Apparently she wasn’t in as big of a rush as she’d let on.
Dad was in the living room, though. I could tell from the empty bottles scattered around him he’d been on the couch all night, drinking himself into oblivion. The week after the full moon was always hardest on him. His pain was back in full force, and he was looking for ways to drown it out again.
Gran stood at the kitchen sink, hand washing the dishes from breakfast.
“Good morning,” she said as she glanced over her shoulder at me. “I wasn’t sure you would make it in time to take Gracie to the vet’s office.”
“Here I am. Where is she?”
“In her room.”
I opened my mouth to yell for her, but Dad rolled over in his sleep and mumbled something about Mom. It had my train of thought ceasing immediately.
“Today’s going to be a rough one. He’s been talking nonstop about her in his sleep,” Gran said with a frown as she glanced at him from where she stood.
“Probably because she disappeared around this time of year,” I said probably, but I knew without a doubt today was the day she’d been taken so many years ago.
It seemed fitting this would be the day I began my search for her by sacrificing myself to the same vampires who’d taken her.
“You’re probably right. The days have blurred together so much, the years too. It’s sad, but I can hardly pinpoint when she left.”
I could. I knew the exact date, but I didn’t say so.
“We might never have to hear him mumble about missing her again after tonight.” I regretted the words as soon as I said them.
The plate Gran was washing slipped from her hands. It clanked in the sink. “Why? What are you planning?”
“I’m leaving to find her tonight.”
I knew I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone because it pertained to pack business, but how could I not tell Gran something? I didn’t want her to worry when she couldn’t find me. I didn’t want her to think she’d done something wrong or that I’d ran away. I didn’t want to hurt her. I also didn’t want to hurt Gracie. Which meant, in case this thing went longer than a single night, I would need Gran to cover for me.
“How are you planning to do that?” Gran asked as she reached for a rag and dried off her hands. Her eyes were glued on me.
I shifted around on my feet, knowing she wasn’t going to like the next words that came out of my mouth.
“I can’t tell you details, but I can say there’s a good chance you might not see me over the next few days. I’m headed to the city. That’s where she’s at. It’s where everyone is,” I said.
I loved Gran and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but I knew my words had. She was upset I hadn’t told her sooner. Her eyes told me she was worried I wouldn’t come back, that she was scared something horrible might happen to me.
Still it didn’t change my mind. I had to do this. No one else could. It was up to me.
“I won’t ask you any more questions about it, then. I understand how pack law works.” Her blue eyes locked with mine as she stepped forward and erased the space between us. She smelled like lemon dish soap as she wrapped her arms around me. “Promise me one thing. Promise me you’ll be careful, okay? That you’ll come back safe and sound.”
We both knew her last request wasn’t a promise I could make, but I did anyway. “I promise.”
“Oh my God! What is with all the lovey-dovey stuff? We’re going to be late!” Gracie shouted as she made her way into the kitchen with Winston in tow. His fur was wet, making him look more like a rat than a puppy.
“What did you do to him?” I asked as I untangled myself from Gran’s arms.
“I gave him a bath while I was waiting on you, duh.”
“Why?” I asked.
“I didn’t want him to stink at his vet appointment. I want them to think I’m taking good care of him.”
“Oh.” It was sweet she wanted to seem like a good pet owner. Maybe this puppy would be worth keeping. Maybe he’d teach her responsibility. It seemed as though he already had.
“Are you ready? It’s almost eight thirty.” Gracie walked to where Gran was standing and kissed her on the cheek before putting Winston down. She grabbed his leash off the kitchen counter and bent at the waist to hook him up. “I’m supposed to get there a few minutes early to fill out paperwork since it’s his first visit.”
“Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.” I swiped my keys off the counter and started toward the door, following behind her.
“Do whatever it is you have planned after the appointment, Mina, but I want you and Eli at the table by six o’clock tonight ready for a family dinner. No exceptions,” Gran insisted.
“Why Eli too?” I asked as I paused at the front door.
“He’s family now,” Gran said.
Warmth flowed through me. I loved her. I flashed her a small smile and then continued out the door after Gracie.
She was in the passenger seat when I started down the front steps. Winston sat in her lap with his tongue hanging out as he panted. Was he hot, or was he excited to be going for a ride? I couldn’t tell.
“You should probably run inside and grab an old towel,” I said to Gracie as I rounded the front of my car.
“Already one step ahead of you.” She grinned. “I put one in here before you showed up.”
“Oh, okay. Good. Do you know if he gets carsick?” I asked as I slipped behind the steering wheel.
“Not sure. Figured it would be better to be safe than sorry though,” Gracie said she buckled her seat belt.
I cranked the engine of my car, waiting for it to sputter to life. For the first time in a long time, it started without hassle. Whatever Eli had done when he put the new battery in had worked wonders.
“Do you remember how to get to the clinic?” Gracie asked as she pulled up the address on her cell.
“Yeah.” I scoffed, unbelieving she’d even asked. Mirror Lake was the size of my hand. Everyone knew how to get everywhere because the place was so small.
“Okay. Let’s go, then,” Gracie said as she made a shooing gesture with her hand.
I shifted into reverse and backed out of our driveway, frowning. She was being a bossy little thing this morning.
As I drove past Eli’s trailer, I noticed him coming out the front door. He was dressed in a plain gray T-shirt, dark-washed jeans, and a pair of biker boots. His hair was still ruffled, and his eyes a little sleepy as he twirled the keys to his old beat up truck on his finger. He flashed me a panty-dropping smile and waved to Gracie as we crept by.
Where was he going? He hadn’t mentioned leaving. I wondered if it had anything to do with what he had planned for us today. I hoped it wasn’t anything that would overlap with Gran’s dinner plans. I made a mental note to send him a text as soon as I reached the vet office, letting him know we were supposed to be at my place for dinner at six. No exceptions, as Gran had put it.
My palms began to sweat as I thought of what it would be like to have Eli over for dinner now that we were imprinted. Heat crept up my neck at the thought. God, what would my dad say during our dinner? What would Gracie say? There was no doubt in my mind the two of them would find some way to embarrass the hell out of me. I wasn’t so much worried about Gran as I was Dad and Gracie. Maybe I should be, though. She could be as cantankerous as the rest of them when she wanted to be.
3
Mirror Lake Veterinary Clinic was on the edge of town. It was a small building, and from the outside it looked like a house. I was sure it had been a residence once.
“We’re here, little buddy,” Gracie said as she hooked Winston up to his leash before opening the passenger door.
Winston had done better than I thought he would during the car ride. He hadn’t gotten sick once. Maybe he wasn’t the type to get carsick. That would be a miracle. It seemed like every animal Gracie ever owned was carsick. Then again, Gracie would argue it was because of my driving.
It wasn’t.
/>
“I feel so bad for him,” Gracie muttered as she led Winston toward the front door of the clinic.
“Why?” I glanced at a row of vehicles I assumed belonged to the staff. There was no way the clinic could be so busy this early in the morning.
“Because he has no idea why we’re here. He’s happy he got to go for a car ride but doesn’t realize the ride led him to a place that’s going to hurt him.”
“Maybe he’ll like it,” I said without paying enough attention to our conversation. There was a beautiful blue muscle car among the staff vehicles. It was older. If I had to guess, I’d say it was from the sixties or maybe the early seventies. It stuck out like a sore thumb, and I knew it had to be the vampire vet’s.
“What’s wrong with you? Nobody likes shots,” Gracie insisted. Her sharp tone pulled me from my thoughts.
“All I meant is maybe it won’t hurt him as bad as you’re thinking. You’re a big baby when it comes to shots. He might not be.”
“I am not.”
“Says the girl who excused herself to the bathroom the last time Gran took her for a booster shot and never came back.” I rolled my eyes.
Gracie’s cheeks turned pink. “I did come back.”
“After Gran had to pick the lock and drag you out. Literally.” I tried to suppress the smile the image brought to my face but couldn’t.
To this day I wished I’d been at that doctor’s appointment.
“See, I told you I came back.” Gracie laughed.
“Not of your own free will,” I said as I held open the door to the clinic for her and Winston.
The little guy pranced past me. He seemed excited to be in a place with new smells. A pang of guilt twisted through my gut. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into by stepping through that door.
We moved to the receptionist desk. The lady behind it flashed me a wide smile and held up a finger as she continued talking on the phone.
“I’m sorry, but like I said yesterday, Dr. Hopkins isn’t here.” She sighed. “I know that, Shane. I didn’t mean to sound so formal. I’m only trying to tell you your brother isn’t here again today. He called in sick this week, which is what I told you yesterday. I hope you have a good day, honey,” she said before she hung up.
“I can’t believe he called in again,” another employee said from where she stood behind the receptionist, flipping through papers in a chart. “Did he not believe you this time either?”
“I think he believed me. He just seems suspicious.”
The woman stopped flipping through the chart and glanced at the receptionist, arching a brow. “Aren’t you? I mean who gets sick in the middle of summer?”
“Someone whose brother passed away recently, that’s who,” the receptionist said with more bite to her words than was necessary. “I’m not saying he’s sick. I’m saying he’s most likely taking time to heal after the death of his brother. I think it’s needed. Besides, he works too hard.”
“You would know. Seeing how you’re always watching him.” The woman grinned. She grabbed a paper out of the folder she’d been searching through and stepped to the door opposite Gracie and me.
“Sorry about that,” the receptionist said. Her cheeks grew red. “This must be Winston.”
“Yes,” Gracie said.
I crossed to sit in one of the chairs lining the walls of the main waiting room while Gracie gathered the paperwork needed for the vampire vet to see Winston.
My mind returned to the conversation I’d heard the receptionist having with Shane as I sat. Why hadn’t I thought about him? Why hadn’t Eli? Naturally, Shane would wonder how Peter was doing. After all, they had both lost a brother. Why Shane would call Peter’s office was beyond me, though. Wouldn’t he try to reach him on his cell instead?
Maybe he had, but since he didn’t get an answer he decided to contact him at work.
My stomach somersaulted. What if Shane decided to swing by Peter’s house? The last thing we needed was for him to see his oldest brother locked in a cage with Tate or Dorian guarding him. I chewed my bottom lip.
“I think he needs to go to the bathroom,” Gracie said from beside me, pulling my attention back to the present. I noticed she didn’t look up from the clipboard of papers she was filling out. “Think you can take him out for me?”
How did I know that was coming?
“I guess,” I said.
She passed me his leash. “Thanks.”
I grabbed it and headed for the door, dragging Winston behind me. For someone who had to go to the bathroom, he sure didn’t want to leave the waiting room. All he seemed to want to do was lick the wood floor. Once we stepped outside, my mind jumped back to thoughts of Shane. I really hoped he didn’t decide to go visit his brother.
I had to say something to Eli. He needed to warn Dorian and Tate, just in case. Who knew what Shane was capable of? I reached for my cell in my back pocket, but Winston tugged on the leash and started to bark.
“What the heck are you barking at?” I growled at him.
A fat squirrel made a crazy clicking noise a few feet away. It flicked its tail while gripping tight to the rough bark of a gigantic tree nearby. Winston barked louder. Apparently, squirrels were his arch enemy. I tugged on his leash and hushed him, but it did no good. He continued to go bat shit crazy on the poor thing.
I opened my text messages and sent a text to Eli while struggling to get Winston to calm down.
Hey. Shane might be on his way to check on Peter. You should probably warn Dorian or Tate. Whoever’s guarding him. - Mina
I crammed my cell into the back pocket of my shorts again and gripped Winston’s leash with both hands. I didn’t want to jerk the little guy too hard, but he needed to know barking like he was at a squirrel was not acceptable.
“Hush! No bark!” I said in a firm voice. He didn’t stop his high-pitched barking until the squirrel moved higher up the tree, scared of my voice. “It’s gone. And obviously, you’re not going to do your business now.”
I picked him up and headed back inside.
“What was all that about?” Gracie asked as soon as I entered the clinic.
“He has a problem with squirrels,” I said as I sat him down. Winston resumed licking whatever it was he’d found on the hardwood floors before.
“Oh. Yeah. He hates them,” Gracie said with a wave of her hand.
“A little warning would have been nice. He nearly ruptured my eardrums with his high-pitched bark.”
“Whatever. You’re just mad because he scared you.”
“I am not,” I said as a text came through on my cell. I reached for it to see what Eli had said. Only it wasn’t Eli who’d responded.
It was Alec.
Why would it matter if Shane went to visit Peter? And, who are Dorian and Tate? Also, why are they guarding Peter?
A lump formed in my throat as dread pooled through me. No! Did I really send that text to Alec instead of Eli?
Shit!
I scrolled up to check. Sure enough, I’d been so preoccupied with Winston’s quarrel with a squirrel I’d forgotten my message thread with Alec from earlier was still open. Now not only did he know I was a werewolf, along with the others living in the Mirror Lake Trailer Park, but he also knew we were guarding Peter.
I debated whether I should respond to his text or ignore it like I had the previous one. In the end I decided this wasn’t something I could ignore. I could, however, ask him to ignore it. Not that it would work, but it was at least worth a shot.
Could you please ignore that text? It wasn’t meant for you. - Mina
I sent the text, knowing it made me sound like a bitch. It would no matter how I worded it, though.
No. Shane is my friend and I’ve known Peter forever. What’s going on?
Damn it. I should’ve known he wouldn’t listen. I didn’t blame him. I wouldn’t have either.
I can’t tell you that. - Mina
You better tell me something.
Winston’s name was called. Gracie stood to take him back as I sank my teeth into my bottom lip. What was I supposed to tell Alec?
“You coming?” Gracie asked as she paused at the door leading to the back of the clinic.
I stood and followed them through the door. Another text came through from Alec. It was a question mark. He wasn’t going to let this go. I just didn’t know what to tell him. What could I say to make him drop this conversation?
Sweet Jesus, Eli was going to have a fit when he realized what I’d done.
Gracie and I were directed to a tiny waiting room that smelled of bleach with a faint hint of musky dog lingering behind.
“Hi there, Winston,” the nurse said before she turned her attention to Gracie. “Did you bring his stool sample?”
His what sample? Had she really said what I thought she did?
Gracie reached into her purse and pulled out a sandwich bag.
“Here you go,” she said as though she hadn’t pulled a steaming pile shit from her purse.
“Oh, that is so disgusting.” I grimaced as I felt my stomach turn. “I can’t believe you had that in your purse the entire time.”
“It was inside a bag. Chill out,” Gracie insisted, clearly not seeing the situation the same way I did.
“Still,” I said, fighting the urge to gag.
“Thank you. I’ll take this and little Winston into the back where we’ll perform his heart worm test and check this stool sample for parasites,” the nurse said as she gathered up Winston while gripping the bag of crap. “It will only take a second.”
“How do you think they test for heart worms?” Gracie asked me once the nurse left the room. “You don’t think they shove a needle in his heart and draw blood from it, do you?”
“No. I’m sure they pick a vein in his leg or something and take it from there,” I said, hoping I was right.
My cell alerted me of a new text. I knew who it was without having to look. Alec wasn’t going to let up until I gave him an answer.
He’d sent me another question mark. Why did that seem so aggressive to me? It should be laughable, but instead it had me feeling as though I should rush to answer him.
Moon Burned (Mirror Lake Wolves Book 4) Page 2