“What’s the matter? What’s happened?” Gerri asked. He could hear the panic in her voice.
“She called out for help through our mating connection. She was going to tell her parents about our mating today. Something’s wrong with her. I can’t … I can’t feel her anymore.”
“Oh shit! Gimme a second.”
He heard Gerri’s fingers fly across her keyboard.
“Fuck! Fuck! Why didn’t I realize this before?” she shouted.
“What is it? What did you find?” he asked, quickly losing what little patience he had left. With his tiger demanding he find their mate and his own anxiety over the situation, Marc didn’t know how much longer he could hold his shit together.
“Her parents are part of a fanatical group. A group that still practices arranged marriages based on family, social connections, and money.”
“So they basically sell off their daughters to the highest bidder?” Judith spat.
“Exactly,” Gerri confirmed his mom’s suspicion.
“Who are they, and where do they live? I don’t care what I have to do. I will save Allie from those sick fuckers if it’s the last thing I do,” Marc growled.
“And what are you going to do? Run in there half-cocked? Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Judith shouted at her son.
“Mom, what do you expect me to do? I can’t just sit here, knowing Allie is in trouble, and do nothing. I have to help her. I have to save her. Every instinct in my body is telling me to act. To do something. Anything. Even if it means giving my life so she may live. You know how the mating connection works. I can’t fight it.”
He was going fucking crazy. Beating back his tiger took more brain power and physical strength than he currently had. His everything was quickly waning.
“I’m on my way. Don’t do anything until I get there.” Gerri ended the call and left Marc staring down at his phone.
“What the hell is she supposed to do? How is she going to take on her parents, who are both tigers? And who the hell else knows who’s there with them?” Marc asked.
“I’m sure she’ll come up with something. Let me call your brothers and get them here. You can’t do this alone. I won’t lose you to these sadistic people.”
Marc nodded. Not knowing what else to say. His mom was right. He had no idea what the hell he would be running into. Allie was a strong woman and even stronger in her animal form. He had to believe that her parents wouldn’t actually hurt her. They must’ve had some sort of a plan to get her away from him. He’d have to be calm, even if it was just for a little bit.
He took a deep breath, then another, hoping it would help to soothe his mind and clear his head.
It didn’t.
His mom’s hurried words to his brothers reached his ears, and he tried to fight off another wave of panic. He unlocked his phone and began to google his mate, hoping to find anything he could … most importantly, who her family was and any address that might be listed for them.
After scrolling for a few minutes, he came across a picture of her with her family and recognized the faces of her parents immediately.
“Son of a bitch!” he shouted.
“What’s wrong?” Judith asked. “What’s the matter? What did you find?” She quickly cut off her call and closed the distance between them.
“Look. That’s Allie with her parents.” He held up his phone to show his mom the picture he’d found online.
“It looks like he has power and prestige far beyond our means. Now what?” she asked.
“I have no idea. Hopefully, Gerri has some ideas on how the hell we are supposed to do this.”
“Oh, baby boy. I don’t even know what to say other than this isn’t good.”
“Nope. Not at all.” Marc closed the screen on his phone and tucked it into his pocket. He had to find a way to save his mate … no matter what. Even if her dad was the damn mayor.
THIRTEEN
ALLIE