Missing

Ronan’s POV
The three of us ended up napping hard on my king-sized bed. After Scott and I had had second helpings of bowls of cereal, I had felt strong enough to prepare a crock pot roast.
Derek couldn’t resist this time and he had eaten that delicacy with us.
We were so full when we were done that the only thing we could think of was a good nap.
I woke up and promptly flung Scott’s leg off my body.
He was the only one out of the three of us who assumed terrible sleeping positions.
I went into the bathroom to take a quick shower. I had to see Malia.
They were still fast asleep when I got out of the shower.
I didn’t bother with being quiet with my movements. There was no amount of noise that could wake Derek and Scott up when they were fast asleep.
I got dressed and retrieved the chocolate bars from the kitchen that Derek had specifically brought for Malia.
I grinned as I tore one of them open and chewed happily. She didn’t have to know.
I hummed one of my favourite songs as I made my way to her room. I was in a curiously good mood.
I got to Malia’s door just as my brother was heading towards his room.
I grinned at him and he arched an eyebrow. “Someone’s in a good mood. I’d love to know why. Maybe it could improve mine too.”
I chuckled. “You’ve been cursed with a perpetually foul mood brother. I don’t think anything is ever going to change that,” I replied.
His hand paused at his door handle and he burst out laughing.
“You’re very funny, Ronan. I missed our love-filled chats.”
He patted me on my shoulder and gave me one last amused look before entering into his room.
I scoffed and muttered psycho under my breath.
I wondered if he was also going to find it amusing when I ended up outsmarting and taking over his position as Alpha.
I knocked on Malia’s door and entered without waiting for a response.
I knew she wasn’t in her room the moment I stepped in. There was no need to check her closet or bathroom.
It was really silent. I placed the chocolates on the table and stepped out.
I thought she’d be in the kitchen so that was where I headed off to after leaving her room.
I was beginning to get a little bit concerned when I couldn’t find her there either.
When I asked Penelope about her whereabouts, she said she had no clue where she could have gone.
I ran my fingers through my hair. I could feel my panic rising.
And the annoying thing was that she didn’t take her phone with her.
I had seen it on the table when I was in her room earlier.
I hurried to the training field hoping to find her there. She wasn’t.
I uttered a curse and was forced to call the one person I didn’t want to call.
Ryder picked up on the third ring.
“Is something special happening today? First, you smiled at me and now you’re calling me,” he said.
I ignored his teasing. “Have you seen Malia? Is she with you?” I asked.
“We’re not exactly on speaking terms at the moment, so, no, she’s not with me. And as for seeing her, the last time I did was this morning,” he answered.
“Shit,” I swore, running my fingers through my hair, afraid that somehow, she had been captured and was now on the way to her former pack.
“Ronan, what’s going on?” He asked and I could hear the worry in his voice.
“I think Malia is missing. I can’t find her anywhere,” I replied. I heard him utter a curse and then the line went dead.
I stood there for a moment thinking of all the possible places she could have gone to.
I decided to try the hospital thinking she might have gone there to see Margaret.
By the time I arrived at the hospital, Margaret had already been discharged and no one else had come to pay her a visit since Scott and I left, apart from her husband and her sister who came to pick her up.
Dammit Malia. Where are you?
I headed back to the palace in order to sit with my brother and figure out where the hell she could be. If she had somehow been captured and taken back to her pack, I didn’t know for sure what I was going to do but murder was definitely going to be a part.
I headed towards my chambers and decided I was going to stop by Malia’s room just in case she was there. She’d have some explaining to do.
I had nearly reached her room door when I heard Ryder’s angry voice. My heart skipped a beat when I heard Malia’s retort. I breathed a sigh of relief. She was still here. No one had taken her away from me.
I burst into Ryder’s room, not bothering with knocking. They were both so focused on each other that they barely noticed my entrance.
“Malia,” I said and finally they both turned to face me. Her face was flushed with anger but her eyes softened when she saw me.
“Ronan,” she greeted.
Without caring about my brother’s presence, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her so tightly.
“I hate to hurt your feelings but you’re crushing me,” she whispered.
I released her and saw that she had an amused look in her eyes.
I heard Ryder scoff but I ignored him. He could go to hell for all I cared. “Where the hell have you been?” I asked. “I was damn worried. Penelope said she didn’t know where you were. I checked the hospital and the field and….”
She burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny,” Ryder and I said in unison. If the situation wasn’t serious, he would have commented on how that was the first time in a really long while we had agreed on something.
“Alright. I’m sorry. Like I was explaining to Ryder before he went off on me, I was in that room filled with sculptures. I needed some time alone.”
“You should have gone with your damn phone. It’s not meant to be kept in your room,” he growled.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m so tired. I’m going to my room and please do not follow me,” she said.
I didn’t know if she meant me or Ryder. I went with her anyway.
She sighed when I entered her room right after she did.
“What I said wasn’t meant for Ryder alone. I do not need company.”
My eyes narrowed in suspicion. Except on days when we were fighting, Malia and I spent time together every day. We had barely even exchanged a few words that day.
“Is something wrong?” I asked. “You know you can talk to me.”
She plopped down on her bed and took a deep breath. “Just got away Ronan. I do not want Lila’s trouble.”
My forehead creased in concern and I went to sit beside her. “Did she say something to you?” I queried.
“Don’t worry, Ronan. It’s nothing I can’t handle. I just need you and your brother to let me be, at least for now.”
“If you do not tell me what she said to you, I’m going to go to my brother and tell him that his Luna-to-be is causing you trouble,” I threatened.
I wasn’t actually going to do that. But I knew the threat was going to work on her.
Her eyes widened in mild alarm. “Please do not do that,” she begged.
“I’d have to do it if you do not tell me what’s going on,” I said softly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
She buried her face in her hands for a moment and when she took her hands away from her face, I saw that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
“She knows, Ronan. Lila knows that I’m the one the Alpha of the Silver Crescent Moon Pack is searching for and she has threatened to turn me in if I don’t stay away from you and Ryder.”
I mentally cursed Lila. She had no right to do that. Now I understood what she had meant when she told me she had come to the field to guard her territory. It explained why Malia had hurried off when she saw her.
I took her hands in mine. “You should have told me earlier. Don’t worry, I know how to deal with Lila. She’s not going to bother you anymore.”
She nodded and I drew her into my arms for a hug. I wasn’t surprised when she began to weep and I patted her gently on the back until her sobs subsided.
“I’m so scared, Ronan. What if she tells everyone? People would want to deliver me to Zade because of the bounty he has placed on my head.
I don’t want to go back there.”
My arms tightened around her. “You won’t go back there, Malia. I promise. They’ll have to go through me first.”