Page 107 of Untraced Magic
Scanning the room, I wound my way through people mingling in groups, numb to the scandalous eyes of a blonde woman whose gaze traveled the length of me as I passed. My focus was like tunnel vision; my goal to speak with Alpha Aden and get back to Morgan as quickly as possible, but he was nowhere in sight.
I spotted Colt leaning against the back wall, his tie uneven and the side of his shirt untucked like he’d either just gotten laid or just didn’t give a fuck, like he had better places to be.
I’d never seen him like this before, and if I was honest, I didn’t believe either of those scenarios as it just wasn’t Colt. He downed the rest of his drink like he was hell-bent on burying whatever had created the troubled lines now creasing his forehead.
I noted the empty glass in his hand, another perched beside him on the mantle by yet another statue of a wolf.
He lifted his chin upon noticing my approach.
“Alpha Aden requested I speak with him. Have you seen him?” I asked.
Colt set down the empty glass on the mantle. “Not since we arrived. Try over at the elders’ table.” He nodded toward the other side of the room, and I followed his line of sight.
I nodded before moving through the crowd, veering to the far wall where the Alpha came into view. He was speaking with an elderly woman as I approached, and resting my hand on her shoulder, the bones of her aged years jutted into my palm.
“Excuse me.” I politely smiled at her. “My apologies, Alpha Aden has a requested a word with me.”
The Alpha rose to his feet, smoothing the front of his suit jacket. “Tyler, sorry but I’m not following.”
I frowned. “Wes said you needed a word.”
The Alpha’s expression remained blank, my wary gut turning over.
He slid his hands into the pockets of his suit pants. “I haven’t spoken to Wesley since he arrived. Is everything okay?”
All the blood drained from my face, the color I was sure dissolving rapidly at an alarming rate. What the fuck was going on?
I turned on my heel, pacing back through the crowd, no polite excuses as I pushed my way back to the library.
The second I landed beneath the doorframe, I scanned the room. To the books still scattered on the floor, but I heard and saw no one.
“Morgan?” I yelled, storming inside, my chest heaving beneath my tux.
A silence lingered among the shelves, and I traced Morgan’s lingering scent, heightened from the mate bond back to where I’d left her.
Confusion rolled off me in heavy waves, tumbling me into its uncontrollable riptide.
The Alpha entered the library behind me, his two Betas at his side.
“Is there a problem? Do I need to alert security?” his voice commanded.
Reid entered the library next, hurriedly making his way to my side, his usually relaxed nature depleted and on edge. “Ty, what’s going on?” he said, concern rippling his forehead.
I knew it in my bones. Felt fear rush into me, claiming its new owner.
I directed my attention at the Alpha. “Alert every fucking pack member you have. Someone’s taken my mate.”
Reid’s hand clamped onto my shoulder. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions. Can you feel her through your bond?”
I threw my attention to him. “There’s nothing.”
I had begun to sense her through the bond, had been starting to pick up on her emotions. Where there used to be a comforting presence was now an empty void, and the loss of such a feeling was fucking devastating. Like I’d been stripped of her entirely.
Pacing the room, I threw a book across the wall where it landed with athud. Knotting my hands into fists, they burned with rage.
How could I let this happen? It had to be a coincidence they were both missing.
“What about through mind link?” suggested the Alpha.
