Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (50 page)

Oh, hell, no!
Hunter’s voice bellowed in her mind.

I know, I know. I’m a bad girl. I shouldn’t have gone without them. Please don’t be mad at me. I just wanted to go and get my friends. I’ll be home by dinner. I promise.

Abigail Tyler!

Clay’s voice was as equally booming as Hunter’s had been.

Okay, you don’t have to yell. I’m sorry. Now, don’t make me nervous. It’s not good for the baby.

Both men were instantly silent in her mind, and she smiled in relief. She knew they would pull back if there was a possibility of hurting her or their child.

Abigail, when you get home, I’m going to turn you over my knee and spank that gorgeous ass of yours,
Hunter told her calmly.

You’ll have to catch me first,
Abbey teased.

Their instant growls sent shivers through her body. She knew they were still angry with her, but maybe she could love them out of their anger.

We’re going to leave work and come and meet you,
Clay told her.
Damn! We don’t even have the address.

You don’t need to do that. I’m almost there and I’ll be heading back within the next hour.

This is not okay, Mate.

Clay’s words were firm and strong. There was no doubt in Abbey’s mind that he was barely controlling his anger.

You are to tell us the moment you get there and the moment you leave. Do you understand?

Yes, Hunter.

No messing around, Abbey. This is very serious.

I know, Clay. I’m sorry. I’ll see you tonight, and I promise I will never leave pack land without an escort again. Okay?

You leave us no option but to say okay, Mate.
Hunter’s voice was hard as he spoke in her mind.
We’re going to have a serious discussion about this when you get home.

Is that going to be before or after you paddle my ass?
Abbey teased.

Mate, you’re playing with fire,
Clay warned her.

I love you,
Abbey offered gently.

Their growls and grumbles filled her mind, making her smile. She may be in trouble with them, but she knew that they would never hurt her. The love she felt coming through their bond was loud and clear. She could only send back her own love and sincere apology. Hopefully, she would be home and soothing their worries soon.

Gently closing their link, she concentrated on the road ahead of her. Traffic was pretty congested on the highway so she decided to take an exit that would take her to Synthia’s apartment by way of a more rural and scenic route. It would take her a little longer, but it would be worth it to drive with less tension.

Traveling the back roads, she felt the worry leaving her as the stress of the city driving left her. Taking a right turn to take the road that would bring her to her friend’s place in under thirty minutes, she found herself facing a car that was driving on the wrong side of the road heading straight for her.

Swerving Hunter’s truck, she barely avoided the head-on collision, but she didn’t escape the impact of the oncoming car slamming into the back end of the truck. Fighting with all her strength to control the spin of the truck, she managed to avoid any other cars but was unable to avoid the huge rock wall that edged one of the beautiful homes on the street.

The impact was jarring, throwing her forward. If she hadn’t had her seat belt on she would have definitely been airborne and propelled through the windshield. Instead, the pain across her chest as the restraint held her back and the impact of the deployed airbag slamming into her face sent her into a haze of consciousness.

Her focus swam, time merged, and Abbey couldn’t make sense of the noises around her. The sounds of a siren and the loud explosion of a motor confused her. She heard the groaning of metal, but she was unaware of what was happening.

When the driver’s side door was finally opened and gentle hands reached in to touch her, she leaned against the warmth of those hands and moaned as her body flared with pain. She reached up with shaky hands and grabbed the forearm of her rescuer.

“We’ll get you out, honey,” the male voice called to her. “Just don’t move until we get this neck brace on you.”

“Please,” she whispered. “Don’t let anything happen to my baby.”

She knew nothing more as darkness claimed her.

* * * *

The feeling of emptiness in the pit of Hunter’s stomach was instant. Reaching out with his mind, he tried to search for their mate.

Abbey.
His voice was soft despite the urgency he was feeling.

“I can’t feel her, Hunter,” Clay said softly, reaching out to touch Hunter’s forearm.

“I can’t either,” Hunter answered, looking at Clay briefly before turning to face forward to drive the patrol car.

Abbey, honey. Are you all right?

Silence met Clay’s words, making fear lodge in his throat. Having been alone for so many years, he was used to not having any inner calming or warmth. But the last few weeks with Abbey had changed that. He didn’t feel alone. He had her constant presence in his heart and in his mind. He always felt her warmth, her kindness, and her love. With those honest gifts that she gave him, he not only felt peace, he felt complete. With the addition of their cub, he now felt an aching love so deep, he never wanted to be without it—and yet he was. He couldn’t feel her presence or her love. He couldn’t feel the flutter of their child’s new life growing within their mate’s womb. He felt nothing but emptiness.

“Something is wrong,” he told Hunter.

Hunter nodded, clenching his jaw as tenseness filled his body. “Clay,” he finally whispered.

“I know,” Clay stopped him. There was no need for Hunter to elaborate. He felt the same fear and desolation.

* * * *

Abbey fought through the haze, blinking against the harsh lights as she struggled back to consciousness. Her entire body ached, and her head was pounding so hard she had to fight back the nausea.

“Welcome back to the world, Ms. Tyler,” a masculine voice broke the silence.

Abbey opened her eyes slowly, moaning as the brightness of the room attacked her senses. “Where am I?” she croaked out.

“You’re at Denver Memorial Hospital,” the voice answered.

Abbey turned her head slowly and looked toward the man who stood by the side of the bed. He was an older gentleman, his hair a snowy white, with a nametag that identified him as Dr. Nelson. He held a chart in his hand that she assumed was hers.

“You’ve been in a car accident,” he told her gently.

“I have?” Abbey tried to muddle through her thoughts but came up empty. She just didn’t remember anything about any accident.

“From what I understand, another car was traveling on the wrong side of the road, and you swerved your truck to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, you ended up crashing into a stone wall.”

Abbey winced at the description of the accident. She didn’t remember it, but her body certainly felt like it had been slammed up against a wall of some kind.

“The EMTs brought you in about an hour ago. The police ran your license and have notified your family that you’re here. They should be here shortly.”

“My family?” she asked, confused. Something wasn’t right, but her brain was too scrambled to figure it out.

“You’re in remarkably good shape considering the trauma you’ve been through,” Dr. Nelson added. “So far as we can tell, your pregnancy has not been compromised, but you should still take it easy and follow up with your gynecologist once you’re released.”

Abbey’s body tightened. She covered her stomach protectively. Pressing lightly against it, she closed her eyes and sighed happily.

“You’re sure my baby is okay?” she whispered.

“As far as we can tell, your baby is unharmed,” he assured her. “You, on the other hand, Ms. Tyler, will be pretty sore for a few days. The bruises should fade over time.”

Abbey nodded, taking even breaths to calm her racing heart. Hearing that her baby was safe and healthy eased her fears yet jolted her with happiness.

“I would suggest that you remain overnight for observation,” the doctor continued.

Abbey nodded, her eyes closing as fatigue pulled at her. She would think about his recommendation later. Right now, she just wanted to sleep.

* * * *

“Shelly, we have to call the Circle Three Ranch,” Synthia told her sister, pacing the living room and rubbing at her eyes tiredly. “Abbey has never missed a deadline in her life. If she said she would be here by three o’clock, you and I both know that she would have been here by two.”

She pulled the cloth hair tie from her hair, allowing the heavy weight of her blonde hair the freedom to fall to her shoulders and hang in gentle waves to the bottom of her back. Her brown eyes were soft with worry as she turned to face her younger sister.

Shelly tugged on her long brown hair, wrapping its length around her fist and pulling at it nervously. She agreed with her sister. Abigail Tyler was obsessively punctual and always kept her promises. If she hadn’t shown up when she had promised she would, something was definitely wrong.

“I agree, Syn,” Shelly told her softly. “We have to do something. It’s nearly five o’clock.”

“I’m calling,” Synthia declared, picking up her cell phone from the coffee table in front of her. She scrolled through her contacts and touched the screen to bring up the familiar phone number and connect the call. Her stomach fluttered nervously as she heard the ringing. It took only two rings before it was answered.

“Synthia?” the familiar deep voice spoke to her.

“Alpha, Hunter and Clay’s mate is our friend Abbey,” Synthia told him quickly, unable to keep the urgency from her voice. “Something’s wrong, Jace. She was supposed to be here nearly two hours ago to take me and Shelly back to pack land. She never showed up, and she hasn’t contacted us. Abbey would never do that.”

“Her mates have already contacted me,” Jace told her gently. “They haven’t been able to feel her through their bond.”

“Alpha, we have to find her,” Synthia whispered, her voice choked as emotions filled her.

“We will, Synthia,” Jace promised. “I want you and Shelly to come home now. You belong with our pack family.”

Synthia was silent, looking at her sister with haunted eyes as Shelly stepped toward her and reached out to take her hand and squeeze it lightly. When Shelly nodded at her, she knew she had heard their alpha’s comments. They had no other choice. Even if Alpha Jace hadn’t told them to, they had made the decision to rejoin the pack. They had finally accepted that it was time to go home.

“We’re on our way,” she told him softly.

“Drive safely, Synthia,” Jace told her firmly. “I’ll expect you here by seven tonight.”

“We’ll be there,” Synthia promised. She wished now that she had just told Abbey that they would drive to the Circle Three Ranch instead of just following her.

Disconnecting the call, she looked at Shelly and smiled nervously. “What do you think?” she asked her.

“I think we have to do this,” Shelly answered softly.

“We should have told her, Shelly,” Synthia told her sister sadly. “If we had just told her, we would have just driven to the ranch ourselves and she wouldn’t be missing.”

Shelly nodded, agreeing. “I hope Abbey will understand why we’ve kept this from her.”

“I have no doubt that she will,” Synthia said with surety. “I just hope the pack family will be as understanding. I hope they can forgive me.”

“They will, Syn,” Shelly told her gently. “You’re not the person you were when we were growing up. Since we’ve been away from Mom, you’ve been able to be the person you really are.”

Synthia shrugged, wanting to believe that the pack family would accept her. She held no hope that they would, but she had to call up the courage to try. They had to take a chance. They had to go home.

* * * *

Clay drove his truck toward Denver, Hunter by his side. They sent continuous thoughts to Abbey, but they didn’t hear anything or feel anything in response. It scared them more than anything had ever scared them in their lives.

They had no idea where Abbey’s friends lived but prayed that the Fates would direct them to their missing mate. Against department protocol, they still wore their police uniforms, not taking the time to change when their shift had ended. They couldn’t take the time. They needed to be out searching for their woman.

Hunter’s cell phone jolted him out of his thoughts. Pulling it from his belt, he looked at the display, confused. “It’s the State Police,” he said, connecting the call immediately. “This is Hunter Stewart.”

“Mr. Stewart, this is Officer Lawrence from the Colorado State Police,” a gruff voice spoke across the connection.

Hunter’s stomach tightened. He knew there would only be one reason the State Police would be calling him. Abbey had to have been in an accident.

“What happened?” Hunter asked him, reaching out and gripping Clay’s shoulder.