Chapter 28
“Please, tell me you’ve found something,” I ask the guard as they return from the latest and most likely the last search.
The guard tells me the usual, and my shoulders fall, disappointed and weighed down by worry. I could take this information two ways. The first is that she could still be alive, and the second is that she could be high above us. As always, it is easier to visualize the second.
“Are you sure you found nothing? How far out did you go?” The guard looks down at me, pitying my desperation.
“We went out farther than the last time and saw nothing but forest.
I’m sorry, Luna.”
“Where is Sebastian?”
Heading to the direction the guard provided, I find my mate talking with Andrew. He notices me. Most likely seeing the depression in my expression and movements, so he must know that she was not found.
“Nothing, again,” I tell them. “The guards went even further this time.”
“Evangeline, I—”
Knowing what he is going to say, I interrupt him.
“No, it’s alright. They have been searching for days, almost two weeks. I should have seen this coming after the first search.”
These last two weeks felt more like two months. Though I am able to combat the dreams, my thoughts are littered with the alpha and what he has done to her. None of them are pleasant, and most of them leave me trembling.
It is during times like these when I wish I had more control over my mind. Throughout the past two weeks, I have managed to distract myself a couple of times, and one of them is being with Fiona. She came over to the house, and we talked more about the city, which is something she is very familiar with. Henry would have loved to join the conversation, but he was off with Bruiser.
After a while, we switched to the topic of my grandmother, which I wanted to avoid at first, but once the words left me, it felt good to get it all off my chest. Not only is Fiona skilled at conversing, but she is a keen listener as well. She did not tell me that my grandmother is going to be okay, and she did not tell me that she is probably dead. Fiona simply listened. It was a difficult conversation to have without Fiona knowing about the alpha and all the details, but she did not seem to mind.
A few days later, I spent a lot of time with Marina, who is a fascinating person, now that I have taken the time to get to know her. She has been a part of the Tate Pack for as long as she has lived, which intrigued me.
Answering my questions, Marina explained how she lost her father during an attack. He was a guard and died as a result of Alpha Tate wanting to be the strongest pack in history. This was during Sebastian’s grandfather’s time, which explains why his father attacked my old pack.
“I was angry with the alpha. I wanted him dead,” she told me. “My father died because of that man’s selfish decisions, and being around your age, I thought I couldn’t do anything about it. So I didn’t. I was actually stronger than I thought, and it fulfills me to know that you see the power in yourself. I hear things, you know, and I may not know everything, but whatever is tormenting you, I know you can handle it.”
Her words had a great effect on me. After that day, I felt more confident, more determined to fix everything. My grandmother’s disappearance has created another mountain on my path, but I cannot let her down by losing myself trying to make my way around it. There is a chance that one right move will trigger a chain reaction.
Towards the end of this two-week period, I had taken Sebastian’s advice and thought before acting upon my ideas. My greatest desire is to stop this alpha and end his obsession to pin my grandmother, my mother, and I down. The only problem is I have no clue how I am going to achieve this.
He is always watching, but I can never catch him. I can never see him. Guards have been searching the forest, and the only result of it is a spooked man and a dead one. The guard who got away did not supply us with any helpful descriptions if it was the alpha or not. Remembering my theory that people may be helping him is vital.
At first, I believed that he wanted me dead, but that does not explain why I am not yet killed. Surely he could have done it by now. His frightening dedication conveys that, so why is he holding back? Is the alpha waiting for something specific to happen? There are too many unanswered questions, and I do not know how to begin solving them.
Alpha Kenn provided me with facts that he is no longer in power and that no one has seen him in years. Maybe he can give me more. Maybe I can work with him. There is a possible chance he will not want to work against his uncle, but he did not sound too proud of him on the phone. If there is a chance that we can work together, I will take it.
With that idea fresh in mind, I hurry outside and across the pack land to where Sebastian told me he and Andrew would be. After my disappointment yesterday, this definitely gives me hope.
Instead of finding Sebastian, I come upon two rather large wolves tackling, tossing, and growling at each other. With another minute, I recognize Sebastian’s scent, telling me that he has to be one of the wolves. Their battle looks to be nothing other than a game. Coming closer, I catch myself with a laugh when one lunges towards the other but meets the patchy grass with a thud. The two notice me and put an end to their match, and when they shift back, I look away with rosy cheeks.
“Keep trying, buddy.” I hear Sebastian’s voice.
Glancing back, I see my mate clothed, walking alongside Ryker. I do not waste a second before spilling my idea.
“Sebastian.” I rush to him. “I know what I want to do about the alpha.”
Ryker leaves us and Sebastian gives me the go-ahead. “Alright, let’s hear it.”
“I want to work with Alpha Kenn if he can. He knows the most about the alpha, and I think with his help, I can put pieces together and figure this all out. Maybe I can call him and tell him about everything, and he’ll open up more. Maybe I can visit the pack since I don’t expect him to come here, and I can learn more that way.” Sebastian looks uneasy.
“I don’t know, Evangeline. I don’t trust him.”
“But we called him before?”
“Calling is different than visiting and going by yourself is a definite no.”
Not willing to give up, I continue.
“I won’t go myself then. I can go with guards like I did when walking to my grandmother’s. They can stay with me, watch over me, and protect me if anything happens. Please, Sebastian.” I grab his hand and use the same face I use to persuade my grandmother. This one is less childish though. “Please. I need to learn more about him.”
“I’ll think about it,” he says. “In the meantime, call and ask. You don’t even know if you are welcome yet.”
“Alright, I will. Thank you.”
I wish I could read his mind. At least then, I will know what he is thinking. I cannot help but believe there is another part of him that I have yet to uncover. I know the protective, intimidating side of him, but there has to be another—the side that knows why he does not miss his parents, the side that trusts, and the side that he keeps so deeply hidden from me. That is the one I want to discover. Sadly, I tend to have too many ambitions at once. Focusing on them all is hard.