Saving the Beast(17)

“Tah and Reno want to go over a few things with Kenzie and me,” Diane said. “I’m guessing at this point it will be early morning before we set out.”

He appeared thoughtful. “Great time to leave. I’ll see you when you return.” With those parting words, he turned and headed to his office.

Diane left the lab and hurried up the stairs, eager for the day to be over so she could leave. Now that she’d made up her mind to go after Zane, to believe she was his mate, she wanted to head out immediately. Maybe Tah would let her and Kenzie leave this afternoon instead. Diane’s heart raced with anticipation and a touch of fear. She’d be foolish not to be afraid.

The rest of the day flew by. Tah was still not completely on board with Kenzie and Diane leaving. He ordered them to see him and Reno again in the morning before they headed out on their own. Diane spent half the night fretting Tah would change his mind at the last minute and forbid them. The other half was consumed with worry over Zane, and whether or not she’d taken too long to go after him. When morning finally arrived, she was anxious to be on her way. Maybe she’d get lucky and find Zane today.

“Please, God, let Zane be okay. Let me save him, all of him, and bring him home,” she whispered in the quiet of her room as she tossed clothes haphazardly in the backpack Clara had loaned her. She made sure to grab the clothes Murphy had left for her to carry for Zane. His boots were going to take up a huge portion of space in her pack, but she knew he’d need them.

She’d have to hurry to make the mandatory meeting with Tah and Reno. She sent up another prayer that Tah hadn’t changed his mind overnight. He’d made no pretense about the fact he didn’t like the idea of sending two females out on their own to hunt for a primal shifter. She didn’t think he liked sending two females out alone, period, but she wasn’t going to call him on it. She’d learned just how alpha these male shifters were, and Tah was the alpha of them all.

This was the second day in a row she wasn’t headed straight to the labs. It was strange to her. The labs were where she felt most at home, even on the mornings she was busy cleaning up after others who’d used it for personal reasons. So far all three couples currently living at the cabin had given in to sexual need while in her lab. Her thoughts skittered to Zane. Maybe it would be her turn to use it when they got back. Her insides clenched at the thought.

There was a sharp knock on the door before it was pushed open. Kenzie poked her head around and Diane’s reprimand disappeared at the woman’s engaging grin.

“Ready to go?” Kenzie asked.

“Almost,” Diane said. “Should I bring my bag down with me to the office?”

“No office,” Kenzie said. “I already spoke to Tah and Reno. We’re good to go as soon as you’re ready.”

“Really?” Diane practically squealed with excitement.

Kenzie nodded. “If you hurry, we can miss most of the crowd and get going with minimal fuss.”

Diane cinched and snapped shut the bag and pulled one strap over her shoulder as she turned. “I’m ready.”

Kenzie shoved the door all the way open, revealing her own backpack. “I’ve got the other things we’ll need packed on one of the four wheelers. Tents, sleeping bags and food and water. We can take the ATV to the boundary and leave it there. From that point, we’ll be hiking. Your shoes good?”

Diane glanced at her very comfortable hiking boots. “Yeah, I’m good.”

She and Kenzie headed down the stairs. They were dressed similarly in jeans, boots and T-shirts. Kenzie had a flannel thrown over hers while Diane had opted for a light jacket. They stopped in the kitchen and grabbed several bottles of water. The house was eerily quiet.

“Where is everyone?” Diane wondered.

“Tah went down with Logan and Clara to talk to the shifter, Dillon. Reno and Amia made a quick trip into town for supplies. Holt’s at the monitors. I think Vic’s on patrol with Finn and Murphy. There’s been a lot of hikers out and about lately. Tah’s afraid one of them might wander in here by mistake,” Kenzie said as she rummaged and grabbed several things from the cabinets.

“Should I be grabbing more stuff, as well?” Diane asked. She’d never really gone on a trip like this and thought Kenzie had already gathered supplies.

“Nah, I’m just being overly cautious,” she replied with that grin of hers. “Let’s go.”

They made quick time, running into no one, which surprised Diane. Tah had been very adamant that he wanted to talk to her. But Dillon was becoming more and more of an issue with his constant threats and hatred spewing out. He refused to tell them what he’d given to Lydia and thus bound their hands in trying to help the woman. To top it off, Dillon was constantly shifting and ramming the door, trying to get out—unless Murphy was down there. Dillon seemed to be terrified of Murphy, which made sense if Murphy had really broken his arm. Diane didn’t doubt it at all.