want your excuses. I want my son—” “Wesken was with me. I asked him to accompany me away from the village.” Amalija interrupted in a shaky voice right next to him. “Don’t, Amalija,” Wesken warned as he took a step between her and his brother. Argram would never harm a female of their pack under normal circumstances, but the violent energy coming off him proved his lack of control. Argram looked around him at her, his fists clenching and unclenching. Wesken met it with a growl of his own. His fingertips burned as he fought to keep his claws from emerging. He stepped fully in front of her. If Argram wanted to get to her, he’d have to go through him to do it. “Stop, both of you. Just get Malec. Go get our son back,” Miga wailed as she stood, shoving Argram. It wasn’t until Miga turned toward him that he noticed the deep purple bruise marring the right side of her face and the trickle of dried blood running from her temple to her chest. Wesken needed to move. Needed to hunt—to destroy. “I’m going after them.” Argram opened his mouth to object, but Wesken lifted his hand. “I’m the better tracker. Besides, you’re too close. You’re not in control. I love your son almost as much as you do. I will not give up until I have him back. Safe. You have my word.” Argram looked at him for a moment before finally conceding with a nod. “Bring him home,” he said, his voice thick. *** The pain in Amalija’s heart had nothing to do with her sorrow at losing her mate before she’d even had the chance to claim him and everything to do with the pain Miga and Argram were going through. What Malec was enduring. The poor little boy had to be so scared. Knowing firsthand how cold and heartless the Mahehkan wolves were, she could only hope that the little guy was unharmed, but she wouldn’t hold her breath. It had taken all of two seconds for Wesken to shift once Argram had agreed to let him go after the boy. More than anything, she would have liked to have gone with him—tell him all she knew about the camp—but there was no way she could keep up with him in his wolf form. He’d given her one look, then nose to the ground, he’d run. Amalija heard every heartbroken sob as Argram led his mate to their home. She hadn’t realized she’d been crying along with Miga until Delana wrapped her arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “They’ll find him.” She nodded and swiped at her tear-streaked cheeks. “They haven’t had him long. Wesken will find him before they hurt him.” Delana gave her a shaky smile. “What a homecoming. Khet and I got back minutes before everything happened.” “Can we get anything for Miga? Tea or something to soothe her?” If anyone could help Miga through this, Delana could. “Of course, I’ll run home and get what I need. You’ll feel better after a shower and rest. Why don’t I come by later to talk? I’m sorry I haven’t been around much since Khet and I were mated.” Amalija didn’t even want to imagine what kind of sight she presented. As wolves with an excellent sense of smell, she had no doubt that others knew what she and Wesken had been up to. Argram. Miga. Everyone who had been in the center knew. Heat rushed up her cheeks as she brought her hands to her hair. “Don’t worry. You look fine. I’ll see you in a couple of hours?” “I’d like that.” With that, Delana left her standing there. She couldn’t handle being around everyone right then. Too much had happened. Did they blame her and Wesken for the toddler’s abduction? No one said a word. She didn’t get any sideways glances, but guilt still tore through her. They should have been there to help protect everyone. She hesitated as she climbed the steps to her home. The door was wide open. She walked into the living room. “Is anyone here?” she called out. As far as she could tell, nothing had been disturbed. Her heart pounded as she peeked in every room, but