Chapter 79

Gideon

"Report!" I mind-link to my team buzzing around the banquet hall.

"Alpha, I heard Alpha Kentwood talking about taking another Alpha to his ranch in Lily, South Dakota." It's the first real lead. What's even more interesting is the Kentwood Pack is located in Missouri, and Lily, South Dakota, is a one-stoplight town of farmers and ranchers.

"Did anyone get anything else?" I pick up a glass of champagne to hide the fact I'm getting an intel report.

"I heard an Alpha talking about."

"Mates in trouble!" Ulv screams in my head, interrupting the intel report. I run for the door, and John is hot on my heels.

"Something happened to Celeste." I nod. No other explanation is needed. We both feel it.

"Tyson, Marcus, Benjamin Amelie is in trouble. Follow me! Shay, Jordan, and Becky stay here and get the intel, and watch our special guest." they are all quickly behind me. I follow Amelie's scent. I follow it to the elevator bank and find Alyssa and Margo unconscious, Celeste's groggy.

John picks up his mate in arms and holds her close. "What happened?"

Celeste is fighting consciousness and gets out one word, "Tate." It's barely audible, but it sends Ulv and me in overdrive.

Tyson grabs my arm. "Alpha, we will find her. I'm our best tracker. You have to trust me." I'm fighting shifting. Ulv wants to control, but I know it would be a blood bath if he takes over.

I nod, "We need to follow her sent. It's still strong. Benjamin get Alyssa and Margo to the hospital. Alpha John, don't worry, I will find her, and when I do, I'll kill him once and for all." I'm growling out my words from gritted teeth, still trying to hold Ulv back and track Amelie.

I close my eyes and take a big whiff of the air. "This way." The direction Amelie's scent is leading us is to the parking garage. We are on the second floor of the parking garage. I hear tires screeching on the floor below us, and I know it's him getting away with my mate. I know we are in a city, and I shouldn't shift, but I don't care. I let Ulv take control, ripping the tux to shreds in the process. Tyson and Marcus are right behind me. They know how desperate the situation is, and the only priority is getting Amelie back safe.

I rush down to the first floor, but I can't find her scent. I know he put her in a car, but I thought I would still be able to smell her.

"Alpha over here." I rush over to Tyson. After he mind-links me, he's looking at tire tracks. "They are fresh. You can still smell the burnt rubber. The width of the tire, I would say they are in an SUV."

I look out the exit of the parking garage. I know she's out there not too far; I need to find her. I head for the exit. "Alpha, wait, we don't know anything yet." Marcus mind-links me.

"You two stay here and investigate. Link me when you have something. Get the team out in every direction. Right now, I'm going to let Ulv take over and follow my instances." I turn and take off out of the exit and into the empty street. It's late, so I'm able to hide in the shadows and maneuver a bit. I know it's risky running around in wolf form, but this is the fastest way to find her.

"Ulv, you have anything?"

"Nothing concrete, just a feeling."

"I'm sure he put silver on her as soon as he could get his grubby hands on her."

"I can't reach Inari, so I am sure that's the case. I also feel she is still alive."

"I swear we will kill him."

"I want to torture him first. He doesn't get a painless death."

"I couldn't agree more." I reach the edge of town. I haven't strayed from my course once east is the direction Ulv feels they went.

I stop and hide in the shadows. I'm getting a reasonable distance, and mind-linking will take more effort the farther out I go. "Tyson, Marcus, anything?"

Tyson links back. "We checked the hotel cameras, and Tate did drag her into an SUV."

Marcus adds in, "we also kinda hacked the city cameras and found the SUV headed east out of town. Probably to avoid Amaris's territory north of town."

Ulv growls with anticipation, "Thanks both of you, our hunt will continue. Send the squad my way." I cut the link and bound into the darkness. Staying close to the road but not on it. I'll run all night and into tomorrow if it means I can find Amelie. How could I let this happen? Was I too careless? I sent her to the room with two guards and her stepmother. I thought she would be safe. I got too cocky. I didn't heed Tate's message as a genuine threat but a challenge. I was so stupid.

Out of nowhere, I was hit from the right flank and knocked off my feet. I didn't even see it or smell it coming. Out of nowhere, two larger wolves are circling me. They are large, but I'm bigger. They sent warriors out to slow me down. Or what? Try and kill me? Now they are the ones who are cocky. I'm the Alpha of the Druit Gaurd. No one can best me.

They are circling. I quickly get to my feet. These two are wasting my time. Crouch down and growl deep and loud. They both flinch, got you. Fear. That's right, and fear will make you make mistakes in a fight. You will take chances you know you shouldn't. I needed them to feel it deep in their souls. I wanted them in conflict with their wolves.

I lunge for the smaller one first. He's the faster of the two and the most problematic. He doesn't expect me to go for him first. I'm on his back in seconds, and I rip into his shoulder with my teeth. Then I do a standing pounce straight down on that shoulder, feeling it stamp under my paws. He's howling in agony, unable to continue fighting. The whole time the larger one doesn't make a move but looks frozen. He's terrified I can smell it.

I spite out the hunk of flesh and start to circle the larger wolf. Blood mixed with saliva dripping from my jaws. I'm snarling and circling, letting the horror and panic set in. It must have been too much for him to handle. He jumps at me with blind abonnement. Fear makes people stupid. I dodge easily and catch him by his back leg in my jaws. I pin his other back leg down before he can kick me, and I let his leg feel the full force of my jaws. His leg bones snap in my mouth. He howls and tries to drag himself away on his belly. I toss him over to his friend and leave them. My team will be coming behind me soon, and these two sacrificial lambs are now my prisoners.

I take off aging, following the road. I know if I was attacked, I'm on the right road. I ran as fast as I could. My legs and lungs are burning, but I can't let that stop me. I need to get to her. I can't let them hurt her. I'm running for miles when off in the distance of the horizon I hear a chase. My heart stops. I don't feel anything. A breath of relief leaves me. I can still feel her.

I kept running toward to sound I heard. I can only hope.