Chapter 132: Proper Goodbye

Chapter 132: Proper Goodbye
Xavier’s POV

The hours quicky passed by until it was already past midnight. The entire village was already deeply asleep and the full moon was already high above the sky. Still, there was no sign of Meredith.

Xavier now sat in the shadows outside Meredith’s little house. His elbows were resting on his knees, his weary eyes fixed on the empty road ahead.

He could feel Magnus’s restless pacing back and forth beside him. Of course, the Gamma never could stay still when his heart still ached for his little wolf.

Suddenly, the crunch of boots broke the silence. Xavier’s eyes narrowed while Magnus’ stiffened. They both looked at the same time at the approaching figure that turned out to be one of the warriors.

He bowed his head at them, his shoulders stiff.

“Beta Xavier,” he said in a low voice. “I’ve circled the village twice. But there’s still nothing that leads to the Luna...”

Xavier exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand across his face. His chest ached at the words, but he forced his voice steady. “I see…”

Magnus’s jaw clenched, his golden eyes flashing at the warrior. “Nothing? You searched everywhere, and you come back empty-handed?” He stepped forward, his voice sharp as a whip. “Then search again. And again. Don’t you dare return until you bring me something. Do you hear me?”

The warrior bowed quickly. “Yes, Gamma.” He turned and hurried off into the dark and beyond.

“Magnus…” Xavier called softly.

“No, Beta Xavier.” Magnus ran a hand through his hair, growling under his breath. “We’re wasting time. Every second we sit here, she’s slipping further away.”

Xavier turned his gaze back to the house. His wolf growled too, but patience was the strength he took pride on.

“Emotions blind,” he thought, remembering what he was told. “Strategy sees.”

After a while, Dr. Alexander stood from his seat. “There is another place…” His voice cut quietly through the night.

Both Xavier and Magnus snapped their heads toward him, their glares sharp as blades.

Alexander swallowed but pressed on. “Carrick. The man I mentioned earlier. He owns a restaurant here in the village. Meredith worked there for a time. I’ve been there myself. It’s possible he knows where she went next.”

For a moment, the entire house fell into silence again. Then Magnus’s growl split it. “And you’re only telling us this now?” His fists curled. “You let us sit here like idiots while you had this the whole time?”

“But I’ve already told you about him, right?” Dr. Alexander argued softly.

Xavier’s jaw tightened. “Well, if you really value your life, Alexander, you will never hold back saying your thoughts from us again...”

“I understand.” Dr. Alexander bowed his head, guilt shadowing his features. “I’m sorry.”

Magnus took a sharp step toward him, but Xavier lifted a hand, halting him.

He drew a slow breath, forcing the storm in his chest to calm. “Anger won’t find her faster.” He fixed his eyes on Alexander. “You’ve been there. So, you know the way. Lead us, then…”

Magnus muttered a curse under his breath but nodded anyway. “Right. But if this Carrick bastard so much as breathed on her wrong—”

“We’ll deal with him,” Xavier finished, his tone final. He rose to his feet, signaling the rest. “Let’s go…”

Surely, the hunt was not over. The trail had only shifted. And Xavier Caldwell would not rest until it led him straight back to her.



The world felt so empty now. They moved in silence, stepping softly against the ground.

Xavier then spoke to his men after a while. “Don’t make any noise. We don’t want any eyes staring at us. Understood?”

Magnus gave a crooked grin, though his eyes burned. “Got it, Beta Xavier. I’ll be the most silent guest you’ve ever seen...”

Xavier shot him a look, but let it pass. They had no time for mistakes, yet he knew Magnus had its own way of prying truths free.

The restaurant stood at the edge of the forest, its lanterns casting warm golden light against the night. Laughter and chatter drifted from within.

Xavier finally pushed the door open, and they cautiously stepped inside. The entire placed stilled right away.

Waiters paused mid-step. A waitress froze while carrying a tray in her hands. Even the customers holding their half-empty cups turned to stare. Their sharp gazes lingered, weighing the strangers in their midst.

Xavier tensed instantly. “So much for subtle,” he whispered to himself. Pretending not to care, he gestured to a table in the corner. “Just sit and don’t speak unless you must.”

The rest followed him and sat. After that, the silence stretched. They looked at each other, not knowing what to do. After all, this was not part of the strategy they planned for hours.

Suddenly, a man approached their table. He was tall and broad-shouldered. There was a small smile that brightened his face.

“Well, well. Haven’t seen you three around before. New handsome faces, I like that.” He leaned on their table, his eyes flicking across each of them in turn, lingering on Magnus and Xavier a little longer. “What can I get you, boys?”

They looked at one another, as if pointing a finger of who wanted to say anything. In the end, Magnus smirked, leaning back in his chair.

“Oh, you know, just something that warms the cold night.” He tapped his fingers against the table. “Actually, we’ve been traveling so far already. Looking for… something like that.”

The man chuckled, his smile growing winder. “Really, hm? Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’m Carrick by the way. And this is my place, the Cloud Spot.”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed. A faint smile curved at the corner of his lips. So casually spoken, so easily handed to them. The name they had been looking for.

Carrick.

Magnus glanced at him, then back at the man, grin widening like a wolf playing its prey. “Carrick, huh? My pleasure to meet you. I’m Magnus. My friends here are hungry. And maybe a little lost.”

Carrick tilted his head, his smile never faltering. But Xavier caught the faintest flicker in his eyes. It looked as if he already knew exactly who they were, and why they had come.

Xavier’s chest tightened suddenly. Did he know something they didn’t?

Carrick then leaned his elbow on the back chair where Magnus was sitting. His eyes where glinting mischievously as he stared at each of them.

““You know,” he began, lowering his voice just enough for only their table to hear, “I get all kinds in here. Hunters, mostly. The type who carry blades under their coats.”

“Some of them…” His gaze flicked over the area before coming back to them, “Almost looked like killers themselves. And a few…” he leaned in closer, “I swore, they weren’t quite human at all but werewolves just pretending like they are.”

The atmosphere tightened. Xavier felt Magnus go rigid beside him, his grin faltering, while even Dr. Alexander stiffened in his seat.

Xavier kept his face blank, but inside his wolf pressed hard against his chest.

Carrick chuckled suddenly, waving a hand. “But don’t worry,” he said, almost brushing a hand on Magnus shoulder. “They didn’t look anything like you three…”

Magnus forced out a chuckle, too quickly. “Right. Of course not.”

Carrick leaned back, his grin softer now. “I only say it because I don’t want to scare my girls. The waitresses here, they’re good souls. They’ve had enough of men who are assholes. I like to remind them not all men are monsters.”

The shift was subtle, but Xavier caught it. Carrick’s smile faded, replaced by something raw. His voice trembled when he continued, softer this time.

“Speaking of… I just lost one of my best and sweetest girls. She’d just come back from… gods know where. But then she left again.” His eyes glassed faintly, his hand tightening on the edge of the table. “Didn’t even say a proper goodbye this time…”

For a moment, he looked like he might break apart. His jaw clenched, his breath hitched, as if holding back tears.

Xavier’s chest constricted painfully. He didn’t need to ask who Carrick was talking about.

Then, just as quickly, Carrick shook his head, forcing the mask back on. He straightened, waiting like nothing had been said at all.

“Forget it. Doesn’t matter. Sorry I talk too much sometimes.” He finally took a pen and a paper. “So anyway, what’ll it be, gentlemen? Drinks? Food? Me?”

The three of them remained sitting there. Magnus’s lips were parted as if to speak but no words came. Alexander just stared blankly at the empty wooden table. While Xavier gripped his knees beneath it so hard his knuckles ached.

They had come for answers, and instead Carrick had seemed opened his longing for Meredith wider.

Xavier swallowed hard, forcing his voice to remain level, though it felt like gravel in his throat. “Just drinks,” he answered quietly. “Whatever’s strongest.”

Carrick gave a brisk nod, smiling again as if the moment had never happened. “Coming right up.”

As he walked away, the silence at their table returned. None of them knew what to say, but it seemed everyone already knew what the others were thinking.

Carrick could be lying to them or telling the truth, but one thing was for sure. Meredith was now farther from them than ever.