Page 69 of Alpha Chained

“The man I came back with.” Dammit. Of course she wouldn’t know who he is. Riot and I came straight back to my place after we returned. There hasn’t been time to introduce him to the rest of the pack, apart from the few who were there when we arrived. And they would not have gotten the best impression of him.

“You mean the one who Jagger—?” She stops short, her eyes widening.

I inwardly groan, not wanting to have to run through the whole mess again. “Yes. But he seems to have…” I don’t want to say he’s gone. It feels too final. “I can’t find him,” I say.

He wouldn’t have just abandoned me, not after we…

I can’t even finish the thought. The memory of our lovemaking, of the way he held me, the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered… It all comes rushing back, making the pain of his absence even sharper.

“Maybe you could look out for him? He’s a big guy. Short dark hair. The most beautiful silvery eyes…” I have to stop myself again. “Looks kind of…dangerous.”

“Oh, you mean like every other male in this pack?” She shakes her head, concern etching her features. “Sure, I’ll keep an eye open. But are you okay, Raura? We’ve all been so worried about you…”

But I’m already moving on, too distracted to engage. A couple of blocks later, I see Cedars coming out of a building. At the sight of me, she scowls.

Shit.

“I have a bone to pick with you,” she snaps. “But first, how are you, Raura? Everyone has been freaked out about what happened. They’ve had teams searching since you were taken.”

“I’m fine. All good,” I say quickly. “And I’m so sorry about what happened with Barrett.” I run a hand through my hair. “But I’m a bit worried at the moment. The man who came back with me—”

“Don’t talk to me about that man.” Her eyes start to glow, and I remember that Cedara had trouble keeping her beast under control for a while. The last thing I need is to have to confront an angry wolf in the middle of Steel Lakes.

“I know. It was a really big mistake. And he didn’t mean what happened. He just—” I stop, taking in a deep breath. “Look, we can talk about this later, okay? But right now, I need to find him.”

She shrugs. “No idea. Haven’t seen any strangers around here. And if I did…” She leaves the sentence hanging, and I’m pretty sure I know exactly how she’d react to seeing Riot right now.

I back away a step. “Right. I understand. I’m really sorry,” I repeat, then turn on my heel and jog away.

My heart is pounding as I make my way to the security barracks, praying that he’s there. The hallways bustle with the usual clamor of early morning activity. Training sessions are underway, and teams have gathered. Most of them shoot curious looks my way, but they’re too busy to approach me for a quick catch-up. I guess I’ll be facing all those questions soon enough. I still haven’t had a chance to give Jagger and the beta council a full report of what happened to me.

Passing the parking area we’d stopped in yesterday, I pause when I see that the SUV is no longer there.

Shit. Maybe they moved it.

Feeling a growing sense of dread, I hurry to the main entrance. Cody is at the gate, and I rush up to him, breathless. “Cody, please tell me Riot is around here somewhere.”

He frowns, shaking his head slowly. “No, he left in the early hours of the morning. Is everything alright?”

My heart plummets. “What?” I stare at him, incredulous. “You just let him go? Why didn’t you stop him?”

Cody looks taken aback. “I didn’t realize he was a prisoner, Raura. He said he had to leave, and I had no reason to stop him.”

I feel like I can’t breathe.

He’s gone. Riot is gone.

And yet, somehow, I knew it.

I race through the barracks, my heart pounding in my chest as I make my way to Jagger’s office. I have to talk to him, have to find out if he had anything to do with Riot’s disappearance.

As I round the corner, I nearly collide with Jagger himself. He steadies me with a hand on my shoulder, his brow creasing as he takes in my frantic state.

“Raura, what’s wrong?”

“Riot’s gone,” I blurt out, my voice trembling. “Did you make him leave?”

Jagger’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “What? No, I didn’t even know he was gone.”

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