Chapter 16

Lynx’s Point of View

            I had been asleep almost two hours after Mari’s call when Michael woke me. Alpha, we have a car coming from Alpha Winchester’s territory. He said that it’s very important to speak with you. He said that it can’t wait until tomorrow.

            Bring him to the pack house Michael. And thanks for letting me know. But tell him this is the second time he caused me to lose sleep. It had better be important.

            Yes Alpha. We’ll be there in five. He cuts the link. I sigh and roll out of bed. I grab a shirt and head to my office. In less than five minutes, Michael, Cass, and Tom are standing in front of me. I finish my fifth cup of coffee and stare at Cass. “What do I owe the pleasure of such a late visit from you Alpha Winchester?”

            The pup looked embarrassed. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep again sir, but it’s about Mari, your adopted daughter.” I look at him and I can tell he’s not lying. “Michael, would you make another pot of coffee, no, make that two pots. I think we’re going to need it.” He nods and leaves. I wave to the chairs and the men sit down. I look at him and growl, “Spill.”

            He looks nervous. “Lynx, I need to know about Mari. Everything you can tell me. We had a little spat and then she went to her room. I was about to go to bed when she…” He looked at his hands. “Well, what did she do?” I ask getting a little irritated.

            “I was about to go to bed when she links, links, with me. She told me she was sorry for getting me mad, and that she would see me in the morning. What kind of human could link with an alpha, and on top of that, one that’s not even in her pack?” I could tell that he was confused, but he wanted answers. And some of them, even I didn’t have them.

            “What I can tell you Cass is that Mari’s special. She lost her birth family in a Mutt attack, then again with her first adoptive family. Nina and I took her in when she was ten. We raised her as our own. We wanted to adopt her, but she didn’t want to lose her last her, the only tie she had left of her family. We don’t know much about either family. We do, however; know that the Bellflowers were wolves. But we can’t find anything on her birth parents. We just assumed that they were humans.

            “She’s been through so much. I just try to keep her in the pack and out of trouble. Nina and I are thinking of taking her North for a year, just for a change of pace. We think she needs it.” Cass nods, still looking at his hands. I open my mouth to tell him to give her time and space when my cell rings. I pick it up thinking that it was Mari. “Lynx McKlondon.”

            “Hey you old hound dog.” I look at the phone dumbfounded. Then I look back at Cass and Tom. “Would y’all excuse me? It’s kind of a private call.” They nod and leave, closing the door behind them. “Randy, you old sly coon you. Where have you been hiding?” I ask chuckling.

            “Oh, here and there mostly. The pack and I have settled on a little piece of land just northwest of Winchester’s pack. I’m thinking of buying it, and selling the old land to you or him. My little pack doesn’t need the memories of the place.”

            “I can understand that. So, why did you call? It’s almost three in the morning man.” I hear him sigh.

            “My men found a young girl in the woods. Thinking she was a Mutt, they surrounded her and knocked her out with a little sleeping dart, nothing to strong mind you.” He starts. I listen a little confused. “She took down five, five of my best men Lynx. I’ve never seen anything like it. This girl looked like a pro out there. It took a little bit for the drug to make her sleep, then Dean took her to the holding area. You know Lynx, I couldn’t believe that you would send a mute to do a job for you. But she can hold her own real good.”

            I hear movement in the background and a door closing. “I’m bringing her back to you in the morning. And you’re gonna tell me about this information you have on my daughter.” I groan and hit the desk with my head. I figure out that Mari had somehow escaped Cass’s house, headed up to the last little section to check. But I was still puzzled at the fact that she not only passed herself off as a human, but as a muted one at that. She went looking for her father and found him. She was supposed to tell him, not me. It was her idea to go in the first place.

            “Alright. Nina and I will be expecting you and Mari in the morning then, Randy. Take care of my girl.”

            “I will man. She’s sleeping now. You know, I gotta get whoever taught her those moves and get them to teach my men. They could learn a thing or two from them.” He starts laughing. “You should have seen their faces when they found out she was just a human. It was priceless.” He sighs. “I’ll get off and let you get back to sleep old man.”

            “The same to you Randy. Drive careful, oh, and don’t let her anywhere near the driver’s seat. She drives like a manic, not kidding.” I hang up with his laughter still ringing in my ears. “Cass!” I holler. He opens the door and slowly leans his head in. “Yeah?”

            “If we find out anything else on her birth parents, or on why she can do what she did, I’ll call ya.” He nods. I notice that his eyes seem a little glazed. “Damn! Lynx I need to get home. Something’s happened.”

            “Is everything fine?” I ask holding back my laugh. I guess his men just found out that Mari’s gone. Knowing her I bet the moment they thought she was sleep, she was gone. “Yeah, just something that I need to tend to. I’ll swing back this way in a week or two.” I wave and he leaves. “Mari might not be here then pup.” I whisper as Michael brings me another cup of coffee.  “Boss man, everything good?”

            “Yeah Mike. Mari’s bringing Randy Cortez here in the morning. Make sure that when they get here, both of them come to my office. We’ll need coffee and lots of it. Oh, and another thing, after they get here, tell the men to double up on all borders. This is important.”

            “Yes sir.” He nods at me and leaves. I pinch my nose and head back to bed. What I wouldn’t give for just one night’s sleep. 

Cass’s Point of View

                Lynx got a phone call during our meeting. I wish that he could have told me more about Mari. I can’t get her out of my head. My beta and I stepped out into the hallway to give Lynx privacy. I pop my knuckles, getting more and more anxious. I could hear Lynx’s voice, but I wasn’t really paying attention to his words. I know that he doesn’t like me. I mean come on; he calls me pup for Pete’s sake.

            I lean against the wall and just stare off into space. I link up with Red. Red, how’s Mari doing?

            She’s still asleep sir. I haven’t heard anything come from her room. And the guys outside haven’t seen any movement at all.

            Alright, just keep me posted if anything happens.

            Yes, sir. I sever the link and look at Tom. He’s crouched down, playing some game on his phone. I start humming bits and pieces of songs that I don’t really know, making most of it up. Tom nods and walks out the house. I sigh and rub my face. Now, to get out of here without making Lynx suspect anything. “Cass!” He yells for me. I open his door and lean my head in.  “Yeah?”

            “If we find out anything else on her birth parents, or on why she can do what she did, I’ll call ya.” I nod. Suddenly, I hear Red yelling in my mind. Boss, she’s gone! Mari’s gone. A small group of Mutts attacked, so I ran to get her to the safe room, but when I opened her door, the bed was empty. It looks like she was lying down for just a little while. But none of us can find her. And we’ve looked everywhere. We have three Mutts in the cells, and two of our guys got cut up a little, nothing to bad though. I could hear the panic in his voice. Oh dear goddess, please let Mari be hiding somewhere in my house. I look over at Lynx. “Lynx, I need to get home. Something’s happened.”

            “Is everything fine?”

            “Yeah, just something I need to tend to. I’ll swing back this way in a week or two.” I tell him quickly. Thankfully, he takes my words at face value. If he had pressed further and found out that his daughter might have been kidnapped by Mutts, I’d probably be dead. He waves at me and I close the door. I turn to Tom. “Let’s go. There’s been a Mutt attack at the house, and Maris’ missing.” Within five minutes, we’re speeding back towards my pack with me hoping and praying that she’s safe.