The clock is ticking.

I staggered when Reid came to view, and I felt Teague’s hand on my back steadying me. How he survived I didn’t have a clue. My heart dropped to my knees and beat so fast, it felt like an out of control train ready to derail and crash. I glanced at Teague, who had the same horrified semblance in his face, as tears sprung behind my lashes.

“He should be in a hospital!” my voice came out strangled. Reid had been mauled in the literal sense of the word, deep thick gashes over his legs and arms, a raw wound on his chest that I could fit my two fists inside, whoever did that wanted to rip his heart out, and his neck was completely mangled. “Allan, we can’t care for him here. Oh, God!” a corpse laid on that bed, so ashen was his skin.

“I know, Alpha. But we had no choice or things would get out of hand. We’re doing everything we can, and I promise you, he’ll be up again.”

“Victoria, if we brought him to a hospital, the staff wouldn’t be able to handle him properly, medically yes, but the speculations about the case would get us in trouble,” Teague tried to explain, but I didn’t know if it was the right course of action.

 “We managed to stabilize him, and he’s under heavy medication, so he’s not going to wake up so soon. I’m sorry Victoria. We did everything we could to repair his throat, so I hope he’ll be fine, and maybe in two or three days he’ll be able to talk.” 

“It’s ok, just take good care of him, and as soon as he awakes let me know,” I had to go out of there, I couldn’t stay there anymore. I’ve seen worse and killed many times, but it was different when you see a friend, a loved one butchered like he was. 

Running upstairs to my room and opening the door with a loud bang, I went straight to the bathroom, barely holding the bile that rose to my mouth. When Teague caught up with me, I was already over the toilet, retching and coughing terribly. He opened the faucet, wetting a towel and passing to me. I just let myself slide to the floor, closing the toilet lid, and cleaning up my face. It was amazing the coolness of the towel on my skin.

“Sorry puppy, I should have warned what you were going to find behind that door,” he wore a grim face and sadness coated his voice. 

“Teague, if Reid is this bad, those girls are in deep trouble if they are still alive,” I whined, and sagged against the wall. “Only God knows what is happening to them in this very moment.” 

“Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do, and I won’t be easy on you. It will be a very agonizing interim. We’ll have to wait for him to wake up and the next gibbous is in about two weeks. I hope we can catch this creature by then, and we can only pray to find the girls safe and sound.” 

Teague held his hand to me and pulled me up. I went to the sink and brushed my teeth. Thanks to all these problems I didn’t get any sleep or food, and exhaustion hit me full force. I just wanted to lie down a bit and rest, even though I knew I wouldn’t be getting any sleep.  

“Please, can you drive me back to the pub?” 

“Sure, but why are you going back there? It’s still mid-morning, you should rest a bit,” he was so warm and lovable, and his brows were drawn together while he studied my face, only showing how much he cared for me. “You didn’t eat, puppy. I feel your hunger. 

“I’ll eat at the pub. I ordered new counters for the dinner and the guy will deliver right after lunch and install them.” I said nuzzling at his chest.

“You didn’t tell me you had ordered counters...” 

“It was a last minute call, everybody talked how good was the new carpentry in town, so I gave it a try, I sent all the sketches via email, one of their guys came last week to measure everything, and they will bring them today, at least the guy is fast in his work.” 

“But once we’re there I’m going to cook you something, you need to eat.” 

“Fine, I’ll let you feed me,” I winked at him, and he rewarded me with one of his pantie dropping smiles. He was gorgeous in and out, and there were girls always hovering around him, but he never paid attention to them, either he was always stuck at the district, or too shy to notice. And of course, we were a couple, and people knew it. I laced my fingers in his shaggy hair, caressing the soft strands, and his silken, plump lips settled on mine in a sensual molten hot kiss, slowly exploring every corner of my mouth, taking my breath away. We could not be mates, but the attraction between us went a long way. When we parted lust scintillated in our eyes, and our breaths came out in gasps. I placed a kiss in his chest right above his heart.

“No matter what happens, you know I love you, right Teague?”

“I know, but the way you’re talking is creeping me out, puppy. It sounds like you’re saying goodbye.”

“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling. Now, let’s go.” I said, dragging him to the driveway, getting in the car and driving off.

About forty minutes later we got into the pub’s industrial kitchen and Teague was at the fridge searching for bacon, eggs, and biscuits. Danny, the cook, would be pissed at us when he arrived for his shift, he hated when people invaded his turf, but I wasn’t going upstairs to my apartment, there wasn’t anything good in there. I went to the second fridge and got two beers, while Teague worked at the stove.

“You’re too quiet, puppy. What is this little head of yours cooking up?” he asked as he brought a plate full of crunchy bacon, omelet, and hot buttered biscuits. My mouth watered and my stomach flipped in ecstasy with the delicious smell. 

“You’d better give a call to Bash later on,” I communicated, staring at his silver eyes. “He found his mate,” he cut me off not letting me finish.

“Oh, how nice! And why the sad face?”

“He lost her already,” seeing his puzzled face I delivered the bomb. “She’s also gone missing yesterday!” and I sighed heavily. 

“Why didn’t you tell me before, Vicky?” I just shook my head. “How is he?”

“Torn, lost, desperate. He is totally heartbroken. I wish I was there with him.”

“Vicky, will you be ok, if I go to the district? I have to talk to your brother, and I have all the information I need there.”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just go! Soon the counters will be here, and before the night starts I’ll try to rest for a while, and talk to Bash tonight,” he pecked me on the lips and headed to the door.

“I love you, puppy,” he said before closing the door behind him, and I was there alone with my thoughts and worries. 

About one in the afternoon, I was at the bar, gobbling down my third beer when Arabel and Nena arrived for their shift. 

“Hey boss! How’s everything?” they asked together.

“Fine.” I didn’t even look at them and since I gave them a word for an answer, they knew I wasn’t in the mood for a friendly chat. So they went about their chores, and I began to stock up the bar. 

I was the owner of Witch’s Brew, but I was also their bartender, and I decided to leave all set for tonight, I had to occupy my mind with something, or I’d go crazy. Completely focused on the recipe of a new cocktail drink, I didn’t pay attention when someone came in, only when a smell of cedar wood and maple, with some notes of citrus and a hint of ginger hit me, oozed me, exploding all over my senses. My wolf howled in my head wanting out, she was restless like she has never been before, sniffing the air, looking for the source of the perfume, and I just couldn’t move. I was terrified. My legs gave out, and I fell to the floor, the bottle I held slipped from my hand, breaking into gazillion shards, liquid spilling over me and the floor, as I heard quick steps coming into my direction, and a pair of the most beautiful hazel eyes stared down at me from over the counter, holding a smirk in those sinful kissable lips.

“Are you ok?” his raspy, playful voice danced in my ears.

“Mine!” a low growl left my lips, before I censored it.