Page 60 of Half Wolf Mate

When Damian and I were alone, I allowed my vulnerability to show. “We’ve searched for hours. We’ve looked everywhere. What if—”

“If she were dead, you’d know.”

Logically, I knew that. Our mate’s bond would be severed, and I would feel the overwhelming urge to join her in death. But… “There was so much blood.”

“It wasn’t all hers,” Damian reminded me.

I really had to get it together. Someone had taken my mate, and she was counting on me to find her. Taking a deep breath, I said, “I’m going to find Sydney. I’ll tear this city apart until I do. Then, I’m going to deal with the bastards who dared to hurt her and take her from me.”

“And you’re back,” Damian said. “Thank God.”

“I need Macy’s help. You have to go get her.”

Damian sputtered, “W—what? Me? Why would you… Cole, come on.”

“For the love of God, Damian, I need you to put your discomfort aside and do this for me. I’m not going too far from the apartment in case Sydney makes her way back. She’s a fighter. There’s a chance she’ll show up, and I need to be here.”

Damian swallowed his protest. Shoulders stiff, he nodded. “Yeah, I’ll go and get Macy.”

“Damian.”

He paused at the door and turned back around.

“I’m asking a lot. I’m sorry about throwing you in Macy’s path like this. I understand now more than others how hard it is to face a mate you rejected.”

A muscle ticked in Damian’s jaw.

“But if anyone can help locate Sydney, it’s Macy.”

“No apology necessary, Alpha. I’ll do what you ask,” he said with his typical air of unwavering loyalty.

Damian yanked the door open, and we both froze. There was so much emotion between us, clouding our senses we hadn’t even detected the person we were searching for. My breath exited my lungs with a relieved sigh, and my wolf damn near howled its excitement.

“Sydney,” I breathed.

Her gaze jumped to me, and she looked terrified. I frowned, but then I noticed she wasn’t alone at the same time Damian’s menacing growl reached my ears. Sydney took a step and stumbled. Adam Blackwell appeared to snake an arm around her waist.

“Easy,” he said. “Watch the leg.”

I registered that Sydney was obviously hurt. The left leg of her jeans was rolled up, revealing blood-stained bandages. I was concerned about her, but at the same time, I wanted to kill the man with his hands on her, and I was going to do just that.

“Damian, stand down. He’s mine,” I growled, striding toward Sydney and Adam with deadly purpose.

***

Sydney’s eyes widened as I advanced. She pulled away from Adam and limped forward, placing herself between us. She held up both palms.

“You guys, stop.”

I reached for her as soon as I was at the doorway, pulling her inside and away from Adam. She stumbled, but I held her upright. “Where the hell have you been? How bad is your wound? Did Adam hurt you?” My questions were fired in rapid succession as I searched her for further injuries.

“Yeah, I wounded her and kidnapped her only to be stupid enough to return her to you myself,” Adam said, his words dripping with sarcasm. “I don’t have a death wish, Grayson.”

“I think you do,” Damian said softly. Deadly. His glowing eyes were fixed on Adam, who glowered at him, seemingly ready for an attack.

I tried positioning myself in front of Sydney to protect her if things got messy. However, she pushed her way back in front. “Come on, you guys, seriously? As Adam said, do you really think he’d be that stupid? He didn’t hurt me. He saved my life and tended to my wound. He took good care of me and kept me safe when I wasn’t even conscious. He was kind enough to escort me back here. I wouldn’t have made it on my own.”

She looked exhausted and pale. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I urged, “You need to sit.” Although jealousy reared its ugly head, I gave Adam a grudging “Thank you.”

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