Page 71 of Doyle

Of course Ivan was right. What was I doing, sitting here?

I nodded, but the pain in my chest flared up, making me wince. Ivan rushed to my side, helping me stand.

"We need to get that wound checked first. You can’t help Michael if you’re bleeding out,” Ivan said.

Reluctantly, I let Ivan guide me to the bathroom.

As he rummaged through the first aid kit, I thought about Michael, out there alone, terrified and vulnerable.

The idea of Liliana still having some kind of control over him made my blood boil. But I had to keep a level head.

We needed to get the bottom of this.

Ivan handed me a towel to press against the wound, and I winced at the sharp pain.

"We’ll find him, Doyle. He can't have gone far,” Ivan said.

I nodded, trying to focus on the task at hand.

"We have to. He’s convinced he’s a danger, but he’s not. Liliana’s just playing with his mind,” I said.

"Then we’ll stop her," Ivan said firmly. "But first, let’s get you patched up. We’ll call in the others, get a search party going."

As Ivan worked on cleaning and bandaging the wound, I couldn't stop thinking about Michael.

The fear in his eyes, the desperation in his voice. I needed to find him, to show him that we could face this together.

That he wasn't alone.

"Hang in there, Michael," I whispered under my breath. "I’m coming for you."

Ivan and I arrived at Zane's house half an hour later. Anxiety and restlessness gnawed at me.

Every fiber of my being screamed to go after Michael immediately, but Ivan was right.

It was smarter to go as a group. Besides, when Michael didn't answer my calls, the first person I contacted was his dad.

Matthew had told me Michael was on his way to Oak Meadow and would be there before dinner.

He hadn’t asked for details, but at least he wasn’t antagonistic.

As we stepped into the house, voices drifted from the kitchen. I managed to catch a few words.

"...has been taken. You and Doyle should head out as soon as possible while the trail is still fresh," Zane was saying.

Another kidnapping, so soon after Michael lost control of his body? It seemed too coincidental.

"Good, you two are here," Zane said, turning to us. "Two shifters have been taken from Oak Meadow."

"Michael's hometown?" I asked, frowning.

Zane glanced at me, then at Ivan.

Though my recent injury was hidden under my shirt and jacket, he could probably smell the blood on me. He narrowed his eyes.

"What happened? Did you two?—"

"It's not what you think," Ivan interrupted.

---