Page 35 of Hunted Ink by Trisha Linde

Joel rolled his eyes. “I’m still trying to convince North to get a minivan, but he saw an extended-cab Hummer last week, and now he thinks that would be the ultimate family vehicle.”

When North didn’t answer with some smartass remark about being the “cool dad” dropping his kids off at school in a tank, I glanced into the front to see what was taking so long. North was looking over at his brother, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

“Any luck?” North asked.

Mace was slumped in his seat. He shook his head forlornly, staring down at his phone with a longing I understood all too well. “He won’t answer my texts. I’ve tried everything, but he seems to think he’s doing me a favor.”

My heart gave a painful ache for Mace’s dilemma. He’d recently met his own fated mate, and their relationship had not been without complications. Why wasn’t love ever easy? Fate was such a bitch.

North set his hand on Mace’s forearm. “You don’t have to come tonight. If your mate needs you—or you need him—then you should go.”

Mace’s dark eyes perked up a little. “Yeah?”

“Of course. Everyone will understand. Won’t we?” he called back to us.

Joel and I didn’t hesitate to agree. “Of course! Go!”

It was like new life and determination had flooded into him, and his entire body language changed. “Okay. I’m gonna go make him take me back. Thanks, guys.” He unclicked his seatbelt, and as he shoved open the door, a rush of frigid air was sucked into the SUV.

“Shut the door!” Joel said, laughing, but the smile on my face fell straight off.

North caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “What’s wrong?” he asked immediately, cranking around in his seat to look at me, nostrils flaring.

I shook my head. “I’m okay. I just… smelled something funny when the door was open. Kinda like smoke. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Right? I asked my wolf.

He was disturbingly quiet, and he’d gone stock-still, like when he was in hunting mode, and he curled protectively around our little one.

Right?? I asked again.

My wolf finally gave me a huff that I decided to take as agreement. There was no other option I could handle right now.

As North pulled the SUV away from the curb, I felt an uncomfortable tingling sensation on the back of my neck. It felt almost like someone was watching me, but when I turned to glance out the rear window, there was no one there.

Chapter 22

Apollo

Carefully, little by little, one vial at a time, I’d swapped out the wolfsbane for innocuous herbs, trying to match the earthy scent as closely as I could, as well as the texture in their pastes and tinctures.

The first full moon, as Brahm had waded into the pool, there’d been a crack in his façade, just the briefest moment of surprise when it didn’t burn. His eyes had immediately flown to me, as if he’d known I was the one responsible. I gave the smallest shake of my head, begging for his silence. For one dreadful moment, I worried he was going to say something, but he kept his lips shut, glancing at me again as the elders smeared the paste across his chest and back.

None of the hunters said a word.

From then on, the change in the hunters had been immediately noticeable, but it was nowhere near fast enough. They were becoming bolder in standing up against the elders, especially in protecting the trainees. When sparring, I’d noticed their strength and reflexes were getting better. Soon, I would have to take the risk and speak to them about being shifters. They had to know by now that they weren’t human, that the voice in their head was their beast.

The time was coming, I could feel it.

Pater interrupted my thoughts with a sharp rap on my open door. “Apollo, I have a task of the utmost importance. Can I entrust you with it?”

“Of course, Pater. Anything,” I said, standing at attention, while on the inside, I was raging.

He stepped into the room, his boots clomping on the wood floor. “There is a very important package that needs to be picked up.”

“On the full moon, sir? Don’t you need me on the hunt?” I’d been planning on surprising Kedi by showing up to their pack run at Cedar Lake, but it looked like my plans were about to be thwarted.

He nodded solemnly, his gray eyes pinched. “There is no one I trust more than you, son.” He set his hand on my shoulder and squeezed, and I fought the urge to shake him off. Strengthened by the full moon’s pull, my wolf was just barely concealed, and it took all my concentration to keep my gaze clear.

“Of course. Whatever you need.” I bowed my head, seething on the inside. This man deserved none of my respect, and as soon as I could get the other hunters free, I would gladly press my boot into his neck and watch him take his last breaths.