Page 10 of Beautiful Madness

I now understood why Sambelieved so fervently that he and I were destined to be best buds and why he’dbeen sure I’d need him someday.

And I understood why I’d lethim get away with murder after murder.

Hewas my people, too.

And we’d see.

I stood, finally, groaning alittle at the weight in my stomach. I needed to shift and run, and I would. Mywoods were waiting. My woods. My freedom.

“I’m going to run some of this foodoff,” I said.

My mother pulled out a chairand sat down at the table, staring at her clasped hands.

“Mom,” I said.

She jerked her head up andlooked at me, tentative hope creeping through her eyes. “Kaity?”

“You up for a run?”

She stood, and at last, hersmile appeared, taking up most of her face. “Let’s bounce, home skillet!”

I shook my head. Some thingsnever changed.

And I was fiercely glad ofthat.

I pulled her into my arms, thenleaned down to kiss the top of her head. “I love you, Mom.”

Then Lucy ran to us, wailing.“Forgive me, too, Kait. Please forgive me.”

“Luce,” I scolded, pulling herinto our circle. “There’s nothing to forgive.” But my gaze snagged on Joe’s,and the look in his eyes said he disagreed. He would, however, keep that to himself.

My mother and I shifted alittle while later and ran through the woods, and the morning was quiet andpeaceful and perfectly cold, and for a little while, everything was okay.

Everything was fine.

But when we emerged from thewoods an hour later and I saw Zach standing outside beside Joe, both of themsomber and grim, I knew the peace I’d found was over.

“Something’s wrong,” my mothersaid.

“Jared,” I murmured. “Somethinghas happened to my alpha.”

Chapter Six

Jared’s beta paced the floor,his fists clenched, something terrible in his eyes. “He’s dead,” he bit out whenI kept questioning him. “Nothing but death would keep him from his pack.” Thenhe stopped pacing long enough to glare at me. “From you.”

“Don’t be so quick to give upon him,” I snapped. “Something is wrong, yes. He’s likely injured. Maybe he’sbeen taken and someone is holding him. But he is not dead. If he were dead…”

He curled his lip. “You’d feelit, I suppose?”

I lifted my chin and stared himdown. “I am his mate. Yeah, I would feel it.”

“I’m done talking to you,” hesaid, gesturing dismissively. “With the alpha gone, I’m in charge. You declinedto marry him and have any sort of power over this pack. Any sway you had wasgiven to you by Jared, but Jared isn’t here now. You will leave the pack beforeI have you and the human with you put in chains. You’re not welcome hereanymore.”

We both knew he wasn’t strongenough to fuck with me. He was posturing and angry—but I didn’t want to fighthim if I didn’t have to. I’d give him some time to cool down, and I’d returnwith my hunters at my back. “I know you hate me because of what happened withLennon, but she did that to herself, Eli. Your hatred is misplaced. You shouldhate her for betraying you, the pack, and your alpha.”

“You don’t know what you’retalking about,” he snarled. But there was a gleam of guilt, shame, anduncertainty in his dark eyes. “Get out.”

I sighed, then stood. We werein Jared’s office, and the familiar scent of him surrounded me, making itdifficult to think with a clear head. I believed he was alive, but I knew howvery badly Ineededto believe that. With the chaos in my mind rightnow, there was a tiny part of me that was afraid I couldn’t trust my gut. Notreally.