Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
I’m not sure that makes sense on a logical level, but it made sense in my heart at the time.
Now, I’m not so sure. Fear got the best of me. Not the best place to choose from.
I run down to the kitchen and grab a stalk of wilting celery. I chomp on that while I look through the fridge for what to make for dinner. I forgot to get groceries, so frozen pizza it is. Geo will be happy.
He hasn’t been in a good mood for days. He won’t admit it, but I know he’s missing his uncle. My excuse that Channing’s on a mission is wearing thin. At some point, I’ll have to sit him down and explain that Channing is gone—this time for good.
I’ve avoided the conversation because a part of me doesn’t want it to be true.
On the way back to my office, I pass by Geo’s bedroom door, and it creaks open. Odd. It’s late. He should be home by now, holed up in his room, doing homework.
Did he arrange to hang out with Justin and not tell me? I call Geo, but the call goes straight to voicemail.
I dial up Justin’s mom.
Ten minutes later, I’m in a panic. Geo isn’t at Justin’s house. Nor is he at the school. In fact, Justin remembers Geo getting on the bus. I called the school, too, but the bus wasn’t delayed.
I’ve called Geo several times and texted up a storm. Nothing.
I go into the app I have on his phone, the one I used to track him, but it circles around Flagstaff and doesn’t pinpoint any location, like it’s having trouble finding a signal. It might be a glitch, but I have a bad feeling about this.
Geo isn’t home, and as far as I know he isn’t with his friends. His phone is off, and the tracker isn't working. He could’ve come home and gone for a run or something without letting me know.
Would he do that?
I head out back and holler his name, until my voice echoes off the hill.
“Julia?” Buddy steps out front behind a pine tree. I can’t see his whole body–it’s obscured by a bush–but I can tell he’s shirtless. Was he in animal form?
If he finds it awkward to converse with me while he’s naked, he doesn’t show it. I certainly don’t care.
“Have you seen Geo?”
He shakes his head. In the past few days, he’s grown a beard, and it’s black with a white stripe down the center, like his hair. It reminds me of an animal pelt, but I can’t place which one.
“What about his…scent?” I ask. “Can you tell if it’s fresh? Did he get off the bus and come straight back here to run?”
“No,” Buddy says. “He hasn’t been here since this morning.”
I nod, my insides deflating. Logically I knew there’d be evidence Geo stopped by the house before stripping to shift into wolf form. He’d leave his backpack and clothes, and there’s no sign of them.
Did he sneak off to hunt for his Uncle Channing?
No, a small voice tells me. He wouldn’t do that without telling you.
Which means something is wrong.
“He’s missing,” I tell Buddy. “I’m going to call Channing.”
Buddy shuffles, but doesn’t come out from behind the bush. “Do you want me to call?”
“No. Can you keep an eye out, in case Geo shows up?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.” I head back into the house, hitting Channing’s number before I’m inside. As soon as I do, relief hits me. I pushed Channing away because of the danger he brought, but suddenly it’s so clear—in a crisis, he’s the one I run to. The one I trust.
Channing
My phone buzzes, and I come awake, snapping upright. I ran in the Grand Canyon last night until my paws bled. I didn’t make it back until mid-day when I stretched out on a picnic table in human form and must have fallen asleep. Finally.
My wolf is frantic, and I know something’s wrong before I see the name of the caller.
“Julia?”
“Geo’s missing,” she says. “Is he with you?”
“What? No.” I surge to my feet. “What do you mean missing?”
“He never came home from school. I thought he might have run away from home, gone to try to find you.”
“He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn't worry you like that.”
“I know,” her voice cracks.
“Wait a minute,” she sounds distracted. “Someone’s pulled up to the front door.”
“Julia–wait–”
She’s gone before I can warn her to check the peephole before unlocking the deadbolt. She’s not stupid.
Even so, I pull up the view from the security cameras on my phone. There’s a nondescript black sedan in Julia’s driveway. The driver is a beefy looking guy in sunglasses.
I switch the camera view to the one of her doorway and my insides turn to cement.
There, on Julia’s front stoop, is Hannibal.
Julia
The man on my stoop looks professional enough. He’s in a suit that must be custom to fit his massive frame. The car in my driveway looks like the one that took me to the airport, but I can’t be sure.