Chapter 10
TEN
Camden
Rhodes told me to give my mate time, but I can’t. My wolf and I are going crazy. We need to see her. We need to talk to her and convince her to give us another chance.
We’ll take her out for lunch and talk, I tell my wolf.
He nods, licking his lips as we climb the front porch steps and knock on Rhodes’ door.
I wait impatiently for someone to answer, trying to hide my disappointment when Adeline opens the door.
“Hey, can I talk to Holly?” I ask, looking past her into the house for a glimpse of my mate.
“She’s not here.”
“What? Where is she? She didn’t leave town, did she?” I ask, my muscles tensing.
“No, she wanted to avoid running into you. She went for a hike,” Adeline tells me.
“A hike? Where?”
I’m instantly on high alert. My wolf is freaking out inside me, worried that our mate took the wrong trail and got lost, or worse.
What if the cult finds her? my wolf growls.
I clench my fists. We won’t let that happen. We’ll find her.
“Camden,” Rhodes says as he comes up behind me.
“My mate went out for a hike this morning,” I tell him.
He freezes, his eyes darting from me to Adeline and back to me. “What? Where? Why did you let her go?”
I glare at him. “I was following your advice and giving her space!”
He winces and then looks at his mate. “What time did she leave? Where was she going?”
“She said a beginner trail. Um—” Addy pauses as she thinks. “The Friendship Trail!”
I frown. “That’s not near the trail we’ve been watching.”
Rhodes nods. “When did she leave?”
“A little before nine this morning,” Adeline replies.
“Shit,” Rhodes hisses.
I start to panic. “It’s almost two,” I choke out.
“When was she coming back?” Rhodes asks.
Adeline shakes her head. “I don’t know. She said she wanted to get out and clear her head.”
This is your fault, my wolf snarls. You didn’t claim her, and now she’s in danger because she was trying to avoid you!
I feel like shit, but I can’t dwell on my mistakes. I need to find my mate. Then I can fix everything.
I rake a hand through my hair. “We have to search for her.”
Rhodes nods. “I’ll alert the Packs, and we’ll start a search. You go out now.”
I sprint back to my truck and peel out of their driveway, heading toward the trail Adeline mentioned. When I see Holly’s car in the lot, I relax a little. It’s the only one here. I hop out and head up the trail.
She probably got turned around. We’ll find her and take her home, I tell my wolf.
He’s on high alert, sniffing the air and searching for any sight or scent of her. When I reach the fork in the trail, I pause and take a deep breath.
Left! my wolf shouts.
I take off down that trail. We follow her scent to a meadow, and I stop near a fallen tree. My stomach sinks when I see the scene there.
A water bottle lies discarded next to the tree, but that’s not what has dread curling inside me. I see the signs of a struggle.
Drag marks scuff the dirt, along with three other sets of shoe prints. I follow them into the forest and drop to my knees when I see the tire tracks leading away from the Pack land… toward the cult.
“No,” I choke.
“What is it?” Foster asks, skidding to a stop next to me.
“Shit,” Cyrus curses, taking in the tracks.
“They took her,” Rhodes growls.
I nod. “We have to get her back. Now.”
“We will,” Rhodes assures me.
I don’t wait for them to come up with a plan. I take off.
Following the tracks to their land, I scan the scattered buildings, wondering which one my mate is in. My eyes lock onto the house where they took Beth, the girl we rescued the other day. That must be where she is.
“Help!”
I hear Holly’s scream, and the hairs on my arms stand on end.
Save her! my wolf snarls.
I’m already moving. I spring down the hill and straight to the house, slamming my shoulder into the door and busting it open.
“Holly!” I shout, scanning the dark house.
“Camden!” she shouts, her terrified eyes meeting mine. “Look out!”
My wolf and I react at once. I shift from human to my wolf form in seconds, lunging at the first man who charges at me. My friends shift and take care of the other two men, who raise their guns at me.
My teeth sink into the man’s throat, and his warm blood spurts across my fur as he screams in pain. He goes limp a moment later. I release and spin around, racing to my mate’s side.
I shift back, crouching behind her as I work to untie her. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
She doesn’t respond. When I glance up at her, she’s frozen in place.
“Holly? Holly! Are you hurt? What’s wrong?” I ask urgently.
“You… I’ve never seen you…” She trails off.
I fill in the blanks. She’s never seen me shift. She’s never seen my wolf.
“It’s okay. I’m getting you out of here.”
She nods wordlessly as I untie her hands and work on the ropes binding her legs.
Once she’s free, I drag her to her feet and cradle her against my chest. “You’re okay. You’re okay. Are you hurt?”
“My hip,” she says, wincing as she rubs her left hip.
“And your lip,” I growl, taking in her split lip and the bruise forming on her cheekbone. “Which one hit you?”
“Him,” she says, nodding toward the man I just killed.
“I should have made it more painful,” I snarl.
“Can we leave?” she whispers.
“Yes, come here.”
I don’t wait for her. I scoop her into my arms and take off. My wolf scans the area, searching for any sign of a threat as we charge up the hill and onto our Pack land.
I see more of my Pack members heading my way. They look concerned until they see Holly cradled in my arms.
“What do you need, Alpha?” one of my members asks.
“A doctor. Send them to my house. Now.”
He nods and takes off.
Making my way to my truck, I tuck Holly into the passenger seat. Cyrus, Foster, and Rhodes come down the trail after me and hop into the back of my truck bed.
Reaching for Holly’s hand, I hold it in mine as we make the short drive back to my house. I stop out front, and the other Alphas hop out.
“We’ll call off the search,” Rhodes says.
“Thanks, guys.”
“Of course, brother,” Foster says, clapping me on the back.
“Let us know if you need anything,” Cyrus adds.
“I will.”
They take off, and I round the hood of my truck to open the door for Holly. I help her out, lift her into my arms, and carry her inside.
“Can you put some clothes on?” she asks as I set her on the couch and hover over her.
“Oh, yeah.”
I jog out of the living room to my bedroom, tug on a clean shirt and jeans, and return to Holly’s side.
My wolf looks her over, and I’m about to ask her what she needs when the front door opens and Doc McAdams enters.
“You needed me?” he asks.
“Yeah. She was hit and hurt her hip.”
The doctor sits beside Holly with his bag. “Can you tell us what happened?”
“Yeah, why were you out there alone?” I snap, my anger returning now I know she’s safe.
Holly glares at me, then turns to face the doc. I want to reach for her. I want her eyes on me, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt her. Instead, I hover as the doc looks her over.
“I was out on a hike when this guy appeared. I was about to run because he gave me the creeps, but before I could, the others were there. They grabbed me, dragged me to an ATV, and into that house,” Holly says, shivering at the memory.
“Did they say anything?” I ask.
“Not really… The guy who tied me up took off the hood they put over my head and said, ‘he’ll be pleased.’”
I frown. “He’ll be pleased?”
“Yeah. I asked him what he meant, but he didn’t answer me. No one else came into the room before you arrived.”
My wolf paces inside me. I should alert the other Alphas and the Pack members, but right now, I need to be with my mate.
I stand over her while the doctor checks her over and gives me some cream for the bruises.
“She’ll need to rest today. An Epsom bath will reduce the swelling, and ice will help the bruise on her hip and cheek.” He closes his bag, and I shake his hand before he heads out.
Then it’s just my mate and me.
“Are you hungry? What can I get you?”
“Food,” she says, licking her lips.
Going to the kitchen, I make her some soup and a few grilled cheese sandwiches, grabbing a water bottle before returning to her side.
She eats like she’s starving, which makes me furious. I should have been there for her. I should have protected her.
We should have claimed her when we first saw her, my wolf points out.
I watch her finish her food and chug the water. Taking the dishes from her, I set them on the kitchen counter. “What else do you need?”
Holly thinks for a second. “A phone. I should call Adeline. She must be freaked out.”
“Rhodes will tell her we found you,” I say, passing her my phone anyway.
She sighs as she stares at the screen and passes it back to me. “I can’t remember her phone number.”
“I’ll call Rhodes,” I say, hitting his name.
“Everything okay?” he asks, answering on the second ring.
“Yeah, Holly wants to talk to Adeline.”
“Holly? Holly!” Adeline cries.
Holly bursts into tears as I hand her the phone. “I’m okay,” she sobs.
I sit next to her on the couch, wrapping my arms around her clumsily. I’m terrible at comforting people, but I want to learn for Holly.
She cries on my shoulder as she talks to Adeline about what happened. I brush her hair over her shoulder and keep her tucked into my side as she talks to her friend.
“Okay… Yeah,” she says. “I’ll talk to you later.”
She hangs up and passes me the phone. I toss it aside and hug her.
“Thanks for coming,” she whispers.
I nod against the top of her head. “Always, mate.”
We’re silent, and Holly relaxes against my side. I can feel her letting go of her anger toward me by degrees, giving me hope that I haven’t ruined things with her.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I was wrong.”
“Hmm?”
I kiss the top of her head. “I thought the Pack was the most important thing in my life, but I was wrong. It’s you.
It will always be you. I was an idiot to think otherwise, and I’m sorry for what I’ve put you through since our first meeting.
I’m sorry for ever making you doubt my feelings for you. ”
She tilts her head to look at me, her dark eyes scanning my features, looking for any sign that I’m not being truthful.
“It’s you, mate,” I tell her softly. “You’re what matters.”
She swallows hard and gives me a tiny nod.
Unable to resist any longer, I close the distance between us and kiss her.
Her lips are soft against mine, trembling for a second before she leans in and kisses me back.
My heart pounds in my chest, and my wolf lets out a low, satisfied rumble deep inside me.
This—this is what we’ve both been starving for.
I cradle her cheek, mindful of her bruise, and deepen the kiss.
Her hands slide up my chest, clutching the fabric of my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll disappear if she lets go.
Tilting my head, I brush my mouth over hers again, slower this time, savoring her sweetness.
She tastes like salt and tears and something that feels like home.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur against her lips. “You’re safe now, Holly.”
She exhales shakily, resting her forehead against mine. “I was so scared,” she whispers.
“I know, sweetheart.” I stroke her hair, my voice rough. “I’ll never let anyone touch you again.”
Her breath catches, and she closes the distance, kissing me again—this time with more need, more trust. I meet her halfway, one hand tangling in her hair, the other settling at her waist to steady her.
The kiss turns tender again, a promise instead of desperation, and when she sighs into my mouth, I know she’s letting go.
When I finally pull back, she blinks up at me sleepily, her lashes fluttering.
“You should rest,” I say softly.
Holly starts to protest, but I slide one arm under her knees and the other around her back, lifting her easily.
She lets out a little gasp, her hands gripping my shoulders. “Camden—”
“Shhh,” I hush her. “You’ve been through enough for one day.”
I carry her down the hallway to my bedroom, pushing the door open with my foot.
The room is dim and quiet, with the faint scent of pine and cedarwood surrounding us.
Setting her gently on the bed, I pull back the blanket so she can slip beneath it.
She looks so small there, bruised and tired, but still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
I crouch beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’ll be right here.”
Her hand catches mine before I can move away. “Stay,” she whispers.
I don’t hesitate. I slip off my boots and climb into bed beside her, careful not to jar her sore hip. She curls into my chest like she’s meant to be there, her head resting right over my heart.
Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her close. She lets out a soft sigh, her fingers clutching my shirt.
“Camden?” she murmurs sleepily.
“Yeah, mate?”
“Don’t leave.”
“Never,” I promise, pressing a kiss to her hair. “You’re mine. Always.”
She relaxes fully then, her breathing evening out as she drifts off in my arms. I hold her tighter, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against mine.
My wolf finally settles, content for the first time since we found her.
And as her soft breath fills the room, I let my eyes close, too, guarding her, loving her, and silently vowing that I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that she’s my forever.