Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Six - Mason

The feeling of cement lined my veins.

Walking out of her house without her felt unnatural. It was a mate's job to protect the other. How could I protect her if I wasn't there?

I made it to Jacob's truck when my wolf howled in pain. Jacob met my gaze over the top of his truck. "You okay?"

My fingers curled around the door handle to the passenger side. "I'm fine. My wolf is protesting me leaving."

Jacob chuckled and climbed into the driver's seat. When I got inside, he was still laughing.

Sweat built at the edge of my forehead. "What's so funny?"

Jacob backed out of Jessica's driveway. "I never imagined finding a mate would feel like that. You're sweating."

I leaned my head back, smiling as I closed my eyes and rested my head. "It hurts now but last night...I know you don't want to hear about your cousin, but it was amazing. I can't describe."

Jacob gave me a look. "You're right, I don't want to hear about it. But I am happy for you."

I looked over at him and smiled. "Now, tell me about last night. What did I miss?"

Jacob sighed heavily and ran his palms against the steering wheel. "We chased the scent for hours and found the clothes. There isn't much to tell. It's the only scent that we picked up the entire night.

"That's good, right?" I asked. "That means there is only one of them?"

Jacob shrugged. "Something feels so off about all of it. When have we ever not been able to track something? A human or a beast. We've always been able to track them. It seems deliberate."

I lifted a brow at him, the pain in my veins finally subsiding enough that I could breathe normally. "You think a rabid lycan is pulling the wool over our eyes? Five werewolves?"

"I'm not sure this one is rabid. Maybe in his wolf form, but if he or she is shifting...then maybe it's someone right underneath our noses."

I hadn't thought about it. It made me scared to trust anyone in town. Not for my sake but for Jessica's sake.

I wasn't sure if I felt comfortable sending her to The Eagle alone.

"I don't like that," I mumbled, looking out at the forest as we drove toward the pack house.

Jacob drove us up the driveway and parked. "I don't go to work until five. I want to run with you toward the spot where we found the lycan. Seth is coming with us."

My wolf growled lightly.

Jacob put both hands up. "I spoke with him last night about everything. He has no choice but to believe you now. Jessica is wearing your mark. He's going to be on his best behavior."

I rolled my eyes. I wanted to trust him. We'd been brothers for years. A woman shouldn't come between us, but on the other hand, my mate was my other half. I understood his jealousy of not having his mate, but his jealousy stemmed from wanting my mate.

"Jacob, I'm just letting you know that I can't control my wolf if he comes at me the wrong way."

Jacob nodded. "I understand and so does he. He won't step out of line."

Reluctantly, I got out and followed Jacob toward the pack house.

Aaron was at work, and Liam had gone to the local university to take a test.

Seth sat on the kitchen island eating a leftover hamburger when we walked inside. His gaze settled on mine for several seconds and then shifted toward Jacob. "I smell sex. I'm assuming you marked her?" Seth asked.

I cleared my throat. "I did."

Seth nodded once but didn't push the subject. Jacob gave me a long look before jabbing his thumb over his shoulder. "We're ready to go to the spot. Have you heard anything while I was gone?"

He slipped from the island and swallowed his last bite. "No, I haven't heard a peep."

We all left the pack house together, shifting once we made it into the cover of the forest. Jacob led us through the forest as if he'd memorized the way. The longer we ran, the more I began to smell the lycan.

The stench settled into my stomach and turned it into knots. I didn't know if the smell was bad because I was a wolf or to everyone. Either way, it made me want to vomit.

Jacob skidded to a stop in a small clearing in the middle of the woods. A small pile of clothes sat in the middle. I walked over, moving it with my nose and smelling it.

Jacob looked at me. "Do you recognize the human smell?" he asked through our mind link.

I shook my head. The lycan scent vanished, and a very light scent took its place. One that did not belong to a lycan but to a human.

"No," I answered. "Maybe we could stake this spot out tonight?" I suggested. "What's the worst that could happen?"

"We could find an entire group of lycans," Seth spat.

I cut my eyes at him. "There is only one scent we've picked up. There can't be an entire lycan pack hiding their scents."

"Mason is right," Jacob said. "We need at least four of us here. Mason is new to his bond with Jessica. I'm not sure him leaving her alone would be wise. I think we need to stake out but keep a mind link with him. That way, if we need him, he can be here quickly."

"Whatever you think is best," I said.

I looked around the forest. The silence of the day felt surreal. There weren't any birds or insects.

"It's so quiet," I whispered.

Jacob turned toward the pack house and looked back over his shoulder. "I noticed that last night."

"Maybe the lycan is near," Seth said, lifting his nose into the air. "I don't smell anything though."

Jacob raced toward the pack house and we fell in line behind him. The feeling of being watched fell over me. Something was wrong with all of this.

When we got back to the pack house, we found clothes and met in the kitchen.

"Maybe we could go around town and see if we pick up on that scent?" I suggested. "I need to take Jessica to work in a few, so maybe I can see if I pick up the scent anywhere."

Jacob nodded and folded his arms over his chest. "I want to keep our families protected too. If the lycan is taunting us, they may follow our scents home. I can't imagine anything happening to your grandmother or Jessica. Or my mom. We need to figure this out soon. I have a gut feeling that someone is toying with us."

Seth picked up another leftover burger. "Not to mention all the farmers losing their animals."

"I'm more afraid they'll turn their attention to people next," I said. "There are only so many animals in Slade Springs."

Jacob scratched the back of his neck and sighed heavily. "I'm going to take a quick nap. I'm exhausted from last night. Keep me posted."

He left me in the kitchen with Seth. Silence fell over us and we gave each other glances. "I'm sorry about the other night. I thought you were lying to get into her pants."

I cringed at the statement. I would have thought Seth knew me better than that. "I would never do that to Jacob, or Jessica."

Seth nodded. "Yeah, well, congratulations. I'm happy that we know mates still exist."

I chuckled. "Yeah. Thanks. Me, too. I'm going to go nap, too. I had a long night."

Seth snorted. "Yeah, smelled like it."