Page 14 of Chasing Secrets
Fortunately, he managed to place the boxes precariously on the hood of his truck, using the coffee boxes to prevent them from sliding off and hitting the ground. With his arms free, Vaughn fished out his keys and phone. Just as he was about to call Wade, he sensed someone behind him.
* * * *
Swirls and Pearls bakery came into view. Morning sunlight glinted off the bakery’s windows, casting long shadows across the asphalt. Chase pulled his SUV into the lot, parking beside Vaughn’s truck.
“Well, that’s not concerning at all,” Wade muttered, already unbuckling his seatbelt.
Chase cut the engine and stepped out, scanning the quiet parking lot. Vaughn would never abandon perfectly good donuts, especially after making such a big deal about fetching them. The coffee containers sat untouched beside the pastry boxes, their cardboard sides dampening with condensation in the morning air.
Wade’s thoughts settled along the same lines Chase had.
“This ain’t like him,” Wade muttered beside him. “Vaughn wouldn’t just leave donuts unattended. That’s practically sacrilege.”
“Maybe he just went back inside for napkins or something,” Chase offered, though he didn’t believe it himself.
He circled the vehicle, looking for any sign of struggle but found nothing out of place except the abandoned breakfast. He pulled out his phone and dialed Vaughn’s number, listening as it rang directly to voicemail.
“Vaughn?” Chase called out, his voice echoing between the surrounding buildings. No response.
Wade frowned, tapping the hood of Vaughn’s truck. “Maybe he went back inside like you said.”
“Worth checking.”
The bell above the bakery door jingled as they entered. Casey looked up from behind the counter. Flour dusted his apron and cheeks.
“Back for more already?” the baker asked with a smile that faded when he saw their expressions.
“Have you seen Vaughn?” Chase asked. “He was just here, right?”
Casey nodded, wiping his hands on his apron. “Left about twenty minutes ago with all those boxes. Helped him out the door myself.”
“And he didn’t come back in?”
“Nope. Is everything okay?”
Chase exchanged a glance with Wade. “Probably fine. Thanks, Casey.”
Back outside, Chase pulled out his phone again, this time calling Zeppelin.
“We’ve got a situation,” he said when the alpha answered. “Vaughn’s missing.”
“Did you just say Vaughn’s missing?” It sounded like sheets rustling in the background, and Chase heard Preston saying, “S’too early.”
“Go back to sleep, sunshine,” Zeppelin murmured.
Chase gripped his phone a little tighter as he thought about Jalen waking up next to him, hair rumpled, groggy, and making Chase feel like the luckiest wolf on the planet. He wanted it all with his mate, the closeness, the private laughs, and soft touches that said “I love you” in every graze of fingers and tender looks.
“His truck’s still here. Food’s on the hood. No Vaughn.” Chase cleared his throat around the tight knot. “You might want to get down here.”
“On my way.”
Leaning against the truck, Chase closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose, sorting through the complex tapestry of scents. Fried dough, sugar, coffee, motor oil, Vaughn’s familiar pine-and-cedar scent, but nothing unusual hit his nostrils.
“People don’t just vanish,” Chase countered, though, in their world, that wasn’t entirely true. People could absolutely vanish—especially when supernatural forces were involved.
The bakery parking lot wasn’t large, but there were enough shadows and corners to hide things from casual view. He sniffed again, focusing harder, but he detected the same scents.
Wade rejoined him, frustration evident in the tight set of his jaw. “Nothing around back. No scent trail, no signs of a fight.”
