Read Online Branches of the Willow 3 by Christine M. Butler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christine M. Butler
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started.
“Don’t you Eileen me! She’s here now, so fill her in.”
I gave my mom an appreciative smile, and watched out of the corner of my eye as Mikael hugged her. My father huffed his indignation, but let his lecture drop to fill me in on everything that had been happening. More to the point, the lack of anything happening.
“So, there hasn’t been a single sighting of Sophia, Zach, or Malachai? Anywhere? I just find that hard to believe.” I paced back and forth a bit, and then remembered my earlier conversation with Avery. “Avery’s daughter, Annalise, is missing. Andy never made it to meet Avery. They both seem to have disappeared on the same day, and the Daniels’ lands have been having trouble with interlopers trying to hunt there. I’m beginning to think that’s not all coincidence. Has he checked back in yet with updates for anyone?”
“Not yet.” My father answered. “I’ll give him a call though.”
“Okay, while you have him on the phone, let him know that I am calling a meeting of the nearest five pack leaders. We need something to give where Sophia, Zach, and Malachai are concerned. I can’t believe that no one has seen them. We do have people planted with the humans in places, right? Can’t we get them put on a watch list or something?”
“If we did that, then we wouldn’t be the only ones looking for them. Do you really want to risk an unsuspecting human approaching any of them?”
“No, I guess not, but there has to be something more we can do. I’m not just going to sit back and wonder if they’ll ever pop up again. I need closure, and so long as they are out there, our people remain in danger. None of them seem to have any qualms about hurting those who get in the way. Tom and Jack are proof of that.”
“I’ll call a meeting.” My dad agreed. “I’ll let Avery know, but he has his own worries right now.”
“I don’t expect Avery to show up. His priority is, and should be, Annalise. Have we heard from the guys that were sent out to scout between our boundaries?”
“Not yet. They should be checking in soon though. I’ll let you know as soon as they call in.”
My dad got ready to head to his office before I called him back. “Dad, the interlopers on Avery’s land…”
“Yeah?”
“I have a weird feeling. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our three fugitives are missing, and suddenly there’s a hunting problem on the Daniels Clan’s grounds.”
“You’re not the only one thinking that, Jess.”
“If anything happens to Annalise because of Zach and Malachai…” I couldn’t even finish the thought. What I wanted to do was crush them, worse than I wanted to for just messing with me. Annalise was such a sweet girl. I couldn’t imagine something awful happening to her just so those sadistic sons of bitches could taunt me some more.
“Let’s not add to our worries before we need to, Jess, even if we are all thinking it. I’m sure it will take a few hours for the others to gather here. You should go check with your Ancients you have in Jack’s place. They’ve been getting a bit restless over there, wondering why no one’s moved them to their new pack yet.”
“Of course.” I looked over at Mikael questioningly. “Walk with me?”
“Like you had to ask.”
Mikael and I did our rounds, checking in on the three Ancients. Brian and Nicholi were both chomping at the bit to get to the Daniels clan and get settled in. I was happy to see that Demetri was settling in with the guys working in the woodshop. They had wonderful things to say about him. Apparently, he was a natural, and had picked up a thing or two when he was watching Mikael’s uncle all those years.
It was close to five o’clock by the time everyone arrived, and we all met up at the meeting hall. I was surprised to see Avery Daniels there among the group. He noticed the look I passed his way, and excused himself from the conversation he was in to come speak to
“Don’t you Eileen me! She’s here now, so fill her in.”
I gave my mom an appreciative smile, and watched out of the corner of my eye as Mikael hugged her. My father huffed his indignation, but let his lecture drop to fill me in on everything that had been happening. More to the point, the lack of anything happening.
“So, there hasn’t been a single sighting of Sophia, Zach, or Malachai? Anywhere? I just find that hard to believe.” I paced back and forth a bit, and then remembered my earlier conversation with Avery. “Avery’s daughter, Annalise, is missing. Andy never made it to meet Avery. They both seem to have disappeared on the same day, and the Daniels’ lands have been having trouble with interlopers trying to hunt there. I’m beginning to think that’s not all coincidence. Has he checked back in yet with updates for anyone?”
“Not yet.” My father answered. “I’ll give him a call though.”
“Okay, while you have him on the phone, let him know that I am calling a meeting of the nearest five pack leaders. We need something to give where Sophia, Zach, and Malachai are concerned. I can’t believe that no one has seen them. We do have people planted with the humans in places, right? Can’t we get them put on a watch list or something?”
“If we did that, then we wouldn’t be the only ones looking for them. Do you really want to risk an unsuspecting human approaching any of them?”
“No, I guess not, but there has to be something more we can do. I’m not just going to sit back and wonder if they’ll ever pop up again. I need closure, and so long as they are out there, our people remain in danger. None of them seem to have any qualms about hurting those who get in the way. Tom and Jack are proof of that.”
“I’ll call a meeting.” My dad agreed. “I’ll let Avery know, but he has his own worries right now.”
“I don’t expect Avery to show up. His priority is, and should be, Annalise. Have we heard from the guys that were sent out to scout between our boundaries?”
“Not yet. They should be checking in soon though. I’ll let you know as soon as they call in.”
My dad got ready to head to his office before I called him back. “Dad, the interlopers on Avery’s land…”
“Yeah?”
“I have a weird feeling. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our three fugitives are missing, and suddenly there’s a hunting problem on the Daniels Clan’s grounds.”
“You’re not the only one thinking that, Jess.”
“If anything happens to Annalise because of Zach and Malachai…” I couldn’t even finish the thought. What I wanted to do was crush them, worse than I wanted to for just messing with me. Annalise was such a sweet girl. I couldn’t imagine something awful happening to her just so those sadistic sons of bitches could taunt me some more.
“Let’s not add to our worries before we need to, Jess, even if we are all thinking it. I’m sure it will take a few hours for the others to gather here. You should go check with your Ancients you have in Jack’s place. They’ve been getting a bit restless over there, wondering why no one’s moved them to their new pack yet.”
“Of course.” I looked over at Mikael questioningly. “Walk with me?”
“Like you had to ask.”
Mikael and I did our rounds, checking in on the three Ancients. Brian and Nicholi were both chomping at the bit to get to the Daniels clan and get settled in. I was happy to see that Demetri was settling in with the guys working in the woodshop. They had wonderful things to say about him. Apparently, he was a natural, and had picked up a thing or two when he was watching Mikael’s uncle all those years.
It was close to five o’clock by the time everyone arrived, and we all met up at the meeting hall. I was surprised to see Avery Daniels there among the group. He noticed the look I passed his way, and excused himself from the conversation he was in to come speak to
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