Page 100 of Step Alpha

“I took her virginity.”

“For fuck’s sake, Wilde!” My dad growls.

Alpha Green holds his hand up to silence my dad, his gaze still firmly on my face. “Something else. You were afraid for her from the start. Why? Do you suspect self-harm?”

I sputter. “Self-harm? No! Someone has her. A Venador, maybe.” I reference the sinister group of wealthy humans who enjoy hunting shifters for sport. Word is, they’ve been targeting shifter teens through online chats.

But then my brain clicks back into full gear, and I know what he’s picked up on. What I haven’t yet said. “Okay. Okay. I’ll tell you.” I swallow. I hate to reveal Rayne’s secret, but it has to be done. She’s in danger. “Rayne’s been selling photos and videos of her feet to save money for college. She sold this guy her shoes, and I had a bad feeling about it.”

The sheriff surges to his feet. “And you just now think to tell us this? She’s been missing for sixteen hours, Wilde.”

I draw back my fist to punch the desk but Alpha Green gives the command, “No,” and my arm slackens.

“Where does she sell them? What sites? Are there emails? Messages? I need everything.” the sheriff says.

“Patreon and OnlyFans.” I nod. “It’s all on her laptop.”

My dad pulls out his keys. “In her bedroom?”

“Yes. On the shelf above the bed.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, I’ll get Kylie or Jackson King on the phone,” Alpha Green says, referring to a pair of shifters from Tucson whose billion-dollar company specializes in cyber security.

“The shoes she mailed–where did they go? Do you remember the name or address?”

“Yeah. The name was just initials– F. L.--and the address was a post office box in Chandler.”

“Put out an Amber Alert on Rayne for the entire Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff area,” Sheriff Gleason barks at Russ, his deputy.

Russ nods and leaves.

Alpha Green is talking to someone on the phone, but my brain is too addled to follow the conversation.

I stand. “I’m going to Chandler.”

“Hold up, son,” Sheriff Gleason says. “Wait until we have more information.”

“I want to be there when you get the information.”

“What if she’s in the opposite direction?”

I know my brain isn’t functioning, but I trust my wolf. He wants me there. Now. I shake my head. “She’s there. Call me when you get the info.”

The sheriff shakes his head as I stalk out, but I don’t care. I’m already running for the Jeep, grateful to finally have something to do.

I drive to Chandler and just start winding through the streets. I’m not stupid enough to think I’ll spot her on the street, but I’m hoping my wolf might feel her. That I’ll get a nudge in one direction or another. I end up in a shitty part of town, along the freeway.

I pull over and get out of the Jeep. Drag the surrounding scents in through my nostrils. It smells like misery. Carbon dioxide and concrete.

I start walking up the frontage road, begging my wolf to guide me, but he’s as frantic as I am. Together, we’re barely functioning.

I look up at the nearly full moon and send up a silent prayer.

Keep Rayne safe. Please, goddess. I will do anything if you just keep her safe.

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