Page 78 of Marked By the Alpha

The pack lodge filled with members as I paced in the room’s front. My dads brought me clothes and my phone.

“Where have you looked?” Dillon comes up front and motions for everyone to take a seat.

“I followed his scent from our yard to the clearing by the stream and it. Just. Stops.” My hands ran over my face and through my hair, pulling at it. “How the fuck does a person just disappear?”

“What other scents did you pick up?” Luigi asked, laying a map out on a table.

“Grimclaw.” I snarled. “I could smell them.”

Dillon shook his head. “I called Lane and told him to bring his crew here for a meeting.”

“If he’s harmed, I’ll kill them.” My fists balled up and my arms shook.

“I get it.” Holding his hands up, Dillon stepped closer. “But I need you to calm down so we can organize the search party.”

“The man Iloveis missing and you want me to calm down?” I air quoted thecalm downas my rage burned through me. “The hell I will.”

“Well, we didn’t do it.” Lane spoke from the back of the room. “Simon has been true to his word, staying away.”

“Then enlighten me.” My eyes narrowed. “How is it I can smell members of your pack where my mate disappeared?”

“The clearing doesn’t belong to Shadowhelm, the earth belongs to us all.” Simon’s mom, Elnora, stepped forward.

“Hey!” Dillon raised his voice. “We need calm heads to prevail.”

Lane stormed up, putting his toes against mine. “It wasn’t my son.”

“Then there’s no worries, for you.” I pushed back against him. “Is there?”

“Young pup, you don’t seem to know how this world works.”

“I know extremely well, old man.” I snarled. “You. Don’t. Scare. Me.”

I felt my chest puff up and we stood there while people around us were yelling. Neither of us backed down, and I felt a hand on my chest. The hand pushed me back, and I saw Dillon holding his hands up again.

“This pissing contest won’t help find Nolan.” He looked between Lane and me.

“I have the map sectioned off. We’ll need eight teams. Make sure you have a good tracker and someone from the Grimclaw pack to help identify scents.” Luigi barked out, and I felt the movement in the room.

“Better get your team together little boy.” Lane sneered before walking off to join a team.

Julius, Charity, my dads and Flynn walked over to me. I nodded at them and then glared at Simon’s best friend, who walked over to join us.

“Ain’t this cozy.” Bradley smiled.

“Don’t forget to let Luigi know who is the contact person for your group. Check in if you find anything.”

“What if we find nothing?” Someone asked from the back of the room.

“Call that in too.” Dillon frowned. “Okay, Luigi, send the teams out.”

The people in the room parted to let my team get the first assignment. “Head back to the clearing. Have the mutt identify the scents.” Luigi glared at Bradley.

“Aw, c’mon, old man, I brought your daughter home on time.” Bradley winked. “You Shadowhelms are touchy.”

“Get him out of here before I reach across the table and choke him.” Luigi growled, and Julius shoved Bradley out through the front door.

Our group shifted, and we turned back to see Bradley standing there. I walked forward and nipped at his thigh with a growl.

---