Track down Luca and Ainslee, end the wolf fucker’s life, and bring her back to her family, where she rightfully belonged.
Of course she’d be upset, maybe even heartbroken. No doubt the animal had already rutted between her thighs like the beast he was. But she’d get over it with time.
And being the tracker I was—one of the best in the Otherworld—would make this far too easy.
I knew he wouldn’t have been able to get too far, had no doubt he was holed-up somewhere still in Scotland, probably only hours away. From what I’d been told by Luna, he’d taken Ainslee after leveling the Lycans who’d come after him. He’d then taken Ainslee, who’d been wounded—clearly not gravely, as she’d reached out to her mother—and he’d ran with her. He wouldn’t risk injuring her further and would want to keep her safe somewhere so she could heal.
“He’s still in Scotland. Close too,” I murmured idly as I stared at the flames again.
The cousins grunted in agreement.
“So what’s the plan?” Kane asked.
“Tell us what we’re doing,” Sebastian echoed.
I faced them, a slow grin spreading across my face. “We’re gonna go hunting, boys. For wolf.”
27
Ainslee
“If he’s not treating you well, I’ll skin him alive myself.”
I couldn’t help but smile at my Mam’s fierce tone. It had only been two days since I’d come to the estate with Luca, but it felt like I’d been with him for a lifetime.
“He treats me like a queen,” I whispered, not wanting him to hear, because I was shy over the fact.
“As he should.” Mam spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.
“He’s preparing us lunch now. He likes to cook for me.” And feed me from his hand. Although I kept that last part to myself. It was a very personal, intimate experience between Luca and me.
I had my legs tucked up underneath me as I sat on the plush leather couch in front of the roaring fire. He’d started it an hour ago, handed me a glass of wine, kissed me soundly and deeply, then told me to relax while he made food for his mate.
To say I swooned would have been an understatement.
I didn’t ask why the home was already lived-in, or who’d brought in the food he was preparing. It wasn’t Luca, since he’d been with me the entire time. Had he made sure this was ready for us even though he’d only gotten to Scotland a little over a week ago and there’d been no guarantee we would have seen each other in person when we had?
I was curious, but not curious enough to let it bother me. Then again, all of that seemed very small in comparison to the very real and important stuff going on in our lives.
I saw a flash of lightning, then a crack of thunder. It was loud enough it felt like it shook the entire estate. The rain was like little bullets of water pelting against the large picture window that was to my left.
There was a beat of silence on the other end, and then I heard the deep timbre of my father’s voice.
“Banner, I don’t think now is a good time.”
I exhaled. “It’s okay, Mam. Give him the phone.” Might as well get this hurdle over with.
There was a moment where I heard fabric rustling, static moving through the receiver as she handed off the phone, and then a heavy silence that could only come from my da.
“Ainslee?” His voice was deep, with that normal “hard to read” tone and inclination.
But in this moment, I could hear all his worry coming through. So I said the first thing I knew would ease him.
“I’m okay, Da. I’m safe, and he’s treating me well. So very well.”
He exhaled harshly, as if he’d been holding his breath, as if he’d been waiting to hear me say just that. “Truly?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Truly, Da.”
“That’s good, my wee lass. I’m glad tae hear that.”
There was another long pause, and I felt my heart clenching in my chest. I knew Da was worried, but he wasn’t the type of male to show his emotions, not even with a flicker of his eyes or an exhale of his breath. And he certainly didn’t speak of them.
He exhaled again, and I could picture him on the other end of the line, maybe sitting in his study, running a hand over his face, a beard starting to grow across his cheeks and jaw because he’d been too worried about me to tend to his appearance.
“I’m sorry, Da,” I spoke softly, hearing a couple of pots banging together in the kitchen as Luca prepared us a meal. But I didn’t care if Luca heard this conversation. I was sorry that I’d caused so many issues, that I’d just left like I had. But I wouldn’t change my actions for the world. And I didn’t regret it.