Part C: Chapter 47

“Anything yet?” I asked as I entered Ivan’s office with Carter closely behind me.

It was strange for all of us to be at the office at the same time. Usually, I was always the one who came in while the other two took turns on who came in and who stayed back to make sure that the pack activities ran smoothly. But this was far from any normal situation. This was more important and I knew my men could care for whatever happened, after all, Gerald was around and he liked to take charge when I wasn’t around.

“Nothing yet,” he replied.

Carter made himself comfortable on the sofa while I stood pacing the room back and forth. I hadn’t slept, my main priority was ensuring that she came back unharmed to us, everything else would have to wait.

“It’s just been less than 24 hours, do you think he works magic?” Carter asked, making me snap my attention to him. He was laid back with one leg crossed over the others. “We are all worried, don’t forget that and we are all doing our best to find her. The least you can do is give us some breathing space by going back home and sleeping because from the bags under your eyes and how you are dressed, anyone can tell something is bothering you.”

“Don’t tell me to sleep when she is still out there in whatever condition hoping that one of us would find her and bring her home,” I snapped.

Carter sighed loud enough for everyone to hear. “I could security on you because you are hindering our progress here man. I love you and all but this is getting too much even for me. This pathetic attempt to remain calm when you are obviously breaking inside is just so sad to watch and that’s coming from me which means something.”

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed in frustration. I was breaking down inside and I didn’t want anyone to know that. How could people trust an Alpha who was so broken on the inside that he wasn’t sure he could still lead his people anymore? Not even I would trust such a person. “Less with focusing on me and more on finding Jemila. I don’t care if I seem pathetic. She was taken on my watch and I am the Alpha, the responsibility to keep my people safe is mine to shoulder no matter the consequences.” I said calmly which even surprised me. “Just because you have the right to say whatever you want doesn’t mean you should. Watch what you say to me because rules are rules and not even you nor I are above them.”

“Got it Alpha,” Carter replied sarcastically. “Anything else you would like to bark at us about? Or better yet, anything you would like to have our arses handed over for? Because I’m sure there is so much that we are failing you.” He stood up abruptly.

Ivan sat watching our exchange and I could tell there were times when he wanted to laugh and others when he wanted anything else but being around us and I couldn’t blame him for it. Sometimes Carter and I went at it so aggressively that it made those around us uncomfortable.

“Carter, stop acting like such a child. We don’t have time for your temper tantrums,” I rolled my eyes as I watched him fold and unfold his arms across his chest while he puffed it out with each movement. If this wasn’t such a serious matter, I would have laughed. “Sit down and let us talk like adults.”

Carter turned his head so fast that I was afraid he would have gotten whiplash. He glared at me furiously. “That’s what I have been trying to tell you but no, you wouldn’t listen and now I’m the one having a tantrum. Do you even hear yourself?” Then he turned to look at Ivan. “Can you believe this guy, seriously?”

Ivan laughed nervously as he stood up. “I feel like this is a conversation between you two and I shouldn’t be involved,” he said as he slowly made his way to the door. “I’m going to leave you two alone so deal with whatever issues you have and call me if you need me or don’t. I don’t mind.” Then he slipped out of the office.

“Oh great, look at what you just did,” Carter said, his hands flaring in the air. “You chased him out of his own office.”

“Technically, it’s also my office since I own everything,” I replied with a shrug as I walked to the chair in front of the one Ivan had vacated. “But I’m not the reason he left, he left because of you.”

“The blame game, wow. I truly cannot with you,” Carter heaved. “Makes sense why she wanted to leave you and go on her own journey.”

That was like a slap to the face. I clenched my hands into fists, stopping myself from lashing out. This was a working space and I wanted to keep it like that.

The look on my face seemed to have gotten through to Carter because his face fell as if realising what exactly he had just said. “I didn’t mean that.” He tried but I waved him off.

“Forget it, let’s just find her.” I pushed off the chair and walked out of the office leaving Carter alone as my breaths came out in heavy puffs from the blow his words had left on me.

*****

*I could see her, dressed in her favourite pair of leggings and one of my hoodies. The sight warmed my heart as she opened her arms out toward me.*

*I walked over to her and wrapped her up in a tight embrace. I didn’t know how much I had missed her and being able to hold her like this brought up emotions I never knew I had.*

*“I missed you,” I breathed into her hair, taking every inch of her and creating a map in my mind’s eye.*

*She laughed, “Silly, I haven’t gone anywhere and you’ve been gone for less than 3 hours,” she said, her voice coming out muffled by my chest.*

*“I know, but can’t I miss my favourite person?”*

*“I guess that makes sense.”*

*We remained like that for hours but probably wasn’t because she unwrapped her arms from me and I had to do the same.*

*“That was....interesting,” she said smiling gently. “Are you okay? Did something happen at work? Because you would usually still be at work by now.”*

*I tapped her nose lightly whilst smiling. “You’re cute when you are worried,” I replied instead then wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me then I bent my head so that I was looking into her eyes. “I just wanted to hold you, sue me.”*

*“I guess if you say so,” she said quietly. “I just don’t want to be the reason you left work early.”*

*She was so cute it was so hard to contain myself not to talk about how cute she looked in my hoodie. I wanted to take her there and then. I was glad she was finally back in my arms once more. At that moment, I vowed to never let her go. I vowed to make sure that I made sure she knew exactly how I felt.*