Chapter 28
Zane
My eyes shoot open as panic courses through my chest, sharp and poignant.
I jerk upright in bed, my wolf’s vision instantly scanning the room for threat.
When I don’t see one, I’m confused. Then it hits me.
It’s not my panic. It’s Evie’s. I’m on my feet a moment later, scrambling for my phone.
I can’t find it and curse. Then I remember I left it charging in the other room.
I race into the living room and grab it just as it rings.
Evie’s name flashes on the screen and that bad feeling in my stomach intensifies a thousand degrees. I answer it in a flash. “Evie.”
“Zane!” Her desperation hits me hard and fast. “You have to help me! I—” She screams in my ear, and I fight for control as my wolf slams against my barriers.
“Evie! Evie!” I shout at her. My words are nearly indistinguishable, but my voice shakes the house as my alpha power seeps out.
“I’m sorry,” a new voice says, and I pinpoint it instantly.
The roommate. “She can’t come to the phone right now.
Can I take a message?” Then she laughs, and it’s cold.
“Not really.” The call dies, and I call right back.
When it goes right to voicemail, I roar in frustration and throw my phone into the wall.
“Zane, what’s going on?” Quint demands.
“They’ve got Evie.” My words barely form. My fangs have dropped, my claws are out, and my arms are partially shifted. I’m already out the front door. I’m so angry with myself. This is the first night in a week it wasn’t me guarding her dorm at night. The guys insisted I get some sleep.
Quint follows me out the front door. “Who?”
“The roommate.” I shift as soon as I hit the last step and land as a wolf. I pound the pavement as I head towards the woods. I lift my voice in a howl, alerting my pack members that I need their help. Quint is right behind me.
I'm coming, Reid lets me know.
Suddenly, my father’s voice is in my head. Zane, what is it?
They have Evie.
I can feel my father’s shock through the link. Who? He demands.
I don’t know. The roommate for sure.
Where are you?
The woods behind our house.
We're on our way.
I appreciate my father’s words, but he won’t get here in time. This is on me. I sniff the air as I run. I don’t get the slightest whiff of my mate’s scent, and that worries me. I’ve got eyes on her, Reid sends me. She’s alone now.
Are you sure? I demand, my voice leaking authority into the link.
Yes. There’s no doubt in his words.
She’s panicking and running. I’m going to just trail her and make sure she gets to you.
I’m not crazy about the idea, but it’s the best we’ve got.
If she sees his wolf, she could panic even more.
But he needs to stay in wolf form to make sure he picks up on any and every threat.
I sniff the air and get the faintest whiff of my mate’s scent.
My wolf takes off, following the scent. We run hard and fast, and her scent gets a little stronger.
It’s still not as strong as it should be, but I don’t dwell on that right now.
“Zane, shift!” I hear Quint and shift instantly. “Catch.” I turn and catch the pants midair and throw them on seconds before Evie comes running towards me. I know she can’t see me in the dark, but I can see her. The panic in her eyes and fear on her face are my undoing.
Not wanting to startle her, I stay where I am, even though it kills me. “Evie,” I call out in a low, calm voice.
She stops and takes a hesitant step backwards. She looks over her shoulder and then back towards me. I can’t take it anymore; she’s beyond terrified. I walk towards her, making noise with my feet so she knows I’m coming. “I’m here, Evie.”
“Zane?” My name on her lips a whisper, and it breaks my heart.
“Yeah, Baby, it’s me.” And then she’s running towards the sound of my voice.
I meet her halfway, and she launches herself into my arms. I wrap my arms around her as tight as I can without hurting her.
She sobs into my chest, and I hold her close for a moment before I lift her against my chest to carry her.
I don’t say anything because I’m not capable right now.
I vow to find whoever did this to her and give them a slow, painful death.
Her body shakes against mine, and I try to let my body heat warm her.
I want to ask her what happened, but it’s obvious she can’t tell me right now.
Go find whoever did this to her, I send to my packmates.
Keep them alive for me. My words are dark and just a fraction of what I’m feeling right now.
I keep my arms around Evie, even as I start walking through the woods.
Her small frame shivers against me, and I don’t think it’s from the cold.
I don’t think she even notices that I’m not wearing a shirt.
I keep tabs on her heartbeat. It's starting to slow a little, but it’s too elevated for my liking.
I can also tell she’s in pain. Her breathing has a hitch to it.
My guess would be that her ribs are injured.
I take a deep breath and try to stay in control.
I’m barely hanging on. The only thing keeping me from tipping over the edge and going on a killing spree is my mate in my arms. I don’t know what happened out here tonight, but I won’t rest until I find out.
I make the walk back to the house I share with my packmates.
I don’t bother asking her if that’s okay.
I’m not taking her to her dorm; I can’t let her out of my sight.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to after tonight.
I rub a hand over the back of her head and kiss her temple.
“It’s okay,” I manage to get out, even though it’s not.
It’s really, really not. I head up the steps and open the door and step inside.
I carry her to my room and place her ever so gently on my bed.
She reaches out for me, and I hold her hand firmly between mine.
“Please don’t leave me.” Her voice is so desperate and broken, it shatters me.
“Never.” I pull back the covers and slip in next to her.
I pull her shivering body into my arms, willing my body heat to sink into hers and ease her shivering.
“Hey,” I push back her tangled hair and try to look into her eyes, but she squeezes them shut and pushes her head against my chest. “You’re safe here; I’ve got you. Nothing will hurt you here.”
Eventually my words must get through to her because her shivers finally cease. Her heart rate slows down to a more moderate tempo, but I don’t think she’s asleep. Her breathing hasn’t deepened enough yet.
I’m here, Son.
I’m unsurprised by my father’s words. I felt him the moment he stepped into the house.
I reach out and push Evie’s hair back. I wait for her to look at me, but she never does.
“My dad’s here. I need to go talk to him.
” Nothing. “I’m just going to be out in the living room, okay?
You’re safe here,” I reiterate. She doesn’t give me anything.
I almost prefer her panic over this...nothingness.
I bend towards her and kiss her temple. “I’ll be back.
” When I get to the door, I look back at her.
She hasn’t moved positions. I know she’s not sleeping, but she’s almost in a comatose state.
I squeeze the back of my neck and head out to meet my dad.
I take in my father, Coach Mitchell, his beta, and Joe, his enforcer. “What happened?” my dad demands, his voice hard.
I shake my head as anger rages through me again. “I don’t know.” I keep my voice low and quiet. I don’t want to scare Evie any more tonight.
“Is she okay?” my father asks, concern pushing past his gruffness.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “She won’t talk to me.”
“Who took her?”
“Her roommate for sure; I don’t know who else.”
My father narrows his eyes. “Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Quint and Reid come inside the front door. “What did you find?” My dad asks.
“Nothing, Sir,” Reid says.
“Nothing?” my dad and I both question at the same time.
“There’s nothing out there now,” Reid adds. “There’s no scent, no tracks, nothing.”
“How is that possible?” I demand.
Reid levels a look at me. “I don’t know.”
“Why weren’t you watching her dorm?” My voice is full of barely restrained anger.
Reid meets my gaze. “Security found me and stopped to talk to me. It took me a little bit to talk myself out of a problem. It wasn’t until you sent out the call that I realized there was a problem.”
Anger burns in my chest. I know it’s not actually his fault, but I want to blame somebody. I run a hand over my head. I’m torn between staying here with Evie and going out to scour the woods myself. “She needs to be checked out. I think her ribs are injured. Can mom come?”
I see the briefest amount of hesitation on my father’s face, and I get it.
He wants to protect his mate from whatever is going on out there, but I need Mom to check Evie’s ribs and wrap them if need be.
Thankfully, he agrees. His eyes take on a faraway look and then he nods.
“She’s getting ready.” He turns to Joe, and Joe disappears without a word.
He’ll make sure my mom gets here safely.
My father turns his focus back on me. “I know you don’t want to push your mate, but you’re going to have to figure out what went down out there tonight. ”
I nod, knowing I need to. “She hasn’t talked so far, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“Maybe you can get the friend,” Reid says.
Bringing Tessa here in the midst of all this feels like it might just be more of a problem, but I take in his suggestion. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“You talk with your mate and get answers. I’m calling in several enforcers to run the woods. If there’s something to find, they’ll find it.”
I nod my thanks to my father and then head back to my room.
I pause just inside the doorway and take in my mate.
She’s curled into a tight ball now, and it guts me.
I hate that she was scared tonight, that she got hurt.
I vow for the hundredth time tonight to end those that threatened her.
I walk over to the bed and sit down next to her.
I can tell she’s still not sleeping, but her eyes are squeezed shut.
I reach out and touch her shoulder, and she flinches.
I curse under my breath and remove my hand.
After waiting another minute, I finally talk.
“I know you’re not asleep.” I keep my voice low and calm and steady.
She doesn’t respond, and I continue. “Evie, you’re safe here.
I give you my word, but I need to know what happened out there tonight.
” There’s still no response. I run a hand through my hair, unsure what to do.
I finally give into my need to touch her and crawl under the covers again and pull her body against mine.
My tension eases when her soft skin touches mine, and her scent surrounds me.
“Please talk to me,” I whisper against her temple.
She still says nothing, and I try a different approach.
“My mom is coming here. I want her to check and wrap your ribs. I think they’re injured; I can tell by your breathing.
” Still nothing. I fall silent and simply hold her.
After a while, there’s a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” I call out softly.
The door opens slowly, and my mom’s face comes into view. “Can I come in?” she asks softly.
“Yeah, Mom.” She comes in quietly and approaches the bed. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.” Her voice is so gentle, but I can hear the worry beneath it. She puts her hand on my shoulder. “What can I do?”
“I need you to check Evie’s ribs and probably wrap them.” I pause. “And maybe check for any other injuries.” The words are hard to get out, and my mom seems to understand.
“I’ll be very gentle.”
“I know.” It’s hard for me to pull away from her, but I manage to do it. I climb out of bed and give my mom a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course, Honey. I’m so sorry.”
My hand on her shoulder tenses, but I merely nod and leave the room, casting a last glance at my mate.