Page 45 of Forsaking His Mate

He dips down and presses his mouth to mine. “Morning, baby,” he murmurs.

“Morning,” I repeat back, my mouth tugging into a smile. “Did you sleep okay?”

“I did, but why are you up so early?”

Concern flares down the mating bond and I reach out to rub his arm. “I’m okay,” I assure him.

Abel moves to sit next to me on the porch swing. “I can sense you’re not. What’s going on?”

I roll my mug between my hands, frowning. I decide to give him the truth. He deserves my honesty. “I keep dreaming about the hunters. They’re still looking, but I don’t think they’re looking for me.”

He kisses my cheek. Abel always needs to be touching me too, and even when he pulls back, his hand rests on my thigh under the blanket.

“They’re just dreams, baby. After what you went through, it’s understandable that you’d have some nightmares from it.”

“Usually, I would agree with that, but I’ve been working with Hester and Roux to improve my vision walking. I think… I think these are visions.”

His forehead scrunches as he frowns at me. “What are you seeing other than them hunting?”

“They’re in a town, looking for someone. I can’t see their faces, but they explore a little more of the town with every dream.” I place my mug on the small table next to the swing. “I think whoever they are hunting is in trouble, Abel.”

“Are they tau?”

I scrunch my nose. “I don’t know. I just… I have this pull to go to this town.”

“Do you know where it is?”

“I have a feeling of the direction I need to go in, but I don’t know the name of it.”

He rubs my thigh in a soothing motion. “Do you think you can work with Hester to find out more? I’m not keen on the idea of you leaving the sanctuary to findwhoever they’re hunting—especially not without concrete information.”

I understand his concern. As tau wolves the moment we leave the sanctuary we risk being trailed by the hunters who want us dead.

“We could combine our magic and maybe get a better grip on the vision.”

He must sense my concern through the bond because he pulls his hand from under the blanket to cup my face. “Let’s talk to Hester. Maybe with the four of you harnessing your powers, you can see the rest of it.”

He’s right. Apryle and Roux are growing in strength, too. Apryle is becoming more proficient in her dream walking, while Roux is getting better at conjuring.

He kisses me and I melt into his touch, unable to resist the pull of my mate. My wolf is just as content as I am. “I’ll grab your sneakers.”

I love him for not doubting me, and for taking my concerns seriously. He disappears inside and when he returns, he’s got boots and a sweater on. He hands me my shoes and one of his hoodies.

I slip my feet into my sneakers and pull the hoodie over my head before we make our way to the main house. There are days when it’s easy to forget everything while we’re here, but this morning my mind is on my old pack and my father. I wonder how they are, if they have mourned the dead and started to rebuild. Guilt washes through me and Abel squeezes my hand.

“Whatever you’re feeling guilt for wasn’t your fault,” he says, reading my emotions through the bond.

“I wish I could speak to my father, make sure he’s okay.”

“I know.”

We both know I can’t. It would place the pack indanger again and I’m already responsible for the many wolves who died trying to protect me. Abel would yell at me for thinking that, but it is the truth.

As we approach the house, my head starts to feel fuzzy and I stumble. It’s only Abel’s hold on me that stops me from falling over.

“You okay?” he asks.

“I feel…” I close my eyes, rubbing at the pain in my head that suddenly throbs to life.

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