Chapter 56

Megan

I paced. Cade paced. We paced opposite each other, crossing paths in the middle of the living room. For the seventh time, I broke my pacing and went again to the window.

"Cade, is he saying anything at all?" It was killing me not to have my link with Sam in place. I had been horrified to have him in my head at first, but now I wished he was there more than anything.

"No. They might not even be there yet."

"Ugh. I'm going to go text Rachel. I'm literally going to lose my mind if I do this anymore."

"Where are you going?"

"To get my phone. I left it on Sam's dresser, I think." I hadn't been worried about having it on me since there was no chance Sam would call while going out full wolf stealth mode. I shivered. I had texted Rachel and Grandpa earlier and given them the barest of updates but had then gotten preoccupied with the finishing up things that needed to be done before the pack fighters left.

There were a few messages on my phone. One from Grandpa telling me to hang in there and that he loved me.

—Love you, too! No news yet.— I typed back quickly.

One from a friend in Chemistry wanting to borrow notes. I scoffed. I was so distracted these days that I doubted any notes I took would be worth copying.

The last was from Rachel.

—Hear anything yet??? Need me to come over?—

I smiled and punched her entry to call her, rather than text, figuring it might help pass the time.

"What have you heard? Is everyone okay?" she jumped in after the first ring.

I groaned. "No, I haven't heard anything. Please, distract me from myself, because I'm seriously going insane worrying." I ran a hand through my hair, bit my lip, then flopped backward onto Sam's bed. It still smelled faintly of him, even though he hadn't slept in this bed in weeks.

"How shall I distract you? Um…I think we've finally settled on a spring musical. Want me to blab your ear off about that?"

"Definitely." I fingered the blanket. It had a soft, worn texture, and the weave of it under my fingers along with the faded traces of Sam's scent soothed some of my frazzled nerves.

"It's The Elf King and His Horse, Tremaine."

"That sounds…interesting."

Rachel laughed. "Trust me, it's better than the title implies. It's actually a comedy about a teenage guy who writes fantasy stories that come to life in his dreams. Some of the song numbers are hilarious. I think Luke is going to try out for Tremaine. He will be a riot."

"And who will you be auditioning for?" Rachel took her role as co-president of the Drama Club very seriously.

"I think I'm actually going to focus on directing this year. I want to do more behind the stage things. I love acting, and I love singing, but I want to do something different. I want to have my hands all over this play—you know, mold it like a lump of dough or something."

I smiled. "You'll be a wonderful director. Does Garrett agree that you will be the best director?" I referenced Rachel's co-president.

"Fortunately. Garrett wants to be the main character. He'll do a nice job if he'll let me boss him around." I could hear the grin in her voice.

"Absolutely."

"So we got another email about a personalized cookie order. You know the guy at HarvestFest? He booked cookies for his daughter's birthday, and apparently his wife spread our name around her work, and her boss would like us to cater desserts for a retirement party for someone in the office."

My fingers drifted over the blanket in soft, soothing circles. Sam. I closed my eyes. Sam.

"Megan?"

"I'm sorry, Rachel. I only caught about half of that."

"I'm sorry you're so worried. Would it help to talk about Sam? About what's going on?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

"Tell me your biggest fear."

"That he won't come back," I strangled the words out.

"Oh, Meggie. He's going to come back. You have to think that way."

"Who knew being a wolf was so unbelievably complicated?"

"Well, skin can be complicated, too?"

"Not like this."

"No second thoughts? You want your skin back?"

"Life would be so much less complicated in skin."

"But complicated might suit you after all?"

A noise in the hallway caught my attention and sent my heart up to my throat before I could answer. Cade tapped on the door, and I brought my hand over my pounding chest.

"He's started using the all call. I'm hearing a few things," Cade said, his eyes unreadable.

"Rachel, I've got to go. To the ends of the earth!" And then I was incredibly rude and hung up before she could reply. "What did he say? Cade, I need to know everything."

He walked over and joined me on the bed so that we sat side by side on the edge.

"They're at the shack. He's sending Mal to check it out. She's fast. Really fast." His head jerked.

"What?" I nearly screamed.

"Mal got attacked!" His breathing came heavier, and I thought I might faint dead away from the anxiety eating me alive inside. "It's okay. Jonathan got the brute. Man. He was huge."

"How is Sam?"

"He's fine. He wasn't even in the fight. Keep your shirt on."

I scowled at him.

"Easy for you to say. You know everything he's saying. I'm totally cut off over here."

"Okay. They've found Dominic's scent. Sam is taking the path and everyone else is moving parallel, hidden in the forest."

He was quiet, and I hardly dared to breathe for several agonizing minutes.

"Oh no."

"What?" I was nearly out of my skin with worry, but unfortunately not any closer to being in my fur.

"They're under attack!" Cade got up and paced the room. His hand was in his hair, pulling at it. I chewed three fingernails down to the quick.

"Cade, what's happening?" I whispered.

"I'm not sure. I think Sam is fighting. No, he's definitely fighting. He's hurt! Ah! I can feel it radiating through the link, though I don't think he meant to send anything. Still nothing from Dominic. They must have him drugged still."

My knee bounced, and two more nails disintegrated under my teeth.

"They found him! Jonathan is going after Dominic. Sam, Sam!" Cade shouted into the room. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and I stood, no longer able to stay seated.

"It's gone." Cade's voice was hoarse, his eyes vacant.

"What do you mean, it's gone?" I echoed. Dread carved a path from my belly to my extremities.

"Sam, the link, it…it's gone."

A sob hiccupped out of my mouth, and I collapsed to the floor on shaking legs. I wrapped my arms around my knees and stared, unblinking, refusing to acknowledge the fear, the fury, the dread, the agony all fighting to break free and rage inside me.

Cade sank down beside me. We sat there together in silence, both stunned, refusing to believe our worst fears, surviving on the hope that Sam was still alive.