Page 12 of Banished Mates
Hearing Willow’s father’s name snapped my attention to her.
“Torrin, Willow hasn’t returned, and she was supposed to return three hours ago. He said he can’t get a hold of her,” Britt’s voice shook. A roar in my ears deafened me, and my mind raced.
Three hours ago? My lungs deflated. So she wasn’t avoiding me?
Torrin met my gaze.
“Hopefully she stays gone.”
My knuckles popped as I clenched my hand. I shook my head and scoffed. I couldn’t let my temper get to me, so I slowly turned and walked away. She better be okay. She had to be. Willow was surely punishing me for making her worry and for my stupid, rash words.
“Hector’s going to look for her. Stay out of it. Think of how it’ll look to Meridith if you leave at a whiff of her absence.”
My steps didn’t falter.
“Camden. This a direct order from the Alpha. Do. Not. Leave. Pack. Lands.”
My steps didn’t wane. I shoved open the front door and the werewolf about to enter scuttled back to avoid my aggressive stride.
“If you leave, don’t return.”
I didn’t bother turning around. I was heading in that direction either way. Fuck him and this pack. I wanted to make sure Willow was okay and there was this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that said she wasn’t. I refused to ignore it.
A growl turned into a snarl and a furry body slammed into my back, throwing me to the ground as teeth sliced into my shoulder. I caught myself and rolled to the side, letting my shift take over. My skin stretched and popped as hair grew rapidly to cover my shifting body.
Torrin charged at me again and I feigned to the left. His burnished red fur was a few shades lighter than mine and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. His yellow-brown glinting eyes, so similar to mine, rounded toward me.
I snarled and lowered my head, my wolf shoving forward. He only saw Torrin as the roadblock to Willow and nothing more.
The threats of kicking her out of the pack, his part in hurting her throat... echoed in my head and I didn’t hold back. I lunged and sank my teeth into his shoulder, biting down until blood coated my tongue. The bitter taste filled my mouth. My wolf wanted more, so I ceded control.
Locking my jaw, I shook my head without releasing, burying my fangs and teeth so deep they hit bone. The half whimper he released faded into the background, and I used my hold to yank to the side, flinging him a few feet away.
He fell into a boneless heap and his paws scratched at the ground as he struggled to stand.
“Stop, Camden,” Britt sobbed, dropping to her knees and tossing her torso over Torrin’s heaving bloody body.
I shook out my fur and blood sprayed across Britt’s face, splattering little dots across her cheek. She flinched, but she wasn’t my concern. Willow wasn’t back when she was supposed to be. If the Moon Goddess existed, I prayed that she kept my mate safe.
I bared my teeth at the pack Alpha once more. Forcing my instincts back, I regained a semblance of my human thinking and logic. Willow was what was important.
Burying my claws into the ground, I kicked up dirt as I dashed away.
Willow
I suckedin a breath and attempted to sit up, only to bang my head into something. A sting burned my forehead and spiked down my face as the echo of metal bounced around the tiny enclosure keeping me contained. The cut was small, but my fingertips came away dotted with moisture, which I could only assume was blood.
Metal made it easy for me to wiggle and slide myself into a hunched upright position. Seeing how small the place was, I had to huddle into myself. I winced at the twinge in my side and wrapped my arms around my knees.
I tipped my head back, squinting, but it was no use. I could see nothing. Maybe there was a latch or something I could pull. Lifting my hand, I pressed it into the flat surface above me, feeling around. There were tiny holes, not big enough for me to even poke a finger through.
This would be a great time for me to be able to shout and yell. I groaned and rubbed my nose. I didn’t have a voice, but I had a hand.
I pounded both fists into the metal, thuds reverberating around the small space. My arms burned and I panted. Again and again, I slammed them into metal until they became numb. No one was coming.
Forehead pressed against the metal; I slapped my palm down on the surface. This couldn’t be it, someone had to hear me.
Rearing my leg back, I kicked the shit out of it. The metal didn’t dent but the sound echoed louder.
