VIKTOR
“What do you mean she is missing?” I demand as I stare into her eyes, the same panic and fear I feel at her words is reflected in hers.
I might have just known Jhenelle for a few days but I swear I could kill for her already.
Even more so, since she is my mate’s child.
“What happened?” Alden asks as he hurries over to us.
“Rina… Rina called, she said the teacher that was… that was meant to watch her can’t find her. They have been looking for her since we left!” she says.
“Damn it!”
“Where could she have gone to?” I ask, trying to keep everyone focused.
“The cameras caught her sneaking into the back of one of the jeeps. But when I checked them now, she is nowhere to be found.”
“So that means she is somewhere in this town,” I deduce. “The jeeps were all packed in front of the building, right?”
“Yeah,” Alden responds.
“And while we were there, no one saw anything,” I continue. “Which means she must have gotten out when we came over here.”
“So, she can’t be far away,” Alden summarizes.
“Exactly!”.
“Okay then,” he says before turning to the rest of the wolves gathered. “Everyone spread out! We need to find Jhenelle. You all have her picture on your phones right?”
There is a murmur of assent before he continues
“Good, use it. Come on, she couldn’t have gone far!”
As he gives his instruction, I turn back to Rowan whose eyes are wide with unshed tears.
“We are going to find her,” I tell her as I grip her hands firmly. “Believe that.”
She nods her head vigorously at my words, too overwhelmed to say anything.
“We will search together, is that okay with you?” I ask.
“Ye… yes. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
As we walk away, I exchange a glance with Alden as he watches us, watches me, before giving me a firm nod and walking away.
Okay… to whatever that meant.
“Is there a particular place she favors in town when she comes visiting?” I ask as we begin our search, heading to the more congested part of the town.
“She rarely ever comes into town,” she answers, her voice fraught with barely held back tears. “Her days are spent within the settlement and even when she dies come into it with me, she never leaves my side. Oh, goddess. What if something bad happens to her? What if she is kidnapped? The humans can be so cruel with kids. What if…”
“Enough with the what ifs,” I say, cutting her off. “You will just work yourself into a frenzy and that will not help us achieve anything. We need to remain focused and calm. Clear headed, okay? Can you do that?”
“Okay. Yeah, yeah, I can.”
I watch as she takes a deep breath to center herself, her eyes closed as she breathes in and out. The tension somewhat reduces from her shoulders and I watch as she straightens herself.
Finally, she opens her eyes and all I see is determination and clear focus.
“Alright, let’s do this,” she says, her bossy attitude back in play. “You take the second floor, I will take this floor. Once we are done and we find nothing, we meet on the third floor, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say with a mock salute before walking away.
For what feels like hours, I am searching through every store, restaurant, play pens, looking into the face of every child, turning around at the sound of any familiar voice.
Stoll nothing.
Trying to scent hee out is basically futile. Impossible really, with the overwhelming odors, of sweat, bodily fluids and other things of the humans around.
Jhenelle’s childish and weak scent will be practically overshadowed in this place.
So, I settle for showing her picture I had gotten from Rowan to the security guards, all who replied in the negative.
In defeat, I head towards the third floor where I see her waiting for me.
“Nothing?”I ask.
“Nothing,” she replies. “So, we move on to the next floor.”
“Actually, I was thinking, why don’t we ask the security guards, or more specifically the ones in charge of the CCTV. We can use it to check if she had even come here in the first place.
“That is a good idea,” she agrees. “But it is such a large place and might take more time. Besides, will they want to stop watching the whole thing just to help search for a kid?”
“You have contacts, right?” I ask. “Why can’t we use them to put pressure on them?”
“Yeah, you have a point. I will do that now.”
I watch as she makes a call, speaking quickly as she genuflate with her hands, her agitation bleeding through.
“He agreed. He will meet in front of the mall in ten minutes. Let’s go.”
“Actually, I was thinking I would continue searching,” I tell her.
“What?”
“There might be blind spots that the cameras don’t pick. We can’t afford that.”
She looks at me for a few seconds, suspicion waring with the need to find her daughter.
“I promise I won’t run away. I am just as invested in finding you daughter as you are,” I try to assure her. “I will search through all the floors and if I don’t find anything, I will meet you in the watch room. Go,” I urge her.
She gives in as she nods her head before turning and hurrying away.
She is a good mother.
I continue on to the other floors, diligently searching every store, stalk, bathroom and play areas, while continuing my questioning all to no avail.
I eventually give up and begin heading down straight to Rowan.
With any luck, she would have made headway and found her.
Really, though? How mischievous can a kid be.
I arrive at the ground floor and begin making my way when a familiar voice stops me cold.
“Alpha?!”