“Yeah, totally unharmed.”
She let out a sigh of relief and tugged Lauren into her arms, which was awkward with the seatbelt. Lauren could feel tears on her neck as her mom hugged her in a death grip. Finally she pulled away and swiped at her wet cheeks. “We were ready to storm the Kincaid pack’s territory but his second-in-command informed us you were missing. Where have you been? What happened? Did anyone hurt you?”
Oh, they’d met Max. And she needed to know if he was okay and where he was. “Is Max okay?”
Her mother’s lips thinned. “He’s fine. He’s out looking for you as we speak. You shouldn’t be worried about him anyway. Now tell me what happened, we’ve been worried sick.”
Relief slammed into her that Max was unharmed and she was also warmed by the fact that he was searching for her.
Lauren took a deep breath before launching into what happened. “I was on my way to find Max when someone—in the condominium—shot me with a dart gun. I was definitely drugged but I shifted to my cat before passing out. Then I woke up in jaguar form in an abandoned house about a mile back.” She motioned with her hand. “I have no clue who took me or why. I just got out of there as fast as I could in case they came back.” She pressed an unsteady hand to her stomach as a wave of nausea swept through her. “I’m pretty sure there are still drugs in my system.”
Dominga Hayes rubbed a hand over her face and shook her head. “You were shot with a dart gun? By one of those wolves!” She shouted the last part, anger overtaking her delicate features.
“Yes, and we need to figure out who did it.” And she desperately wanted to get back to Max. She already missed his scent on her. The most primal part of her wanted to be held by him and to hold him back.
“I don’t even know where to start, Lauren. You’re trying to put me in an early gave, I swear. What the hell were you thinking coming here? Those jewels aren’t worth your life! And now some lunatic shot you with a dart gun. If it happened in their secure condominium it had to be a wolf.”
And there it was. Her mom had a wicked temper and if she hadn’t been kidnapped Lauren knew her mom would have laid into her earlier than this. “Mom, I know, but—”
“No buts. We need to contact your father so we can leave. He will compensate the Kincaid pack for all their troubles and you will never come into this territory again.” She started the engine as she spoke.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. She might have done something stupid, but she wasn’t a child. And she wasn’t staying away from Max. No way. “Mom, I’m not leaving, but we’ll discuss that later. First we need to find out who took me and why.”
“It was one of those wolves. Who cares why? They were probably just angry a jaguar was in their territory and tried to steal from their alpha, which is all the more reason for us to get out of town as soon as possible. I want you safe. No one will ever take you again.” Her hands shook as she reversed the vehicle and guilt punched into Lauren at the sight.
Her parents loved her so much and she them. She was incredibly grateful to have such a loving pride but she couldn’t run away. “Mom, we can’t just leave. I gave Max my word I’d stay for a week. In return he’s giving us the brooch. And before you freak out, he’s not actually punishing me.”
“You’re sleeping with him.” It wasn’t a question. Her jaw was set in an angry line as she pulled back onto the road and headed east.
“Not…yet.” She so didn’t want to talk about this with her mom. Ever. “That’s not important anyway. I need to call him and tell him what happened.” He would be worried and she hated the thought of causing him any kind of pain.
“I need to call your father first.” Lips pulled into a thin line, her mother pulled her cell phone out of the center console. Before she could do anything, it rang.
Lauren saw her father’s name on the caller ID and inwardly winced. He was going to be so disappointed in her, which sucked. It would have been one thing to come home with the brooch and deal with their annoyance but it was totally different to have them find out now.
Her mother answered immediately and the phone immediately linked up with the speaker system in the vehicle, letting Lauren hear her father’s voice clearly. “Where are you?”
“I’ve found Lauren. She’s safe and unharmed, but has some things to tell you. We’re returning to the Kincaid compound,” she said on a sigh, as if it was the last place she wanted to go.
“No, take her and leave.”