Chapter 289: Chapter 288

As Abante’s story wound out of her, I could feel every muscle in my body tense. My fists clenched. She noticed my distress and cupped my face in her hands so she could kiss my mouth.

Our foreheads pressed together as our energies combined. It didn’t stop me from being worked up about it. She had to go into the human city on some kind of wild goose chase, but it did help me navigate the waves of agitation.

“We need to get Mason and Xander back so I can explain it all to them,” she said quietly.

“Xander’s gonna lose his shit.”

She chuckled and kissed my lips again before sitting back. “Yeah, I know.”

“And Mason…” I hesitated, opening myself to anything I could feel from my second Alpha. I frowned, sensing him closing himself off. He was upset about the conversation with Asher, and he’s trying not to unload any of that on me, even though I could feel it. I can’t force him to accept me.

“He accepted you,” Abante interrupted me firmly. “You'll figure this out, the same way we've all been figuring it out. Together.”

“I don’t like any of this,” I admitted as our fingers linked, our hands palm to palm.

“I have to go. I have to bond with whoever this person is that knows about hybrids. I don’t like it either, my love, but there is no choice.”

She looked so determined and stubborn that I knew there was no way I was going to convince her otherwise. Plus, I knew that she was going to find out whatever we could, and if this was a good source...

“I don’t know if it's a good source,” she said aloud, her head tilting and her brow furrowing, “but it’s the only one we have.”

It was my turn to kiss her. Our mind link, the one between the four of us, was growing stronger all the time. And there was the weird way I could sense her intentions or thoughts even when she wasn’t actively sending them. Our quartet was stronger than anything I’d ever heard about.

That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to be in danger.

“I’m calling them back,” she said. “I'll need you to get ready and call our end now. Are you ready?”

I nodded firmly and took the chance to kiss her again. “Whatever happens, I’ve got your back.”

“I know that. Goddess, I’m the luckiest Luna in the world.”

Her wide grin was happy.

Lanie’s eyes glistened with tears, but pulses of joy surrounded us, and I leaned into them, drawing strength from Lanie and both my Alphas. Instinctively, I knew to give Xander some small priority. Maybe that would change in time, but for now, that’s how it had to be.

“Running,” Hunter thought to me. “Hunt. Prey.”

“Xander,” Lanie thought. “I need you to come home now. It’s urgent.”

A glimmer came through the link, and in the next second, Xander’s voice spoke.

“What’s wrong?”

“Come home,” Lanie thought. “I’ve got something important to tell you.”

While we waited for them to get back, I could feel my anxiety and tension curling up inside me like a ball of knotted yarn.

I needed to get into the human city, and I couldn’t do that without telling all three of my mates that I was going.

Zane was my rock. He held my hand as we waited on the front porch for Xander and Mason to get back. They'd run fast and far, so it would be a few minutes still. My heart pounded, and Zane pulled me against him to press a kiss to my temple.

“We’ve got this,” he murmured.

Gabriela, Goddess bless her, was inside making sure the pups were taken care of. I hadn’t explained anything to her yet, wanting to make sure I told Xander and Mason first. But she must’ve sensed something was up because she looked worried. I wanted to tell her it would all be okay, but the truth was... I couldn’t be sure about that.

All I knew was that nothing was going to stand in my way of trying to find out.

A rustle in the trees alerted me that my Alpha mates were almost home. Lily paced, scenting. She wanted to run, too. She wanted to hunt. I soothed her with a promise that soon, we’d take an entire day, as long as she wanted, and be free in the forest.

As the two giant wolves bounded out of the trees, my whole body tingled. My love for my mates was nothing I’d ever imagined could be possible. Yeah, as a young girl I'd dreamed of the day when I'd find mates and share a home, raise some pups. I’d never dreamed it could feel like this.

“What the fuck’s going on?” Xander growled as soon as he’d fully shifted.

Mason was right behind him. “Lanie? What's happening?”

Rapid-fire, a series of thoughts, images, and emotions tore through me. I wasn’t using the mind link on purpose, but everything in my head clearly struck home with all three of my mates at the same time.

Xander staggered back, one hand on his forehead. Mason grunted and shook his head. Zane’s hand squeezed mine even harder.

But I couldn’t answer him, because the world was going dark.