~Parker’s Point of View~ “Dude we’ve been out for a week, there’s not been a single lead. We’re running ourselves ragged here and it’s shit for morale. It’s time to go home, let some others try a new direction,” Pax says, scratching the back of his head. I know he’s right. I hear him. Offering to stay on my own is suicide and I know that too. I’ve never been the type to cut and run when the chips are down but… This is pointless, especially when it rained for the last two days straight and everyone was miserable. Looking for a needle in a haystack. A needle that doesn’t want to be found no less. “You’re right. I just keep feeling like we’re so close to something. You heard from Hunter lately? He’s still around right,” I ask, as we hunch over a map. Pax shakes his head and sighs. We’ve had a dozen males out here busting their ass day and night searching for any sign of Hannah’s brothers or Isaac. Nobody we’ve talked to seems to have seen a damn thing. It’s almost like they’ve be

~Rafe’s Point of View~ “You haven’t heard anything? Nothing at all? And why is that exactly, hmm? I very seriously doubt you even called. That you reached out. Did you even talk to any elders? Talk to dad,” I growl, losing any semblance of patience I have left. My father’s been blowing me off all week, likely not wanting to get in the middle. Expecting I’ll tow the line, do as I should. “They haven’t gotten back to me! These things take time, Rafe! Those people live in the mountains, off grid they don’t exactly all have phones,” my mom defends. I run my fingers through my hair and stomp my foot in frustration. Every second I let this continue isn’t doing anyone any good. And for all her faults, I don’t even want to hurt Cassandra. Sure, she’s a spoiled and selfish brat, but she doesn’t deserve to be lied to either. Have the rug jerked out from under her for a second time. Humiliated in front of her friends and family. She’s been all over me for days and it’s making me literally

~Parker’s Point of View~ *You’ve had her for three days, cut the shit,* Rafe barks, over mind-link as I rub my face and try to wake up. How could I possibly want to get out of bed with the sexiest female alive in my arms? I feel like we’ve really turned a corner, like we have real trust. She was so vulnerable when her wolf or whatever was happening to her came through. I can’t lie to myself; it freaked me out. It's not like any wolf shift I’ve ever seen though she never fully developed into anything. There were some sprouts of fur on her arms and even her face. Though I haven’t told her that. There’s definitely some kind of shifter inside her, of that I have no doubt. And so what if she’s a bear or a tiger or some shit? It changes absolutely nothing. She is my mate. Only the question remains: is she also Rafe’s? *What can I say? Words mean so little. She’s more than showing me who she wants,* I taunt, over mind-link. *Boy is she! We’re going to have to send out for more condoms a

~Rafe’s Point of View~*Rafe? Rafe!! I forbid you to leave!! This is treasonous behavior!! I’ll call the team back,* my father barks, over mind-link.Our caravan is already on the outskirts of the pack. All the males with us are far more loyal to me than my father so if he barks at them I doubt they’ll listen. I hope not.*Don’t do this to your pack Rafe! There will be no forgiving it, get back here to your fiance,* my mom shouts, just as the connection breaks due to the distance.I sigh in relief and then realize I’m resting my head on Hannah’s shoulder. If she minds, she doesn’t say so. We stay like that for a long time as everyone in the caravan mind-links a strategy. We decide to go about three-quarters of the way between where the boys were last sighted and the pack. By the time we get there they should have made good progress.We stop only once so that Parker can send a letter to the Barclay Mountain pack with how many will be coming and when to expect them. Us? There’s no way

~Parker’s Point of View~ I groan and try to move but the pain is all too paralyzing. When a soft hand touches what I think is mine, it calms me. But only a bit. I try to talk but it’s easily several minutes before my mouth actually moves and something comes out. “Bee hive,” I mumble, though it takes me nearly a minute to say the entire sentence. I know a shitstorm reigned down upon me, but it started with bees. I’m probably going to have nightmares about them for weeks, I freakin’ hate bees! My eyes try to open and can’t. I search my mind for Crush’s brain wave and while it’s there… It’s weak. There’s only been one other time he was like that and it damn near killed me. But we were badly beaten while out about nine months ago. Rogue attack in the night. Took a month to recover. “You… Took a hell of a lot. Oh Parker, I’m so so incredibly sorry,” I hear, and I try to lick my lips. Then a cool, wet feeling is on them, and I lick at it, needing water. My body reacts to Hannah’s touch