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3
Theo
The Blazing Bull Motel was a cheap, rundown, low rent strip of rooms located right off the highway about three hours outside of Cedar Creek lands. I assumed it was used for quickies and drug exchanges as I couldn’t imagine sleeping there intentionally for any length of time. Stained carpet and odd smells permeated the rooms while graffiti littered many of the chipped and stained walls. A persistent drip echoed so loudly I had to ignore the urge to cover my ears. Cockroaches and bedbugs roamed the bed linens and side tables. Glad I wore my boots, I stomped on anything that moved in my direction.
Cheap cigarettes clung to the air with a stale musk and mixed with sweat and the faded but bitterly metallic stench of dried blood. Someone had vomited a short distance from where I stood, and the odor nearly overwhelmed my hypersensitive sense of smell. One of my ears flicked back in reflexive response and I couldn’t fight the expression of disgust on my face. A faded trace of lust and sexual conquest joined with the rest and the only saving grace was the knowledge that Becca’s sweet clean scent wasn’t entangled with any of these repugnant smells.
The front desk clerk was a pimply faced youth smacking gum loudly and watching television, barely noticing who came through other than to take money. I glared at him as I cleared my throat and he didn’t turn around or acknowledge me.
“Hey,” I shouted with a growl, my wolf impatient. “Pay attention.”
He swung around, a snappy retort dying on his lips as he took in my size and no-nonsense attitude. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for someone. A pretty girl with caramel skin, long brown hair, and hazel eyes. She had a backpack and was traveling alone but could have had a companion.”
He shrugged. “I see a lot of women.” He started to turn his back on me when a rumble deep in my throat stopped him.
“You’d remember this one. She was clean, had money, and didn’t stay long. She was here recently.”
He jumped up, reaching underneath the register to hand me an envelope and Becca’s torn backpack. I recognized it as the one she carried when we used to go hiking together. Something had stained the back of it a dark brown or red. Blood? My wolf began to pace and growl low, his presence pushing to the surface of my skin.
Calm down, we’ll find her, I soothed.
My beast listened, but probably not for long.
“Yeah, I remember. Cute little mixed chick, right? She said if some scary big guy with dark hair, tattoos, and the propensity to growl his words came in looking for her to give him this.” He shoved the items my way. “I assume that’s you.”
“Did she say where she was going?”
“Nah, I assume that’s why you have the envelope.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, leaving in a hurry as I practically ran to my truck and hopped inside, slamming the locks down as I searched her bag. The usual travel items were inside like toiletries and a change of clothes. Nothing personal was included which was a bit suspicious.
Setting the pack aside, I picked up the envelope. The seal was intact, so I assumed no one saw the contents but Becca. Sliding my finger across, I ripped it open and dumped everything out to be sure I didn’t miss any clues.
My wolf instantly inhaled as fresh linen, cherry flavored lip gloss, and female filled our senses.
“Becca,” I moaned aloud, my heart stirring with the achingly familiar scent.
Funny, but the backpack didn’t smell like her, even the items inside. My guess was she either didn’t open it on purpose or never had a chance. The smell of blood clung to the pack’s outer fibers, but it wasn’t Becca. A stranger perhaps but I catalogued the distinct metallic scent for later use. I’d know if I ran across it again since the blood was human. No shifter. My throat tightened and I had difficulty breathing for a minute. My wolf snarled and whined as the knowledge that she’d be taken against her will filled my thoughts.
There was a note, her state driver’s license, cherry Chapstick, some cash, and a thin gold chain with a wolf’s head charm next to another charm with the letter ‘B’. I remembered when her mama gave her that necklace many years ago. Becca never removed it, at least not in the past. She must have been concerned it would become lost, broken, or stolen. She chose to give it to me for safekeeping instead. There was no doubt in my mind this was left intentionally for me to find.
My heart beat a little faster as I realized she trusted me even after all this time.
“Becca, baby,” I whispered aloud. “What did you do?”
She knew I would come after her and was counting on it, which only meant one thing. Becca was in greater danger than I first realized. My wolf snarled as I cracked my neck and rolled my shoulders, trying to prevent a foolish display of rage. The last thing I wanted to do was shift in front of the humans at this rundown motel. I placed everything back in the envelope but the note and exhaled slowly before reading.
Theo,
I don’t know who to trust other than you. The pack will send a delegate, but they won’t find me. You and I both know I can hide and never be found if I want. This time that’s not the case. Don’t get pissed, just listen.
I did something stupid.
Growling, I had to look away for a moment before I lost my shit. A sense of dread and foreboding left me restless and fighting against my wolf. We both felt the urgency to locate her before something bad happened . . . if it hadn’t already. Becca making a stupid choice equaled someone getting hurt. At this point, that could be anyone within the vicinity.
There’s been some strange prints around the Cedar Creek property lines. Rinnick is concerned since they aren’t shifter, but he’s distracted with Cole. These human tracks lead all over the wilderness but seemed to concentrate on our property and the bear hunting lodge. I think they might have started there but migrated toward us.
