The ground started to shake.
Jackson grabbed onto the open door of the car to catch his balance. The shaking continued, rippling the ground and knocking him off his feet several times. He held on tightly, hoping to keep from collapsing to the ground and perhaps suffering serious injury.
His heart pounded. Where was Sharon? If she was unconscious, could she survive this quake?
When the earth finally stopped its madness, Jackson turned to find Melinda running farther away from the main road. “Shit,” she shouted.
Jackson raced to catch up, following Trace.
Melinda was bent down just around a bend, staring at something on the ground.
“Dammit,” Trace added.
“What?” Jackson was confused.
Melinda stood, her shoulders falling. “Whoever took her did so by car.” She pointed at the tire markings that obviously tore through the dirt where they were standing onto a service road Jackson hadn’t known existed. And perhaps it had existed, until about thirty seconds ago. Now it was a pile of rubble. Impassible. It had buckled horribly just yards in front of them.
Jackson nearly lost his last meal. Fuck.
Melinda faced them both and then turned back around. “Look.”
Jackson jerked his gaze to the spot she indicated farther up the mountain.
A spirit hovered just yards from them.
Half of him wanted to scream with relief. The other half wanted to stomp his feet. Frustration bore down on him until he sank to his knees.
The spirit hovered, shimmering wildly as if it had a message that needed immediate attention.
Jackson turned toward Trace. “Sandhouse. He’s a shifter, isn’t he?”
“Yeah.” Trace started taking off his clothes.
Jackson nodded. “Go. Get her. Dammit.” He leaned forward onto all fours and pounded the ground with his palms, wishing he had the ability to shift and find his mate. He’d never felt so helpless.
Melinda turned toward her car and stripped quickly, setting her clothes in the seat and shifting so fast Jackson hardly noticed.
Trace muttered an apology to Jackson and leaped into the air, changing forms before he hit the ground.
Two men suddenly emerged from the trees, running hard.
Jackson nearly jumped out of his skin when they startled him. And then he recognized them as the men from the school auditorium. He’d never been so relieved to see anyone or anything in his life. He pulled himself to his feet, regaining some strength.
As if he suddenly had powers he’d never before been aware of, he knew these two men weren’t human. They weren’t wolves, either. They were definitely something else entirely.
The one with slightly longer hair nodded at Jackson but spoke to his brother. “I’ll go with Melinda and Trace. You help Jackson.”
Jackson should have been shocked. He wondered for a moment what the hell the guy was going to do to catch up. And then he had his answer.
The taller man didn’t even bother to take his clothes off. He simply turned toward the retreating backs of Melinda and Trace, jumped into the air, and hit the ground—on the paws of a grizzly bear.
Fuck me.
It was an amazing sight, one Jackson might appreciate another day in another place.
“Come on,” the other man said. He turned toward the main road. “Let’s catch up by car.”
Bless him. If he hadn’t come along to guide Jackson, Jackson would have been left standing between the trees for who knew how long, waiting for information. The only person he could communicate with was Cooper, and Cooper didn’t have any of the details.
Jackson jogged behind the serious man.
“How will we know where to go?”
“No idea. We go with our gut. I’m Isaiah,” he twisted around to tell him. “Sorry to meet you officially under such horrific circumstances.”
“Jackson. And I appreciate your help.”
“No worries. I know it can suck to be the human left behind to worry. We’ll find them.”
“Can you communicate with your brother?”
“Wyatt?” He gave Jackson a quizzical look. “Of course. I can communicate with all my brothers.”
Jackson nodded. In human form? Did he even care right then? Not really. The important thing was that Wyatt could keep Isaiah aware of their location.
Jackson in turn could alert Cooper.
And with perfect timing, Cooper entered Jackson’s mind. “I’m on foot now. Headed your way. Is everyone okay? That tremor was harsh.”
“I’m with Isaiah. Wyatt went with Melinda and Trace. I’m heading back to the side of the highway where we found Melinda’s abandoned car.”
“That makes no sense at all. But I should cross your path any minute.”
Jackson followed Isaiah at a jog. Seconds later they were next to the squad car again.