ROWAN.
“… and make sure to have our contacts alert their security officials. Any strange person should be immediately noted,” I continue.
“Yes, Guia.”
“Has there been any news on the supposed spy?”
“None. He still has no idea who it might be.”
“And you are sure it’s not him?”
“Yes, Guia. I am sure.”
“Hmmm, that is unfortunate. Make sure that they all on a need to know basis, have the information being given to them fragmented, so that they will have no full picture of what we are doing. Any one who acts out of order should be apprehended.”
Alden gives one more nod before taking his leave while I relax back in the chair with an exhausted but relieved sigh.
“This must be the most I have seen you so focused for a while,” Lisa comments from her perch on the chair where she is laying on Rina’s lao. “The last time you were this intense was when we took over the pack. Planning, execution and the aftermath. I almost feel bad for Dominik.”
“I don’t,” Rina says. “He deserves to feel the full wrath of our winter wolf.”
“I am doing this for the coalition and not for revenge, Rina. Okay, maybe a little revenge,” I add at her skeptical look.
“You will hear no complaints from me.”
“Where did you last see Louis, Lisa? I thought he would have come up by now.”
“Upon your instruction, he didn’t follow you. He also looked very put out by it.”
“I just wanted to be alone for a moment,” I say. “You understand that.”
“I do, but I am not your mate, he is. The dynamic between you two is different than any other. You will not know this because you have never seen how a normal relationship works but the things you generally wouldn’t allow others, you will have to make a leeway for your partner. And he is your partner, right? You have accepted him?”
“Of course I have!”
“Great! Then show it. Stop pushing him away, let him in. As your mate, it is his responsibility to worry about you, you telling him not to is tantamount to telling him to stop breathing.”
“When did you get so knowledgeable about mares and relationships?” Rina asks with a taunt.
“I am full of surprises.”
I ruminate over what she had said for a while before getting to my feet.
“Where are you going?” Rina asks.
“To go find my mate and apologize for being such a pain in the ass.”
“Good girl.”
I roll my eyes at them before exiting the study.
Almost thirty minutes later of me searching the training fields, gym, kitchen and armory and there is still no sign of him.
“That’s strange,” I mutter as I return from his room where he is also absent from. “Where could he be?”
I head out of the mansion, into the very middle of the pack where I then stand still, and close my eyes, stilling everything around me so as to find his scent or heartbeat.
He is not here.
In the settlement.
And neither is Jhnelle.
“Deep breath, Rowan,” I say to myself as I hurry to the gates. “You trust him, remember.”
“Guia!” The patrol guards greet me the moment they see me.
“Hi, guys. Have any of you seen Louis or Jhnelle around? I can’t seem to find them anywhere?”
“Oh, they went out earlier. He said they were just going to the mall,” one of them responds.
“Really? Oh well. Thank you.”
“You are welcome, Guia,” they call out to my retreating back
Damn it, Louis
If you are mad at me, tell me.
What would he just leave without telling anyone and with my daughter no less.
It is like he is trying to piss me off.
And he is succeeding.
Though, I guess I do deserve his annoyance
Lisa wasn’t wrong when she said I was holding back from him.
But it is not intentional.
I swear.
I… I just don’t know how to.
Ever since I could remember, I have only been able to depend on myself.
Rina and Lisa might have changed that a bit, but I am still the same, independent, would rather keep things to herself, girl that I have been all those years ago.
Openness and transparency has never been for me.
I get into one if the trucks and rev it up, and I am about to pull out when Rian runs out, waving
“Hold up!” She shouts as she hurries to me.
“What is it?” I ask
“Do you mind getting all these for me?” Sha asks as she hands me a list.
“What is this for?”
“A… a gratitude meal. From you to Louis.”
“I am not cooking, and I didn’t plan this.”
“No, but he doesn’t need to know that.”
I give her a nod before driving off.
I hate coming into this town.
It is noisy and rowdy and unnecessarily colorful and yet so dour.
The depression that hangs in the air is draining.
Poor humans that have to slave everyday just to get a modicum of comfort.
Thank the goddess we are wolves.
I park the truck I’m one of those public spaces and begin my long wandering in search of Louis.
It doesn’t take long for me to find them by the swings, considering Jhnelle tagged along with him.
In fact, I am sure this was her idea.
I watch as they botha laugh at each other, clearly enjoying the presence of the other
The look in his eyes as he watches her brings warmth to me.
He really does love her, doesn’t he?
With a skip in my steps u head over to them just as another wolf notices him and makes a beeline towards him.
I slow my steps down to see what is about to happen, while staring my ears to pick up the conversation.
“Alpha!”
Alpha?
I watch as Louis startles and turns towards him, and a flash of recognition crosses his face