What she did know for sure was she loved Quinn. For better or worse. And she had the feeling it was going to get much worse. It might never get any better.
She was continuously getting mixed signals from him. Did he want to be mated to her? Was he trying to be noble, thinking she wouldn’t want him because of the hard choices he’d made in his life? Or had he mated with her because he thought he owed her because she’d given him the best lead he’d gotten in the search for his sister. She already knew he had a deep sense of honor. She didn’t want to be an obligation, nothing more than a burden to him.
Her thoughts were whirling and there was no time to sort them out. The city flew by as the pack drove in an SUV and a van toward the address Damek had sent them.
Quinn was sitting beside her but he might as well be on the other side of the world he was so distant and cold, a cold and merciless predator ready to hunt. Craig tapped his fingers against his legs and stared out the window. She wanted to scream to release the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside her. Instead, she twined her fingers together until her knuckles went white.
Isaiah drove the SUV with Meredith beside him. He said nothing but Bethany could feel the waves of anger and power rolling off him, filling the small space until every muscle in her body was twitching. The rest of the pack followed behind them in the van.
The vehicles sped through the relatively quiet city streets. Dawn was barely upon them, which made traffic lighter. The “L” rumbled on its tracks, taking early morning commuters to work. The buildings soon changed, going from prosperous to slightly rundown to downright derelict. Like every major city, Chicago had its vibrant areas and those that time had forgotten.
Beside her, Quinn practically vibrated with barely suppressed energy. His entire focus was on reaching their destination. Bethany wanted to touch him, to put her hand on his back and offer her silent support, but she didn’t feel as though she had the right. It didn’t matter that they were mated now—a fact that hadn’t been lost on any of the single males when she and Quinn had joined the others downstairs in the bar.
It was mortifying to remember Michael sniffing the air and glaring at Quinn before giving him a nod of reluctant acceptance. Benjamin and Kevin had both growled at Quinn. Isaiah had raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Meredith had offered a reassuring smile. They could smell him all over her. He’d marked her as his.
It was downright primitive and, if she was being honest with herself, a bit of a turn on too. She was so confused.
But she had to put her own embarrassment and needs behind her. Chrissten was out there and needed their help. Quinn didn’t need his attention divided at a time like this. Who knew what they were going to be up against?
“Almost there.” Isaiah slowed the SUV and pulled in next to an abandoned building. He shut off the vehicle and turned to face them all. “It’s in the next block. I didn’t want to park too close in case they’ve got a lookout or some kind of security system. Damek didn’t say anything about one, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
Quinn opened the door and stepped out into the early morning. The brisk air wrapped around them and she took a deep breath to try to settle herself. This was it. If luck was on their side they’d soon have Chrissten back.
And then what will I do?
The question shamed her. She shouldn’t be thinking about herself right now. This was about her friend. Quinn’s sister. “What’s the plan?” She was determined to be included.
The dark van pulled up behind them and the rest of the family climbed out. Isaiah nodded at them as they all came to circle around him. It was strange to feel like a part of such a united group, like she had a place with them.
“Teague and Craig will stay here with Neema and Bethany in case the bastards slip away from us.” Isaiah glanced around the buildings. “Plus, I don’t think the vehicles will still be here when we return if we don’t set a guard on them.”
Isaiah might be right, but it still burned Bethany not to be included. She knew he was leaving her and Neema behind because they weren’t as strong as the others. Teague was the obvious choice of male to stay with them because he would protect his mate with his life. Craig was being left behind because he was human and no match for whatever they’d come up against.
“Stay in human form when you’re outside,” Isaiah instructed. “The last thing we need is for one of us to end up on the front page of the newspaper or posted on the Internet while we’re in our wolf form.” They all nodded, understanding how that could adversely affect their lives. Everyone seemed to have a cell phone with a camera these days. Secrecy was paramount for their survival.
“Let’s go.” Quinn started down the street without a backward glance. Bethany’s chest ached at how easily she was forgotten by him. She didn’t expect him to kiss her in front of everyone, but a smile or a light squeeze of her hand wouldn’t have killed him.
They’d just mated. And even though she’d known going in it probably wasn’t for forever, she still felt raw.
A male hand brushed over her hair. Startled, she turned to find Michael behind her. “If he doesn’t treat you right…” He let his words trail off, the rest of his offer unspoken.
Bethany didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
Quinn chose that moment to whirl around. He glared at Michael and bared his teeth. When he looked at her she could see the accusation of betrayal written there. She squared her shoulders and glared back at him. She hadn’t done anything wrong and refused to feel guilty for simply listening to Michael.
Michael dropped his hand by his side and continued on. Quinn turned back around and kept walking. Once again she was completely dismissed. She watched as the men and Meredith disappeared down the road, circling a rundown building. It was three stories high, but Bethany would bet anything that if Chrissten and her captors were there, they’d be in the basement. Less chance of her escaping from there.
A shiver coursed down her spine and she prayed they weren’t too late to find Chrissten.
“Keep your fucking hands off my woman,” Quinn warned Michael as he came alongside.
“Or what?” Michael shrugged. “For a newly mated female she didn’t look very happy. You didn’t even speak to her before you left.”
Quinn felt guilty about that, but he was trying to do what was right. She was too gentle for him, too kind-hearted. In spite of everything she’d been through, there was an air of innocence about her that drew him even as he knew he didn’t deserve to touch such a prize.
“What’s between Bethany and me is private. You stay the fuck away from her.”
As much as he didn’t deserve her, he didn’t want Michael to have her either. He couldn’t bear the thought of another male holding her in his arms, kissing her, discovering what made her sigh and what made her scream with pleasure.
He was totally fucked up.
A low growl broke from his chest and he began to sweat. His wolf was snarling inside him, ready to pounce on anyone who touched his mate.
He shook his head and focused his attention on the building ahead of him. He’d deal with the problems between him and Bethany later. Right now, all that mattered was his sister.
According to Damek, she was inside. He inhaled deeply, trying to catch her scent. Nothing.