Chapter 42 ~An urgent call~
(Xander's POV)
“What the fuck made you think you could do that?” I yelled at Dakota.
Immediately after Fiona left, I had to visit Dakota's place to clarify what exactly we were. Because apparently, we weren't on the same page.
“Xander, I don't know what came over me.” She seemed to have sobered up. “I was so drunk, like I told you when you called. I was at a party.”
“Well… Fiona… she's gone.” The word came out sounding broken even to my ears.
I couldn't believe that she'd just upped and left. Just like that.
“I'm so disappointed in you, Dakota.” I spoke under my breath. “I thought we could be friends.”
“Friends?” Dakota gave a half-smile. “We could never be friends, Alexander Grayson. And you know it.”
My expression faltered. “Well, maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore.”
“And the merger?” She asked, raising a brow.
I walked out the door.
I didn't need to answer her question. She should know the saying, ‘No mixing business with pleasure’.
When I walked out of her apartment, I could see the full moon in the sky. Oval. White. Pure.
And for all the chances the moon goddess gave me at a mate, I just might have ruined it all.
They say men aren't supposed to cry. Then why was I?
I could feel my heart breaking as I cried in heaving sobs, on my knees, illuminated only by the moonlight.
That was when I felt a sharp ripple in the mind-link.
‘Theon!’
I froze, startled with shock. Theon growled in my mind. ‘Mate! Danger!’
Fiona was in danger.
I didn't even think twice. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.
For some reason, I forgot that I even had a car.
The urgency of the call had the veins in my arms pulsing dangerously, my heart rate was rapid and shaky, the air wheezed past my ears as I ran.
My legs were almost giving up by the time I arrived at her family's home.
I could spot her father in the distance, with a flashlight…
I could see suitcases, something that looked like her jacket… but no Fiona.
“Xander!” her dad called out to me the instant he saw me. “Where's Fiona?”
The look of alarm on his face as he stared intently at me, willing me to tell him that Fiona was safe, just broke me.
“I… I don't know.”
The alarm on his face turned into shock, and then dread.
—--
“I just came out for my nightly routine checks and I saw something in the distance.” He heaved a rough sigh. “I was at first alarmed, but then I decided to take a look. That was when I saw her jacket and boxes on the floor.”
“But earlier you didn't hear any noise… like a scream or something?”
“I wouldn't have. It's quite a distance from the house.”
I needed to gather as much information as possible to track where Fiona could be, and as horrible as it sounds, to make sure she wasn't in danger.
I hated myself for not following after her when she left Nightfang. I felt she might not want to see me at all.
I couldn't fathom what could have happened and, for some reason, I couldn't sniff out anything either.
So… it couldn't possibly be a wolf. But today was a full moon.
“Maybe I should call the cops?” Her father looked just as distressed as I felt.
“N-no, I don't think that's a good idea. And besides, the cops can't do anything until twenty-four hours.”
I stood up. I needed Calvin. He'd know what to do.
Who was she last seen with?
I didn't bother asking him.
“Um… just go in and lock the door. I'll figure this out.”
He looked lost.
“Can I borrow your car?” I just realized I didn't come here with mine.
“Yeah, sure.”
I entered hurriedly and fastened my seatbelt.
There was a moment of silence.
“Xander, did you both have a fight?” Her dad asked abruptly.
The look on my face probably gave my answer away.
“I'll be on my way. Lock your doors… Today is a full moon. I'll find her.” These were the last words I said before I drove off.
The tires made screeching sounds as I sped on the wet asphalt.
It was drizzling.
‘Calvin.’ I mindlinked my trusted Beta.
‘Xander?’
‘Fiona is missing.’ I couldn't believe the words.
‘How?’
‘I don't know, but I'm on my way. Find out if it was Yara that dropped her off.’
‘Will do.’
The mindlink closed.
This was probably the worst ride of my life.
–---
“Alpha, I've asked around. No one seems to know who drove her.” Calvin was at the gate that led to Nightfang when I arrived. “And they all went for the full moon hunt.”
Yara walked out immediately. “Alpha… What happened? Where's Fiona?”
“It's a long story. When she left, were you the one who drove her?”
“No. I think she took a cab. Wh… Was she kidnapped?” Yara's eyes blazed.
“Yes.” There was no need for mincing words now.
Yes, Fiona was kidnapped.
Yes, my mate is missing.
“I don't think we should rush into conclusions. She might have needed space, so she went elsewhere.” Calvin said.
“I doubt. All her things were scattered outside, like a crime scene.”
The pack was returning from the full moon hunt now.
They were led by Alpha Varon and my father.
I walked towards them, alongside Calvin and Yara. “Father, Fiona is missing.”
There were gasps in the crowd. Luna Jacqueline looked confused, as well as Nova.
Alpha Varon’s voice boomed. “That's not possible. Nightfang’s security is impenetrable.”
“She was kidnapped on her way to her parents’ home.” Calvin said.
“No, she wasn't.” A loud voice called from the crowd.
I turned to see who said those words. It was Jackson. Nova's elder brother.
He sounded so sure.
“How do you know that?” I was walking towards him now.
“Because I dropped her off. She's at her parent's.”
I felt anger shooting up my veins. I grabbed Jackson's shirt in a rough motion, ignoring the surprised screams from the other pack members around me.
I raised my fist. He better talk or my fist would graze his face this instant.
His eyes flashed with terror.
“Where’s Fiona, you son of a bitch!”