Chapter 32 Missing Teen and Alpha Summons

Sebastian had not been in a good mood since discovering the note on Sara's sofa the day before. He had mind linked the luna and alpha. Both had came to Sara's apartment an hour later. The luna had assured Sara that she wasn't in trouble and that she understood why Sara had kept the notes to herself. Sebastian didn't understand. He was mad that she hadn't trusted him enough to bring the notes to him.

You are not angry, Sebastian, you are hurt. The Luna said reading his thoughts. But think of this from Sara's point of view. She had been alone for so long that she doesn't really know how to reach out. She has made great strides in connecting that even a month ago would have been impossible. This morning she unintentionally shared her mind link with everyone in the dinner. They don't know her whole story but they know how she feels about this pack, you and how she wants to fit in here. Even last week she wouldn't have invited you to run with her in wolf form. Give her time. She wants to connect with you but this is all new to her. The luna explained.

She shared our mind link? Is she mad about that, she hates people in her head. Sebastian knew how she felt about her accidental shares.

She doesn't know. Most of the wolves felt her aversion to the link. They admire her for her courage in opening a link that she feared. They chose to stand aside and give her privacy.

The conversation with the luna gave him a new perspective. However it didn't make his disappointment disappear. It didn't help that Taron felt his own disappointment. Mate does not trust us. He complained.

She will. Eventually. Sebastian tried to assure him.

Four days after handing the notes over to the Alpha and Luna both Sebastian and Sara were asked to meet them in the Alpha's office. Sebastian had just taken a missing person case. He agreed to meet them in four hours, enough time to finish his meeting with the human couple and drive back to the packs lands.

Eight minutes later his cell phone rang. A quick glance at the screen and he asked the couple to excuse him a moment while he took an important call. He smiled reassuringly as they nodded sadly. They sat clinging to each other, their hands tightly clasped together, their legs and hips pressed together. If they had been Lycan then Sebastian would assume they were mates. The fact that they were human didn't preclude them from being soul-mates but it did make it surprising. Humans tended to rush into relationships so finding a soul-mate became a unique occurrence.

Sebastian answered the cell phone on his way out the front door.

"Hello, Sara." he said with a smile.

"Something happened. The Alpha and Luna want to see me in their office in four hours. I- I don't know why, Sebastian. Do you think I could be in trouble?" She asked sounding so concerned that he felt the need to reassure her.

"Don't jump to conclusions. They asked me to come too. I'm with clients," he glanced back at the two-story house behind him, "so it will take me some time to get there. I didn't get the feeling that anything was wrong."

"You - you don't think I'll be asked to leave the pack?" she asked her voice hesitant.

"No, they don't have a reason to evict you from the pack, Sara." he told her, his anger rising. He knew the reason she thought that it was even likely. Those stupid notes. The writer had used that exact threat to pressure Sara into leaving the pack by her own will. Thank the Creator that it hadn't worked. Sara didn't like being told what to do, even in a round about way.

"I don't know where the Alpha office is at."

"I'll meet you in the lobby at two fifteen and show you." he offered.

"Okay." she sounded so relived he had to smile. "Thank you Sebastian."

The next two hour passed slowly as he interviewed the couple, learned everything he could about their 16 year old daughter, Cadence Dianna Staves, he inspected her room and found no evidence she intended to run away. The fact that she had only been missing for thirty-two hours was a good thing. It made it more likely that he would find her.

"The police think she ran away. Because we argued a week ago they think she's acting out. I don't believe that. Something happen to her. You have to find her. The police aren't looking. They made up their minds." Mrs. Staves told him just minutes before he left.

"Mr. - Mrs. Staves, I'll do everything in my power to find your daughter. Please Email me that list of friends and acquaintances. If you think of anything else please let me know immediately." They both nodded and he picked up the picture of their daughter and a short list of her six closest friends, papers, and the contract for the investigation. He sat it all in the box with the other material on the case.

***

Sara hung up the phone and made sure she was clear to leave work early. She rode her bike to the dinner and bought a piece of pecan pie and a salad with strips of meat and feta cheese crumbled over the top. It wasn't easy to ride the bike and carry the bag. She didn't mind if the salad shifted around but she wanted to keep the pie slice intact. She heated the pie for 40 seconds in the microwave, plated the salad, poured a glass of tea, placed the pie on a tea saucer and sat at the bar to eat her meal.

She felt a push against her mind but refused to open the link.  Two minutes later  her phone rang and she pulled it from her pocket after placing the fork on the bar beside her plate.

"Miss. Allen, this is Benjamin Sheetz. I'm sorry to disturb you. I saw you come in a little bit ago. You have mail in the lobby it just arrived five minutes ago. I have already signed for the delivery but I need to know if you want me to put it in your box or bring it up."

"Oh, um I'm not sure. Who is it from?" Sara ask. She couldn't think of any reason she would be getting mail.

"A law firm in Ferndale. A Mr. Trevor Armington." Benjamin said into the phone and Sara heard a sound like paper shifting. "Would you like me to bring it up or put it in your box?"

Her heart beat just a little faster. "Bring it up please."

"I'll be up in a few minutes."

Sara eyed the pie even though she hadn't finished the salad. The butter had melted and the crust had broken and fell on to the plate. She picked up the crust broke it in half and ate the smaller piece. She whipped her fingers on a paper towel and picked up her fork. A few bites later she opened the door. Benjamin handed her the large manila envelope.

With a smile and a "Take care, Miss Allen." he left her as she closed the door.

***

He thought about the case most of the drive back to the pack. The girl had left her laptop, clothes, photos, and even her personal belongings. The calendar on her wall had appointments written in on upcoming dates. The date she disappeared was circled in pink ink but had no name, place or time written down. From all appearances the girl had taken only her cell phone.

This could be a bonus to Sebastian's investigation. The investigation contract gave him the right to investigate the girls phone as it was in the parents name and being paid by them as well.

He called Jasmine Roche and had her start a preliminary search on the girls phone. Jasmine was human but she had an uncanny way with computers. She had applied for the computer technician slash researcher job he had advertised. She had now worked for him for three years. Hiring her had been one of the smartest things he had ever done.

Jasmine had found her mate only months ago. Sebastian was pleased. Her mate was a part of his pack. Jasmine hadn't decided to be changed. But she had moved in with her mate. That most likely meant he wouldn't be loosing his employee. 

The closer he got to the  packs territory the stronger the pull of the mate bond felt. It felt like a string tied to his stomach. As soon as he entered the pack boundaries he glanced down at the speedometer and realized he was driving twice the legal limit. He slowed down. Lycans had faster reflexes and were less likely to wreck but it could happen.   

Sara was standing in the middle of the lobby waiting for him. She looked up and her smile radiated over her face. He felt a swift tightening in his groin. The mate pull pulsed between them.

"Hey stranger." she greeted and bit the corner of her bottom lip.  Her hand slide over her abdomen as if she were trying to ease the muscles there.

"Hey yourself." He smiled. "Ready to go up?" He asked. She nodded. They didn't speak on the way to the alpha offices. The Alpha and Luna's office inhabited the fifth floor. They were both situated in a suite doors away from the Alpha Apartments.

The office waiting room had Spanish moss colored paint, hardwood floors, four dark leather chairs, a grey loveseat, a pale rose and tan colored area rug, a 30 inch television mounted on the far wall, multiple plants  and a stone fire place with wooden doors on either side. Below the television sat a high table. An old wooden steamer trunk sat on the rug and served as a accent table. The room had a welcoming feel to it. Sara found the most interest in the deer skin hung on the wall. It was old and looked like one she had donated to the thrift store.

The door on the far side of the fireplace opened and the Alpha and Luna entered the waiting room from one of the offices.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A/N~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please don't forget to vote!

Please don't forget to share!

Please don't forget to comment!