#Chapter 26: Last Resorts

Elijah
I knew something was a miss when I woke up to find Ava gone from my office. I chalked it up to not wanting anyone to walk in on an actress and her boss in a compromising position.
Then I received a CC’ed email from Sally. It stated that she was requesting Ava to attend lessons and classes via online so as not to conflict her schedule with the series. I knew that Ava would be avoiding me, which was just find with me.
I needed to figure out what we were myself. I crosses the line with her that I swore I would never cross with anyone in this industry, but there was something different about Ava. Aside from the gaps in her past, there was a magnetic pull between she and I.
I heard a humming sound on my desk. Looking over I saw my phone vibrating in distress. Normally I would let it ring and have the caller leave me a voice message, but I needed a distraction at the moment.
The caller ID flashed Grayson’ name. I answered it before the next ring.
“Talk to me.”
“Alpha, we have a disturbance.” I heard the shift in Grayson’s voice. He only called me when things could not be handled on his end. When the Alpha was needed.
“What’s the problem?”
“To be honest I am not sure. I was awaken last night to the alarm going off by the manor. But when I took the twins with me for a run there was nothing there.”
“You too Ash and Teine,” I let out a growl. The twins as they were called were freshly transformed weres. At the ripe age of nineteen they were the definition of hot-headed and uncontrollable. At least Teine was.
“They wanted to come and to be honest they are a lot faster when they are determined. They kept in communication via mindlink the entire time. Even when we split up.” Grayson was boosting about the boys like a proud father bragging about his pups.
I let out a frustrated groan. “So what did you lot find?”
There was hesitation on the other end of the line.
“That’s just it, Alpha. We didn’t find anything.” When Grayson called me by my title I new something was wrong.
“Could it be rogues scouting the area.?”
“It coud be a possibility, I have Gamma rally a group and look at the southern lands. I took the twins and another group to the northern lots, but so far we have not found anything yet.”
“How’s the pack?”
“Good but I figured you would want to make a decision since we are coming up empty.”
I knew that I needed to go pack the the otherworld. I was due to check on things there anyhow. It would also give me time to clear my head away from the humans and from her.
“Give me a few hours to get everything at Moon Entertainment, but after that I should be back by this afternoon.”
“Yes Alpha.”
“And Grayson.”
“Sir.”
“If anything happens not matter how little call immediately.”
“Understood sir. Have a safe journey home.” Grayson ended the call between us and I began to send a quick message to my secretary to cancel all talks with clients and hold off on all appointments. Clyde was use to unexpected runs and unprompted business trips so this would not be a problem.
After that I made my way to my house. As I pulled up to the estate I did not waste any time making sure the locks and security were set. This was protocol every time I had travel back and forth between the worlds.
As I walked into the door I remembered why I it had been so long that I had not returned to the otherworld.
Without thoughts I sent a message to her asking for a favor.
[SMS to: Ava] Ava I know this is sudden but I require a favor of you.
I stated at the creatures that were fast asleep in there cages. I wanted to call someone else but to be honest I felt that this might help reassure myself that there was nothing amiss about the actress.
[SMS from: Ava] How can I be assistance?
I was surprise that she had even answered my text but I did not think about it too much.
[SMS to: Ava] I have to go on a business trip for a few days and I was hoping that you would watch my dogs for me?
[SMS from: Ava] Did not peg you for a dog owner.
I tried not to laugh as I read the message. If only she knew.
[SMS from: Ava] Sure, I will watch your dogs.
I left her instructions that left on the table in the kitchen and even messaged her that I would pay her for going out of her way.
I locked the door behind me and headed for the shed in the back of my house. There was a combination pad lock on the shed door. It was a necessary precaution in the human world.
I put in the four digits and unlocked the door. As I stepped in I thoughts about how Grayson and I squired around the areas to find a locale like this. A location that would allow me to travel back and forth between realms literally from the comfort of my backyards.
We built a shred around a crater portal that transported us to the were world. Unlike the gated portal we used for werewolves wanting to visit the mortal world this portal was only known to myself and my higher ranks. In the past, weres were able to escape and travel between worlds by crating unstable portals in between the worlds.
I remembered as a kid that my father—the Beta to the Alpha in our pack—telling me that some weres more powerful were able to create them but it was a hazard. The strength was almost as strong and unstable as portals that witches created. Those weres were captured and put to death depending on the circumstances.
I pushed that thought out of my mind as I walked through the portal. As I opened my eyes I saw the rolling greens lands and forest that I grew to love since I was young. I took a deep breath of the fresh air and exhaled.
I quickly stripped off my business attire and tossed it in the luggage bag that was hidden in the hollowed out tree stump. This was my routine—shed my human world possessions and thoughts and let the pack in.
I let my wolf take over as I quickly shifted to locate the rest of the pack.
I’m here.
I mind-linked with all the wolves that I knew were searching the area.
Alpha is here.
One of the twins linked to me.
Greetings and tides to the Goddess, Alpha.
Of course Gamma was formal with everyone mo matter the situation. He always kept a level head.
NERD!!!
I heard the twins shout together against Gamma.
SETTLE DOWN, NOW!!!
I used my authority as an Alpha to quiet them all down.
Sorry, Alpha they have been like this since last night. Even their own mother sent them to my house last night.
I laughed at Grayson, my Beta’s voice in y head showed clear signs of exhaustion but not for searching that territory.
Do you need to take a break. Get some sleep.
I passed that though only to my Beta. I knew that since I wa here he could take his leave until further instructions. He knew that as well—he was just stubborn.
I’ll be fine. After this perimeter check I wanted to talk to you about something.
I sent an assurance to Grayson before taking off to the side of the manor that raised the alarm. I let the barrier in my mind appear with walls as I began to run. I did not want to hear the constant bickering between the Twins nor did want them to hear my thoughts about the human realm.
Some things I could not discuss even with them.