I expected Gracie to be on the front steps with Winston sitting in her lap when I walked up, but she wasn’t. She wasn’t in the living room either.

Apparently she wasn’t in as big of a rush as she’d let on.

Dad was in the living room, though. I could tell from the empty bottles scattered around him he’d been on the couch all night, drinking himself into oblivion. The week after the full moon was always hardest on him. His pain was back in full force, and he was looking for ways to drown it out again.

Gran stood at the kitchen sink, hand washing the dishes from breakfast.

“Good morning,” she said as she glanced over her shoulder at me. “I wasn’t sure you would make it in time to take Gracie to the vet’s office.”

“Here I am. Where is she?”

“In her room.”

I opened my mouth to yell for her, but Dad rolled over in his sleep and mumbled something about Mom. It had my train of thought ceasing immediately.

“Today’s going to be a rough one. He’s been talking nonstop about her in his sleep,” Gran said with a frown as she glanced at him from where she stood.

“Probably because she disappeared around this time of year,” I said probably, but I knew without a doubt today was the day she’d been taken so many years ago.

It seemed fitting this would be the day I began my search for her by sacrificing myself to the same vampires who’d taken her.

“You’re probably right. The days have blurred together so much, the years too. It’s sad, but I can hardly pinpoint when she left.”

I could. I knew the exact date, but I didn’t say so.

“We might never have to hear him mumble about missing her again after tonight.” I regretted the words as soon as I said them.

The plate Gran was washing slipped from her hands. It clanked in the sink. “Why? What are you planning?”

“I’m leaving to find her tonight.”

I knew I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone because it pertained to pack business, but how could I not tell Gran something? I didn’t want her to worry when she couldn’t find me. I didn’t want her to think she’d done something wrong or that I’d ran away. I didn’t want to hurt her. I also didn’t want to hurt Gracie. Which meant, in case this thing went longer than a single night, I would need Gran to cover for me.

“How are you planning to do that?” Gran asked as she reached for a rag and dried off her hands. Her eyes were glued on me.

I shifted around on my feet, knowing she wasn’t going to like the next words that came out of my mouth.

“I can’t tell you details, but I can say there’s a good chance you might not see me over the next few days. I’m headed to the city. That’s where she’s at. It’s where everyone is,” I said.

I loved Gran and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but I knew my words had. She was upset I hadn’t told her sooner. Her eyes told me she was worried I wouldn’t come back, that she was scared something horrible might happen to me.

Still it didn’t change my mind. I had to do this. No one else could. It was up to me.

“I won’t ask you any more questions about it, then. I understand how pack law works.” Her blue eyes locked with mine as she stepped forward and erased the space between us. She smelled like lemon dish soap as she wrapped her arms around me. “Promise me one thing. Promise me you’ll be careful, okay? That you’ll come back safe and sound.”

We both knew her last request wasn’t a promise I could make, but I did anyway. “I promise.”

“Oh my God! What is with all the lovey-dovey stuff? We’re going to be late!” Gracie shouted as she made her way into the kitchen with Winston in tow. His fur was wet, making him look more like a rat than a puppy.

“What did you do to him?” I asked as I untangled myself from Gran’s arms.

“I gave him a bath while I was waiting on you, duh.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I didn’t want him to stink at his vet appointment. I want them to think I’m taking good care of him.”

“Oh.” It was sweet she wanted to seem like a good pet owner. Maybe this puppy would be worth keeping. Maybe he’d teach her responsibility. It seemed as though he already had.

“Are you ready? It’s almost eight thirty.” Gracie walked to where Gran was standing and kissed her on the cheek before putting Winston down. She grabbed his leash off the kitchen counter and bent at the waist to hook him up. “I’m supposed to get there a few minutes early to fill out paperwork since it’s his first visit.”

“Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s go.” I swiped my keys off the counter and started toward the door, following behind her.

“Do whatever it is you have planned after the appointment, Mina, but I want you and Eli at the table by six o’clock tonight ready for a family dinner. No exceptions,” Gran insisted.

“Why Eli too?” I asked as I paused at the front door.

“He’s family now,” Gran said.

Warmth flowed through me. I loved her. I flashed her a small smile and then continued out the door after Gracie.

She was in the passenger seat when I started down the front steps. Winston sat in her lap with his tongue hanging out as he panted. Was he hot, or was he excited to be going for a ride? I couldn’t tell.

“You should probably run inside and grab an old towel,” I said to Gracie as I rounded the front of my car.

“Already one step ahead of you.” She grinned. “I put one in here before you showed up.”

“Oh, okay. Good. Do you know if he gets carsick?” I asked as I slipped behind the steering wheel.

“Not sure. Figured it would be better to be safe than sorry though,” Gracie said she buckled her seat belt.

I cranked the engine of my car, waiting for it to sputter to life. For the first time in a long time, it started without hassle. Whatever Eli had done when he put the new battery in had worked wonders.

“Do you remember how to get to the clinic?” Gracie asked as she pulled up the address on her cell.

“Yeah.” I scoffed, unbelieving she’d even asked. Mirror Lake was the size of my hand. Everyone knew how to get everywhere because the place was so small.

“Okay. Let’s go, then,” Gracie said as she made a shooing gesture with her hand.

I shifted into reverse and backed out of our driveway, frowning. She was being a bossy little thing this morning.

As I drove past Eli’s trailer, I noticed him coming out the front door. He was dressed in a plain gray T-shirt, dark-washed jeans, and a pair of biker boots. His hair was still ruffled, and his eyes a little sleepy as he twirled the keys to his old beat up truck on his finger. He flashed me a panty-dropping smile and waved to Gracie as we crept by.

Where was he going? He hadn’t mentioned leaving. I wondered if it had anything to do with what he had planned for us today. I hoped it wasn’t anything that would overlap with Gran’s dinner plans. I made a mental note to send him a text as soon as I reached the vet office, letting him know we were supposed to be at my place for dinner at six. No exceptions, as Gran had put it.

My palms began to sweat as I thought of what it would be like to have Eli over for dinner now that we were imprinted. Heat crept up my neck at the thought. God, what would my dad say during our dinner? What would Gracie say? There was no doubt in my mind the two of them would find some way to embarrass the hell out of me. I wasn’t so much worried about Gran as I was Dad and Gracie. Maybe I should be, though. She could be as cantankerous as the rest of them when she wanted to be.