Chapter 44 - HUNTING THE HUNTER PART 3

[KYLE POV]

I only knew one thing that I needed to do right now. That was to get to the airport and get to my mate. I wanted to go straight there and leave right away but I knew that I needed to pack a bag first. I didn't know how long I was going to be gone for and having my things would be easier.

While I drove back to my condo I called my assistant to delegate some work, let him know I was leaving town, and to have him buy me a ticket to Arkansas. I had my bag packed and my digital boarding pass that would take me to Carroll County Airport, about sixty miles away from Jasper.

Based on Jacy's GPS data, which I was still following, she had been feeling under the weather a lot during her drive since she had stopped to sleep very early the night before and had done the same thing today.

It was about a five hour flight, or it would have been if I didn't have to have a layover since my numbskull assistant claimed there were no direct flights to where I was going. It ended up taking me nearly nine hours in total. That was then followed by me renting a car and driving the other hour and a half to where I was going.

I stopped in a small inn outside of town and checked in for the night. I was exhausted and I knew that Jacy wasn't going to be here just yet, but she would be by tomorrow. She had been averaging somewhere in between eight and ten hours worth of driving over the last two days. She would be here a little after midday tomorrow if my calculations were right.

Then I just needed to go and search for where she was going to be staying.

I slept restlessly, worrying the whole night about what was going to happen to her if she was not able to eat at all. Ezekiel didn't know what could happen to a shifter woman who didn't eat properly, especially if she was pregnant. This could end very badly for her if she didn't take proper care of herself.

I basically sat in a corner of the bar the next day and watched Jacy's progress the rest of the way to Jasper. She had gotten a late start but she had still made good time when she was driving and I had been right about the midday arrival.

I looked closely at where she was going so I could head to her whenever she parked. But I ended up being pleasantly surprised when she pulled into the parking lot of the inn that I was currently staying at.

I used my overly sensitive hearing to gleam the fact that she was staying in room two twelve, on the same floor as me just down the hall. Right when I was about to get up and head to her room, thinking she had had enough time to set her stuff down and get situated, she came back down and went straight to the counter of the bar.

I could barely detect her scent with the other people and some strange incense they had burning in the place. I didn't need the scent though when I could clearly see her like this.

I was about to rush to the counter to stop her from drinking any alcohol. Didn't she know about the baby by now? She has to? What else does she think is making her sick?

There was no need for me to stop her though, I heard her order. She had asked for a ginger ale. Good girl.

Still, I wanted to join her, to see her pretty face. But just as I was about to walk smoothly to the seat next to her some cheesy sleazeball took my place.

"Hey there precious, how are you doing this afternoon?" The man was clearly drunk already.

"Go away." Jacy didn't even look at him. She was already mine even though she wouldn't admit it.

"Ooh, look at you. You know, if your lips were wine I would gladly get drunk all day."

"Just give it up." Jacy seemed to be losing her patience but this idiot still wouldn't give up. I should go over there and save her now, shouldn't I?

"You know something, I am jealous of your mirror. Every day you look at it and it gets to look back at you. I wish I could be your mirror."

"Look, buddy, I'm not-." She stopped then when I spoke in a deep threatening voice behind the sleazeball.

"You're in my seat." I felt the ground rumble slightly with that growl, but for some reason Jacy looked back at her glass instead of at me.

As saddened as I was by the fact that she looked away from me, I had to deal with this asshole who refused to take a hint. I could see from the side of his face that he had put a sneer onto his face before he turned to look at me.

"Oh real--ly." He stuttered and faltered when he saw me looming over him.

"Move it." The words rumbled again and the man actually yelped.

"Yup, no problem. I have some other place to be right now anyway." The man got to his feet and practically ran out of the bar.

With a purr of satisfaction I watched the wimpy piece of shit run away. No one messes with my mate, especially not right in front of me. And no one took my place by her side. She was mine and the world needed to recognize that fact, including her.

I turned then to look at Jacy and to take in her lovely scent. I inhaled deeply, drawing in that smell that was like a drug to me.

"Mmm, that's the scent I've been waiting for." I purred again, this time with arousal and happiness. "Hello Jacy.. I've missed you."