The sun was rising on day three since Brice and Lulu went missing. All calls to Salem went to voice mail. Grinder could hazard a guess why. Krish ordered the pack to stay away from the old hunting cabin. Grinder needed to speak with Gerritt, selene’s directive or not. As reticent as he was to disturb the newly bonded trio, every minute that passed made it less likely they’d find Brice and Lulu. He was still kicking himself for not coming sooner.

So here he stood, 10 feet from the small cabin’s porch, in cold misting rain at sunrise. He stared at the door debating what he would say. His indecision ended as the door swung open and a decidedly unfriendly looking Salem came into view. Shirtless, bare foot, unbuttoned jeans that barely clung to hips giving a scant sense of modesty. Pale skin showcasing a liberal peppering of bite marks, scratches, and small bruises. His blue-black hair mussed in a way that almost seemed purposefully done for aesthetic effect.

The next thing to hit Grinder’s senses was the potent perfume of sex rolling out of the cabin. He snorted to clear his nose. It didn’t work.

“Not a word old man.” Salem growled, intense stare indicating he would take exception to any snide remarks. Kate’s lilting voice, farther in the cabin, beckoned Salem back to bed. Salem leaned a hip against the door frame, crossing muscular arms. “What do you want?” He grumbled at Grinder.

Grinder’s back stiffened. Attitude like that would normally be followed up by a stern reprimand from the war master. This wasn’t a normal circumstance. If placed in Salem’s situation, Grinder would have already been off the porch and at the invaders throat. Even in anger, when his mate had nearly been killed, Salem was more forgiving than other wolfbloods would be. 

A shadow moved behind Salem. Equally disheveled, but markedly more clothed, Gerritt peaked from around the flexing muscle of his aggressive Alpha mate.

Salem’s expression relaxed to one of adoration as he turned to Gerritt.  His arm snaking around the leaner man as he pulled him close to kiss his forehead. The soft innocent smile Gerritt gave Salem made Grinder acutely aware of his interloper status.

Clearing his throat to get the two males’ attention. “I need to speak with Gerritt.” After a slight delay Grinder added “Please.” Decades upon decades of barking orders and being obeyed were hard to tamp down.

“Then speak.” Salem snapped.

Gerritt patted his mate’s firm stomach, then stepped forward. “Go back in with Kate my love. I’ll be in shortly.”

Salem rumbled, “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

Gerritt pulled the slightly taller man down for a gentle kiss. Foreheads touching, “I’ll be fine. I’ll call if I need you.”

Casting a wary death glare at Grinder, Salem kissed Gerritt once more and headed into the cabin. His muscular back flexing as he turned away. What was with all the young males looking larger lately. First Brice, now Salem appeared to have gained 20 pounds of solid muscle. Maybe he really was getting old.

Gerritt motioned to a set of rattan chairs on the porch next to a large wicker swing. “Have a seat my friend. How are you handling everything?”

Grinder visibly reacts with shock to the kind words, “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? My daughter almost murdered your mate. Now she’s absconded with Brice gods’ know where.”

It was Gerritt’s turn to react in surprise, “What do you mean absconded? Brice didn’t take her to the new detention facility as instructed? She’s running loose?”

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew.” Why would Krish keep this from them when it could directly affect them? Grinder wonders.

“Apologies Grinder, my mates need to be here for this discussion.” Gerritt’s tone turns solemn. “Salem, come out here love. Bring Kate.” He calls behind him.

Muffled movement in the cabin, followed by Kate’s squeal and “I can walk you brute!” precludes Salem pushing the screen door open. Still barely dressed, Kate bundled in his arms, Salem settles on the porch swing. It creaks loudly and the springs attaching it to the porch ceiling groan under the weight.

Kate huffs, head peeking out of the blanket wrapped around her like a burrito, a playful scowl on her face. “Are all freshly mated males this ridiculous?”

“Yes.” Sounds in stereo from all three males.

“Goddess preserve me.”, Kate chuckles. Looking at Gerritt. “Why is everyone scowling?”

“It seems Lulu and Brice have taken off together.” Gerritt answers.

Shocked, “What? How? I mean, Brice isn’t interested in females. He’s bonded to Krish. Why would he take off with Lulu?” Kate’s words flow out. “Oh gods, did she infect him with that vampiric shadow virus? Is she manipulating him?” She tries to rise; Salem holds tight keeping her in his lap. “Let me go, Krish needs our help!” Looking at Grinder. “Why didn’t she call for us? Why send you? How long have they been gone?”

“Love.” Salem’s rich timbre rubbles gently at Kate, “Excellent questions. Let Grinder finish then we can decide together what to do.”

“Krish didn’t send me. There’s a do not disturb order on you and the Cabin.”, says Grinder.

Kate blushes hard. Salem chuckles a deep rumbling sound. Gerritt smiles like the cat that ate more than one canary.

“Why was my phone ringing off the hook then?”, Salem asks, mirth stalling in his tone.

Looking slightly guilty, Grinder answers. “I was trying to get hold of Gerritt.”

Kate takes the lead, “Why?”.

“I believe Gerritt is the last hope to find Lulu and Brice before things get any worse. Lulu is sick. I knew she had issues, the extent of them…” Grinder trails off for a moment, “I didn’t realize how good she was at masking the depth of her instability. I’m no doctor, but I think she may be a sociopath, at the very least dangerously delusional. What she did to Kate confirms it in my mind. I tried to talk to my wife about it. Alice kicked me out of our apartment for even suggesting there might be something wrong with Lulu and that she wasn’t an innocent victim. Alice refuses to see it. I’m done hoping it’s a phase Lulu will outgrow. Lulu needs professional help. Now that she has entangled Brice into this mess, it may be too late. Brice is one of our top elite fighters. He’s juiced up with whatever mojo Krish gave him. Krish couldn’t track them herself, so she summoned this giant winged man creature. Lexi said his name is Horus. Horus tried to find them through magic as well and couldn’t. Something was blocking him. My thought is that if they can’t be found with technology, they can’t be found by magic, maybe those made and trained specifically find fey bloods that don’t want to be found should be going after them.”, Grinder looks at Gerritt. “I am begging for your help. I know you don’t owe me anything. There are more reasons not to help than to help.” Grinder buries his head in his hands. “I don’t have any other options. We didn’t raise her like this. I don’t know where we went wrong.” Grinder’s remorse and grief hangs heavily in the air.

Gerritt reaches over, patting Grinder on the shoulder, “Of course I will help. What Lulu did is not your fault. She is an adult. You are my friend. You were the first, besides my mates, who saw me as something other than a monster.” Looking up at Salem and Kate, “Brice is a friend to us all. If for no other reason than that we’d help.”

Salem nods in agreement.

Kate starts to squirm, working one arm out of the blanket that Salem has her rolled up in.

“What are you doing?”, Salem grumbles, arms tightening around her again.

“We need to get cleaned up and dressed you over hormoned nut.” She squawks at him, working the other arm out and one leg. “Now come help me shower.” Kate smiles broadly.

Salem sweeps her up, legs flailing, laughter echoing in the early morning air.  He hauls the door open and goes into the cabin.

Gerritt gets up to follow. “Meet us at the mansion’s dining hall in an hour.”, he calls over his shoulder. “We’ll find them my friend.”