Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (books for men to read TXT) 📗

her reasons for this trip—in addition to the more global aims of putting an end to the Klave. And I suppose, so do I.

“I just hope he’s out there somewhere, you know? I mean, I think he is otherwise I wouldn’t have felt so strongly about coming. It’s more than just a hunch, if that makes sense. But then these moments of doubt enter my mind. Maybe that’s the human in me.”

“You are every bit magical. As such, you have extra senses. It’s not something you can understand using human-based logic.”

“I just have to find my father then maybe everything else will click and make sense. Maybe I’ll start to make sense. For the last month, a thick feeling of uncertainty presses against the place between my chest and throat. The more time passes, the more lost I feel.”

“I’m here, Kenna.” I reach for her hand across the console.

“Since graduation, there have been so many last times.”

“There have also been some firsts,” I say waggling my eyebrows.

She hardly suppresses a smile. “But who am I? I’m afraid I’ll never know unless I find my dad.”

I’m afraid that won’t answer her question but keep it to myself. “I like the girl I see. I love her. I want to marry her.”

Her fingers squeeze mine.

“Trust your instincts. What do humans say? Go with your butt.” I force myself not to chuckle at how ridiculous that sounds.

A smile lifts her lips and a laugh escapes despite her mood. “It’s go with your gut.”

“Oh, right. I knew that,” I say, knowing full well the proper expression, but wanting to hear her laugh again.

She stretches over the console and kisses me on the cheek.

“What else do you know?” she asks as we head south along the coast of California.

“I know that your mother insisted we take Rhonda to remain inconspicuous, so you should probably stash your ring someplace safe.”

She admires it for a moment.

I can hardly believe I got ahold of the diamond after all these years. While I trust Lance, Alpha of Pack Sandstorm, I wouldn’t have been entirely surprised to find out he’d wagered it in another card game. It would’ve been my fault for having left it with him, but the vault at his casino seemed the safest at the time. When I learned we were coming out this way, I had him get it for me.

I wasn’t expecting to ask Kenna to marry me right then, but worry got the better of me.

She takes one more look at it and then slips it back into the box. “If you say so. Corbin, I trust you, your gut, and your butt.”

I laugh.

We pull off the freeway and stock the minivan with food, water, and extra gasoline. I’ve done my share of adventure travel—hiked the seven summits, white water rafting, and explored rainforests. It’s best to be prepared.

And we’re off, rumbling down the freeway with the ocean to our right, bright and crystalline. The sun shines overhead as we get closer and closer to answers, closure, or both. In contrast, as we go south, my stomach flips and flops with a sludgy feeling. Maybe it’s the ruddy roads.

Kenna studies the map on the GPS. “No rainbow-star-moon symbol here.”

“Your mom said we’d know.” Perhaps that’s the cause of the uneasy feeling I have.

It’s not long before we turn westerly, off the main route, and toward the ocean. My hands grip the wheel tightly as I accelerate, sending up a wake of dust behind the van.

“It’s beautiful here,” Kenna says, wearing a smile that’s the exact opposite of the queasiness on my face. “With each passing mile, it’s like I have a growing certainty that we’re going in the right direction.”

I wish I could say the same. Something about this place is warning my wolf to halt, go back.

“Look, there,” Kenna calls, pointing at a sign that says Punta San Jacinto. “I saw the symbol.”

I put the van in reverse. Thankfully, no one is behind us.

Sure enough, the symbol of the rainbow made of stars and inside a moon glows faintly from the corner of the sign.

I detect mage magic. “I was expecting we’d have to pass through booby traps and guards. Some kind of ordeal at least.”

I take the turn and pull up to a kiosk like at a national park.

A balding mage wearing a green robe stands inside. “Welcome to Bahia Magia. Password please.”

Kenna and I look at each other.

“My mom didn’t mention this part. Open sesame,” she whispers so low the mage wouldn’t be able to hear.

I glance toward the sea in the distance. The tide is mid and dropping, exposing the masts and bellies of boats likely the result of old ships running up against the rocks.

I blurt, “Shipwreck.” I almost instantly regret it because something about this place makes me uneasy.

The mage inclines his head and the space in front of us shimmers as though an invisible barrier blocked the way. “You’ll be at site number four. Enjoy your stay.”

I drive forward.

“How did you know that was the password?” Kenna all but cheers when we’re a distance from the kiosk.

I shrug. “I saw old boats peeking up from the water.”

“You’re a genius.”

That remains to be seen. I have a feeling I might regret this visit.

Signs posted at thirty-foot intervals denote the campsites. Kenna points to number four. It’s just a dirt pad with a cement fire ring.

I park, and we get out.

“Interesting,” Kenna says, rubbing her upper arms. “This feels like the right place in a spooky kind of way.”

We gaze out to sea.

“Kind of like when we first arrived at Lonsdale?” I ask.

She whirls in my direction. “Exactly.”

I nod. “Me too.”

There aren’t any other guests at the resort,