Page 17 of Little Bunny

“His hog was there?” Matias’s voice tightened, unease coiling deep in his gut. Diablo wouldn’t just ditch his bike. It was as vital as breathing, an extension of the man himself. Something was terribly wrong.

Santiago handed him a cell phone, its screen cracked. “Found this on the ground next to Diablo’s leather,” he said quietly, his tone grim. “He wouldn’t part with leather. His dad had given it to him.”

Matias’s fingers tightened around the phone, understanding the weight of that statement. The jacket itself was a living narrative, a battle-worn relic scarred by highway dust and hard living. Diablo had shared its significance during one of their long rides. It had stuck with Matias. While Diablo had been fortunate with good parents, Matias had been abandoned by his own. Instead, it had been his grandfather, Alverto Salvador, who molded him, channeling raw aggression into strength, transforming his alpha instincts into leadership tempered with compassion.

The old man had also instilled in him the wisdom to make decisions others shied away from. When to show mercy and when mercy had no place.

“It reeked of hyena,” Santiago said, his voice edged with tension. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

Matias’s jaw tightened, muscles flexing beneath his skin. Territory was sacred among shifters. Yet, this pack had brazenly moved in, sowing chaos, igniting a war against the Salvador pack.

Matias did his best to prevent the conflict from affecting the unsuspecting humans, but his efforts weren’t always successful.

“We find them,” Matias growled. “Now. Every minute Diablo’s in their claws is another minute closer to losing him for good.” The thought of them killing Diablo was something Matias didn’t want to consider.

Already he’d lost two pack members to this war and was determined not to lose anyone else.

“We’ve scoured every inch of this territory,” Santiago said, frustration darkening his expression. “Their tracks vanished before we even pick up the scent.”

Matias glanced at the phone in his hand, turning it over as the weight of the situation sat heavily on his shoulders.

“Keep the doors locked until we find Diablo,” Matias finally ordered. “No one comes in or out. Today, the only business we have is bringing him home.”

Santiago rested his arm against the kitchen doorway, appearing pensive. Matias met his gaze. “They wanted my attention”—his voice lowered dangerously, a promise of retribution carved into every word—“and now they have it.”

“So, what’re you going to do about the little captives down the hall?” A faint smirk curved his lips, but it quickly faded. “Elijah is downright pissed. Don’t you think he at least deserves an explanation? He didn't ask for any of this.”

Matias’s gaze flicked to him. “If he hadn’t been wasted, I wouldn’t have needed to use the room Diablo was in.”

Santiago glared at him. Bold move. Probably the only male who could get away with it. Two decades as alpha meant nothing if his men sensed weakness. Strength was respected. Weakness was eliminated.

“I know you don’t blame him for Diablo taking off.”

Matias didn’t blame Elijah. He blamed himself. Diablo had been chilling in one of the bedrooms, dealing with the weight of his trip. And Matias had barged in, ordering Diablo out.

He’d been too focused on Elijah to see what was right in front of him.

That was on him.

“No.” He scanned the pack members lingering in the tavern before returning his attention to Santiago. “Gather everyone for a meeting. Those who aren’t here, call them in.”

Santiago nodded but hesitated. “What about the pocket-sized troublemakers? Percy’s gonna lose his shit if he can’t check on his mom. The scene he just made? Calm waters compared to what he’ll do if we keep him from her.”

“And if the hyenas are watching this place?” Matias gestured toward the rooms. “They spot Percy and Elijah leaving from here, they’ll wish for the comfort of that room compared to what’ll happen to them. I’m not trying to be an asshole. I’m trying to keep them alive.” He exhaled heavily. “Send someone to watch the mom’s place. And warn them about Jacob.”

“For the record, I never thought you were being an asshole. I just thought you were being a prick for not explaining things to Elijah.”

Matias growled, his patience as far as Santiago’s insults had ended. “You’re getting dangerously close.”

“Yes, sir.” Santiago nodded. “I’ll gather the pack.”

As Santiago walked away, Matias stared at the hallway. He owed Elijah nothing, because he hadn’t asked the little bunny to come to his tavern in the first place. But… it was the right thing to do.

Sighing, he headed toward the bedroom where the males were being held, a migraine pounding in his head. Now he was about to deal with a bigger headache for locking Elijah in the room.

How on earth had a pipsqueak human caused so much turmoil inside of him? Elijah made him what to pull his hair out and crave him in the same breath.

“He said he was doing it for your own good,” Percy said on the other side of the door, causing Matias to pause. “Do you really hate him for trying to protect you?”

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