“I’m back,” I called as I walked in and threw my keys on the counter. Moving toward where I’d left my phone charging, I kept an ear cocked, listening for Natasha’s approach.

Was it possible she was still sleeping?

I looked at the face of my phone, noted the time, and went toward the bedroom, glancing around the house as I moved. I stopped in the doorway, taking in the still messy, but empty, bed, then the open bathroom door. All the lights were off, and I couldn’t hear a thing.

A knot formed in my gut and I turned to go back through the house, this time yelling Natasha’s name as I searched.

Had she left? Been taken? Gone for a walk?

When it became obvious the house was empty, I hurried outside, down the steps and onto the patio we’d hung out on the night before. I searched the surface of the lake, the tree line, and all of my visible land, but there was nothing.

No one.

No sign of Natasha.

My phone made a sound, still in my hand, so I lifted it absently, that knot having grown into a full-blown war in my stomach.

Glancing down, I saw I’d had at least twenty missed calls from Mateo, before one had been answered. Not bothering to check my messages, I hit dial and put the phone to my ear. It rang and rang, but Mateo didn’t pick up.

Rather than leave a message, I hung up and dialed Max.

“Logan, shit, man, are you on your way?” Max asked hurriedly after less than one ring.

“On my way? What’s going on?” I asked, my blood running cold.

Could something have happened to Natasha?

“You haven’t heard? Sorry, I thought since Mateo had picked up Natasha, you already knew… There was a fire at Howler’s, looks like the Threehorn Pack, Brick was asleep upstairs,” Max explained gravely.

“Christ,” I exclaimed as I rushed to get my keys off the counter, head out the door and get into my truck. “On my way,” I said as I tore down the lane, acknowledging Max’s, “We’re all at the hospital. See you soon, brother,” before disconnecting.

I drove as fast as possible, eager to get to my mate and make sure she was okay. I was worried about Brick, and angry for Mateo and his pack. The Threehorn Pack obviously hadn’t decided to back down after holding Natasha and her friend against their will, and were still trying to ruin Mateo’s pack.

Something had to be done to put them in their place, but Natasha and her family were my first priority.

In record time, I pulled into the hospital parking lot, parked quickly and jumped out.

As I walked through the automatic doors, a looked to the check in desk and said, “Brick Matthews.”

“Second floor, honey,” the nurse said, her tone gentle. Consoling.

Shit.

Bypassing the elevator, I took the stairs two at a time and crashed through the door at the top that led to the second floor. I looked left, then right, and saw Mateo leaning his forehead against the wall down the hall.

At my approach, Mateo rolled his forehead until his eyes were on me, and I had to control my flinch at the pain reflected there.

He may not be ready to admit the Brick was his mate yet, but Mateo’s feelings were all right there on the surface. The fact that he was this shaken up, had me worrying even more about Natasha and how she was handling things.

I needed to find my mate.

“Natasha?” I bit out, but Mateo just rolled his head back and resumed looking at the ground.

“Logan?” I heard her call out, and turned toward the sound of her voice.

I found them all in the waiting room. Some sitting, some pacing, but I only had eyes for Natasha, who was sitting next to Gilly, their arms wrapped around each other as they waited. Her gaze hit mine and I nearly stumbled with relief.

There she was, safe and in one piece.

Natasha untangled herself from her sister, leapt to her feet and rushed into my arms.

“Logan,” she said on a sob, and I held her as she cried, my heart breaking with each rack of breath.

I stroked her back and held her tightly, while my eyes sought Maximus.

“He’s been back there for about an hour. He was unconscious and they’re worried about smoke inhalation, and burns of course, but we haven’t seen him, so we really don’t know anything. Just that he was breathing when he arrived, so there’s hope.”

“And Threehorn?” I asked as softly as I could, even though I wanted to shout angrily.

Actually, what I wanted to do was shift, run to their land, and tear their throats out, but with Natasha sobbing in my arms, and Gilly going shakily to Max’s, I knew I needed to keep my shit together until we knew more about Brick.

Once I knew he was okay, and I had Natasha tucked safely at her place, then I’d get with Mateo and his council and see when we were going to go out and seek revenge. It didn’t matter that this wasn’t my clan, and I wasn’t a wolf, they’d messed with Natasha’s family, which meant that messed with my family.

And, no one, messed with my family and lived. Not like this.