Free Moon of the Terrible (Seasons of the Moon) by SM Reine Page B

Abel.”
    Unease crept over him. It was never a good sign when Bekah panicked. That could have meant anything—from “someone didn’t rinse off their dishes” to “Scott had a heart attack and died.” Either one would have her in a fit for days.
    “What’s up?” he asked.
    She grimaced. “Seth and Rylie are missing.”

T WO
    Elopement
    “What do you mean, missing?” Abel asked.
    He stood in the center of Scott Whyte’s office, which was pretty much what he expected the office of a high priest to look like—pentagrams, brass tools, and old books everywhere. But he was barely aware of the weird gadgets on the shelves. He didn’t even care that Levi was watching silently from the chairs by the bookshelf.
    “Seth and Rylie haven’t contacted us since yesterday,” Bekah said as she paced by the door. “Seth had specific instructions to contact me every eight hours so that we would know immediately if something has gone wrong.”
    Abel crossed his arms. “And it’s been twenty-four hours.”
    “Well… only eighteen. But he’s missed two check-ins!”
    Scott sat behind his desk, fingers steepled in front of his face. He was a big guy, but even his girth was dwarfed by his executive leather chair. The contents of his desk had changed recently—he had more animal skulls and grisgris and fewer herbs. “Worrying, but I’m not sure that’s worth panic.”
    “Yeah,” Abel said. “You don’t think they’re just somewhere without any reception? They were driving out to the big freakin’ empty. There’s no cell towers on the north end of the state.”
    “But I gave him a satellite phone like this one.” Bekah pulled a phone out of her pocket. It was bulkier and uglier than most cell phones.
    Scott’s eyes widened. “Is that…?”
    She gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah. This one is Levi’s. I gave Seth mine. If he was okay, he should be able to reach me from the top of the Andes. Seth is responsible—he would never miss a call.”
    “Give it another eight hours,” Abel said.
    “They could be in serious trouble!”
    Scott opened his mouth to respond, but the phone rang first. Seth’s name popped up on the screen.
    “See?” Abel said, trying to hide his relief. “God, Bekah. You’re like some preteen girl. ‘Oh no, I haven’t heard from my boyfriend in eighteen hours, I think we’re breaking up.’ Give me a break.”
    Bekah shot him a look, and Scott held his hand out for the phone. She passed it over. “Seth. What’s going on?”
    The responding voice was tinny and quiet, but Abel’s sensitive ears picked it up anyway. “Scott? Hi. Sorry I didn’t call you earlier.”
    “You had us worried. What’s going on?”
    “I just got distracted.”
    A long pause. Scott frowned and turned his chair to face the window. A few pack members were playing football outside, enjoying the cool California night. “And…? What have you found?”
    “Nothing. But I wanted to tell you goodbye,” Seth said. “Rylie and I aren’t coming back.”
    “ What ?” Abel asked, stalking around the chair. He reached for the phone, but Scott held up a hand to stop him.
    “I don’t understand, Seth,” Scott said in a measured, psychiatrist kind of voice.
    “We’re getting married. We’re going to move away and start our family. We don’t want to be involved with the pack anymore.” Another long pause. “I hope you can respect our wishes.”
    “But—”
    “Tell Abel that I love him,” Seth said.
    And then he hung up.
    Scott stared at the phone in his hand as Seth’s name blinked and vanished from the screen.
    “Nice,” Levi said. “Good leadership skills.” Bekah slapped his arm.
    “Something is wrong,” Abel said, ignoring the twins.
    Scott turned his chair around again. “Rylie and Seth are both adults now. They’re entitled to make their own decisions.”
    Abel shook his head. “No. You don’t get it. Something is wrong .”
    “I can see why you think that Rylie getting married is wrong,