Warrior (Relentless #4)(29)

Chris and I split up. He mingled with the crowd, while I stayed out of Sara’s sight. A few females came up to me and attempted to start a conversation, but I discouraged them as nicely as I could. I had eyes for only one female. My Mori wouldn’t have endured me being with someone else anyway now that it had found its mate.

It was around eleven when I felt the first drops of rain. I’d been watching the clouds move in for an hour, so I wasn’t surprised when the sky suddenly opened up and sent a torrent of rain down on us. Some of the females squealed, and everyone raced for their vehicles. As I watched Sara and her friends run to an old red pickup, I moved toward my bike, intending to follow them.

Chris met up with me in the parking lot. “She’s fine. Stop worrying. She’s safe with the werewolves, and I heard the boys talking about a party in the Knolls. It’s just a few miles from here, and it’s where the pack lives.”

He was right. As much as I wanted to make sure for myself that she got home safely, it would only invite trouble if we followed her into the pack’s home for no reason. Normally, I wouldn’t worry about upsetting a few wolves, but this pack cared for Sara, and her friends were protective of her. I didn’t want to change that.

But if I ever suspected she was in danger, I’d go through the entire pack to ensure her safety.

Chris shook out his wet hair and pulled on his helmet. “I found a pretty decent pub the other day. Let’s grab a beer and dry off.”

I agreed because there was nothing else for me to do in that moment. Chris led the way to a small bar near the waterfront. We grabbed a booth, paid for two beers, and talked in low voices about the situation in Portland. My eyes kept going to the clock on the wall, and I couldn’t help but wonder what Sara was doing. I was so used to her being at home where it was easier to watch over her, and I didn’t like not knowing where she was.

Chris groaned. “You’re killing me, Nikolas. If I ever find a bond mate, just shoot me right away and put me out of my misery.”

I smiled into my beer. “When this happens to you, I’m going to enjoy your suffering as much as you are enjoying mine. Maybe more.”

He let out a snort. “No way. I’ll stick to human women for the next hundred years or so, just to be safe.”

“For a guy who dates so many women, you’re going through a lot of trouble not to settle down.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble.” His eyebrows lifted suggestively. “I happen to love human women, and they’re less aggressive than our females.”

“Mohiri women aren’t that aggressive, unless you’re talking about someone like –”

“Celine?” he finished for me with a smirk. “Remind me again, how long ago did you and she hook up? And she still tries to rekindle your little romance whenever she sees you.”

I chuckled. “Celine is in a league of her own.”

I thought about the raven-haired beauty I’d met while on a job in New York City back in the twenties. Celine Moreau was a superb warrior and just as skilled as a lover. She’d made no secret of the fact she wanted me in her bed. It had been a pleasurable week for us both, and then we’d parted ways. I’d seen her many times since then, and we were on friendly terms, but I had no interest in picking up where we’d left off. Celine pursued me only because she was used to men adoring her and she couldn’t conceive of one not wanting her.

My thoughts turned back to Sara. I couldn’t have bonded with someone more opposite of Celine. Sara wasn’t afraid to express herself, yet she seemed to try to not be noticed. And unlike Celine, Sara had no interest in me.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me.

My phone vibrated on the table, and I frowned at Erik’s name on the screen. He wouldn’t call this late unless he’d found something important.

“Nikolas, we have trouble,” he said as soon as I picked up. “We got word of a strange animal spotted near the university in Gorham. Reese went to check it out. He says based on the tracks and the witnesses’ descriptions, it was a crocotta.”

My blood chilled. Crocotta were vicious creatures that resembled giant hyenas and always traveled in small packs. They were better than bloodhounds at picking up a scent and tracking it. If there were crocotta in or near Portland, they had been brought in to find someone specifically.

I immediately thought of Eli. The Attic had been full of college students the night we were there, and it made sense that Eli would assume Sara was also in college. So the first place he would look for her was the university.

“Thanks for letting me know,” I said with forced calm. “Keep me posted if you find anything else.”

“What’s wrong?” Chris asked as soon as I hung up.

“There was a crocotta spotted near Portland. You know there’s only one reason someone would bring those things here.”

“Jesus.”

“Chris, check the tracker you put on the truck. Where are they?”

He pulled out his tracking monitor. “I told you she’s in the…”

His brows drew together, and my chest tightened with dread. “It looks like the truck is stopped on Fell Road, about a mile from the Knolls.”

I was out of my chair and halfway to the door before he called after me. He caught up to me at the bikes.

“There are lots of reasons why they could be stopped on the road,” Chris said as I straddled my motorcycle.