Fated to Be Family(35)

“We’ll wait until morning. If she still hasn’t turned up, we’ll send out a search party. At her age, she may be at her boyfriend’s house or out studying,” Bran said.

“People usually turn up in the first twenty-four hours, Kate,” Aleks added sounding more like the town’s Sheriff than a friend.

Feeling extremely agitated, Kate spun on her heel and went back to their table. All four sat down dejected.

“The FBI has also reported that eighty-nine percent of all children die within the first twenty-four hours they are missing,” Rebecca said, her violet eyes serious.

Cecelia gasped. Rebecca looked at Kate and they both had a moment of absolute understanding. This was about being a woman, a mother, a friend and following what your heart was telling you.

“Kate...” Rebecca lowered her voice to the barest of whispers. “As Alpha Mother, I am asking that you go and look for Gina,” Rebecca said firmly and unequivocally, taking full responsibility for whatever happened.

Kate nodded and stood. “Bran, I’m running Cecelia back to the Pack house. She caught a ride with some friends who are at the movies.” Kate yelled and Bran and Caleb smiled and waved.

“Hurry up, hun, before they smell the lie,” Kate said, ushering Cecelia out the door and into her truck.

“They’ll know something’s wrong if they come out here and see my parents’ car,” Cecelia said, pointing to the ostentatious red Beemer.

Kate thought for a moment.

“Grab your keys and follow me. We’re heading to Gina’s house.”

Cecelia got into her car and Kate jumped into her truck.

Kate drove east toward the pack lands. She found herself getting anxious and her wolf was getting restless. Unsure of the reason, she lowered the window to get some cool air into the cab and a familiar scent hit her nose. She slammed on her brakes and saw the red car nearly crash into the back of her truck. She threw the truck into park and turned off the ignition. She jumped out and walked back to where Cecelia looked spooked.

“What happened?” Cecelia asked, looking up at Kate.

“I smell blood. How far is it to Gina’s house?” Kate asked.

“About three miles from here, then there is a long driveway,” Cecelia said.

“Let’s move the cars off the road and shift here,” Kate said. Cecelia nodded.

They moved the vehicles to the shoulder and Kate met Cecelia at the back of the truck. Cecelia handed her a small bag that, at first glance, looked as though it was made out of a net, but when she looked closer, she realized it was crocheted. Kate looked at the pink bag in her hand then back to Cecelia who blushed.

“I’m still not very comfortable when I shift back and I’m naked, so I made these for me and Gina. They can hold your clothes but don’t add bulk or weight. That loop is thin enough that you can easily carry it in your mouth. You can have that one if you want. I crochet when I get stressed. I have a ton of them.” Cecelia opened the drawstring to her bag.

“These are awesome, thank you. To tell you the truth, I’m still not that comfortable either,” Kate said smiling gently.

Both women stripped their clothes and folded them into tiny squares before stuffing them in the surprisingly durable bags. Both shifted and, using their muzzle, carried their clothes with them.

After they shifted, the smell of blood became magnified. Both wolves headed toward it. As the scent became stronger, their pace increased. They came upon a small clearing and skidded to a halt. Hanging upside down from the tree, a small, white figure swayed with the wind. Cecelia shifted back and, with an anguished cry, ran toward Gina. Kate shifted and ran over to help pull the girl down. Neither one of them carried a knife so Kate simply reached up and snapped the branch off. Kate felt sick as she saw various cuts on Gina’s arms and inner thighs. Whoever had hurt the girl had intended for her to die slowly.

Cecelia sat on the ground, holding Gina in her arms, crying.

“Cecelia! Cecelia, focus!” Kate said, sharply.

“She’s still breathing. Get up and get dressed. We need to get her to town and the clinic. Hurry!” Kate said, pulling on her clothes. Cecelia gently placed Gina on the ground and pulled on her clothes as well. Kate easily lifted the small girl in her arms and they ran as quickly as they could back to the vehicles.

“Cecelia, I know you want to go with Gina, but I need you to do me a huge favor.” Cecelia nodded rapidly, eyes blinking.

“Cecelia Raymond, are you with me?” Kate asked.

Cecelia shook her head as if to clear it and then met Kate’s eyes. “I’m okay. What do you need me to do, Alpha?”

“I need you to go to the Pack house and tell Rian to take the boys to the Pride House, that I am personally asking the Pride Alpha to guard my sons. Tell Riley what happened and have him bring only his most trusted men to the clinic.” She strapped Gina into the passenger seat of her truck.