“Do you know why she went to Wyoming?”
“I do now but I didn’t in the beginning. She talked about a man she once loved who lived there. He had broken her heart. So when she told me she was going there, I had a feeling it was to see him. I tried to get her not to go, but her brother was insistent. Sometimes I think he had her brainwashed.”
That didn’t surprise me one bit. Knox was a power-hungry asshole. However, if Kara hadn’t screwed up, it makes me wonder where we’d be at today. Would the Great Luna have paired us together?
Evangeline turns her body toward me, her expression serious. “I know your pack and the royals think the worst of Kara, but she’s not evil. Yes, she’s had all this anger inside of her over the past, but after a while, it would disappear until Knox came around. The man was a poison, but Kara trusted him.” She huffs and averts her gaze. “Kara puts on a front a lot. She tries to be a badass royal, but I know she’s just lonely. She doesn’t want anyone to see her as weak.”
I chuckle. “She’s anything but that. The woman always had a way of making men squirm. I’ve seen it firsthand at wine competitions. Human men would stutter and fidget every time she got near them.”
Evangeline giggles. “Yep, that’s her. Then again, she’s gorgeous. What man wouldn’t want her?”
Exactly. That’s what scares the fuck out of me. She’s mine now and I don’t want anyone trying to take her away from me.
“What are you going to do when we find her?” Evangeline asks.
I shrug. “What I really want to do is toss her on the plane, but we know force doesn’t work well with Kara. It’ll only push her away. So, instead, I’ll try to reason with her. We’re mates.”
Evangeline’s lips spread wide, clearly content with my response. “But what about the bracelet? With it cutting off all her wolf magic, she won’t be able to complete the bond unless she finds a way to take it off.”
Releasing a heavy sigh, I peer over at the jet phone. “There might be a way, but it’s a long shot.”
Evangeline’s eyes narrow. “What is it?”
I grab the phone and dial Laila’s number. “I’m going to call the person who put it on her.”
Evangeline’s mouth gapes. I can’t believe I’m calling either when I know I won’t get the answer I want. Still, I have to try.
“Chase,” Laila answers, her voice happy and energetic, “how are you?”
“I can’t complain,” I tell her. The last thing I plan to do is tell her Kara’s missing. “And you? How’s the baby?”
Laila laughs. “Sera’s getting so big.”
I ask about Zayne and Amelie and everyone else in the pack. They’re all doing well and happy like I figured they would be. The conversation hits a dead end after a while, and I can hear the skepticism in Laila’s voice; she knows I want something.
“Spill it, Chase. Why did you really call?”
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slow. I have no clue how the royals are going to handle Kara being my mate. Not that it matters, she’s mine no matter what anyone says. I just don’t want there to be tension between our packs.
“Something happened with Kara,” I say.
Laila gasps. “What do you mean?”
“She’s my mate, Laila. It happened last night.”
“Holy … oh my God. I don’t know what to say. How in the world did that happen?” When I don’t answer, she clears her throat. “Okay, I think I get it. Honestly, I’m shocked. Kara doesn’t seem like the type to get close to anyone.”
“That’s because Kara doesn’t trust so easily,” I state, defending her.
“Let me guess, you’re calling to see if I’ll take the bracelet off of her.” Her tone is hard to decipher.
“Is it so wrong for me to ask?”
She lets out a long sigh. “No. You’re her mate. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“What do I have to do, Laila? Kara’s not a bad person. My mother can attest to that. You know she has the gift to see the good in people.”
“I believe you,” Laila murmurs. “But I’m not going to take the bracelet off Kara.”
I don’t want to feel angry, but I do. “Please, Laila. We can’t complete the bond with the bracelet on.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of that, Chase. It’s quite simple, really. All Kara has to do is figure it out. It’s not up to you to save her. This is her punishment and her responsibility.”
“What if she doesn’t?” I backfire. “You know what’ll happen to me.”
Sadness fills Laila’s voice. “I know. That’s what makes this so tragic. For your sake, I hope Kara gets her head out of her ass and starts thinking of others besides herself.”
We say our good-byes, and I hang up the phone. When I glance over at Evangeline, her look of despair is exactly how I feel inside.
“No need to repeat what was said. I could hear Laila through the phone,” she confesses.
Leaning my head against the seat, I shut my eyes. Visions of Kara is all I can see in my mind.
“What did you mean when you said you know what’ll happen to me?”
My wolf paces back and forth inside of me, desperate to get to Virginia. I won’t be able to rest until I have Kara safely in my grasp.
“If Kara and I don’t complete our bond,” I say, turning my head to the side and opening my eyes to look at her, “there’s a thing called the Rage. Unmated wolves suffer from it, some worse than others. It’s where our wolves go mad, and we lose control. If that happens, people get hurt. It’s an uncontrollable force we can’t subdue.”
Evangeline leans her elbow on the armrest, clearly fascinated. “Why does that happen in the first place?”
The stories of our ancestors have gotten lost or changed over the years. What we know today probably isn’t the full truth. “I don’t know what’s true or not, but as a kid, I heard it’s because of the balance of nature. Shifters are strong with extraordinary capabilities. There had to be something to offset that.”
Evangeline nods. “I know it sucks, but I can see how that makes sense. It’s all about balance.”
“If Kara and I can’t complete the bond, my wolf will go mad with the need to claim her. It won’t happen right now, but if years pass, the Rage will consume me.”
Evangeline cups a hand over her mouth. “Jesus, Chase. It’s not just Kara’s life on the line, but yours as well. Does she know this will happen to you?”
“She’s been around a long time, Evangeline. I’m sure she knows. So, you see, if she can’t figure out how to free herself, she’ll condemn me to that fate.”
Evangeline huffs and a fire blazes in her eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll do everything I can to help. But like Laila said to you, let’s hope Kara gets her head out of her ass and starts thinking of others besides herself.”
I can’t argue with her there. “Let’s hope.”
24
KARA