Page 79 of Midnight Hunt

“I don’t know,” she whispered back, then added, “But it might be a good idea for him to excuse himself. Just for a little while until we get things sorted out.”

I immediately hated the idea, even as I agreed with her.

Before I could say anything, Griff said, “I’ll take a walk. I have my new phone if anyone needs to reach me.”

As he let go of me, I immediately missed his warmth. Turning around, I grabbed his hand before he could leave and softly said, “Griff, wait. I’m . . . I’m sorry.”

I didn’t know what I was apologizing for specifically, only that I was sorry. Abouteverything. He wouldn’t be in this situation right now if it wasn’t for me.

Watching a fresh tear track down my cheek, he reached up and gently wiped it away. “Do me a favor, Vi,” he quietly replied, remorse heavy in his voice. “Don’t let him touch you again.”

Knowing who he was referring to, I nodded, then reluctantly let go of his hand so he could turn and walk away. As I watched him leave, Nora slid an arm around me, and I gratefully accepted her comfort.

“You okay?” she continued to whisper as Kolton finished telling our guests what we knew about the rogues.

No. I was definitelynotokay and neither was Griff, but now wasn’t the time to pour my heart out. Our guests had already seen me cry, and I couldn’t afford to reveal any more weaknesses. Mason was looking at me far too intently, his brown eyes so similar to Griff’s that I couldn’t hold his gaze.

I was an alpha female, and before Nora had joined the pack last year, it had been up to me to keep things running smoothly. I’d spent the past seven years supporting Kolton and making sure other packs only saw his strengths. Which meant that I’d had to be strong as well, even when I’d wanted to break into a million pieces.

“I’ll be fine,” I quickly reassured Nora, adding a smile when she gave me a skeptical look.Later, the look said, and I nodded in agreement, almost relieved that she hadn’t believed me.

Because it was getting harder to stay strong. If I kept going like this, something was going to give, and I was pretty sure that something would be my sanity.

The meeting went on for hours, each alpha wishing to weigh in on how best to find the missing females and confront the rogues responsible. Almost all of them wanted justice, their reactions promising compared to the last Alpha Meeting. Apparently, the thought of females being used for the sole purpose of breeding angered even the most neutral pack leaders.

But as the evening wore on, my restlessness increased. Griff hadn’t returned, and I was beginning to worry. I couldn’t text him, though. I’d left my new phone in the house. Knowing that I’d messed things up even more between us by assuring him I washisonly added to my misery.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem tostopmessing up. I’d done and said things this past week that I couldn’t take back, and our friendship was going to suffer because of it.Griffwas going to suffer.

How could I do that to him? Why was I so freakingselfish?

Lost in my own self-deprecating thoughts, I almost didn’t notice the crowd beginning to disperse, a sure sign that the meeting had ended. It had concluded in our favor, and no one had brought up Griff’s indiscretion. I should feel relieved, but the only thing I continued to feel was an incessant restlessness. Anitchjust beneath my skin that I couldn’t scratch.

“You okay?” Nora asked again, noticing that I couldn’t seem to hold still.

“Yeah, I’m just gonna take a little walk to clear my head,” I replied. When she gave me another dubious look, I added, “I won’t go far, promise. Just to the front gates and back.”

Not waiting for a response, I turned and strode across the lawn at a fast walk. Cars were pulling through the roundabout and leaving the way they’d arrived, but I didn’t pause to wave goodbye, too focused on walking along the narrow road. But the longer I walked, the stronger the itch became, making my face break out in a cold sweat.

What the hell?

My confusion vanished a few steps later when a familiar sensation pulsed through me. It was so strong that I doubled over, nearly twisting my ankle in the process.

Struggling to breathe through the pulsing wave, I waited for it to pass before biting out a curse.

You’ve gone into heat, Sable needlessly told me, and I sharply swore again.

It was too soon. My last heat had only been three months ago.

Another wave hit, forcing me to accept that I was indeed going into heat—andfast. Heat flushed through my body, making me uncomfortable in my dress. A trembling had already begun in my arms and legs, and I came to an abrupt halt, knowing that I had to make a decision while I could still stand.

Call for Griff, Sable urged me, and the heat flared in response to his name.

As it settled between my legs, I squeezed my eyes shut with a groan. It would be so easy,soeasy to call for him. He would come without hesitation, and that was the problem. I couldn’t do this to him again. Iwouldn’t.

Waiting for the second wave to pass, I straightened, my mind made up. But as I turned to head back toward the garage, a silver Rolls-Royce stopped beside me.

“Hey, little Violet. You all right?”

---