To Right a Wrong(18)

“Stop saying that!” Ethan’s wolf plopped down beside her. “What were you planning on doing? Barging into Greggoire’s house and attacking him yourself? Without me?”

“No.” She leaned her head over onto his outstretched paws. “I wanted to see if I could smell my brother.” She sighed. “I thought…with my wolf, I could tell if Jordy was inside the house. Once I found out where he was being kept, I’d come back home and tell you.” For several minutes underneath the cover of the trees, they lay side by side, each of them keeping their thoughts to themselves. Almost afraid to breathe in case she made Ethan angrier, she paused and waited. How could she explain her emotions?

In a matter of weeks, she’d gone from an unmated she-wolf to having the love of her life.

But still, the twin responsibilities of rescuing her brother and avenging her parents fell on her shoulders despite having a mate, someone who could help.

The long muscle running along her back twitched. The fear of failing her roles as sister, mate, and wolf, frightened her.

“I will go with you to Greggoire’s house, little one.” Ethan’s wolf stood up, and he glanced over his shoulder. “Afterward, you must wait until the challenge is over. Finding your brother will be much easier if I am the alpha.”

“But what if something happens before the challenge…or during. My dad—”

“Do you trust me?”

She closed her jaw. “Yes, but—” Ethan’s voice chuckled in her head. “I never took you for a worrywart.”

“I’m not!” Her wolf growled deep inside of her, but she put a stop to it in favor of arguing the point. “Maybe a little. I just want those I love to be safe and for life to get back to normal. It seems like this hell has gone on forever.”



“I know.” Ethan’s wolf sprang from the trees to the street in front of them. “We’re more alike than you know.”





* * *

Greggoire’s rambling two-story house sat back from the street in a secluded area where his back yard melted into the forest. With no close neighbors and tucked into a stand of trees, the property provided many ways to creep unseen toward the house. That was the only advantage on their side, because Greggoire no doubt had his property booby-trapped.

Trip wires, traps, and if Dani was right, the alpha even had guards protecting the house twenty-four/seven judging from the nasty odor along the perimeter. She followed Ethan, confident in his ability to notice the out-of-place items and not step in an area where they’d find themselves in trouble. It wouldn’t look good at all to be caught red-handed scoping out Greggoire’s house.

“Stay with me.” Ethan approached the back of the house. “If anything happens, run like hell deeper into the forest. Don’t run straight back home. He’ll expect that, and be able to catch you.

Follow my scent. My markings will get you safely away.”

“Okay.”



She lifted her snout and sniffed the air. The moisture settling over the hills in the area at night masked the normal scents she should have picked up. She put her nose to the ground and lumbered along the footpath in the grass.

Someone obviously walked around the house on a daily basis, because the short grass was worn away. All she could sense was the dusty dirt path and the strong ammonia odor of male werewolves.

Bile came up in her throat, threatening to choke her. She wanted to run, get out of here, leave the stench far behind. “It reeks.” Ethan stopped, turned his massive head, and let his tongue fall out the corner of his mouth. “Anything?”

“No.” She leaned against his side letting the familiar comfort of his fur settle her down.

“Nothing. I-I thought maybe I’d be able to sense Jordan out in the yard. He’s old enough to walk and run.” Blinking, she studied the area. “What if they never let him out to play?”

“Dani, they might not even have him here.

Have you thought of that?” He turned and nudged her to go back the way they’d come.

“Greggoire could have given him to someone else, or even—”

“No!” She nipped his back leg. “Don’t say that. He’s here. I’d know if he was dead. He’s not. We just have to find him.”

“We will, little one.” Ethan broke into a run the moment they stepped back out on the county road. “Let’s go home.”



The fast run back to the house took all her attention. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, and she sucked the cool, fresh air into her lungs. The muscles along her legs and back stretched with her effort to outrun her troubles and keep up with her mate. Hang on, Jordan. I’m doing everything I can to find you. Soon, I’ll have you back home.