Page 69 of Moonlight and Mischief
“Onyx would be great at it,” Slate says.
“Alright, I’d better get started. Can you send Onyx my way? I’ll let you know when we are up and running.”
The drones are fairly easy to set up, and within an hour, Onyx and I are flying them across our compound, trying to get the hang of it. Visibility would be better if it wasn’t so cloudy, but overall I’m impressed with the little machines.
However, the light is fading and while they have night vision capabilities, I can already tell it will be tricky to fly them after dark. We are not experienced enough yet.
Heath observes us. “Looks good. Go ahead and run one in along the borders around the Raven Pack tomorrow, and see if we can spot anything.”
“Anything else tonight?” I ask.
Already striding away, Heath shakes his head. “Go get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be rough.”
We stow the drones away and leave the offices. Darkness has fallen. Onyx grips my arm and nods resolutely before we part ways.
For once, I’m glad my cabin is close to the training building and offices. My jog slows on the porch, and as I step in, I breathe in her scent. It’s faded like she isn’t here. Frowning, I push open the door to my room, empty. The door to her room, empty.
My stomach clenches as I realize the bag she brought her things in is now missing from its spothanging on the footboard. Striding across the room, I pull open the closet and reveal empty hangers.
No.
She’s taken her belongings and left. My chest feels like I’ve been struck. I stumble and slump onto her bed. Where would she go? Back to the Raven Pack? No, she has no way to get there unless she runs, and she wouldn’t disobey Slate. She’s got to be with her brothers or maybe Hazel.
My gut roils and my shifter instincts surge. But I can’t have this discussion in wolf form. Gritting my teeth, I head toward Slate and Hazel’s cabin, trying to contain my pace to a fast walk when all I want to do is sprint.
Warm light glows from the windows, diffused by linen curtains I helped hang. Hazel picked a dark green paint for the front door, with brass hardware. I have to pause a moment before knocking. It won’t help to start this conversation angry.
My knuckles rap on the glossy wood and my sensitive hearing picks up hushed female voices. Finally the hinges rasp as Hazel cracks the door.
Her body fills the opening, blocking my entrance and my view into their living room. “Jasper,” she says.
“Is she here?” My voice is harsher than I intend.
“She doesn’t want to see you.” Hazel tucks her hair behind her ears, the only tell that she feels guilty.
My hand grips the door frame. “We need to work through this.”
Hazel’s brown eyes meet mine and I see resolution in her unwavering gaze. I won’t be getting past her. “She’ll come talk to you when she’s ready. Not before.”
“I want her to come home,” I plea.
Slate steps onto the porch behind me and rests his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay. She needs some space.”
Her safe space should be with me. She needs to be home. In our home. My mouth opens and closes but I have no response.
“I’ll talk to her,” Slate offers. Hazel’s eyes narrow at him, but he shrugs. “Go home. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
My throat is thick. Slate takes one last look at me and steps past his mate. I can hear Marigold murmur a greeting to him, and it’s like knives cutting into me.
“Good night, Jasper,” Hazel says softly, closing the door in my face.
I can’t seem to move my legs. Each breath is jagged. My wolf surges forward, overtaking my human form. My ripped shirt falls to the ground and I scramble out of my sweats, not caring if Hazel or Slate sees the evidence of my shift.
The anxiety buzzing under my skin slowly fades away. In this form, worries are dull, but the grief of potential loss still chokes me. My four paws stumble and regain balance as I lope into the forest.
Every step further from Marigold feels like a mistake. My path curves, bringing me back toward my brother’s cabin. Snarling, I pick up speed and run past.
Needing to feel anything else, I increase my speed until there’s nothing but the ache in my lungs and the burn in my muscles. Our endurance is for moderately paced runs, not full out sprints. Soon, I am spent.
