Chapter 103
Tyler.
"Why the fuck did she leave with the warriors?" I spat out the words, the frustration eating at me. It felt like a punch to the gut, as the realization sank in. Arya was missing. Again. With our child. The thought of her out there, facing gods knew what, clawed at my insides.
The city streets blurred past me in a frenzy of motion, matching the turmoil within my mind. Gripping the steering wheel, I felt the tension coiling tighter with every beat of my heart. My fingers dug into the leather, a futile attempt to ground myself amidst the storm raging inside me.
Swerving through the crowded streets, my mind raced with a torrent of emotions. Anger, fear, frustration. I slammed my hands against the steering wheel, a primal growl tearing from my throat. The sound echoed off the surrounding street, a futile release of the pent-up fury boiling inside me.
"Hey! Watch it!" A voice pierced through the haze of my rage, snapping me back to the present. Glancing to the side, I caught sight of a figure gesturing angrily from a nearby car. His words were lost in the rush of wind and the roar of engines, but his annoyance was unmistakable. For a moment, I felt a surge of anger, a strong urge to lash out at him.
But then, reality cut through the haze. What good would it do? What purpose would it serve to waste more time and add more chaos to an already frustrating situation? With a deep breath, I forced myself to relax my grip on the wheel, easing off the accelerator. The anger still simmered beneath the surface, a restless beast waiting to be unleashed, but I refused to let it control me.
As I navigated the maze of streets, my thoughts kept circling back to Arya. She had been alone for a while now because of all the work I've had to do. Did she head out to join the warriors because she was bored? I had explicitly told her not to leave the house without my guards. The warriors of Crest pack can't be trusted yet, especially with their former Beta out and about.
A pang of guilt lanced through me, sharp and bitter. Had I failed her somehow? Could I have done more to keep her safe, to shield her from danger? The questions gnawed at my conscience, a relentless reminder of my own shortcomings.
If I found her, I wouldn't mind taking a break from being Alpha at this point. I just needed some peace with her. With my family. I said a prayer to the moon goddess to keep her safe.
With renewed resolve, I steered the car towards the one place I knew I might find her—the Shelbys' residence.
The journey felt endless, each passing minute stretching out like an eternity. My mind raced with a thousand scenarios, each more dire than the last. What if she had been kidnapped by someone who knew Ethan? What if she was hurt, alone in the dark with no one to help her? I couldn't let the thought of death cross my mind. No. Not until I found her. The thought was unbearable, a knot of fear tightening in my chest.
As I rolled the car to a stop in front of the Shelbys' residence, my heart hammered in my chest. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead. The house loomed before me, silent and foreboding in the moonlight. I stepped out of the car, my senses on high alert.
With cautious steps, I approached the front door, my heart pounding in my ears. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob. What if she wasn't here? What if I was too late?
Pushing aside my doubts, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Every creak of the floorboards drove me crazy with frustration. The air was thick with the scent of dust and neglect, the once-grand foyer now a shadow of its former self. I glanced around, my eyes searching for any sign of life.
"Arya?" I called out, my voice echoing through the empty halls. But there was no answer, only silence greeting my words. Frustration and rage bubbled up inside me, threatening to boil over.
"Arya!" I yelled again as I made my way quickly through the house, my footsteps echoing in the empty corridors. Each room I entered held a sense of eerie stillness as if time itself had come to a standstill. But there was no sign of Arya, no trace of her presence anywhere.
Dread crept over me like a shadow. Where could she be? Has something happened to her? The thought made my blood run cold, a chill creeping up my spine.
With each passing moment, my desperation grew. I searched every room, every corner, but she was nowhere to be found. "Damn it!" I yelled in a fit of frustration, my fist connecting with a wall with a resounding thud.
Pain shot through my hand, a sharp reminder of my own helplessness. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. I sank to my knees, the weight of my failure crushing me like a ton of bricks.
"No," I whispered, the word barely more than a breath against the silence. I couldn't afford to give in to despair, not now. With a determined shake of my head, I pushed myself to my feet. There was no time to waste, no room for self-pity. I had to find her, no matter what it took. There was no other option.
I took a deep breath, and with a newfound resolve, I made my way out of the house. I needed answers, and I knew just where to find them.
I stumbled out of the house, my steps unsteady as I made my way to my Aston Martin. The sleek lines of the car gleamed in the moonlight.
I slid into the driver's seat, the familiar hum of the engine a comforting reassurance. With a roar, I peeled out of the driveway, the tires screeching against the pavement as I raced toward the city border. I needed to join the guards at the border. Hopefully, they were more successful at finding Arya than I was.
As I drove, my mind raced with thoughts of her, each memory a dagger twisting in my heart. I can't lose her, or our Child. Especially now that I just got her back. With every mile that passed beneath my wheels, my determination only grew stronger.
"Please stay alive for me, Arya," I whispered in the darkness.
I would find her, whatever it took. And woe betide anyone who stood in my way.