SOMETHING'S WRONG

CHAPTER 61: SOMETHING’S WRONG
~Harper’s POV~

I woke up feeling empty in my chest. Something is wrong. I got up out of my bed and looked to the side of me. I know Gabe got in bed with me last night. A memory of him leaning over and kissing my forehead drifted into my mind.
“I love you Harper, I’ll come back to you.” Did he leave? It must have been a dream! I felt a heaviness in my heart, tears started to flood my eyes. Why do I feel this way? I ran from my room and up to Gabriel’s. I threw myself through his door.
“Gabriel?! Where are you?” silence. What’s happening!
I ran from his room and to his office. He is not there either. Panic took over, I ran from his office and Tanner grabbed me before I could make it to the dining hall.
“Tanner! Something is wrong. Where is Gabriel?” I was shaking.
“Harper, he is fine. He had to leave early this morning. He should be on a plane right now on his way to Russia. He has an important meeting with some Alpha’s there.”
“Why didn’t he take me?” He gave me a sympathetic look.
“He wanted you to be safe. He knew you would be safer here. Plus, you have to run the place while he is gone. Remember the rogues? Yeah, we have to make sure there aren’t any more running our border.” I have heard she wolves talk about being apart from their mates, but I never believed that it could feel like this. It hurts just as bad as the day I woke up to my parents being dead. I ran to my room and grabbed my phone to call him.
“Hey, baby! Sorry I didn’t want to wake you up. I know this is short notice, but I have an important meeting I have to go to. It may last a few days so don’t worry about me.” What?
“Why Gabriel? This doesn’t feel right. Something else is going on. I know it! Who are you meeting?” He hesitated.
“Uh…Um Alpha Taylor, Yeah, that’s his name. I am on my way to Russia.” He said. “I promise baby, I’ll be fine. I trust you there to take care of things while I am gone. Tanner will help you; Kai is with me. Just don’t leave the packhouse ok? I love you, Harper.” He said, in a hurry to get off the phone.
“I love you too, Gabriel.” I said back with a shaky voice. I HATE THIS!

~Gabriel’s POV~

I leaned over and gently kissed Harper on her forehead.
“I love you Harper, I’ll come back to you.” I whispered. I didn’t want to wake her, but I had to leave her with that. I quietly shut Harper’s bedroom door behind me. Kai met me at the packhouse entrance and handed me my bag. Tanner patted me on the back and wished us well.
“Take care of my girl. She’s my life, Tanner.” I said to him.
“You know I will protect her until my dying breath.” He said, and I know he would. “Man don’t make me worry about you guys.” He said.
“You know we are savage.” Kai said back to him. Any other time I would have laughed at him, but it felt like part of me was dying when I walked away from Harper while she was sleeping. I know it’s not right to keep the truth from her, but she would never let me go without her if I didn’t leave this way. It is for the best. Kai was excited to get away for a while. Me on the other hand, I just wanted to be in bed with Harper still wrapped up in my arms.

We had been on the road for hours already when she called me. I rushed to end the call with her, I couldn’t handle the hurt in her voice. Mika was howling in my head, but he also understood that this had to be done. I’ll forget the name Taylor for the made-up Russian Alpha, I just know it. If she asks about him again, I’ll accidentally say a different name. I rubbed a hand over my face, the empty feeling from being away from Harper is only growing stronger the farther away I get from her.
“So, where exactly are we going?” Kai asked me. I looked toward him. He is in the passenger seat of my truck.
“I don’t really know where we are going. I am just going off instinct or whatever it is that green smoke put in my head. We are just traveling east right now, then I feel like we need to start moving down south.” He looked at me confused. He flipped on the radio, and I sighed when the song Eastbound and Down blared over the speakers. How ironic… Kai looked at me and gave me a big toothy smile.
“We are like Smokey and the Bandit, Gabe! I’ll be Smokey and you be the Bandit, Okay. We just need a dog named Fred. Tanner would kill us if we brought a dog back…” he thought for a minute placing his fingers on his chin. “I will think of something.”
Kai sang along with the song. He propped himself back in the seat of my truck and placed both arms behind his head. I rolled my eyes at him. I can’t handle this song! I switched it off. He grinned at me.
“Whatever you say King Lycan, I am going to enjoy my vacation.” I smirked at him.
“Something tells me that this is not going to be much of a vacation.” I said lowly. I was focused on the road straight ahead of me. The only thing on my mind was Harper.

~Harper’s POV~

Gabriel has been gone for days. The empty feeling from being away from him has not gotten any better. I have tried to stay focused on pack duties and keeping things in order. Tanner notified me last night that his team killed five more members of Thane’s pack. What are they doing? They can’t get in, what is the reason they keep running the border? Kelly pecked on Gabriel’s office door. I have been working from his office since he has been away. It makes me feel a little closer to him. His scent is starting to grow faint in here, and it has started to make things harder for me.
“Come on in.” I said, I knew it was Kelly. She was the only one other than Luna Mae who had such a soft knock. Kelly slipped through the door. She shut it and locked it behind her. This is weird, why is she being so sneaky? “Ok, what is…” She pressed her fingers to her lips to shush me. Hmm… She began to Whisper.
“Shhh… I don’t want Tanner to know that I am here. I have been avoiding him all day.” Ok, what has he done to her?
“If he has hurt you in any way, I’ll rip out his tongue!” I said.
“Shhh! He hasn’t hurt me. Today is my birthday and I am nervous.” My eyes grew wide, and I felt a little excitement and guilt at the same time. It’s the first time I smiled since Gabriel has been gone. Has it only been a week? It feels like it has been a lot longer.
“Kelly I am so sorry! I forgot about your birthday. I am a horrible friend.” I stood and pulled her into a tight hug. She hugged me back.
“No, you’re the best friend that I could ask for. I wasn’t expecting anything for my birthday other than to get my wolf and hopefully find my mate. I’m just afraid that I may find out that it is someone other than Tanner.” I smiled at her.
“Trust me and go get your mate.” I said pushing her out the door. She bit her lip and looked back at me. “Just trust me! Go.” I said pushing her into the dining hall.

She froze, I looked up and scanned the room for Tanner. He was sitting in his usual spot cramming a piece of bacon in his mouth. He stopped in the middle of chewing his food and looked around the room. It’s like the entire dining hall went silent. A huge smile spread over my lips. I felt giddy, I knew what this meant. I could hear Kelly’s heartbeat grow louder and faster. Tanner’s eyes finally found Kelly’s and I watched as he gulped, swallowing the food he was just chewing. His mouth moved to whisper the words,
“Mate.” I stepped back and away from Kelly as I knew that Tanner was about to make his move. I watched as the biggest smile I have ever seen spread across Tanner’s face. In one motion he pounced out of his chair and over the table where he was sitting. His movements weren’t even visible. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of Kelly, grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her in for a passionate kiss. She pulled away from him and paused before whispering,
“Mate.” Back to Tanner. She lifted herself using his shoulders and he grabbed her waist as she wrapped her legs around his torso. Everyone in the dining hall clapped and cheered. I am thankful for a little distraction at this moment. Tanner proceeds to carry Kelly up the stairs, and presumably to his room. I am sure they are going to claim each other. Aww… I love those two together. I just wish I had my mate. I quickly mind link one of an omega named Megan to order Kelly some flowers from me and the pack and have them delivered to her room for her birthday. She was more than happy to do this. She and Kelly have also grown close. Kelly has been training her, and Megan has really shown great potential. Now that Kelly will become the Beta’s mate, Megan may take over Kelly’s position. I’ll just give Tanner and Kelly some time. They both deserve it.