“She’s probably out of range,” he said, worry tightening in the pit of his stomach.
Izzy blanched and shook her head. “I can’t leave my baby out there—not without knowing she’s safe. Maybe she’s amazing with the bow and arrow, but she’s still just a teenager, and I don’t like the thought of her all alone.”
Austin put his hands on her shoulders. “She’s a smart girl, Izzy. I bet she’s hiding in one of the tree stands and waiting for someone to find her. When the sun goes down and I have the cover of darkness, I’ll search for her. How does that sound?”
Wheeler intervened. “Take a rest and eat something before you collapse and you’re no good to anyone. Be chill. That daughter of yours is a force to be reckoned with—probably perched out of sight and picking off rogues with her mad skills.”
Izzy briefly smiled. “I’m sure you’re right, but I need to know.” Her green eyes, brimming with worry, settled on Austin. “A mother needs to know.”
“Back to your post, and I’ll take care of it. Spread the word that I’m looking for her—that way Jericho doesn’t get any bright ideas to break apart from the pack.”
She nodded and turned away, her monstrous backpack obscuring much of her slim frame.
Wheeler tossed Austin a bottle of water, and he caught it with one hand. “Hydrate, brother.”
Austin sucked down half the bottle, clean water dribbling down his neck and wetting his shirt. He poured the rest on his head and ran his dirty fingers through his hair. His fingernails had mud beneath them, his clothes were covered in grit and sweat, and yet all he could think about were his packmates and their positions in relation to the direction the rogues were coming from. Lynn and Maddox had teamed up since she was unable to keep pace with the others, but she was a good shot with the gun, and Maddox would look after her. Still, her being human made Austin uneasy, especially since she was older and not as resilient.
Naya’s panther circled the tree and lifted her nose, drawing in heavy breaths and tasting the air.
Austin put his boot back on and then reloaded his gun. Silencers weren’t completely quiet, but at least it wouldn’t attract any rogues from afar. Judas’s men were all armed, and the only silent weapons they carried were knives.
“Maybe we should check on Pop,” Wheeler said absently. “He took three bullets before shifting.”
Austin smirked and sat next to Wheeler on the slope, legs bent at the knee. “That man could lose both arms and legs, and he’d still win a marathon. I’m sure we’ll be hearing this story for years to come, sprinkled with all the embellishments.”
Wheeler laughed and scratched the whiskers on his chin. “Yeah, like the one he’s always telling us about when he almost got his leg blown off in the Civil War and still carried a wounded soldier on his shoulders for ten miles. He never did say how he got the injury.”
“Probably walking where he shouldn’t have,” Austin added. “I’ve never met a Shifter who admitted to fighting in that war. We were still slaves back then.”
“Pop loves a good story. I bet you’ll be doing the same when you have your own.” Wheeler stretched out his legs and folded his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there to set him straight on the facts.”
“Or her,” Austin replied with a smile, thinking that’s how Lexi would have replied.
“Naya and I decided to wait on the family thing,” Wheeler said, touching the panther’s tail as she circled the tree. “There’s only a fifty-fifty shot our kid would be a wolf.”
“So?”
“Maybe we don’t want the other kids giving him a hard time and making him feel left out if he’s a panther. Everyone can sense a child’s animal long before the first change.”
Austin clapped his hand on Wheeler’s left shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. “Nobody is an outcast in this pack.”
“Yeah, but you know how kids are. Izzy grew up in a cougar household, and she doesn’t talk about it much, but Jericho told me they used to torment her. Maybe I don’t want anyone singling out my kid, even if they’re just messing around when no one’s looking.”
“Are you afraid the Packmaster’s kid is gonna pick on your kid?”
Wheeler stood up and dusted the twigs off his pants. “And whose side would you take?”
Austin got up. “The side that’s right. Favoritism would only teach my child to make stupid choices.”
Wheeler paced around and kicked a stone. “Maybe I’d be a shitty dad.”
“There’s no rush to start a family, brother. Enjoy each other as long as you want, but don’t avoid kids because you’re afraid of screwing it up. That kind of fear will eat you up inside with regret.” Austin knelt in front of Naya and rubbed the sides of her neck. “You need to talk some sense into your man,” he said to her.
She growled in response.
Wheeler stripped out of his shirt and reached for his bag. “I’d give up my left nut for a shower.”