King Bailey POV
"No sign of Tiana", Thomas's voice breaks my concentration and I glance up from my desk, frowning.
"What about corresponding packs? Are there any nearby who might have spotted her?" my mouth was dry, already anticipating the answer.
Thomas's slow shake of the head confirmed it. "Unless she somehow made it to a main road and hitchhiked her way out of here, we're running out of options to find her Bailey" he scowled and shut the door, leaning in close, "Maybe Marigold was right when she accused the elders in taking her. I mean, who knows what motive they would have for it, but you have to admit they are acting shady as hell, and for Tiana to just up and disappear? It doesn't make sense" he exhaled, "god knows that Damien, Cody, and Callum have been working like dogs to try and track her down, even working with the other trackers, but there's nothing. I mean you have to ask yourself how much do you trust these elders?" he narrowed his eyes.
"So far I have no trust in them," I admitted lowly, "and Riley's anger is warranted. My own is rising. They appear to have an ulterior motive, but to take a child?" I shook my head "What would be the end game? Why Tiana?" I asked, frowning. "And not one of the other sirens, an adult?"
"A child is more pliable and easier to manipulate", Thomas spoke gravely, "not to mention she might have been drugged or sedated so she couldn't use her voice or powers. She was a pretty strong siren, wasn't she?" he pointed out.
"Yes, she was, which is why I thought she might have gone off on her own. If we start questioning the elders, it's only going to cause conflict."
"Sir, you know I have the utmost respect for you", Thomas's voice was low as he folded his arms across his chest "and I am loyal to you as my Alpha and my King. But that is where my loyalty ends" his eyes rose to meet mine. "If it wasn't for you saving my life, I wouldn't even be here today. I owe the elders nothing, and I'm certain that I won't be the only one who feels that way. Their influence on the other packs, on the other Alphas, is not as strong as you, or they, want to believe. In fact, many of us" he paused and looked me directly in the eyes "would say that it's more than the time the entire band of elders was disbanded for good. Their beliefs are steeped in old-fashioned values that no longer align with modern times", he continued, "and more of us are open-minded and accepting of other races besides ourselves."
"You are encouraging me to go against them" my voice was hushed "Those that are responsible for our laws and traditions? The very men who established different packs and created the foundation on which we now reside?"
"I'm encouraging you to do what's right for both your people and other races. I'm telling you to consider what's going to help the cause that you and Riley are so adamant about. There is more to our kind and our lives than seeing things in black and white" he argued with passion, such passion I had never seen from him before, "and the longer you hesitate to do what's right, the harder it's going to be to make the choice that you already know you have to make."
"How can you be so sure that other Alphas and Lunas will support this move?" I challenged softly. "You seem positive it's the right move to make, but why? Is your communication with other Alphas that friendly?"
"Because I have been speaking to them for the last few days trying to drum up support in case you lost your temper and made a move against them", Thomas growled, his eyes darkening "because I feared that you might be made an example of, and I was prepared to do anything I had to, to make sure you weren't killed for defying them. I had to make sure you had allies, other Alphas willing to fight on your behalf if it came down to that, and not only did I find them, but I had Lunas in agreement with Riley about helping the sirens. A lot are angry that Jaxon was not suitably punished for his role in everything by the elders, which is further causing contention among the packs."
"You've been doing all this without being noticed?" I asked, stunned.
His mouth quirked "Not just me, Callum, Cody, and Damien have all helped in their own little ways. Damien because he loves his sister, and he's trying to make up for everything he did to her, Callum, and Cody because they happen to agree with you and Riley. They like this pack, they like calling this place home. They are not about to risk being disbanded into another pack without fighting for it first."
"Why didn't you tell me what you were up to?" I growled, feeling frustrated and a whirlwind of emotions shooting through me "any of you? To go behind my back like this..." my voice trailed off as I felt lost for words.
"We couldn't risk you objecting to us doing what we needed to. It was safer if you had no knowledge of us or our whereabouts the last few days."
"Does Riley know?" I demanded.
He shook his head. "Riley has no knowledge, the same as you. We weren't about to get her hopes up if nobody agreed to fight or help defend this pack and you. She's just as oblivious as you've been. She has enough problems to worry about, including Tiana's whereabouts."
I exhaled "That was probably wise, Riley's not in a good headspace at the moment, and I'm sure she might have slipped up and said something in anger if she had known what you all were doing. Still, it would have been nice to know," I added with a low growl and a pointed look at my Beta, though my anger was fast fading.
"I barely recognize you these days," Thomas said softly, sitting in his chair. "It's as though you are more concerned about offending these elders than you are about your mate because of the disrespect they are showing you both."l
I eyed him. "Sometimes it's not as easy as you think. There are other things that have to be taken into consideration," I told him as he raised a brow.
"Like what?" he asked.
I hesitated "Like Riley's pregnancy. She's pregnant, Thomas" I divulged as a wide smile spread across his face, "with twins. I couldn't risk the elders finding out, and she can't be hurt or injured while she's in this vulnerable condition. I can't risk her or the babies being hurt, so I'm being more cautious" I paused and gave him a rueful look "then I might be otherwise out of fear for my mate."
"Riley's pregnant" he breathed, "with twins. I don't blame you for being worried," he said, "but how does Riley feel about that? Because I know her Bailey, and she's not the type to give up. Remember how she broke the collars off of all the sirens? She fought for what she believed in. She fought for her people. I don't think that she's going to shirk away, and I think if she knew that the reason you haven't been taking action was because of her, I think she would be sorely disappointed and maybe even angry at you" he advised me icily.
He was right. Riley would be pissed if she found out the reason I had been trying to maintain a balance between the elders and ourselves was so that she wouldn't get hurt. But she was my priority and my children. It was an impossible choice. I knew what she would pick though. She would always go out fighting. It was in her nature. It was in her blood. She wouldn't shirk away from a fight, and she wouldn't want me to either. It was one of the things I admired and loved about her. That and her compassion for people, all kinds, no matter what race they were. She was an excellent Luna Queen. She would make a fantastic mother. But I couldn't keep holding her back like I had been. I couldn't keep teetering on the edge and walking a tightrope, trying to keep everybody happy, because in the end that wasn't going to work. It wasn't working.
"Thomas, I appreciate your brutal honesty," I told him with sincerity. "If anyone is brave enough to tell me the truth, it's you" I added, as he grinned at me, "even when it's not always appreciated."
"Does that mean you'll stop acting like a dumb fuck" he said with a smirk, "and start acting like the damn Lycan king you are? Because I got to tell you man, you are acting so damn meek and so fucking polite is kind of a turn-off", he teased.
I chuckled. "Good thing I'm not aiming to turn you on" I said with a grin as I stood up and began to stretch, "but I think the first order of business is going to be finding my mate and extending an apology that's well and truly overdue."
"That's the spirit", Thomas cheered before there was a knock at the door and then the door opened abruptly, a panting Damien on the other side, both of us looking at him in concern as he pushed his hair back and stood upright.
"Good god man, what's the rush?" Thomas asked, confused.
"It's Marigold" Damien said, looking at both of us. She's missing, and I can't find Riley either?"
I was already on my feet, moving swiftly towards the door, trying to mind-link my mate with no success. "What were they up to" I growled as the men looked at each other uncomfortably. "What was Marigold doing tonight?"
Something Riley had said niggled at me. She'd told me what Marigold had been planning to do, but I couldn't remember with Tiana's disappearance taking priority. Shit. I began to head towards the grounds, sniffing for my mate's scent, my mind desperately searching for the clue or the memory that would divulge where the women might be or have gone to.