“Look at them.” She leaned against him. “All these people visited my home, brought me gifts through the years, and saw to my comfort after my parents were killed. Now no one can even look me in the eye.”
“They are only acting the way they know how, Dani. Their leader’s discourse sets them all on edge.” He found her hand and clasped it tight within his. “Come. Let’s go back inside until they decide that I will not cause trouble for their alpha.”
* * *
Three hours after going to bed and making love to Ethan, Dani lay awake waiting for the moment his breathing slowed, a sign that he’d fallen into a deeper sleep. He’d worked himself into a bundle of nerves and tension. She’d hoped that bringing him relief, if not emotionally but sexually, would be enough to give her some time alone.
She slid off the bed and tiptoed out of the bedroom. Making sure not to make any noise, she crossed the hall and entered the other bedroom.
Jordan’s room.
Her throat muscles constricted and she forced herself to swallow. Her baby brother’s white crib sat against the wall. The mobile hung unmoving from the ceiling. She reached into the crib, and removed the blue baby blanket. For months, she’d wondered if her more enhanced senses after mating and releasing her wolf would help her find Jordan. Tonight she’d find out.
She carried the last material Jordan had touched to the living room. A year ago, she’d swaddled Jordan in the soft blue fabric. Then she’d found it on the ground not far from her mom’s murdered body later that night.
Holding the fleece up to her nose, Dani inhaled deeply. There.
The sweet, powdery innocence of her brother hid underneath the staleness of the old, unwashed blanket. She blinked back the tears.
Oh, Jordy. You probably have no idea how much I miss you and wish you were here.
She set the blanket aside, went to the front door and cracked it open. She’d waited months to mate, months for her wolf to emerge along with her heightened sense of smell so she could search for Jordan. She was positive she'd find him, because who knew him better than she did? She'd cared for him, holding him constantly while her mother recovered her strength. Jordan was part of her, and she'd be able to pick up his scent more easily than even Ethan.
She set her ear into the crack, discovering that no strangers were outside waiting to ambush her. She glanced at the hallway, hesitant to leave the house. Ethan would come unglued if he woke up and found her missing.
She steeled her emotions. The waiting to search was killing her. She understood Ethan's need for timing, but she was certain she’d succeed. She'd find her brother, then support Ethan as he worked his way back into the pack.
In a couple seconds, she’d shifted and nosed the door open enough for her slim wolf’s body to slip outside without a sound. Surprised to hear a whine come from her own throat, she loped along the street. No matter how much she fought her conflicting desire to rush back and remain safe with Ethan, she had to continue her search for her brother. She was the one person left in his life who’d die to protect him.
A rustle behind her sent her darting toward a stand of trees bordering the forest. The community in Drover was small and rural, something less than a town. Farms were long gone, and in their place were the werewolves who kept things quiet, lest they draw attention to themselves.
She hunkered down on the ground and stared out into the night. The fur on her back rippled. She wasn’t surprised to encounter another wolf on her outing. This was werewolf territory, and she couldn’t be too safe now that Ethan was back. She curled her upper lip showing her teeth. The weapons he’d taught her to use lay useless beside the bed back home.
Dammit.
The big silver wolf rounded the corner and slowed down to a walk. “You are in so much trouble, little one.”
Dani whined and rolled over on her back. “I have to find him, Ethan.”
He loomed over her. She refused to meet his gaze and stayed on her back. She fought her wolf to stand up, but she’d trained her animal to live by its natural instincts. Submitting to her mate was rule one, and never broken.
Ethan’s wolf lowered his head and nipped her under the chin. “Stand up.” Bowing her back, she flipped to her feet and hung her head. She licked the back of his front leg. “I’m sorry.”
He pushed against her until she was almost completely tucked under his body. “You have to trust me. I can’t have you running off to fight this battle by yourself. The pack learned about my arrival today. Do you not think every single one of them wants me…you, to mess up? We have a plan, and you agreed to follow my orders.” She’d broken her word, and that burden sat heavy on her shoulders. She folded her legs underneath her, lay on the ground, and put her head on her front paws. “I’m sorry.”