Page 80 of Campfires & Canines
I bristle.
"Slate, you're going to get yourself killed if you try."
I try to keep calm. But after a sleepless night, my control is nonexistent. Every part of me aches.
"She's your niece. I thought you'd be a bit more concerned about her," I snap.
Hawthorne looks between us and heads to the door, giving Heath privacy to put me in my place. I'm reckless, the chaos inside my head drowning out logical thought.
"It's going to be okay. We will get her back, without losing anyone else." His soothing tone does nothing to calm me.
"She's worth more than that," I spit.
The line between his brows deepens. "How would Hazel feel to come home and learn two of her friends died when it could have been handled peacefully?"
He's right, but I can't stop. "We don't know if that’s possible. We don't know what's happening to her right now."
"She'd be devastated," he warns.
"I'm not asking for a team. But let me go after my mate!" I'm shouting. I've never raised my voice at Heath or even seriously disagreed with him before.
"You're not the only one here with a mate." His voice is low.
"How'd that work out for you?" I snap. It's so far over the line that he can't let it slide. I welcome any pain he'll inflict. I deserve it for letting this happen to her.
Heath advances, his movements liquid. He looks down at me.
"I'm going to let that go because I know you're exhausted and blaming yourself. I know you're newly mated. But if you ever speak to me in that manner again, you will lose your position in this pack." His voice is deadly.
His dominance presses down on me, pushing me into the floor. I want to snarl, but I also want a home here for Hazel and me when we get her back. Begrudgingly, I drop my eyes and bow my head.
"Go, run it off. Where I assigned you."
This time, I hold my tongue. But I don't obey.
I tear off my clothes and shift, sprinting towards the southern border. I won't cross any boundaries unless I catch a trail.
Ahead I spot three wolves - Lazuli's white and gray form, Vale's solid black wolf, and Onyx's charcoal one.
A snarl builds in my throat. He was supposed to be protecting her. I trusted him.
I'm not in control of my own body as I leap at him. Onyx twists, baring his teeth even as I pin him to the ground.
Lazuli is yelling at me. It's muffled by the blood rushing through my ears. When did he shift?
Onyx stops growling and lays his head down, submitting. He shifts, his bare chest under my paws. His eyes are bloodshot.
I shift, kneeling beside him with my knees in the dirt. "You were supposed to keep her safe," I growl.
Onyx sits up, grimacing. His hand grips his shoulder, steadying the place where a bullet ripped right through him. Purple bruising radiates out from the dark scab.
Lazuli pulls me back, his words finally clearing my fog. "She should have been safe. They were a hundred feet from the office! They would have snatched her right out of your house if they had to.”
“I’m sorry, man.” Onyx’s midnight eyes meet mine, looking as angry as I feel, with the same edge of devastation.
"You should have died before you let them take her." Part of me knows I’m being cruel, but I don’t care. I can't bring myself to forgive either of us.
"Believe me, I tried,” he says, motioning to his bandage. "But it didn't stick."
