Page 10 of The Runaway Mate

Thomas stood up straighter. “Yes, actually, it is. This is typical of domestic abuse victims. You need to tread carefully; don’t spook her. We all know how much she means to you and Jem, but if you want her to stay, you need to go slow.”

My blood went cold at his words. “You think someone she knew did this to her?”

“From her evasive answers, the fact that she ran here—to the very Pack she fled from four years ago in order to hide from this person—and that she has no offensive wounds, which means she didn’t fight back…” Thomas shook his head. “I have no doubt that she knew her attacker and was probably close to them.”

I stared at the house, my anger mounting. I heard the echo of my heavy breathing and the growling of my wolf. My hands clenched as I tried to keep him in.

“Keep it under control, Ryan,” Thomas said sharply. “You can’t help her if you lose it.”

Soon, I told my wolf, we’ll hunt them soon.

He knew I’d keep that promise.

“I need to take her to the compound. Jem wants to see her.”

Thomas nodded. “I’ll get some crutches that she can use.”

Chapter eight

Mai

As Ryan drove me to the compound where Jem and Hayley lived, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. What would I say to Jem after all these years? Would Hayley still hate me? I had to make sure that they knew I wasn’t here to stay.

I’d never been inside the Alpha compound before. I’d just turned eighteen when I left and had never been there. As we approached the entrance, I could see a network of cameras and sensors covering the perimeter. There was a guard stationed at the gates. Ryan wound down his window and nodded to him. The guard looked at Ryan, then at me, then back at Ryan. His face showed no expression. Right.

The guard talked into his radio, “Open the gate.” Then tapped on the roof of the car two times.

We drove through, and I was surprised to see that the compound was more like a small town. There were several large houses scattered around a central square. All of them had well-maintained, spacious gardens in front.

In the center of the square was a fountain surrounded by benches and a ring of Japanese maples. The fountain was beautifully crafted, with intricate carvings of rabbits, fawns, and squirrels.

Each house was different. Some were modern, with grand windows and sleek lines, while others were more traditional, smaller, with thatched roofs and beautiful rustic stonework.

The largest one, which I was guessing was where the Alphas would stay, was a sprawling, three-story house with a wide veranda and a garden full of colorful flowers. There were bean bags and two hammocks on the veranda, and I could just picture Jem chilling out in one in the evenings.

Ryan parked the car in the driveway.

“We’re here,” he said.

No shit.

“Mai, I—”

“Don’t start. I just want to get in there, listen to whatever Jem has to say, and get the hell out.”

Ryan stared at me for a long moment, his jaw tight. I knew he wanted to say more, but thankfully, he got out without saying anything. I blinked, and he was at my door before I’d even opened it. These crutches sucked.

“Here, let me—”

“I’ve got it, Ryan. I don’t need your help, so back off.”

I hobbled past him toward the door. It was awkward, but I made it to the front door. Ryan walked straight in. I guess Jem had an open-door policy. I followed him and was immediately struck by how cozy and welcoming the house felt. There were soft pastel rugs on the floors and bookshelves full of books lining the walls. I didn’t remember Jem as a big reader. That was always my thing.

Ryan steered me into the living room. It was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. It was decorated in warm, earthy tones, with plush couches and chairs arranged around an imposing fireplace. Then, my eyes met the gaze of the man standing in the middle of the room. My brother. Jem.

I hadn’t seen him in so long, and I could hardly recognize the boy I once knew. I could see the weight of the past four years etched on his face. There were lines around his eyes and mouth that hadn’t been there before. He was taller, broader, and just oozed confidence that I guessed came with being an Alpha. His eyes, the same deep brown as mine, were filled with emotions that I couldn’t quite decipher.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, unsure of what to say or do.

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