Chapter 46

**ELENA**

I've been anxious all day about Caleb meeting his mother tonight. I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this meeting and it makes me nervous. He wants to go alone, but I've managed to convince him to let Finn go with him, even if it means waiting in the car. Even though he won't admit it, I know he'll need support. For fuck's sake, he hasn't seen his mother in eight years. She left overnight, leaving him behind and never bothering to check up on him. He's unlikely to remain impassive in the wake of this.

There's a knock on my office door and a tattooed hand comes through the other side. I look up a little more and Finn enters with a big smile and a mug in each hand.

"It's not just Theo who can take care of you." He announces before placing a mug of hot chocolate on my desk. Then, after dipping his hand into the back pocket of his jeans, he pulls out a peanut butter chocolate bar.

My eyes light up, it's been years since I've had one. He now wears a satisfied smile as he places the snack next to the mug. I shake my head slightly at the realization.

"And to think I always thought you didn't pay attention to anything...."

"Honestly?" He asks as he sits down across from me. I nod as I open the chocolate bar. "I used to think I didn't pay attention to anything, but lately I've been having quite a few memories of that time and I think I've finally been paying attention to quite a few things... about you."

I crunch and groan as the salty-sweet taste explodes in my mouth.

"If you don't want me to make you moan otherwise immediately... stop now." He tells me with a hungry look in his eyes and a hand on his crotch.

I open my mouth but am stopped by a knock on the door and Theo enters with two mugs in his hands. He frowns when he sees that Finn has beaten him to it.

"Don't be jealous Theodore...you can't be first everywhere." His best friend teases him.

"I'm not. The most important thing is that our dear companion has what she needs. I don't care whether it's you or Cal or me who brings it to her." He replies with a shrug, and I feel the sincerity of his words.

He takes the vacant chair next to Finn and asks if we've spoken to Caleb today.

"He just told me we were hitting the road at 5 o'clock that's all," Finn replies.

"He's been distant with me all day," I reply in turn.

"It's nothing personal. I don't even dare what he must be feeling right now." Theo says thoughtfully, to which we both nod.

***

Finn and Caleb have just left and Theo still has things to deal with at the pack house, so I decide to go home for a while, and take a nap before joining him when he's finished.

I walk through the door of the house and as it closes behind me, an arm immobilizes my body and a hand presses against my mouth to stop me screaming. Panic takes hold of me and I try to struggle before I feel a sharp pain in my neck and darkness invades me.

**CALEB**

For once in his life, Finn says nothing... not a word. I didn't even think he was physically capable of it, and that's good because I don't feel like talking. I've nearly turned back at least twice since we left. I don't even know if I should give him a chance to explain himself, but part of me needs to turn the page and live the rest of my life peacefully. If she brings us information about Elena's parents and their deaths, that'll just be a bonus.

I pull into the parking lot, cut the engine and stare out of the diner windows without taking my hands off the wheel.

Finn clears his throat after who knows how long. "If you've changed your mind it's okay."

"I haven't changed my mind," I answer simply, getting out of the car and feeling his gaze on my back.

Once I'm inside, I look around but don't see her anywhere. I take a seat in a vacant booth and a waitress approaches me to take my order. I order a coffee, ignoring her broad smile and insistent gaze. When she returns with my coffee, she's unbuttoned one more button on her uniform.

Goddess, I hope she gets here soon so I can get out of here.

After twenty minutes, my phone vibrates and when I take it out of my pocket, my mother's number appears with a simple message: Sorry.

**THEO**

I thought the day would never end. It's almost as if they're all doing it on purpose: as soon as one of us is absent, the work seems to multiply.

I sent Elena a message as soon as I'd finished, but it went unanswered. She must have fallen asleep, but she's still creating a little human being inside her.

I park behind her car in front of her house and wave to Jensen, who's riding his bike down the street. He gives me a simple nod, afraid to let go of the handlebars, which makes me smile. I can't wait to have a little boy like him... or a little girl, of course.

I push open the front door and to my surprise, it's unlocked. With what happened with her parents, Elena has got into the habit of always locking it. It's with a bad feeling that I enter the house. Her bag is on the floor in the entrance hall, she's not in the living room, nor the bedroom, nor the garden, nor the toilet, nor the bathroom. I try to call her phone again and hear it ringing in her bag. Holy shit, Elena's disappeared and it happened on my watch.