Page 8 of Awakening

Ethan

The pictures on the walls shake when the pressure builds in my body, and a loud growl escapes my chest. I slam my hand down on my desk, making a stack of papers scatter. “They couldn’t have just vanished into thin fucking air!” My fingers dig into my palms as I fist my hands, ready to attack as I pace behind my desk. “My mate and my baby are out there somewhere with a fucking lunatic!”

“I understand, Alpha. I’m using every team member I can, working them overtime to search for them. I assure you I’m utilizing every resource available,” Lance says.

“What about other packs?” Nick asks.

“Several have been very willing to help,” Lance says. “They’ve put teams out to search their surrounding areas.”

“How far out have we expanded the search?” I ask.

“Boulder and all surrounding communities as well as rural areas for the physical search,” Lance says. “Communication has also been sent to packs across the nation.”

“Do you have enough resources to expand the search further? What about Denver?” I ask.

“If I pull a few from a rural area and ask other packs, I can send them to Denver,” Lance says.

“Do it.”

“Understood. Will do,” Lance replies.

“Thank you, Lance,” I say with a nod.

“Of course, Alpha.” Lance leaves my office, closing the door behind him.

“I know I don’t have to ask how you’re doing,” Nick says.

I shake my head as I sink into my chair. “It’s everything I can do to hold it together, Nick. I feel like I’m losing my fucking mind.”

“Have you slept at all?”

“Sleep is fucking impossible right now.” I pull my hands down my face with a sigh.

“Why don’t you take tonight off? Stay home and get some rest.”

My head shoots up in shock. “I can’t just sit here and fucking do nothing.”

“Ethan, Lance is going to have teams searching for her day and night. You can take a night off to sleep.”

“How would you feel if this was Chloe? Huh? Would you just stay home and sleep while you let someone else search for your mate and your baby?”

Nick drops his head, shaking it. “No.”

“Then don’t tell me to take a fucking night off. It’s not happening.” I sigh, leaning forward to rest my arms on my desk. “She’s only been gone two nights. It feels like a fucking eternity. It drives me insane not knowing where she is or what’s happening to her.”

“I know,” Nick says, putting his hand on my shoulder. “You still feel the bond with her, right?”

I nod. “I do.” I look up at Nick to see the pain in his eyes. “How is Chloe?”

He shakes his head and crosses his arms. “Not good. She’s worried sick. She won’t stop crying…won’t eat or sleep. Her mom is with her today.”

“I’m sorry, Nick.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for, but what you can do for me is eat some fucking food. If you aren’t going to sleep, you’ve got to stay nourished if you’re going to keep going the way you are. Let me call something in from the pack house for us. Will you at least eat?”

I stand and sigh. “Yeah. You’re right. I need to stay strong for Olivia.”

Olivia

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