Chapter Sixty - Mason

Jessica’s voice through our mind link scorched my veins.

Jacob’s body heaved at the sound of Jessica, but he didn’t deter from spraying several people who had been hit.

All of the lycans in the parking lot had been shot. Some withered and jerked around on the ground, while others woke up completely lost. There was no time to tell them anything. I needed to get to my mate and save her.

My wolf tore away from the group, searching for Jamie or Jessica. He howled into the air, preparing to leave when Jacob shouted.

“Wait, it could be a trap."

I didn’t care. I would walk or run right into a trap to save her. She needed help. I'd crawl through Hell to get to her. My wolf growled lowly at Jacob, ignoring the other pack members and their objections to my disobedience.

Jacob stepped over in his human form with Aaron behind him holding a Nerf gun full of elixir.

Jacob’s dark eyes searched mine. “We’re going to find her. I promise. We need to calm down before we go straight into some trap set for us.”

My wolf cried out in pain. I felt it breaking my heart into pieces. I felt as if I wanted to die at that very moment. If the potential threat of my mate felt this bad, I didn’t want to think about what it would feel like to actually lose her.

Shoving my wolf back, I shifted and pointed my finger at Jacob’s face. “I’m not letting something happen to her. I can follow her scent, now. We’re not waiting around.”

Stan shifted behind us. “I agree. I’ll go with him.” I hadn't even though about Stan losing his daughter in this. My selfishness centered around Jessica and my bond with her. My love for her.

Jacob put his palms up. “We’re all going. We need to all shift, and take it easy, follow her scent and figure out what’s going on. She could lead us into anything she wants at this point."

“I know what’s going on.”

I blinked, seeing Joey standing at the corner of the concession building. She was oddly avoiding eye contact since half of us were naked. Jacob walked over, grabbed the back of her T-shirt and ushered her over.

“I’m willingly helping, you don’t have to be rude,” she said, pulling away from him.

He gave her an odd look and cleared his throat. I watched as he shifted nervously around her. I wasn’t sure why but I didn’t have time to ask. “Jamie turned to me the moment Jessica arrived. She seemed to be very interested in her. She reached out to offer her a job when we really didn’t need anyone else on The Eagle.”

“She turned you into a lycan, why?” Stan asked.

Joey sighed heavily. “She didn’t tell me why at first, she just changed me. We started sneaking over to Jessica’s house wanting to take her. Jamie says she’s some kind of royalty. She wants her blood to breed a royal bloodline with lycans.”

My body stilled. Was Jamie currently draining my mate? Fear clogged my throat. “Where is she?” I asked.

Joey pointed toward the forest. “There is…”

I grabbed the back of her neck and began to drag her toward her pointed finger.

“Hold on,” Jacob said, grabbing my wrist and stopping me. “She won’t help us if you’re mean. Calm down. She’s fine. We can feel she’s fine through the pack bond. We need Joey's help to find her. Everything is ok.”

Tears pulled at the corners of my eyes. I felt weak and broken. I had to fix all of this now.

My body was minutes away from breaking into pieces. I hated myself for feeling so weak, but I couldn’t stop myself.

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

Jacob leaned forward and braced his palm against my shoulder. “We all are. It’s ok. We’re going to find her.”

He looked back at Joey who skeptically stepped over. “She’s in the forest. There is an abandoned hunting camp there. She’s been living there, changing people when she can and concocting this plan.”

“Does anyone else know that hasn’t been turned?” Jacob asked.

She shook her head. “No, I can’t explain it, but I knew because we talked about it in human form. The ones she turned didn’t know while human. They turned at night like us, but didn’t realize the shift during the day.”

Seth stepped over. “How does she know all of this?”

Joey shrugged. “I’m not sure, to be honest. She told me a little about herself. She only wanted my help. She wouldn’t have told me anything if she didn’t have to.”

Jacob nodded. “I’m going to shift and let you ride on my back. You’ll take us there, and we’ll protect you.”

Joey looked excited about the ride over. Jacob did, too. What in the hell was this excitement while my mate was in danger?

I shifted back while the other followed suit. Joey climbed onto Jacob’s back and shivered at her touch.

For a brief moment, I thought I heard Jacob moan. Did he have a crush on Joey? Now wasn’t the time to indulge it if he did.

He jolted forward, knocking her backward and she clung to him for safety. Hunters mostly owned the woods behind the fairgrounds. I didn’t know much about it, because we never followed the scent of a lycan to this part.

She hid it well.

Joey led us deep into the woods, over overturned brush and through tight trails. I could smell Jessica’s scent deep in my bones. She seemed safe and content, but I knew she must be afraid.

Unless her wolf had regained strength and kicked Jamie’s ass, which I hoped happened soon.

The trees began to clear, showing a vast field with a small cabin in the corner of it. Jessica’s scent was heavy in the air as we shifted. Joey pointed. “She’s been staying there.”

Jacob stared at the cabin and then looked down at Joey. “How long have you known Jamie?”

Joey pursed her lips. “She volunteered once at the high school as a cheer coach. But I’ve known her personally for about six years. I’ve always wanted to be a journalist, and she’s been in charge of The Eagle for at least a decade.”

Jacob slid his tongue over his teeth, and dragged his gaze toward mine. “We need to ambush the cabin in our human forms. Douse her with the elixir. We need to act fast.”

My fingers curled into tight fists.

My wolf was on edge, pacing back and forth wanting to drag Jamie out by her hair. Calling out to Jessica so she would know she wasn't alone.

Aaron pretended to cock his Nerf gun. “I’m ready.”

Jacob nodded at me. “Follow behind me; do not go until I say so. We have to plan this with our brains and not our emotions.”

I was emotional at the moment.

I felt like bursting at the seams.

Jacob started across the field, and I followed closely behind him. My body tilted on end as we shoved through the heavy brush. My wolf picked up on Jacob’s awareness of Joey lingering behind us.

“What’s the matter? Do you think she’s in on it?” I asked him.

Jacob shook his head. “No, I think she’s my mate.”

I watched his stoic face as we neared the cabin. The scent of Jessica’s blood drew my wolf to the surface.

We neared the cabin slowly, carefully and Jacob leaned against the side to look into the window.

Jessica screamed, and my wolf shoved forward, past my restraint and shifted.

Jacob’s demand pierced through the air, but I didn’t listen, my wolf shoved against the cabin door and broke it into pieces.