I sucked my teeth, finding myself right back where I started, swiping the branches in front of me. Everyone stood around like a bunch of cud-chewing lost cows. My chest puffed, annoyed as hell. Sigh, I massage my face. I can't take my frustrations out on them. She was my responsibility, but I gave the job to someone else. I knew better. I've gone soft from relying on them too much. She called for me but I wasn't there and when I finally showed up; it was too late. She was already beyond my reach. "I'm going alone to get her back."

"What?" They rattled in commotion, making it clear they disapproved, but my patience was low, and my anger was high. I need to clear my head to make the next move.

Malinda brushed her hand against mine for the attention I didn't want to acknowledge. "You don't have to face this alone." Her concern was not my own as I ignored her, thinking of a plan to get you back. He is always one step ahead of me somehow. It's infuriating.

"She's right." Adam folded his arms with his shoulders high as he fixed his gaze with a look of confusion. "They put you on the ground once. It's what, seven of them with their brainless stooges? You can't take them all."

Figures. That's why he looked like that. He doesn't have confidence in me, but I never looked for his approval. "Watch me."

"You should listen to him." My biological father had the nerve to offer his skid mark pennies when no one implored for his handout. If he had so much input, what in the hell are we fighting for?

Miska barged her way to an undesirable invite. "We're coming with you."

"You will be in my way."

"We already agreed we will help you." Carina fixed her mouth to display her audacity.

"But you have been doing a terrible job. A useless group of wolves at this point." They all gasp, but I don't mean to be cruel. I've always worked better alone, getting things done.

"I told you before that I am the Alpha of my village. Just like you have loved ones to protect, so do I."

The ignorance that came out of her snapped my teeth. "And I asked you as a friend, not your Alpha, Carina. All of us are far away from home. I am not your leader. I stopped you from harming that girl out of decency, not competition. For Skoll's sake, I trusted you with Gem, and what's even worse." One step to her face so the others can't hear. "I know where your heart lies. I was protective of the one you care about, too. Gemma needs to be protected at all costs, or I will lose everything. You knew that was why you came, but your focus shifted, and I know why. You are to insert dominance, but I am not your competitor. And I am also not your concern. So I'm going alone."

"I'm coming with you." Quinn threw a bag over his shoulder.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"She is my sister. It's not a negotiation."

I stepped back and glanced at everyone with their chest puffed, ready to be by my side, but they wouldn't be by her side. "No, it's not" I took off into the woods alone, leaving them all behind. Like I said, alone. They want to find her on their own, so be it, but it is time to be about us from all the distractions. Where are you? He must have blinded her because I don't see the path they have taken, no trail to lead me to this place. I have to rely solely on my senses. It's going to be harder than I thought. She could be anywhere.

Racing through the blinking trees to the northeast coast, feeling a presence in the vicinity, "Good God." Wooly crossed me, almost tripping us both, but I dodged him and watched him roll into the bushes. A brief silence and he comes fighting out of the bushes, huffing a breath with his hands on his knees. "Sorry, but you're my Alpha. I have to guard you. After what you did for me back at the village, I owe you my life."

"It was nothing."

"Well, it was something to me. You're my leader now. And I will help you find your mate. Now lead the way."

"Alright." Then he made me think about how I left them behind, sigh. I traveled to the highest tree to express my silent goodbyes. I know they want to help, but deep down, it was for the best. Wherever their hearts go next, it is their choice. A sudden flicker of light blinded my eye and within the clearness I observed Quinn fastening his helmet under his chin and settling onto his motorcycle in the sunset as he looked through his music. He waves a CD in the air like this one, popping in Mobb Deep, Survival of the Fittest. Then he rammed up his motor, taking off along the highway.

Linda hangs her arm over Adam's shoulder talking to Xann in depth conversation. And whatever his response was getting her in tears as she pulled out her purse of old photos of my childhood to show him. He admires one where I caught the catfish, wrinkling his forehead, and holding his mouth. I also wondered if my features looked a lot like Ember's because I didn't see myself in him. All these years he could have found me, but he stayed away. When I wash my anger away, there is a long overdue conversation that needs to be had. I love my stepparents, but what Cage did to my bio mother is unforgivable. He robbed her of motherhood and now dared to kidnap my mate. I think it's about time he and his goons return to the earth's soil where they can rot.

I spot Carina staring at me. No hard feelings. I salute her, wishing her the best on her journey. Miska was nowhere in sight. And with that, I left to find you. One thing he's good at is crossing the line. Touching what doesn't belong to him. I have been holding back what I can become because I don't want to scare her, but he brings it out of me. I'm familiar with his kind but the joke is on him. I was already in the nightmare. That little woman has a hold on my savage side so I can be better, but being good won't keep her safe.

I'll be what she needs after all this is over.

Wooly and I dart through the trees as I try to sniff her out. Mother Earth covers and changes so much this will be difficult. All I know is she went northeast, so that's where I will go. Heavy breaths interrupted my concentration. "Can you breathe any louder?"

"Hear me out." Wooly slowed down with his hands on his hips. "We are strong, yeah?"

"Maybe one of us."

"Naturally we can travel miles on end, but there's an easier way."

"Okay." I wait for the punchline.

"We need a motorcycle. We'll get there quicker."

I dither about how I never rode one. It can't be that hard. "Alright, you got my attention. Let's find one."

"Now we're talking! Just follow the smell of eggs and we should find one, no problem."

The Searchlight beams across the sky as we trek up a hill in sneak and low motions. Out of sight, out of mind, but this isn't really my style. I would rather just walk up to one, slap the guy, and take his bike. But Wooly suggested we don't have a bunch of biker men chasing us. I looked over to Wooly. "they're human."

"That can expose us."

"They're harmless. They're just going to cry about it."

"Yes, with bullets flying."

"I demand we do it my way!" I put on my best alpha voice.

His eyes lit up. "Nice, but you still need training. And also, I am your advisor." I had a plain face. "Who advises you to do it my way so we can find your mate without distractions?"

"Yeah, alright, you made your point."

We come up to a garage-inspired pub, watching this vermilion tattooed-bellied man, in leather vests and cigarettes between their fingers, howling it up. I don't understand how they could do that in this humid air. Humans are who I could never understand. I've studied Gemma and couldn't figure out how she withstood everything thrown at her in my life. Truly remarkable.

"Now's our chance." The men went inside, but we kept a low profile through the walkway of motorcycles. I came up with a custom bobber-style matte black. Someone is going to be mad tonight. I mounted the bike and kept it steady, fondling it. Wooly pointed at the bike, "Turn on the ignition switch, set the kill switch to run position, and press the start button on the right handlebar."

I gave it a bit of gas. "nice."

We were flying on the highway. Damn, this is fun. The beauty of being a wolf. I can sense every car's next move as I dodge them from left to right, right down the center. A premonition flashed through my vision, blinding me. "I have a surprise for you," it was Cage talking to Gem. "I'm not interested," twisting her body in the opposite direction. "Oh honey, but it's about you," the witch makes her presence known with her arms up in grace. "What are you doing here?" Gemma stands from her seat.

This is new, being able to see things without being present, or is it real? Why am I seeing this? I watch on. "I thought you were on our side?" Gem seemed concerned as she was inches away from Vine. "He summoned me here to take care of a problem."

"What problem?" My mate is getting closer to the door. The string that connects you to the Arctic wolf. I am here to snip it away. "No!" My poor lover ran out the door. Barely able to move in her dress, Vine caught up to her and my vision went blank. My heart stopped. I no longer feel her.

"Look out!" Wooly chimed in and an eighteen-wheeler was in my face while the horn honked, flashing me out of my trance. Shit, think fast. I rolled the motorcycle to the left, dived on the hood, up the windshield, and ran on the top of the trailer. I spotted the runaway bike and hopped on it, making it steady.

"That was exceptional!" His laugh was crazy.

He felt amazed, but I felt devastated. Vine cut our connection that I imprinted on her. I halted at a complete loss, sitting on the side of the road next to the forest, hearing an owl in the distance to mimic my true inner cry. This just made it ten times harder. The only thing I got going is that she is in the northeast and I still have her scent. I have to do it the old-fashioned way. If he lay a hand on her, there wouldn't be a trace of his remains left in this world. They may have cut the strings, but we have built our connection too. It's nothing but reconstruction, you bastards.