The Omega's Heart (Wilde Creek Four) by R.E. Butler Read Free Book Online Page B

and identified
himself. “Your daughter’s car broke down in my town. While it was
being repaired, she stayed in an apartment and requested being
allowed to hunt on the full moon. I agreed.”
    She could hear her father’s voice on the
phone and he sounded downright agreeable. “Thank you for your
hospitality. I’d like to speak with my daughter, please.”
    Acksel held out the phone to her, and she
hated that her hand trembled when she took it. “Hi Dad,” she
said.
    His agreeable tone was gone. He practically
growled the words as he spoke. “You will come home as soon as the
full moon passes.”
    Her voice fled again.
    “I know what you did,” he said slowly, “and
you will be punished. If I have to send Shred to get you, you will
not be happy with his methods.”
    She shivered so hard she almost dropped the
phone.
    “I’ll be gone by sunrise,” she said, trying
not to let her fear come through her words. If Shred came for her
and found her, she’d be in big trouble. He wouldn’t think twice
about hurting her in the process of getting her back to her
dad.
    “See that you are. You will purchase a phone
and contact me when you are on your way. You will contact me every
hour.”
    “It will take me a few days to get home,
Dad,” she protested.
    “I know where you are, little girl. Did you
think the phone was the only way I watched what you did? You will have no trouble making it home Wednesday afternoon if
you take a straight route instead of driving erratically and
stopping to rest as you did.”
    The thought that he’d been aware of what she
was doing made her feel like her stomach was filled with lead.
    She asked the question before she could stop
herself. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
    He chuckled darkly. “I don’t care about the
full moon. The only thing that matters is that you return home
Wednesday and you check in as I told you. If you don’t, I will send
Shred for you and I will approve of any tactics he uses to get you
back to Wyling River. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
    Her eyes filled with tears. “Why is Wednesday
so important?”
    “I’m done talking to you, daughter .
Put the alpha on the phone.”
    She handed the phone to Acksel, her whole
body numb with fear. Mia grabbed her as her knees buckled and
helped her to the couch. Brynn sat next to her and picked up her
hand.
    “I don’t hear as well as the wolves do, but I
can tell by the look on your face that something is very wrong.
What’s going on?”
    Tears slipped over Honey’s cheeks and she
rubbed at them with her free hand. “I’m an idiot. I thought he
wouldn’t know where I was. He said he’s been aware of my
whereabouts the whole time and that if I don’t come straight home
after the hunt, that he’ll send his beta to get me and that guy…”
She let the sentence drop as fear slithered over her.
    Brynn put her arm around Honey’s shoulders
and squeezed. “It’ll be okay. You’re not alone right now.”
    But soon enough she would be.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Mia stood in the bedroom with Brynn, Acksel,
Ren, and Sam.
    Acksel said, “Ren, did you find any tracking
devices on her car?”
    “I wasn’t looking,” he said, shrugging.
    “After the hunt tonight, I want you to check
for one. Her father told her that he was aware of her whereabouts,
and since she left her cell, that points to the car.”
    Ren nodded.
    Brynn said, “Acksel, why can’t we offer her
sanctuary?”
    Acksel looked down at her. “Sweetheart, if
she was unhappy with her pack life, she shouldn’t have run away,
she should have left through proper channels.”
    Brynn grimaced. “I think she would have if
she thought she’d be allowed. Something is very wrong in her pack;
we can’t send her back.”
    Mia felt the same way. She felt bad for
Honey. She was a sweet girl and seemed so lost. But Acksel was
alpha and she couldn’t argue with him without Ren getting in her
face, so she chose to keep her mouth shut and let Brynn do