Then that rush of magick, and he stood up, naked as the day he was born. And still beautiful.

“Lassie?”

“Uh.”

He shook his head with a wry grin. “The pack? Unless you want me to stay naked? Though if hikers came around, they might not think it was so great.”

“Oh!” She handed over the backpack. “Only if they were insane. I mean, there’s water in there.”

“I had some.”

He got dressed quickly.

“What were you growling at me for?”

“You’re upset. My wolf likes it even less than the man does. He wants to carry you off deep in a forest and keep you there until you’re happy.”

Oddly touched, she smiled. “Did you find anything?”

They began to walk, she guessed back to the parking lot.

“I found a trail a few times. But you did your magick, right?”

His wolf had stopped and sniffed, pressing his body into hers a few times. She’d already been using her othersight, and there had been a faint trace of mage magic, but nothing of Allie. She explained that to him.

“Yeah I thought so. I followed it until it died out. I didn’t scent any other witch but you though. Back to your upset.”

“I checked my messages. Nothing new. We’re at a dead end.”

He sighed. “We’ll keep looking. We aren’t giving up, Michelle.”

“I just…I want to help her.”

He stopped and turned to her. “You are. You’re here looking for her every waking moment. You’re doing all you can. Let’s connect with Pam and Damon, see what they’ve found.”

They headed back to the lot after he’d made a call to meet up with the other two.

Damon shook his head when they came out of the woods. “Nothing. We fanned out, checked near the waterways, the paths, everywhere. Nothing.”

She exhaled, disappointed. “Thanks anyway. I appreciate your help more than I can say.”

Josh turned to Damon. “Go back to the office and check in. Let them know I’ll be home if they need me.” Then to Pam. “Appreciate the help. Keep me updated.”

She nodded and said her goodbye to Michelle before she got in her car and drove away with Damon.

He moved to the car and opened her door. Deflated, she slid inside.

He got in, and once they’d gotten back on the road again, he spoke quietly. “Come back to my place for a while at least. Please? There’s nothing to do right now. You’re run down. You need some rest and I’d like to pamper you a little. I’m a good cook. Let me make you dinner.”

“I…” She closed her mouth. What was she arguing for? The longer she spent with him, the more she wanted him. More than that, she didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to be with someone who knew her, all of her, and wanted to be around her anyway. She was too tired to be lonely that night. “Okay.”

He relaxed. “Good.”

Chapter Six

She checked her phone every few minutes until he finally put a hand on hers. “Your phone is on. You’ll hear it if you get a message or a call. My people all know where to reach me too.”

He’d called Damon and his mate, Gina, to come over for a bit. Josh had wanted to hold her. To kiss her and f**k her senseless to wipe the worry off her features for at least a little while. But he forced himself to be patient.

Nina called to report she’d hacked the cameras at the rest stops and that they’d stopped working for fifteen minutes at the first stop and six minutes at the second. Michelle figured it was a spell of some sort, but at least they could work out a rudimentary timeline based on that information.

But it was pretty close to what she’d already figured out, so she took some notes and ended up staring out the window again.

The loneliness seemed to flow from her in waves. He could fix that. Or try anyway. Gina was awesome. Funny, warm and totally accustomed to being surrounded by Others. She was exactly the kind of person who’d extend friendship. And clearly Michelle needed it. He wanted her to understand it was possible to live in a vibrant community of likeminded Others. Sure she couldn’t announce that witches existed to the world, but she didn’t always have to hide it either.

Damon and Gina arrived, and as he’d figured, Gina was warm, holding her hands out to Michelle.

“You’re Michelle. I’m so happy to meet you. I brought cake. I’m sure he’ll make you a lovely dinner, but he won’t have cake and one needs cake.”

“It’s the rules.” Michelle nodded with a smile.

Damon watched his woman, affection clear on his features, before he turned to Josh and thrust bags at him. “She wasn’t kidding. Dips and chips and cake. Oh and beer.”

Josh happily took in the way Gina drew Michelle out, chatting with her about every day things as well as magick and witches.

“Thanks for coming over.” Josh told Damon this as he poured chips into a bowl and Damon opened the dips.

“Gina would have barged in anyway. I filled her in…a little so don’t get that look.” Damon said it low enough that only another wolf would have heard. “It’s not a secret to anyone with eyes, Josh. Looking at a beautiful woman is one thing. Looking at your beautiful woman is another.”

Josh smiled. His. Yeah. “I’m taking things slow. She doesn’t know so keep your mouth shut about it.”

Damon grinned. “I like seeing you this way. All flaily and out of your element.”