“The wolf is part of him,” she said kindly. “The man will return. He must for them to remain in harmony. Loving you… It’s a good thing. It will help him find his way back.” Hostile murmurs erupted in the background, and she raised her voice. “So you’re rescinding your order for your family to stay here tonight? Do you think that’s wise?”

“It wasn’t an order.” I flushed. “It was a favor I didn’t have time to ask.”

Meemaw seemed tickled to be holding my feet to the flame. “As you say.” A contented sigh. “I’ll send them on then.”

“Is it safe for them to travel alone?”

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. “You made it safe for them.”

“Okay.” I rubbed my forehead. “I appreciate this.”

“Go eat, rest.” A rustling noise came on the line. “I’ll send Dell to you tomorrow if not the next day.”

“I’d like that.” Heat stung my nape. “I didn’t think to ask—is she doing better?”

“Yes. She’s a stout one.” Meemaw’s voice hummed with pride. “Here’s your cousin.”

A cold edge seeped into his tone. “We’re on our way.”

“Stay away from my house,” I warned him. “Go home and lock up. Graeson seems settled, but I’m not willing to bet your life on it.”

“I’ll keep my phone on me.” A pause. “If he sniffs you the wrong way and I’m there to see it, I’ll put him down.”

“That won’t be necessary.” I hoped. “Good night, Isaac.”

The call ended, and as though it had encased me in a bubble, once it burst, the scents of burning food rushed to me.

“Oh crap.” I popped open the microwave. The bacon was burnt down the middle. I checked the frying pan. The eggs were a harder scramble than I’d ever made, but they weren’t black, so I plated them. “Sorry about this, big guy. I’m usually not this scatterbrained.”

But usually I hadn’t been chased through the woods by a warg out for blood either.

I set his plate on the floor, and he inhaled his portion. I carried mine to the table and shoveled food in with one hand. The other crinkled the plastic bag Mai had stolen while searching for clues.

Clothes. Belt. The hard ridge in the bottom corner told me her badge was in the mix too. Socks. A bag or purse. Papers. All that was missing were her shoes, assuming she had been wearing any.

My fork scraped the dish. Empty. A quick check showed me the wolf had cleaned his plate too. His forlorn stare at its pitiful state almost made me laugh. I cleared the spot in front of me and ripped the tab to open the mailer. The smell hit me first, and I gagged on my meal.