. “He’s an asshole, but he’s still Ashton. Our Ashton. He would never hurt Izzy.”
“I know that. Fuck, I know that. But…”
“You want to see her with your own two eyes and ensure she’s okay?” Em finishes for me.
“Yeah. I mean, if Ashton is working with Kain for whatever fucking reason, then we need to know why. He obviously has a reason.” I rake a shaky hand through my hair. “I refuse to believe that Ashton chose to betray us. Fucking refuse.”
“What the hell is going on out here?” The door to my parents’ bedroom opens, and Dad pokes his head out, squinting.
Behind him, my mother sits upright in bed, her lips pursed.
Emery and I exchange a look, one that makes words unnecessary. We used to do it all the time when we were kids, but not so much over the last few months.
I can tell we’re thinking the same thing.
Our father can’t know the truth. Not until we have more information. If he believes for even a second that Ashton betrayed the shifters…
Fuck, it’ll be bad. Very bad.
“Nothing, Dad.” Emery forces a smile on his face. “Go back to sleep.”
Dad volleys his gaze between the two of us suspiciously but relents with a sigh. “All right. You let me know if you need me, okay?”
With another pointed look aimed our way, he shuts the door to his bedroom once more.
Emery and I release a breath.
“Do you know where Ashton is meeting Izzy?” Emery asks, already moving to the front door.
I check my messages, unsurprised to see a new text from Grayson. “Ashton’s house, apparently.”
We race side by side to the car, and I slide into the passenger seat. My preferred seat in a vehicle, if I’m being completely honest.
“That’s good, right? Gregor’s going to be there.” Em shoves the key into the ignition.
“And do we even trust Gregor?” I ask, arching an eyebrow.
“Fuck, do we? I don’t even know anymore.”
The car sputters but doesn’t turn on. Emery’s eyebrows draw together, manifesting deep furrows in the center of his forehead.
“Why the fuck isn’t this working?” He tries again.
And again. And again.
“Fuck it.” I slip out of the car and slam the door shut behind me. “I’m shifting.”
As I speak, I reach for the button of my jeans and pop it open.
Emery has already undressed and shifted into his wolf form.
The change ripples over me instantly.
The air burns in my lungs, heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. My fingertips throb, and then my nails lengthen into claws. I stumble forward, my legs folding, reshaping, and I drop to all fours. My spine arches with a sickening pop, causing pain to flare, and my jaw stretches.
In seconds, I’m a wolf.
Emery whines and throws his furry head in the direction of Ashton’s house.
Mate, my wolf growls, the need to get to her nearly overwhelming.
Mate, I agree.
Then, without another word, Emery and I take off into the woods.