19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Stephanie

Q uinn is gone. I reach out beside me even though I know he isn't there. I stretch with a smile on my face. I slept so well because of him, and I must admit, a mattress is heaven compared to the floor. I look up at the canopy above me; warmth cascades over me and I press my palms over my cheeks. My mate. My love.

I love him. I want to tell him. I'm ready to mark him.

I throw off the comforter, wondering what time it is. I slowly pad over the mattress and move the blanket, slipping through the opening.

I stretch again as I stand and look toward the bathroom.

Where is my mate?

I frown and put my hand over my heart. I don't feel him close. Even without a mark, we have been close for days, and we are bonded in several ways. He has been glued to my side and he promised never to leave me. He wouldn't break that promise without a good reason, but it's hard to believe he would go somewhere, leaving me unprotected.

I quickly rummage through my clothes, which are left intact. I look toward the door as I pull on my jeans. I leave Quinn's shirt on and slowly open the door enough to scent the rest of the house.

Heath. His unusual scent is coming from the front of the house.

The lack of scent must be Micah or another vampire .

The smell of blood is rich in the air, and my hand tightens on the doorknob.

I cautiously step through the doorway and slowly move through the house. The front door is open, and I see Heath standing on the other side of it on the porch.

"What's going on?" I ask tightly.

"Stay back," he says.

"Tell me what's going on?" I snap and ignore his demand, walking closer.

"Micah is playing with a coyote," he says calmly. "Quit drawing it out," he says to Micah.

"A coyote?" I slip over the threshold, my bare feet hitting the wood behind him.

"You don't listen," he says, looking over his shoulder.

"Not to you, I don't," I say, glaring.

"Hmm…" He looks down at my body. "Lucky fucker." He turns back around.

"Where's Quinn?" I peek around his body and gasp. "Who is that?"

"An intruder."

Micah is faced off with a coyote. A man who is bloody. His shirt is shredded from his body, hanging loosely from his arms. His chest is covered in deep cuts, and he's limping. I can't tell what his features are as his face is swelling.

"Heath, I need answers now," I growl.

"I will give them to you once the vampire takes care of him."

I stomp my foot. "Where is my mate?"

He looks at me again and down to my foot. "Really?"

I sigh. It wasn't my finest moment. "Yes, really." I did what I did.

"Inside," he orders. When I don't move, he says, "I will explain when you go inside. "

"Fine." I take another look in the yard. Micah grins as he blurs behind the man and slashes at his back.

"Don't worry about Micah; this is a toy to him." He motions to the house.

I roll my eyes but start walking. I don't stop until I stand in the living room and cross my arms. "Tell me."

"Quinn is hunting." He sits on the arm of the couch, his cane in his fist.

"That's it? That's all you're going to say?" I spit with wide eyes.

He sighs. "He found the location. He went to hunt the man down."

"What? He went by himself?" I drop my arms to my waist, trying to hold it together.

"Kade and Cash are close. He needs to do this," he stresses.

"I know, but he needs backup," I cry.

"He has it. Bash also knows where he is."

"We need to go." I take a step; I have to get shoes.

"No," he says.

"No?" My wild eyes meet his calm ones. "He needs us."

"No, he needs you to be safe. I promised him that I would stay by your side, and that is what I will do. He trusts that I will protect you. Taking you to him would put you in danger." He stands. "If I have to force you to stay here, I will."

I narrow my eyes. "He would kill you if you touched me," I snarl.

"He would forgive me once I told him you wanted to run off to save him when he can save himself," he hisses.

"He doesn't have to save himself when I am willing to help. He has many powerful friends," I shout. "He is used to never depending on his friends, but this time he needs us."

"What he needs is to be assured that his mate is safe so he can concentrate." He walks to the door and stands. "You will not leave."

"You're an asshole," I snarl.

"Yeah." I resist the urge to stomp my foot again. I weighed the odds of getting past him. He must be able to tell what I'm thinking and taps his cane on the floor. "Don't try it."

My eyes twitch. I whirl around and stomp to the bedroom, slamming the door.

Fuck. I run my hands through my hair, pacing. He's out there alone. I don't doubt his ability to fight and win, but he doesn't have to do it alone anymore. I need to be with him. I am not helpless. I am a fucking bear shifter. I know I haven't shown much of my strength, but now I have something to fight for. If something happens to him, I won't go on.

I need to get dressed properly. Where the hell are my boots? I wouldn't put it past Heath to have hidden them. I find them in the closet and take them, socks, and a sweater into the bathroom.

Once I'm dressed, I sit on the edge of the tub, my hands on my knees. I wonder if I can get out of the window in the bedroom without hurting myself. Maybe if we weren't in a tree house, high off the ground. I would bounce back. I could do it in my bear form, but I would have to be naked, and the assholes out there would definitely catch me as I'm stumbling around trying to get dressed.

Shit. They would hear me, and Heath would force me back into the house.

I grab my phone, make sure the door is locked, and turn on the shower. I put my earbuds in and call Breeane.

"Hey," she greets. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Do you know where my mate is?" I whisper.

"Uh…"

"Breeane," I growl.

"I don't know the exact location."

"I need to go to him." I sit on the floor in front of the shower .

"You need to stay safe," she says.

"I will be safe with my mate," I say quietly.

"You have to believe in Quinn. He would not want you to come. Heath and Micah are there, right?"

"Yes," I sigh.

"He had a plan. Is Heath being nice?"

"Can Heath be nice?" I ask. She hisses. "No, he's fine. I just meant…I don't know." I drop my head to the glass door. "Nothing can happen to Quinn."

"It won't. He will make sure of it."

"Breeane, I need him," I say softly. "He's brought me back to life in a way I never thought would happen."

"I know. I was hesitant at first. I wasn't sure he could be patient. I didn't want you to feel any pain again," she whispers.

"He's the most patient person I know. He's been amazing."

"I couldn't believe he built you a bed," she laughs. "I didn't understand what was wrong with the one he had, but he was on a mission."

"He built it so I would sleep." I take a deep breath. "He knew I wouldn't sleep in his bed. Breeane, since I got back home, I slept in the closet," I confess and ignore her gasp. "Once I got here, it was no different. I was happy the closet was so big."

"Steph," she cries.

"Every night since we met, he slept in there with me, never questioning my need." I rub my chest. "I tried to be brave. I plastered a smile on my face in front of my family, knowing they needed to know I was alright. I realized they felt helpless. They didn't know how to help me deal with the aftermath. Quinn hasn't treated me differently. He knew about the games when we met, and he just quietly gave me what I needed. I feel like, since we met, he has been the strong one, the patient one, the one who always conceded to me and what I needed. I need to be brave for him. I need to face this and help him."

"Jesus, Steph. I had no idea you were still going through so much. I wish I could have been there for you how you needed."

"I hid it from you. You helped by being my friend and taking my mind off of it. I needed that from you." She allowed me to act normal.

"I'm happy for you. I don't know Quinn well, but I think he holds back from the people around him."

"Yes, he does," I say with a laugh.

"It's beautiful what he gives you," she says.

"It's the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced." I feel as if a piece of me is missing. "I have to find him."

"Steph, I don't think my mates will tell me."

"Probably not," I grimace. "If I got out of the house, I could probably track him by scent and emotions."

"How are you going to get past the guards?" she says.

"I don't know." My hand goes back to my chest. "Something feels wrong."

"Did you bond? Mark each other?" she asks.

"No, but we've been close, and the bond is strong without the bite." I can't get past the feeling that something is very wrong. "Do you have Bash's number?"

"Yes, my mates filled my phone with all the numbers. I'll text it."

"Thank you."

"Just promise me you won't go alone," she says firmly.

"I promise."

"Keep me informed, especially if you are going to run off by yourself," she demands.

"I will. I love you."

"I love you, too." I hang up and look at the number she sent .

I have to do something. I hit the number.

"Who is this?" Bash answers.

"Steph," I answer, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Where is Quinn?" I ask abruptly and cringe. I was going to work up to it.

"Are you in danger?" he asks.

"No. Well, there was a coyote outside, but Micah was taking care of it."

"Good. They will keep you safe."

"I don't doubt it, but I can't sit here and do nothing."

"You can," he says.

"I don't want to," I grit out.

"Too bad," he grumbles.

"Excuse me?"

"He will be fine."

"I wish everyone would stop saying that," I snap. "What if he isn't? What if he needs our help? How many of you went to help the lions rescue Breeane?" She told me all about it, and I know every fucking one of them came.

"Fuck," he snarls.

"Do you know who this person is?"

"No."

"Do you know how many are involved? We know for sure there are at least two of them."

"If so, one of them is dead outside your house," he points out.

"What if there are more?" My stomach is rolling. I swear I feel Quinn's emotions. It isn't the comforting presence I am used to.

"Marie is still with your sister. She will remain there, but I'll call the others," he says, resigned, and hangs up .

I jump up quickly, turn off the water, and fly to the door. Heath is standing on the other side when I open it, and I grind to a halt.

We stare at each other. He must have heard everything. I had hoped the sound of our voices was muted, at least.

"You love him?" he asks shortly.

"Yes."

"You really mean everything you said?"

"How could you hear everything?" We have excellent hearing, but come on, with the water and wearing the earbuds, I thought it would be muffled.

"I have better hearing than you."

"I think he's in trouble," I cry.

"He doesn't want help."

"Sometimes, it's hard to ask for help, even if you want it." I can speak from experience.

"Quinn is the best of us," he starts. "He deserves a mate who puts him above all others."

"I will always put him first," I say.

"I can see that." He narrows his eyes. "Just because you are scared doesn't mean you aren't brave." I drop my eyes. "I'm sure I will regret this. You have to swear to defend me when Quinn tries to kill me."

"What?" I sputter.

"He knows Quinn is going to chop off his head for letting you run to the rescue," Micah says from the living room.

"You'll let me leave?"

"We are coming with you. I would never allow you to go alone," he says.

"I wouldn't either. I'm in a good mood from killing a coyote, and I still wouldn't," Micah says dryly. I would hate to be around the vampire when he is in a bad mood if this is him happy .

"Bash is on his way."

"I know, I heard." He walks backward. "We will wait until he gets here. He'll bring the calvary. I hope you know what you are doing," he says as he leaves the room.

"Me too," I whisper.

I can't shake the feeling that Quinn doesn't have it handled.

I truly hope that I am wrong.