19

The crisp air hung about in a dewy fog that clung to his clothes. It was nearing four in the morning and Jackson could smell the storm coming. They'd managed to track the rogue across the city but lost the scent in a residential area. Frustrated, Jackson dismissed his men and headed back to the hotel with Derrick. He needed to get in closer range for the mind link with Christie. Fuck whatever her agent had planned, Mara couldn't stay at that specific suite anymore and the more he thought about it, the more he disliked the idea of her in a hotel at all. There were too many variables in play as hundreds of people came and went all day long.

They certainly couldn't stay anywhere she was known to frequent. The stalker most likely knew where all of those places were. Could they stay at the pack grounds? The packgrounds were definitely large enough and safe enough but the cons outweighed the pros. Plus, it was states away and she’d be headed to filming come sunrise. He couldn't risk her seeing anyone change into a wolf. And with her being an unmated human, with a scent as addictive as hers, she couldn't stay in a pack house full of other unmated wolves. He didn't want to have to kill anyone on her behalf.

Could they stay at his loft? He had a place in the city where he took time off during his lunch break. It was in the company's subsidiary name so it'd be hard to track down. His wolf yipped at him, clearly disliking the idea of having his mate stay in the same space he regularly shared with Sheila. Shit, he didn't love the idea himself. But options were scarce and he needed to make a move fast. At least the loft was fully stocked because he’d just been there. Downside? Sheila had a key and often let herself in. But she was miles away. She’d flown in just to see him after the Senator. So it wasn’t likely to be a big downside.

She wasn't instinctually the jealous type and since, he wasn't planning on telling her about the mate bond, they should be good.

D was the first to notice the crowd gathered outside the hotel and Jackson reacted quickly, double parking right at the entrance, not caring if it blocked a whole lane of traffic. He was already out of the car and walking past the valet who had begun to complain. He couldn't grab her scent with so many people crowded around and it worried him. D was quick to handle the valet, slipping him the keys and money as Jackson barreled through the crowd toward the elevator. How the hell had word gotten out so fast?

"Christie?" he mind linked, "Where's Mara?"

"Oh...hi Alpha...um...she's downstairs with Richard...at the press conference..." her voice was barely a whisper.

"WHAT did I say about not letting her out of your sight?" he yelled through the connection, before pulling his wolf back from the surface. There were too many bystanders and it wasn't necessarily Christie's fault. She wasn't trained for this sort of thing. He controlled his temper until he felt his pulse return to normal.

"We'll talk about this later. Go home with D," he said before closing the connection. He weaved through all the bodies in the doorway of the ballroom, shoulder-checking man after man as he moved them out of his way. He glimpsed Richard at the podium, taking questions and quickened his pace.

Richard caught his eye and motioned behind him so that's where Jackson went, as discreetly as possible. Though he imagined it probably wasn't as discreet as he should have been. Shoulder checking wasn't a great way to go undetected.

Behind the curtain, he found the striking woman from the morning meeting. Nadia, wasn’t it? "Mara?" he asked, skipping any formalities.

"Oh? The bodyguard?" she asked, lowering her glasses a bit to give him a slow drink, "She went upstairs back to the room. I think."

"You think? I have someone upstairs who says she's down here...WHERE would she be?" he struggled a bit with his wolf who had lost his patience. "If she's not there and she's not here..."

The annoyingly unhelpful woman shrugged, stylish and unbothered. "I'm sure she's in the bathroom. She was upset."

"Upset? Why?"

"The press can be daunting, you know," she smiled in a nervous way and he could sense something was off, "she just gets so flustered in front of the cameras sometimes. Nothing to worry about."

Now how stupid did she think he was? An actress afraid of cameras? It was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard. But he didn't have time to go back and forth with her or wait for Richard to return from behind the podium.

"D don't leave. Mara's not here. Search," he grunted through the connection. He was losing a bit of his composure and he knew it. He made a calculated dash for the concierge desk.

"All bathrooms on this floor, now?" He was halfway across the top of the raised desk and when she gave a wide-eyed gasp it finally occurred to him how crazy he probably looked. Jackson straightened himself back and tried again, "I'm Mara Luxe's security. Tell me where every bathroom is on this floor… please?"

He flashed a grin that might have held more teeth than he needed. The young woman nervously rattled off where they were. He searched them, finding nothing.

"Security issue," he banged on the last door, "Everyone out."

The women hastily made their way out, swearing no one else was inside before he went to sweep it himself. Fuck! he growled in his head. This was the last bathroom area on this floor and he still couldn't scent her anywhere. Where the fuck was she? He'd gone in every bathroom hoping to at least catch a hint of her. But there was nothing. He stormed from the room, wracking his brain for what he could do next.

"Alpha?" D linked, "I've got a scent... in the garage..."

"Where?" he cut sharply, already changing directions to head for the garage.

"Lower floor, near the loading dock," he answered. What the fuck was she doing near the loading dock? As he raced there, he dialed Richard from his pocket. Another benefit to being a wolf, he could hear the phone without having to put it to his ear.

"Hello?" Richard answered happily. “Nadia, of course we’ll do an early breakfast. We have to celebrate.” Did he have no idea Mara was gone?

"Mara was last seen on the lower level of the parking garage. Near the loading area. Why would she be there?" There were no pleasantries because there wasn't time. He was hired for a job he was currently failing at. He needed to find his mate. Shit, client, he corrected himself.

"Oh yeah, that makes sense, actually. Althea usually sends a car to the garage to avoid the press...wait? Why are you looking for Mara? She was just here...Nadia? Have you seen Mara?" Jackson could hear the muffled sounds of him speaking and he hung up. No time for that.

He reached the area where D and the now petrified Christie stood. Mara's scent was so strong, it was as if she was standing right there with them but she wasn't. How hadn't he known she was a flight risk? Now what was he supposed to do? Fuck, fuck, fuck. His wolf was howling and he growled at him to shut. It wasn't helping him focus. He was going to have to narrow down the possibilities.

She was upset. She stormed off. Without telling anyone where. When she had a crazy stalker on the loose? And he happened to be a rogue wolf who would probably scent her out the same as his trackers. This woman was going to put him in an early grave.

"Christie tell me everything you know..." he said in a low grumble, as if he were barely keeping hold of himself.

"Richard barged in almost as soon as you left, then he let Nadia in...oh! and then there were two stylists also. They dressed her and walked her through all these talking points. I swear I tried to link you and D several times but I couldn't get through. She asked about you. And honestly, she looked really uncomfortable… so I called."

"Talking points on what?"

"On the abduction attempt. They wanted her to give an official statement. They wrote it out on cards and gave it to her. Then they all went downstairs."

"Okay." He calmed himself. "There's not much you could've done. I know. I don't blame you. She doesn't know you and she'd have no reason to listen to you."

"Th-thank yo-you Alpha..." She bowed slightly, relief spread across her face.

"Alright, she's obviously not here. Head to the office. I'll call when I know what I'm looking for, D." He nodded and pulled Christie along.

He turned his thoughts back to Mara. What would make her upset? So upset she'd just storm off? He needed to see that damn press conference.