Page 13 of The Alpha

5

Halden and Raina, new to the ways of Muirarans, didn’t get the seven days allotted for a newly joined couple to have their privacy. Instead, they were leading Dallan MacDonald, his wife Shona, along with Kwaku and Zara Awahnee through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Kwaku opened a door in a heavily wooded area and now it was time to find Pari.

They avoided the area where they knew Pari’s Uncle Leo had his hotdog cart. He and Raina had a lot of explaining to do and didn’t have the time.

After skirting around Leo’s usual spot, they crossed part of the huge meadow, passed through one of the two entrance tunnels, and were soon nearing the Brooklyn library and what Pari called Army Plaza. From there they walked along Eastern Parkway to Franklin, and then down to Park Place. Now the little group was standing before Pari’s building. Halden noticed she’d left one of her bedroom windows opened and wondered if she might be home.

“Is she up there?” Dallan asked.

“I’m not sure,” Halden acknowledged. “All we can do is ring the buzzer.”

Dallan cocked an eyebrow. “Buzzer?”

“Yes.” Halden looked up at the fourth floor and Pari’s apartment. “With any luck, she’ll be home, and she can let us in.” He turned to Dallan and Kwaku. “She’s not ready for this.”

“No, she is not,” Kwaku agreed. “But we must take her to Melvale before he accidentally harms someone or himself.”

“Seems no matter what happens,” Shona said. “He’s going to be tricky to be around.”

“For a time,” Kwaku said. “Den he will settle down.” He looked her in the eyes. “Unless his mate is dreatened. Den dere are no guarantees.”

Shona put a hand on Dallan’s arm. “I’ll never complain about you overreacting again.”

He gave her a light smile and kissed her on the head. Halden took Raina by the hand, went up the stoop’s stairs, and pushed the black square button near Pari’s name. There came a buzzing sound, and he squeezed Raina’s hand.

“Do you think she’s out?” Raina asked.

“She might have the afternoon shift at her uncle’s shop.” Halden looked at her. “We don’t even know what day it is, dove.” He ran a finger down her cheek then jumped when a gruff voice came over the speaker. “Who is it?”

Halden recognized the voice. “Al? It’s Halden.”

The sound of a door opening caught their attention, and Pari’s Uncle Al opened the door to the building’s vestibule, then the second door. “Where is she? Where’s Pari Mae?!”

Halden caught the desperate look in Al’s eyes. “I was hoping you could tell me.”

Al peeked past him at the others. “Who are they?”

“Friends. We’ve come to see Pari.”

“What? You mean she’s not with you?”

Halden’s eyes widened at the first twinge of panic. “No. Should she be?”

Al ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”

Halden’s jaw dropped, and he turned to Dallan and Kwaku. “She’s gone?”

Dallan came up the front steps. “What are ye saying, man?” he asked Al. “Have ye no seen the lass at all?”

Al looked up and down the street then motioned them to come inside. He led the group into his apartment on the first floor and closed the door behind him. “Halden, Raina, are you all right?”

“Yes, we’re fine.” Halden said. “Now what’s this about Pari?”

He motioned them to follow him into his dining room, where he plopped into a chair. “She looked for you two for days. She never gave up.”

“Oh, Al,” Raina said. “We’re sorry, but we were…”

“Dey were not able to return to her,” Kwaku said, speaking for the first time. “You are de relative?”