Nick inhaled deeply, inspecting the scents. A growl trickled out of him. “Fuck.”
He and Nick both followed the unfamiliar scents, continuing through the trees, while Derren’s heart slammed hard against his ribs and his wolf lost his fucking shit. Nothing could happen to Ally. Nothing.
Derren swore loudly as he found Bruce’s body slumped on the ground. Dropping to his knees, he pulled out the dart that was embedded in the animal’s flank. “He’s alive. But he’s been drugged.”
Nick frowned. “His eyes are open. Alert.”
“He’s been drugged with something that’s paralyzed his muscles. And so has Ally.” That was why she was feeling so helpless. She was basically a prisoner in her own body. “I need to keep following their scents.”
To Derren’s utter frustration, the strange scents disappeared abruptly at a spot farther ahead. Studying the tire tracks, he spat a string of curses. Returning to Nick, he said, “Someone took her. The Collingwood wolves are behind this.” He knew it as surely as he knew that if anyone hurt Ally, they would die a long, brutal, excruciating death at his hands. “I have to get to her.”
As if suspecting Derren might run around aimlessly in his panicky state, Nick grabbed his arm. “Yes, but we don’t know where she is. Try calling her again.” As Derren was cursing when Ally’s phone went unanswered for the third time, Dan and Cain came rushing toward them.
“Shaya told us Ally’s missing,” said Cain, eyes sharp.
Nick nodded. “My guess is she was taken by tiger shifters—possibly at Rachelle’s order. She has a huge hard-on for Ally.”
Dan waved a hand. “She’ll be fine.”
Derren blinked at him, shocked at his nonchalance. “She’s been kidnapped.”
Dan actually shrugged. “It’s not like it’s the first time.”
“Elaborate,” Nick bit out.
It was Cain who replied, looking no more concerned than Dan. “When she was nine, she and a few other pups were snatched right off our territory by a rival pack. They were home within the hour.”
“Ally got free and untied the others,” said Dan. “Then they just jumped right on out of the vehicle and made their way back. Of course, she was totally pissed and made us buy her a goldfish. Our Ally’s tough.”
“Yes, she’s tough,” agreed Derren, infuriated by Cain and her uncle dismissing the danger she was in. “The Collingwood Beta female wants her dead. She’ll try to kill her.”
“Yes, she’ll try. Don’t worry. My niece will be fine.”
“She’s drugged.”
“Oh.” Dan looked sheepish. “Well, that complicates things a little.”
“Feed her strength through your bond,” Nick told Derren. “It will make the effects of the drug wear off faster.”
“I can’t.” It was painful to speak the words, to vocalize what was tormenting him. “The bond isn’t fully formed yet.”
Cain frowned. “Why? You having doubts about Ally?”
“None whatsoever.”
“So, what’s holding you both back?”
Derren had no fucking idea. Ally had changed everything for him. He’d never believed he could be loved just the way he was, but she did. He’d always felt stifled by responsibilities, but she made him realize that they didn’t have to weigh him down and that there was strength in his status and in being responsible for others.
It was only right at that moment, while fear had such a strong chokehold on him that he felt both suffocated and trapped, that he realized he surprisingly hadn’t had that “trapped” feeling for a long time. He’d always worried that being mated would make him feel confined, but he’d been totally wrong. Ally made him feel balanced and important to someone. Being mated to her didn’t trap him, it liberated and anchored him. She was—
Derren jolted at the sudden dual sensation of an explosion in his chest and a hammering thud to his head. The pain disappeared as fast as it came, and understanding quickly dawned. His breath caught in his throat as he realized their mating bond had snapped into place.
He could feel her heartbeat, sense her own surprise, realization, and pleasure at what was happening. Without hesitation, he shoved strength down that connection, forcing her to absorb and use it.
“Why do you have a dreamy look on your face?” asked Dan.
“My guess is the mating bond just fully formed,” said Nick.
Derren nodded. “My strength’s helping her a lot quicker than I thought it would.”
Nick slapped Derren’s upper arm supportively. “That’s a good thing. It means she won’t be helpless. Now all we have to do is find her.”