“I don’t think you forgot anything. It looks like you packed the whole house,” Gracie said from where she lay on her bed, reading another paranormal book. Her unnamed puppy lay curled into her side.
I ignored her and skimmed the contents of my backpack once more.
“Is your phone charged?” Gracie asked.
I glanced at my cell. “Yeah, mostly.”
“Then you’re good. As long as you have food, water, a charged cell phone, and a sleeping bag, you should be fine. It’s only one night. Stop stalling.”
My lips pinched into a thin line. Was she trying to get rid of me? Was I stalling? “I guess I’m ready, then. I’ll get out of your hair.”
As I zipped up my backpack, dread slithered through me. Even though I knew Tate would be in the woods making sure nothing happened to me tonight, my stomach still knotted with fear. I wasn’t afraid of Shane, but I was scared shitless his brother, Drew, would be waiting for the right moment to shoot me or haul me away during the night.
What if Tate fell asleep? What if Drew saw a chance to abduct me and took it? What if he succeeded?
“Have fun,” Gracie muttered as she flipped the page of her book.
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I hoped my words were true.
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and started for the hall.
Dad was on the couch, snoring as he slept off the alcohol he’d consumed with Hershel earlier. Gran was in the kitchen, chopping dried herbs and stuffing them in labeled mason jars. She had a serious apothecary pantry going after years of having her own garden. The calming scent of lavender wafted to my nose as I passed her.
“I’m heading out.” I paused at the front door to glance back at her. She hadn’t looked up from what she was doing. “Anything you need me to do before I leave?”
“I can’t think of anything. Have fun and be careful.”
“I will. See you tomorrow.” A basket near the front door caught my eye. It was filled with various herb concoctions and homemade food. “Who’s that for?”
“The basket? It’s for Taryn. I wanted to make her something to help lift her spirits. It’s almost been three weeks since Glenn took off, and the poor dear is still so torn up about it.”
My heart skipped a beat. Had it really been almost three weeks? It didn’t seem as though it had been that long. Wow.
I thought of Taryn and how heartbroken she was still. Her sister, Candace, had come to town for a few days, but she hadn’t had any luck in forcing the Mirror Lake Police to search for Glenn any more than Taryn had. Candace hadn’t been able to persuade our alpha to do anything either. Part of me thought it was because she didn’t really believe Taryn when she said Glenn was missing. Candace eventually sided with the pack and believed Glenn had decided to up and leave. That he’d gone rogue. She’d tried to get Taryn to believe it too. Taryn didn’t. In fact, I don’t think she ever would. I wanted to tell her she was right a thousand times, but in her delicate state, I thought learning the truth might be too much.
“Why don’t you take the basket to her before you meet your friends?” Gran suggested. “Saves me a walk in the hot sun.”
I didn’t want to, but I felt as though I should. I was headed that way anyway.
“I can do that.” I picked up the basket. It was heavier than it looked. Gran had loaded it down.
“Thank you,” Gran said. She went back to chopping more of her dried herbs. “Tell her I’m here if she needs anything else.”
“I will.”
My stomach somersaulted as I started down the stairs. I’d purposely avoided Taryn since the day I spotted her crying over Glenn. It was hard to look her in the eye knowing everything I did. Especially now that I knew she was pregnant.
I had to find out more information regarding Glenn tonight. Maybe I’d be able to get something else out of Becca. She’d dated Shane for a long time; she had to know something more than what she was telling me about his hunting.
“All of that for me?”
Eli stood at my car, working on something beneath the hood. I couldn’t believe I’d missed him.
“What?” I asked.
He eyed the basket I held. There was a smudge of grease streaked beneath his right eye and sweat glistened across his forehead. “The basket. Is all of that for me?”
“Not unless you’re pregnant,” I said. “Gran made it all for Taryn.”
The amusement shifting through his eyes disappeared at the mention of Taryn’s name. “Oh. That was nice of her.”
“Yeah, I told her I’d drop it off since it’s on my way.”
“Let me know how she’s doing. I know my parents have been by to check on her once or twice the last couple of weeks.”
“What do they have to say about her?”
Eli shrugged. “Same as everyone else I guess—how sad it is Glenn left her the way he did.”
“Your parents actually said that?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t they? Glenn and Taryn didn’t have the best relationship. He wasn’t even a born pack member. He was a rogue before settling down with her.”
I hated how Eli seemed to almost believe what he was saying. Even after everything he knew.
“Why haven’t you told him anything yet? Your dad, I mean. You could have at least mentioned the possibility of something else having happened to Glenn,” I whispered. “We already know what everyone believes isn’t what happened. He didn’t go rogue.”
“Because, Mina, I already told you my dad is dealing with something big at the moment, and I don’t have enough proof Glenn was abducted for him to act on it. I can’t distract him with that right now.”
Anger lapped at my insides. “You have my word and your own. I know whatever evidence might’ve been in the woods is probably gone by now thanks to the last couple of rains we’ve had, but shouldn’t our word count for something?”
“You know as well as I do it would count, but not for enough. He needs tangible proof before he can act. He can’t just go around attacking humans who enjoy hunting in the woods behind the park.”
“And what if we don’t ever get any tangible proof?”
Eli’s lips quirked into a slight smile. “You know as well as I do that we’ll find something.”
He was right. If we put our minds together, we would find something.
“I’ll get information tonight, and then we’ll get some tangible proof for your dad. Glenn has to come home. Taryn needs him. If something happened to him…” My voice shook as I spoke. I didn’t like thinking about what Shane and his brothers might have done to Glenn. “Then he at least deserves to be given a proper ceremony of life from the pack.”
Eli’s head dipped. “I know.”
The pack had traditions that needed to be upheld. We owed it to Glenn as a member of the pack to see that they happened for him if he had been killed.
“I should get this basket to Taryn and head to the camping spot I’m meeting the others at.” I shifted around on my feet. “Are you sure Tate will be able to watch out for me tonight?” My voice trembled, causing me to sound like a scared little girl. I hated it.
“He’ll be there. I promise you.”
“Okay.”
“Do you have your cell on you?”
I patted my back pocket. “Yeah.”
“If anything happens, and I mean anything, don’t hesitate to call me. If Tate can’t get to you, I’ll make damn sure someone does, or else I’ll come for you myself.”
The tension squeezing each of my muscles dissipated. I would be protected tonight. Warmth slipped through me at the knowledge.
“Thank you,” I said. Heat crept up my neck to stain my cheeks. I wasn’t used to thanking anyone for help, especially not Eli.
“I mean it.”
“I know.” I held his gaze. “I’ll talk to you later or something. I need to go.”
“Yeah, okay.” He nodded before turning around to focus his attention on my car again. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t
asked what he was doing. “I’m almost done switching out the batteries. I also tightened up a couple loose bolts and changed your oil. It was like black sludge. You should have it done more often.”
My mouth fell open. “You didn’t have to do all that.”
“I know, but I wanted to.”
I smiled at him as I stepped backward in the direction of Taryn’s trailer. “Thanks.”
“Remember, you can thank me with tomato soup and grilled cheese tomorrow night at seven.” He winked.
“Right. Tomorrow night at seven.”
I turned around and hightailed it to Taryn’s, knowing if I didn’t I’d continue to stare at Eli all night. Even with oil and grease on him, he was still mouthwatering.
Taryn wasn’t outside smoking a cigarette and crying like the last time I’d seen her. I took that as a good sign.
When I reached the door of her tiny silver bullet of a trailer, I knocked on the metal door and stepped back. No noise came from inside in response to my knock. I thought maybe she wasn’t home, until I spotted her cherry red car in the driveway beside Glenn’s rusty truck. His truck was a piece of junk, but Glenn had worked on it almost every weekend. It still being here was the main reason Taryn believed something had happened to Glenn. She knew he’d never leave it behind if he was taking off like everyone claimed he had.
When Taryn didn’t come to the door after a few more seconds, I knocked again, this time louder. Footsteps sounded from inside seconds later.
“One minute,” Taryn shouted as she made her way to the door. She cracked it open and poked her head out. Her eyes were puffy and rimmed with dark circles, making her look as though she’d been crying. A lump formed in my throat. “Oh, hey,” she said once she saw me.
“Hey.” Words built across my tongue, but I stopped myself before they spilled out. She was probably sick of everyone asking her if she was all right. Of course she wasn’t all right. Instead, I held the basket out to her. “Gran wanted me to drop this off for you. She made you a few remedies. It looks like stuff to help with morning sickness and a multivitamin tincture. She’s got other goodies in here, too. Food stuff.”
“Thanks.” Taryn reached for the basket. “You said there’s stuff for morning sickness?”
“Yeah. It’s one of the brown glass bottles on top.”
“Thank goodness. So far that’s been the worst symptom I’ve had.”
“I’m sure whatever Gran made will do the trick. She’s pretty well known for those sorts of things.” I smiled even though I didn’t feel I should ever smile in Taryn’s presence. At least not until Glenn was found safe and sound, and they were reunited.
“You have to tell her I said thank you,” Taryn insisted.
“I will, and she wanted me to tell you if you need anything else, don’t hesitate to come to her.” I shifted around on my feet, pulling at the straps of my backpack. I wanted to say something more, something meaningful, but nothing beautiful would come so I settled for something simple. Standard. “We’re all here for you. The entire pack. Just don’t…don’t forget that okay?”
A sad smile pulled at the corners of her lips as unshed tears filled her eyes. “Thank you. That means a lot to me, Mina.”
I cleared my throat. Seeing her tear up was going to make me cry. “I should let you get some rest. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” I waved at her as I turned and headed toward the woods.
New determination to get dirt on Shane and his brothers pulsed through me. While I enjoyed hanging out with Alec, as well as Becca and the others, tonight was also about pack-related business. I needed to keep that front and center in my mind, no matter how hot Alec ended up looking chopping wood or starting a fire.
7
It didn’t take long to set up our campsite. Becca, Ridley, and I each handled the finer details, while the guys pitched our tents.
“Did anyone think to bring lighter fluid?” Becca asked as she placed some twigs in the fire pit. It was close to dinnertime, which meant she was probably preparing to cook us something.
“I brought a lighter, but I didn’t think to bring any lighter fluid,” Ridley said as she rummaged through her backpack.
“We don’t need lighter fluid,” Benji insisted. He stepped to the fire pit and bent at the knee. “Just give me a few dry leaves and a couple of sticks. I’ll get us a fire going in no time.”
“Hey, babe?” Becca called out to Shane. I’d never heard her use a term of endearment when talking to him before. It surprised me and rubbed me the wrong way. Shane wasn’t who Becca thought he was. He wasn’t a good guy. “Did you get the cooler from the back of your truck yet?”
“No, but I can grab it really quick. I need to get the drinks anyway,” Shane said as he headed toward his truck.
Maybe I was about to see the side of Shane everyone else always did. He was being so normal.
I unfolded another bag chair we’d bought at the store and placed it in line with the others, making a semicircle near the fire pit. My gaze drifted to Shane. He was still at his truck getting the cooler out of the back. No matter how normal he was acting, I planned to watch him like a hawk tonight. Just in case it was all an act and he was trying to get me to let my guard down while in his presence.
Shane heaved not one, but two coolers from the back of his truck and carried them to where Becca was. If he noticed me staring at him, he didn’t let on. Instead, he hummed the melody to a song I didn’t recognize while he walked. The more I watched him, the more uneasy I felt. It was odd and off-putting to see him in such a good mood. I was used to him being a jerk when I was around. I understood more than anyone how spending time in nature could ease a person’s troubles, but this was nuts. He was too happy. What could he possibly be so happy about? My skin crawled as possible reasons for his happiness filled my mind.
My gaze drifted to the edge of the woods. I skimmed them, searching for signs of Tate. Was he out there yet? Eli had promised he’d be there making sure I was okay tonight. When though? Once night had fallen so he’d be hidden?
Even though I would never admit it out loud, I wished Tate were here now. I couldn’t feel him, though.
“Here’s the cooler with food, and here’s the one with drinks,” Shane said as he lifted the lid on the second cooler to reveal the inside. Ice covered a variety of beverages, but none of them were soda. “Pick your poison, ladies and gents,” he said as a wicked grin spread across his face.
“What did you bring?” Benji craned his neck to see inside the cooler from where he was attempting to start a fire.
“Beer. There’s a variety. I had Drew buy them for me last night.” Shane grabbed a long neck bottle from the cooler and shifted to face me. Chunks of ice and droplets of water fell from the dark glass as he held it out to me. The wicked grin on his face widened, making him look creepy. “Here, I figured you’d like this one. You know, since you seem to have such an obsession with the moon.”
Pinpricks of unease traveled along my spine. It hadn’t taken him long to take a jab at me.
I frowned as I took the bottle from him. My eyes dipped to the label. Blue Moon.
“Funny,” I muttered as I glanced around at the others. My heart rate spiked. Had they noticed he was calling me out in front of them?
“Come on. Drink up.” Shane nodded to the beer in my hand. “Tonight is going to be fun.”
Fun? I hadn’t known the word was a part of his vocabulary until now.
I twisted the cap off but didn’t take a sip. Drinking around him didn’t seem like the best idea, but I didn’t think he would stop staring at me until I at least opened the thing.
“What’s this?” Alec asked as he dropped the twigs and sticks he gathered from the woods on top of the pile he’d gathered earlier. His attention was on Shane. “I leave for all of two minutes for more firewood and come back to see you trying to get my girl drunk?”
“Nope, not just your girl. Everyone. I made sure I got enough for all of us to last through the night.” Sh
ane grinned.
Alec glanced inside the cooler. “Damn, you aren’t kidding.”
“I’ll take one,” Becca surprised me by saying. I hadn’t pegged her as the type to drink.
“What kind do you want?” Shane asked her.
“Whatever you gave Mina is fine.”
Shane reached into the cooler and found another Blue Moon. He twisted the cap off before passing it to Becca. She lifted up onto the tips of her toes and kissed him.
“Thanks,” I heard her whisper before sitting in one of the bag chairs I’d set out. She motioned for me to sit in the one beside her. Once I’d stepped to where she was, she held her beer out to me. “To camping.”
I clinked my beer to hers. “To camping.”
We both took a sip. The entire time I could feel Shane’s eyes on me from where he stood a few feet away. I risked a glance at him. Something sinister flashed through his eyes. If I hadn’t opened my beer myself I would have thought he’d done something to it from the way he was staring. Maybe he thought he was about to get me drunk.
Not going to happen.
“Bottom’s up,” Shane said. There was something predatory in his eyes.
A shiver slipped along my spine. Agreeing to this night was a bad idea. I could feel it in my gut. Shane was too attentive to me. He was too chipper as well. Something was definitely up, and my wolf was begging me to get the hell out of here.
Alec stepped to my side. He placed a kiss on my temple as he slipped an arm around my waist. The sharp scent of beer from his breath wafted to my nose. I’d never seen him drink alcohol before. Just like Becca, he didn’t seem as though he was the type.
“Having fun?” he asked.
“Yeah, and the night is just getting started,” I said without taking my eyes off Shane. His eyes grew dark as his jaw clenched. Did he not like me being so close to Alec?
If I hadn’t known any better, I would have thought Shane had a thing for Alec. That was far from the truth, though. Shane just didn’t want his best friend dating a werewolf.
“Benji, need some help with that fire, man?” Alec asked as he released me and started to where Benji was struggling to get a fire started.
Mirror Lake Wolves 02 - Moon Hunted Page 5