Andre’s POV
Pierre sat down beside me, and we began to make calls to inquire about Olivia’s last whereabouts.
I made a few calls, and soon, I saw the expression on Pierre’s face change.
“What is it? Have you got a lead?”
Pierre set his phone down and nodded.
“Yes. It seems that when I left, she didn’t go to school and went to a cafe across the street.”
I wanted to relax a bit, but I couldn’t until we had found her and were sure that she was safe.
“Alright. Call the cafe and check if she is still there. I’ll give you five minutes to do that.”
He gulped a little and called the cafe for feedback while I called the head maid at home to know if Olivia was back yet.
I called Doran and gave him extensive instructions.
“I need the pack borders closed…”
“What is the problem?” Doran asked. “You sound frantic.”
“Olivia is missing.”
Doran was silent. I could tell that he was searching for what to say.
“I’ll get it done immediately.”
My kitten had run away.
I tried to push the thought away as my mind overreacted, and suddenly, Pierre burst into the room.
“Forgive me, Alpha. I didn’t mean to intrude, but I think we have a lead.”
I glared at him and raised myself to my full height; every fibre in me was trembling, trying its best not to give away my fury.
“What’s the lead?”
Pierre stared at me with wide eyes and was cowering in fear.
“She… She went on a trip with someone called Jaxon after they left the cafe.”
I felt a vein bulge in my forehead, and my nostrils flared.
“Jaxon? That bastard!”
I got a call on my phone. It was from Doran.
“I am sorry to bother you, Alpha Andre, but the boy is back.”
“And he is alone,” Doran added.
I was furious and slammed my hand on the table. It shook violently.
“Where is he? Bring him to me now!”
“Calm down, man. I talked to Pierre already, and I’m bringing him. Where should we take him, though?”
I resisted the urge to snarl at him.
“Bring him home.”
In no time, I heard the sound of their car pulling up, and I headed to my study.
I burst into my study and saw Doran standing beside Jaxon, sitting on a chair.
I didn’t waste any time and rushed toward him. I grabbed his throat and hoisted him up into the air for all he was worth.
I could see him struggling in my grasp, but he was very mistaken if he thought I was going to let go of him soon.
“Where is Olivia?!”
He was silent but was still struggling. I threw him into the chair and slapped him hard on the cheek.
“I know that she left with you! Where is she?! You can’t lie to me. I want to know where both of you went to and where she is! Don’t waste my time!”
He turned to look at me, “I can’t tell you…”
I was about to slap him again, but Doran stopped me.
“Andre, I know that you are upset, but we aren’t going to make any progress this way. I think we should call his dad and have him here. We took his child without his notice. In a way, this is also kidnapping.”
I gritted my teeth angrily and withdrew from Jaxon.
“Fine. Call his dad. And make sure he comes here as soon as possible.”
Doran gave me a nod and whipped out his phone.
Doran got off the phone and turned to me.
“He said that he was on his way. Let’s give him at least five minutes.”
I grunted in reply but didn’t take my eyes off Jaxon for even a second. He was going to spill his guts on where Olivia was, or I was going to do it for him.
I curled my fingers into a fist, and I could hear my knuckles crack on their own.
Not long after, Councillor Maximus entered the room. I could tell that he was very concerned, but he tried his best not to give himself away.
“I am very sorry for keeping you all waiting. I was held up for a bit and…”
“Ask your son to tell me where Olivia is, or he is going to get what is coming to him,” I snapped, cutting Maximus off.
Maximus knew I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, so he fell silent. He took a deep breath and faced his son.
“What happened, Jaxon? Where is Olivia?”
“I can’t say, father.”
“I… I…”
“Speak! Otherwise, I will let the Alpha do whatever he wants to you, and you will cease to be my son. You have embarrassed me enough as it is.”
Finally, Jaxon lowered his head in defeat.
“Fine. Olivia is out of town…”
“Olivia said that she had something that she had to do for her late father and that it was very important. She said he had told her stepfather and mother about it and that they had refused her going, but she was going to go anyway.”
Maximus turned to me.
“Did Olivia mention anything about leaving for any reason to you?”
“No. She didn’t,” I shot back.
Jaxon stared at me angrily and continued.
“Well, she told me that she did mention it to you. She asked me to drop her off at the bus station, and she took a bus to the city. She said she was going to be gone for a week. That was the last time I had seen her.”
Maximus turned to look at me.
“Well, you have all the information that you need. I know that my son can be a bit stubborn, but he is not a liar. He has no reason to lie.”
I scoffed.
“He is going to be punished for aiding in this madness.”
“I was helping a friend!” Jaxon retorted loudly.
“Helping what?! You should have alerted me or Nicole the moment she asked you for a ride! Don’t you think that we have the right to know her whereabouts? Are we lacking in cars and security that neither of us could take her if it were truly urgent and important to her?”
“I understand that you are angry, Alpha, but I assure you, I will take care of my son’s punishment myself. He will be severely punished.”
“Fine. He is, however, not to leave the pack, and I will place him under constant surveillance.”
“That is fine with me.”
I let Maximus take his son, and I was alone in my study with Doran.
“I want every bus that went to the city tracked and checked and…”
“Andre, maybe you should leave her alone.”
I glared at him, but he continued to talk.
If this is truly important to her, you should let her do this on her own without interference. Her not telling you means that she knows that you won’t let her go. I can tell that you are over-protective with her.”
I shook my head and paced around the room.
“I won’t allow that. I know that something is wrong. I can feel it. And the worst part is that I don’t believe she is coming back anytime soon…”