Chapter 143

A rabid fear that did not belong to Kadeem had him by the throat.

Goosebumps rose on his skin, chilled by beads of anxious perspiration against the autumn air, and his heart hammered fast in his chest.

What swept over him next, however, was entirely his to own: a sense of dread so heavy, he easily might have succumbed to it and deemed whatever horror the night held as Fate.

But surrendering was not Kadeem's MO and he sprang into action-mode. His hands were still gripping Rayburn's wrists like a pair of living handcuffs, and while Riley, inconveniently tipsy, struggled to understand, Kadeem was already shoving Rayburn ahead.

Startled, appreciably drunk himself, and immediately indignant, Rayburn cried out, "Hey, watch it," and made a very futile attempt to drag his feet.

Kadeem shut him the hell up with a sharp snarl of promised violence and kept them moving with brutal physical force just barely in check.

Most often, Kadeem's aggression was posturing - controlled and contained - necessary, for the alpha to project. But to forget that it came from a real place within him would be a mistake. No matter how strategically important it might be to keep Rayburn around, Kadeem would not hesitate to kill him, should he hinder the search for Ardal.

"What do you mean Ardal's not okay," Riley called after them. "How do you- Oh."

Riley's disappointment over Kadeem and Ardal's mate bond was obvious even to Kadeem's busy, whirling mind, but ever steadfast, she simply sprinted after him.

"Shit, okay. And what about the kids? And him," Riley asked, pointing to Rayburn with unmasked disdain as they marched away from the croak of bullfrogs.

"He's going to come with me," Kadeem growled. "And I'll take care of the kids, too."

Riley hesitated, worry etched on her face. "How will you do all of that?"

Kadeem kicked at Rayburn's calf, urging him to pick up speed, ignoring Riley while he tried to sort through what happened to Ardal. Could someone working with Rayburn have attacked her?

Maybe his bloodsucker mom.

Kadeem would love to tear into that bitch, and it would give him an excuse to go after Rayburn, too.

Rayburn whipped his head around ruefully at Kadeem's sharp punt. "I assure you, I'm walking as fast as I can!"

Kadeem grunted and kept his eyes ahead, steering his prisoner as he plowed them forward in double-time.

What if something happened to Erbao, and what I felt was her panic?

Quickly, he forced that tortured thought away.

"Kadeem, how-"

"Just go," he barked at Riley, "I need you with the pack.”

"Are you kidding me? This is bullshit."

Kadeem swiveled his head with an arched eyebrow, but didn't slow down.

"Sir," she added quickly. “How are you going to get anywhere, trying to drag this asshole along? And you can’t track Ardal half as well if you’re not in your wolf form.”

Kadeem shook his head. “I’ll find her.”

“Ow,” Rayburn hissed. Kadeem was squeezing the shit out of his wrists. He didn't bother easing up.

Riley snatched her phone out of her pocket. “Don’t even get me started on your kids,” she continued, jogging alongside them. She jabbed her finger at her phone as she tried to keep up with Kadeem's stride - just before she stumbled over a fallen branch.

She swore while she scrambled to get back up on her feet again. “We don’t know if they’re sleeping soundly like little cherubs, or running with scissors and setting the house on fire,” she yelled, scurrying up and dashing ahead to reach Kadeem. “You need my help.”

But Kadeem hardly heard her. Mentally straining, he focused his wolf mind on Ardal.

“You-“ Riley began again.

“Shut up,” Kadeem snapped. He came to a sharp halt.

He stood perfectly still. The night was quiet around him, save for the sounds of their breathing. He reached out with his wolf mind for a sense of Ardal, but he felt… nothing.

Heart thudding, he looked at Riley.

“I do need your help. Can you handle him,” he asked, not waiting for her answer before he thrust Rayburn at her, propelling him straight into her iron grasp. With an ease, she seized him.

Kadeem felt a momentary sense of pride in Riley. Intoxicated or not, his beta really was a professional badass. He'd tell her as much, if the world ever righted itself again.

“That was uncalled for,” Rayburn whined, giving them both rueful looks. “I'm cooperating here, if you couldn't tell!"

“Get him back to the house,” Kadeem ordered. In rapid succession, he began to lay it all out. “Handcuffs in the top dresser drawer of my room- Don’t ask,” he said, as Riley opened her mouth.

He and Susan might have gone through a short-lived BDSM phase. He really needed to chuck those things, but he guessed they were about to come in handy, now, at any rate.

He gave Riley a careful glance, hoping she was sober enough to manage Rayburn, hoping like hell the kids were alright and that Ardal was alive and in one piece.

As for the vampire attack on the pack - he’d have to deal with that later. He suspected Jack was behind it, and he'd eventually get to the bottom of things. He and his beta would pay for their absence from the pack tonight, but that was just another problem on a growing list.

The thought of vamps reminded him-

“Keep this handy- just in case," Kadeem said, coming close to slip the vampire stake etched with druidic marks into Riley's pocket. "Make sure the kids are alright. Especially Erbao.“ Kadeem's stomach did a painful lurch. "And duct tape the doctor's mouth," he said, eyeing Rayburn. "Check the supply closet for a roll. Prevent him from saying incantations-“

“Oh please,” Rayburn interjected.

But Kadeem had already morphed into his wolf, his muscles coiling like springs to bolt - until then the wind changed...

Ardal's green apple scent hit his nose.

It was intertwined with something else - two somethings, as a matter of fact, and Kadeem registered them immediately: Susan and Bob were within an acre away. With his mate.

Son of a bitch.

While rage flooded him, Kadeem caught sight of Riley's widening eyes.

"I'm coming with you," she said abruptly, dropping Rayburn's wrists to lock one arm around his neck in a tight chokehold. He gagged and clawed at her arm in response. She adjusted her grip a mere fraction, just enough to stop the wheezing sound he was emitting and bulging look from his eyes.

With her free hand she was reaching for her phone again and frantically tapping away at it while Kadeem growled a definitive "no."

"I've been texting Mateo off and on since karaoke," she protested. "He's on his way to your house. He's up to date, and he'll be there within minutes to look after the kids."

Kadeem gave in with a small sigh. He didn't know what help Riley could give, given the circumstances, but he'd rather keep Rayburn in his sights, and far, far away from the quints.

Riley and Rayburn followed quietly behind while he stalked the ground ahead, tracing Ardal's scent through the thicket.

As he followed her trail, he listened for her, too, but heard nothing but the wind, the scurrying and swooping sounds of creatures ruled by moonlight, and the faint sound of traffic in the distance.

Trying their psychic link again, he felt for her, but still, there was nothing to connect to. It made him queasy with worry. An excruciating echo of grief from the past sent a pang through his heart.

Kadeem quickened his pace, trying to remain stealthy while moving as fast as possible. He could not lose her again.