Shadows (Book 2 of the Zara's Wolf Trilogy) BWWM

12. Breaking Point

The patrol goes on without a hitch. I sense nothing out of the ordinary, but given that I'm unfamiliar with the territory, it's harder to pick up on anything unusual.

Since we are guests, Clyde only has us patrol for three hours, while everyone else has a six-hour shift. Rick comes to relieve us and finish the remaining three hours before someone else from the Silver Star takes over for six hours.

I'm surprised when Rick comes alone. I look around for Alicia, expecting her to show up behind him, but when she doesn't, confusion curls my tail between my legs. I want to ask where she is, but details aren't a concern in a wolf's mind. He might just snap at me if I attempt to bring her up.

Evan is quiet after we shift back into human form and go inside to shower. My stomach flip-flops as I watch him wordlessly disappear into one of the bathrooms on our floor.

What could be on his mind? Is he wondering about the things his parents want to talk to him? I sure am.

A small part of me can't help but be a little worried that it has something to do with me since I am a half-breed or hybrid, as Evan inadvertently put it earlier. But what does that make him if not a purebred?

Maybe he's worried about the rogues? What if they want him to stay longer with the Silver Star Pack until the concerns with the rogues have passed? I don't want to leave him here, but our pack is too small for both of us to leave. What if the rogues turned their attention onto us? Our numbers are far smaller than the Silver Star's. We'd never be able to effectively protect ourselves against them.

I step into the shower in the second bathroom in the hallway and let the hot water fall upon me. Sighing into the soothing stream, my mind clears of all concerns and the tension in my shoulders relaxes.

No doubt Rick and Alicia are worried about the rogues setting their sights on our land as well. We are a smaller pack with lots of land. It would be a lot easier for them to-

I shake my head. I need to stop thinking like this.

Filling my mind with thoughts about the feast for the remainder of my shower, I look forward to eating venison again with not only my pack, but Evan's family and Alicia and Keith's family as well.

Slipping one of my favorite songs into my head, I hum along as I get out of the shower and towel myself dry.

When I exit the bathroom, Evan's no longer in the other one and he's not in our room.

Frowning, I head downstairs. I check the dining hall, but he's not in there. A twinge of pain pricks my heart when I realise that he didn't wait for me. I'm not sure where he could have taken off to. Why wouldn't he wait for me, or leave a note to tell me where he went? I don't know this place, or where to find anyone I know.

And I certainly don't want to run into Burk or anyone else like him.

Opening the front door, I step outside to the gray morning. Rain is evident by the appearance of the rolling clouds overhead and the scent of moist leaves on the cool breeze. Mist hangs over the treetops in the distance, blanketing the mountains in an ominous haze.

The first day of fall is already proving to be a dreary one.

I don't have to look far to find my mate. He's sitting on one of the long benches surrounding the fire pit in the middle of the village. His back is hunched as he leans forward, watching the small flames of the continuously burning fire.

Relief releases the air I wasn't aware that I had been holding. I step up to him and place a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, there you are."

He doesn't look up at me, but keeps his head lowered. "Hey," he says, his voice low. "Sorry, I just needed some fresh air."