Lone Wolf (The Westervelt Wolves, Book 8) by Rebecca Royce

Carrie. But the only way Kendrick would know Gabe’s wolf had abandoned him was if his father had some sort of communication with Gabriel’s wolf.
    “Prove it.”
    His father took a beat to respond before he grinned. “You always were the most like me.”
    “No.” Once again, Carrie managed to squirm out of Kendrick’s hold. She pushed herself against Gabriel. “Listen to me. Whatever this is, it’s a lie. Or a manipulation. Get out of here. Leave. Go back to Westervelt. Help Tristan. Don’t be here. Don’t believe him.”
    His father shook his head but didn’t go after Carrie this time. “You can go. You might have to explain to your brothers why you stink like made wolf. I’m sure you can come up with a reasonable explanation. You have been lying to them every day for over forty years. Or you can come with me and see your wolf again.”
    “Gabriel.” Her voice was pleading, yet he had no choice but to ignore her warning. If his wolf existed somewhere, he had to get him back. How could he make any decisions while he existed as only half of himself?

Chapter 7
    Carrie couldn’t believe what had happened. One second she’d been scrubbing dishes, the next she’d been popped into the hall by Kendrick only to find the love of her existence standing in front of her. He’d changed so much in all the ways that mattered. And now his wolf had … left him? She shook her head before she chased him down the hall.
    He couldn’t possibly consider listening to Kendrick. After everything they’d been through, separated, not seeing each other, trying with all his might to keep Kendrick from winning while keeping each other alive.
    Gabriel smelled … wrong .
    It all makes sense now that we know his wolf has gone missing .
    Her wolf paced around inside her. Carrie’s other half had never been comfortable in their current circumstances, but now she acted downright anxious. Her wolf had been her rock through everything. Now did not seem the time for her to get worked up.
    Her beloved, who smelled of pain—rank, gut-churning, soul-destroying agony—strode after his father like a thirsty man who had been told he could soon have a drink of water. He still had the same gait, strong and determined. The back of his hair had grown a little long, which spoke of the difference in him. When they’d been together he’d always had it short and shaved right up against his skull.
    You never told me it was at all possible to lose you. That might have been helpful to know when you explained to me how all of this would work .
    Her wolf remained silent for a second. I shouldn’t even justify that with a response. In the history of our kind, this has never happened before. I can’t be expected to see all possibilities. I’m the wolf here. You’re the human. Let me run free. You do the heavy thinking . These are human problems. Shifters don’t do this to each other .
    Much as Carrie hated to admit it, her wolf had a point. It wasn’t until Kendrick had gone haywire that everything had changed.
    “Gabriel.”
    He turned to look at her, walking backward for two steps while he did.
    “Sweet lady, I have to do this.”
    Her heart stuttered and tears she refused to give passage to threatened to spill from her eyes. She hadn’t heard those blessed words— sweet lady —for too long. The nickname Gabriel had given her so long ago. When they’d both been naive enough to believe the world held nothing but happy endings for them.
    A time Carrie’s thoughts drifted to often.
    “Gabriel.” Carrie sped up and grabbed his arm. “Please, listen to me. We’ll go together. We’ll run away.”
    “And then what? Keep running for the rest of our lives?” He stopped to look at her before he cupped her face in his own. “Don’t forget the spell on us.”
    “Screw spells. I’m so sick of witches and black magic. I’m so sick of the whole damn thing.”
    He laughed and for just a second she saw the man he used to be in his sad gaze. Just