Chapter Seventeen

Apollo

Apollo—

The sound of my name was one big, slurred word, then nothing, and it sent my lion into a frenzy like I've never felt before. It burst through my clothes, tearing them apart as I shifted, my ass spitting out the butt plug so fast I barely had a chance to realize what was happening as it hit the ground with a thud. I hadn't even found my paws before we were off and running through the house, growling and snarling.

Whatever my lion sensed, it wasn't good. The only one other time I'd shifted like this was when Leonidis… my thoughts immediately shut down. No one talked about what happened that night, no one. Not even Leonidis.

Glass…

Glass…

Please sir, answer me! I made sure to bellow it, hoping he'd get my panic.

Silence.

What is it? Maximus' voice interrupted my anxiety attack.

I don't know. Something's not right with Glass. Who's watching the security cameras? Have they seen anything? Oh, to the lion gods, please let my mate be alright.

Are you sure there's something wrong, he only left what, fifteen minutes ago. As he spoke, he appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "It's Drew and a stalk. I didn't catch her name."

He'd hardly finished answering my first question, and I spun around, charging back up the stairs to the room they'd be in. I shoved open the door with my enormous head, all teeth and mane, and a tiny woman squealed and jumped on top of Drew, who looked very unamused as he toppled back onto the seat he stood in front of.

Have you seen anything on the cameras?

Maximus came in behind me. Gordon, Randy and Tim right behind him, filling the doorway.

"We were just trying to see what was the issue with the one down by the shops. It seems it's on the blink," Drew answered me, righting himself while pushing off the clingy female, who kept eyeing me like I would take a bite. The woman was barking up the wrong llama if she thought Drew would protect her from me. "What's wrong?"

"Apollo believes something is wrong with Glass. He's not answering him," Maximus said.

He was going to work. We were having a conversation, then I got the sense something wasn't right, and he sounded… drugged, before he went silent.

Drew thumped the screen, and I could see it was black. The camera had been sabotaged! I let out a roar and charged through those stupid enough to still be standing in the doorway as I ran down the stairs.

Open the door for Apollo, Burke.

I didn't pause as Burke did as Maximus requested, running out onto the street and racing toward my mate. Lions hadn't ever been known for having a lot of stamina. After the first initial burst of energy, it usually meant we were done. Only, I was fueled by the need to find Glass. I'd run forever to find my mate.

Sniffing the air, I followed Glass' scent to a building. There, I roared once more, picking up a scent I was familiar with. One that made the human part of me whimper in distress. Amell, the leader of the evil pride we were in, had my mate.

Amell, I can smell Amell, I cried in terror at Maximus. What do you think he'll do to him?

Maximus, who'd jogged behind me in human form, came to a stop, sweaty and pale looking. "I don't know. But our old pride is hundreds of miles away, so they can't have gone far. We need Burke, he can scent up to six miles away."

I'm coming.

This was why I loved my pride, they always had my back. Hurry, they're probably in a van or something.

I've checked the footage of all the cameras, there's a blue van with plates the same as ours. It's just on the outskirts of town. It's not moving. Drew sounded calm, which was probably a good thing because I wasn't. My heart was battering so hard against my ribcage I wasn't sure it was going to stay in my chest.

I've reached out to Sheriff Butch, he's going to check it out now. He says to leave it to him. This came from Ricky, but this was my mate. There was no way I was leaving the safety of my mate to anyone else. My alpha stalk needed me.

Burke…

I'm nearly there, I can see you guys.

I looked over my shoulder and roared in relief at the sight of Burke's bull, his nose twitching madly while Ricky jogged at his side.

"This way." Ricky jabbed his thumb to the right, and we all took off.

I wasn't sure what the folks of the town thought of a bull leading a lion through the town. I didn't care. All I wanted was my mate to be safe. I'd do whatever that took, even facing off with Amell, which would be scary as fuck.

You'll do no such thing. If anyone is going to do that, it's me. Maximus came through, loud and clear.

Erm… what are you talking about? Do what? Tim didn't sound happy at all.

Whatever Maximus's response was, he didn't share it, but I got the sense Tim would be having words with Maximus when this was all over, by the sour look he now wore.

The smell is getting stronger. I can smell the custard on Glass.

We slowed as we hit the edge of town, looking around, I couldn't see the blue van Drew had mentioned. Drew, where's the van gone?

Fuck, hang on. I think it went into an old barn. It can't have gone anywhere else as the road stops there. Where you are, you can't see it. Keep going straight.

Sirens blared, and a police car flew past us.

They're making too much noise! Ricky, stop them!

Butch isn't listening to me.

My whole body shaking in terror at what Amell would do so that he could escape, I threw my head back and roared loudly. Amell was never one to take any prisoners. What did that mean for my mate?

The pan!