Seconds slipped by, the call of the moon beckoning. The wolves ignored it and so did Shane. It wasn’t easy. He wanted nothing more than to leave and run on his own. Despite being a part of Jackson’s pack another part of him remain detached. Until he found his female it would always be like this—each day he greeted providing nothing but loneliness.
Wade lifted his head and watched his vehicle leave. “Luna will find her.”
“How do you know that?” Jackson was teetering on the brink.
“Her sense of smell is stronger than ours,” Gertrude snapped, retrieving her phone and punching a button on the pad. She brought it to her ear and said, “She’s had years to develop her talent.”
“Stronger how?” Shane wanted to throttle the couple. They needed answers now. He was tired of playing games. “Is she a superhero?”
“Don’t be a smartass. Have some respect,” Ben growled. “Who do you think you are?”
The link clicked over and Gertrude hastily said, “Maisy, put Luna on the phone.”
“I think I’m starting to lose the last of my patience. You didn’t answer my question,” Shane growled at Ben. “You say she can find who we’re looking for? We have a right to know how. What can she do? How can she help us?”
“Gramma?” Even through the phone, Shane caught the sound a feminine voice on the other end of the line. “What’s wrong?”
Recognition slammed into him, a fire pouring through his veins.
Holy hell. That voice…
His heart hammered, the sound beating in his skull. Everything came together. A humbling burst of clarity. A burst of need shot through him, bringing his wolf to his skin. He knew that soft, feminine lilt. He ached for it, longed for it and thought he might not ever hear it again. Night after night, he’d prayed he’d hear a whisper of the sound.
It’s her.
“What’s the matter with her?” Now he knew for certain something ailed his mate. They’d kept her hidden and locked away for a reason. For fuck’s sake, they’d been medicating her. “What aren’t you telling us?”
“She can’t see. Happy now?” Ben snarled, giving Shane an evil glare.
Shane’s throat went dry. “What do you mean she can’t see?” he asked, voice cracking. His wolf—already on edge due to the call of the moon—threatened to burst free and take over. He fought it back, aware he had to stay in control.
“She started losing her sight when she was only a child.” Ben’s face softened, his eyes sad. “She’s a Halfling, so it couldn’t be prevented. Over time she started relying on her other senses to get around. Her hearing and sense of smell are stronger due to it.”
Shane’s world spun off center and collapsed. His heart ached, a profound feeling sweeping over him. It all made perfect sense. He had traveled to his female for a reason.
During his dreams, he’d never seen his mate.
Now he knew why.
Where are you?
Come to me.
Why do you keep doing this?
It made sense. Her sorrow. Her desperate pleading for him to come to her. He hadn’t meant to hurt her but he had. He’d failed her in the most deplorable way. As a male it was his job to see to his female’s needs. Yet he hadn’t done so, staying out of her reach when she’d needed him most. His mate—the one who’d begged him to see her and sounded heartbroken when he didn’t—hadn’t been playing hard to get.
You weren’t able to give her what she needed. You just fucked things up big-time.
Damn it to hell. She couldn’t see.
His mate—the one he’d left everything for—was blind.
About Aline Hunter
Aline Hunter is the alias of multi-published author J.A. Saare, who has written stories featured in horror magazines, zombie romance anthologies and flash fiction contests. Her work has a notable dark undertone, which she credits to her love of old eighties horror films, tastes in music and choices in reading, and has been described as “full of sensual promise,” “gritty and sexy” and “a breath of fresh air.”
Currently she is penning multiple projects within the urban fantasy, erotic and contemporary, and paranormal romance categories.
Aline welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.