“Hungry much?” Sebastian teased.
“Famished,” I answered, chewing the last bite of my chicken. After our tryst in the shower, we’d gotten dressed and driven to the closest store to pick up some groceries. We’d also wanted to go into town to see if we could spot other wolves. No such luck there.
It felt wrong to be enjoying this time with him while my cousin was being held against her will, but Sebastian wanted me to eat before I used the stone. We both knew I needed as much energy as possible, in order to hold onto Amelie’s memories as long as I could.
Grabbing my plate, he put it in the sink and sighed. “You ready to use the stone?”
He wasn’t happy with me using it, but we didn’t have a choice. Walking back over, he set the smooth, blue stone on the table and took the seat beside me. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from it. It was as if it called to me somehow.
“I’m ready, but there’s something that’s been bothering me.” He already knew because he could see it in my mind.
“Why don’t you call your parents and ask them? You haven’t talked to them since we left anyway. I bet they’ve called over a hundred times now.”
He had a point. Dialing my parents’ number, I waited for them to pick up. My mother was the one to answer, her voice a high-pitched shriek.
“You sure do know how to scare your mother to death!”
“Hello to you too, Mother,” I said.
“What’s going on? Have you found Amelie?”
Sebastian held my hand and squeezed. “No, we haven’t, but I did find someone else.”
“Who?”
“Finn.” I waited for a gasp of excitement, or any kind of reaction for that matter, but it didn’t come. Her silence confirmed my suspicion. “You knew he was alive . . .”
“Honey, I know what you’re thinking—”
“Save it,” I snapped.
She sighed, her voice sounding defeated. “What did he say?”
“You’re not even going to deny it?”
“There’s no point. I’m sorry for not telling you, but it was for the best. He would’ve found you and you’d be stuck mated to him. Where would that have left Sebastian?”
I didn’t want to think about that. Sebastian nodded in agreement, but it still didn’t change the fact she’d lied to me. And it hadn’t been just my life she’d messed with. “It wasn’t fair, Momma. Finn’s been carrying around the guilt of my death for thirty years. When did you find out he was alive?”
“About ten years after the attack. That’s when he found Sarah and Benjamin.”
“Apparently, several people from our pack have been found as well. Finn says they’ve been showing up dead over the years.”
She gasped. “Oh no. Does he know who’s killing them?”
“No. Make sure to tell Ryker what’s going on so the pack can be on alert. He doesn’t need to let any strange wolves close to you.”
The line went quiet, but I could hear her breathing. Her past actions might have been for the best, but it didn’t hurt any less. “Tyla, dear?”
Sebastian rubbed a hand down my back, soothing me. “I’m here,” I said.
“I’m sorry for lying to you. You have to know it broke my heart to see you suffer, but I was only trying to protect you. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. This path led you to Sebastian. It’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
“I know.”
“Why don’t you just come home? If you can’t find Amelie, there’s nothing more you can do out there. I don’t want you risking your life over this.”
My gaze caught the stone. “I think I have a way to find her. If it doesn’t work, we’ll come home.”
“Just be safe. I love you, honey.”
“Love you too.” I hung up and laid my head on the table.
“Were you serious about going home if we can’t find her?” Sebastian asked.
“I’m hoping that’s not the case,” I said, turning to face him. “We have to find her. I can’t imagine what’s being done to her right now. And when I look through the stone, it’s like I’m actually inside her body. I’m afraid of what I’m going to see this time around. If someone’s hurting her, there’s not a goddamned thing I can do.”
He grabbed the stone and helped me to my feet. “At least now you don’t have to see it alone. With our connection, I should be able to see it with you. Maybe I’ll be able to help.”
I hadn’t even thought of that. “Let’s get to it.” I walked over to the couch and sat down. Taking a deep breath, I made sure my mind was completely open. Sebastian held out the stone and I took it, the memories flooding in.