*****
I groaned rubbing my neck as I opened my eyes and blinked at the roof. I had been calling a few Alphas and right now I was certain I was right. Whoever was putting wolfsbane into the water was trying to drive us somewhere. Every Alpha or Beta I had spoken to said they were having the same problem. There was one city close by I knew had no werewolves in it. It was a pretty busy city so we all decided to call it joint territory so everyone could be there freely and without risk of starting any fights. I had asked Riley – the Beta of the pack closest to the area – to check it out. I was waiting for him to call back. It had been a couple of days and I was getting pressure from my pack to fix this, not focused pressure as everyone was also still concerned about their sick loved ones, but I knew everyone needed the water fixed.
Maybe they were driving us there to possibly ambush us... or maybe... they had the rogues that went missing and they needed a clean water supply that could be controlled to get them to talk. Perhaps both?
I sighed frustrated just as my office door click open. Assuming that it was my sister yet again checking up on me, I let out an exasperated sigh.
"Tamia, I said I would get lunch later. After Riley –" I stopped as I lifted my head to look at the door and felt my heart skip when the familiar scent hit me before I even saw him.
"So, this is it, huh? The infamous Galaxy..."
"Karabo... What... what are you doing here?" I whispered in surprise s I pushed myself out of my seat and walked up to him as he shut the door.
"Visiting. What? You're not happy about it?" he asked. I knew he was teasing because, as usual, he was unable to hide the happiness in his voice or the small smirk that played at the left corner of his lips. I gave a breath of disbelief.
"Of course I'm happy, I'm so happy." I hugged him. Despite the urgent distractions I'd had in the past few days, I still could not make myself ignore the longing, painful, worried feelings that came with him being so far away from me. It felt like I was constantly on the verge of full-blown panic. If I had not had so much more to worry about, I may have been unable to stop a panic attack brought on by actually thinking about him.
I felt his body vibrate lightly against me as he chuckled before his arms circled me and his face found its way into my neck.
"I missed you so much," he mumbled, his voice sounded strained and I felt that too. I shut my eyes feeling my heart race and finally let myself feel relieved and happy to be near him again.
As my wolf began to stir and my relief turned into a burning heat, I pulled back and nudged his face up so he looked at me before immediately kissing him. He responded quickly and with as much passion as I had given him, the heated kiss causing me to stumble back slightly as his hand clutched at my neck to keep from us breaking apart. I grabbed his waist and shoved him against my desk lightly without breaking our kiss before lifting his shirt off of him when we finally needed to breathe. I wasted no time moving my lips from his to his jaw. I missed that. His taste, the way my skin seemed to burn at his touch. It was a mistake not marking him before I left, maybe if I had we would have tried harder to stay together, maybe then it would have been impossible for us to just watch each other leave at the airport.
"What are you doing?" he mumbled as I sucked a spot on his neck. It was too clear, it needed my mark.
"I'm going to mark you." I whispered against his skin before I stopped to look at him, "I'm not losing you again." I added biting my lip, hoping he wouldn't object to it.
He smiled. "You never did, Eli. We're mates... All mates have trouble... And we're Alphas, we'll figure it out..." I smiled and he reached to take hold of my shirt and pull me close to him once more. I stared into his brown eyes as they burned back into mine suddenly seeming a lot more serious and intense. "Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked glancing at my lips. I chuckled as he kissed me again.
"You're not going to argue about this?" I asked against his lips feeling him unbutton my shirt. I was certain he would argue about being the one who was being marked.
"About the marking?" he breathed, "That would mean stalling. I'd rather we just get to it." He gave an annoyed growl after unbuttoning just two of my buttons and then tugged my shirt apart to rip through the rest of them.
"Right." I chuckled throwing my shirt off my shoulders and lifting my hands to pull his face back to mine. I felt his fingers dig into my arms as he tried to pull me closer than we already were, like it was at all possible as our chests were already pressed together. I wish it was.
Suddenly he shook me. I didn't break our kiss. I felt him shake me again as he broke away and opened my eyes but froze. I was in my seat, my head leaning back against the headrest. My eyes quickly darted around and I felt my heart drop as they met Tamia's that were staring down at me.
"You should have asked Ashton to take over if you were tired, he wouldn't mind. You're clearly in need of some sleep," she said.
My gaze moved away from her again, to the door that was open as she'd probably not closed it after entering and then to the spot of my desk I'd lifted him onto.
No. No. No. Please. Please, no.
The realisation left me dizzy for a few seconds as my throat quickly closed up when I focused on the bond that connected me to Karabo. I looked back up at her feeling shattered. My chest. It felt like something was crushing me. No. It couldn't have been a dream. I lifted my hand to brush my lips before touching my shirt-covered chest. But I felt it. I felt him... How could that just be a dream?
"Eli?" Tamia whispered appearing worried as she began to make her way around my desk. Seeing the way she was staring at me, I lifted my hand to my cheek and felt my fingers brush against something wet.
I drew my hand back from my cheek and saw the water glisten on my fingertips. There was no real moment for me to even comprehend that when a sob suddenly ripped through my chest causing me to bend over and I immediately hid my face from Tamia trying to control myself. I had not cried in a very long time, but now that it had started I couldn't make it stop. I felt my body shake as I tried to force the crying to stop but could not. I could barely breathe through sobbing. My chest felt so suffocating tight. I wasn't sure if I was relieved that Tamia was the one seeing me like that and not one of the other pack members and Ashton or if I hated that I broke down in front of her.
I felt so broken, I just wanted to shift and let my wolf take control of us for a few hours so that I could disappear and not have to feel. That was too dangerous though.
How could a stupid fucking dream hurt so much?
It was not just that, was it? It was the panic that came with what was currently happening to my parents. To everyone. How could they think I could take care of everyone? I had not even been alpha for that long. How was I going to clean the water supply? Even other packs expected us to do it. I felt like having him there would make me calmer, make all of it somewhat clearer when there was one less thing to worry about, but he was gone and it just added to everything right now.
"Eli," Tamia hugged me tightly and I rested my head on her shoulder still unable to stop the stupid tears. My chest still hurt, it hurt more with the crying. Tamia was silent as she rubbed my back.
My crying hitched as my phone rang and Tamia grabbed it from the table. I quickly brushed my eyes. She showed it to me and I saw Danté's name on the screen. I nodded at her to answer it while I wiped the rest of my face and cleared my throat.
"Hey, Danté. Everything okay?" she answered.
"Eli?" the person on the receiving end spoke. I narrowed my eyes, I didn't recognise the voice. "Is he there? Listening? Whatever. You must be looking for me."
"Looking for you? Who are you?" I asked, my voice not showing a trace of what had just happened.
"Where's Danté? Why doesn't he have his phone?" Tamia asked.
"He's with the others."
"What? Hanging out? Who are you? Give Danté his phone." I frowned. Why was he letting one of his friends call us? I knew I had heard the voice before, but I couldn't figure out which of Danté's friends it was. Actually, it sounded like a parent.
"He's..." There was a chuckle and I froze. I know that chuckle... That's not one of Danté's friends or their parents. "I need you, Alpha. They tell me you're as strong as it gets."
I narrowed my eyes. "Craig. You're the 'hunter'..." I said leaning back in my seat as I looked up at Tamia. Her eyes widened.
"Wouldn't call myself a hunter, that's too much work. I'm more of a... scientist. Anyway, Alpha. Here's the deal: you come to me so I find out how exactly you wolves work and you can have the kid back." he said.
"What are you talking about? Where is Danté?" Tamia asked.
"With the other wolves, I just said that. He's caged up, like you... things should be. He's not thirsty, but in case you haven't noticed, there isn't much drinkable water left for your type. He'll be starving until he's desperate enough to drink some tap water." Craig chuckled, "Or, Alpha. You could weaken yourself, turn yourself in and I won't hurt your brother."
The tap water where they are is polluted with wolfsbane as well. So if it turns out that that city is wolfsbane free, they're probably not there...
"He's not my brother, I'm not coming to you. Do what you want." Tamia's jaw dropped.
"I'm not stupid, Eli. It's amazing what wolves will say and do for a glass of wolfsbane-free water. I know everything about you." I clenched my fist on my knee.
I could not blame them for telling him things, he was torturing them... But I wanted to kill them for ratting on Danté, whoever they were. I wouldn't though. I understood...
"You're going to die if you don't let them go," I said sternly.
"You're not in a position to be running your mouth, Alpha. Your brother doesn't look too good. I love how you guys heal, it means I can I can do almost anything as much as I want and you don't die." I cringed hearing a loud smack but no one made a sound. "He's a tough little mutt, I'll give him that." Craig chuckled. Right, Danté wouldn't make a sound if he got hurt, especially since he knew it was what Craig wanted. I knew he would also have them kill him before he said anything that meant something to them. I looked at Tamia, she looked worried sick.
"Weaken myself...?" I questioned slowly.
"No, Eli." I shut my eyes hearing Danté cough and winced silently as another smack sounded. I waited for Craig to speak instead of replying to my brother.
"You have a great supply of wolfsbane for it. I'll give you three days, call you again and let you know where to meet me. Alone and I'll let the weaker wolves go. Come with a team and I'll have your brother's heart ripped out. That's how I kill you animals, right?"
"Why would I believe that you will let them go?" I asked annoyed.
"You have no choice but to." I grit my teeth as he hung up in my ear.
"Eli –" Tamia began.
"Don't tell Paps or Dad; they've got enough to deal with. I'll get Danté back safely, I promise," I replied.
"You're going to do what he says? Eli, are you crazy?"
"What choice for I have? He has Danté, Tamia."
"I-I don't know – but-but you can't just believe him, there's no way he'll just let them go."
"I know. I... I'll figure this out." He gave me three days to do that.
"Even if he lets them go, he'll have you!" She said.
"I can handle a human, Tamia. Get Ashton caught up." I said. She looked at me like she wanted to say something but decided against it as her eyes flooded with tears. I stood up pulling her into a hug, "I'll get him back, Tammy. He's fine. You talk to Ash, okay?" She nodded as I let her go.
I watched her leave my office, not closing the door and heard her walk through the house before she left out of the front door.
I bit clenched my teeth as the situation dawned on me. I should have checked on him, should have made him stay close by instead of leaving him at Inferno. Danté always hung out in human cities with his friends, it was so easy to get to him. I should have kept an eye on him.
How was I going to figure out how to approach Craig? I couldn't even think straight.
*****