Alx's P.O.V.

Shayla got her stitches removed two days ago. It was odd. She didn't protest at all. I told her I was there to take her to her checkup. She just nodded her head and came with me. Didn't utter a word. She's been avoiding me ever since. I asked Chris if she was ok. I know how dumb of me to ask. Of course, she isn't. And he confirmed that. I then asked is she had answered any more of his questions, he then informed me that she hadn't spoken to him for a week.

So, he hasn't been talking to other of us. Chris is becoming distant. I'm struggling. And the full moon is in a few days. I might have to lock myself up. Which doesn't send the best message. And I have to sit in this dam fucking non-important meeting.

"Alpha?" One of the elders asks, seeing that I don't care to be apart of this discussion.

"Yes?"

"We have noticed a change in your behaviour." Another answers.

I'm surprised they noticed. They haven't seemed to care in the past.

"We think that it's time for you to go looking for your mate."

I don't have to go looking for. Just have to find a way to tell her.

"And if you are unable to find your mate..." One trails off.
"There are many willing to take on the role." The other finished.

He did not just say that.

"My personal matters do not concern you." Giving him a stern look.

"You're an alpha. You should have found your mate by now. You might not be fit for the role."

Is that really how they feel?

"Be very careful what you say next." glaring at him. Getting my teeth. No doubt the pen in my hand is about a break from my grip on it.

"Alpha" I'm called through the mind link.

"What?" I say both through mind link and aloud. Trying to lose my cool on an innocent bystander.

'A child has gone missing. If you are able to give us your assistance it would be greatly appreciated.'My warrior answers back taking mind of my tone.

'I'll be right there.' getting up from my seat.
"I am needed elsewhere. Do not bring this up again."
With that, I leave the room.
-
"Details," I ask arriving at the sean.

"A child 6 years old. Her name is Nicky. Left the house to play under the agreement she would be back by 2. A very common thing for her to do. Does it almost every day. Seeing she wasn't home on time they thought she was just running a little late. And gave her a few more minutes. Seeing that the child still had an arrived home they went out looking for her. Unable to find her they called on me. And being unable to find her myself, I called on you. Her scent is almost everywhere. The whole pack is looking for her." Filling me in.

'Chris-'

'Already on it.' Cutting me off. "Her scent doesn't leave town and there is no sign of rogues nor hunters." Jogging up to us. He must have done a perimeter check.

I spot a couple holding each other. The woman has tears in her eyes. The man is trying to comfort her, I can see that he is worried if not terrified as well.

"I believe those are her parents?" Nodding my head in their direction.

"Yes." my warrior answers back.

I walk over to them.

"Do you have something of hers?" I try to ask as politely as possible.

Nodding her head the mother reviews a teddy bear. Must be one of the child's toys.

"S-she must have dropped it." Releasing it from her tight grip the mother hands me the bear.

Picking up the child's scent from the bear, I track it.

After following the scent all around town, I find myself for Chris's doorstep. I must be going nuts. But hey there's no harm in asking. So I ring the doorbell.

After moment Shayla opens the door, giving me a questioning look. Before I am able to ask if she has seen the girl. Shayla looks over my shoulder. Spring a glance in that direction I see that she's looking at the girl's parents. Returning my gaze to Shayla, I see and 'oh' expression on her face.

"Nicky, are those your parents?" She asks looking down to her side.

A head pops out from behind her. Must be the child. But why would Nicky be here?

Sporting her parents the child nods still hiding behind Shayla.

"Mind telling them to come over? I don't think they'll listen to me." Shayla asks nicely. Even going to the effort of putting on a slight smile.

So now she talks to me.

I gesture for the girl's parents to come over. And they do. As soon as they see you their child they are relieved. But that relief quickly replaced with anger. Seeing their child clinging to Shayla.

I know Shayla noticed this immediately. But she ignored it. Pretending to be unaware of it. Greeting them with an even brighter smile. Trying to make them believe she is nothing but a clueless, harmless and friendly human.

Looking away from the child's parents, Shayla returns her attention to Nicky and neals down.

"You have to go home now Nicky." She states nicely.

"But I don't want to go home." She protested.

"Nicky. You had an agreement that you would be home by 2. And you weren't."

"That wasn't my fault."

"I know it wasn't. But they were so worried about you. They want you home."

"But I want to play with you more."

"Nicky." Shayla warns.

"No. I want to stay."

Signing Shayla places her hands on the child's shoulders. "Nicky. They do not want you to stay here with me. They do not think that you are safe with me." Having to give away her charade.

With that, the child head snacks in the direction of her parents before quickly returning to Shayla.
"Why? You're so nice. you stopped those meanies. And you cleaned my boo-boo." The child exclaimed showing Shayla her elbow that has a small bandaid on it.

"Not everyone is nice Nicky. Remember that for me, ok?" Messing up the child's hair as she stands. "Now this is not up for discussion. They've been worried sick about you. It's time to go home."

After frowning for a moment the child knobs and runs back to her parents. "Mummy, Daddy" The child greets them as they pick her up.

Smiling again Shayla disappears back into the house.

Only if she would smile like that towards me.

Walking over to the child, I give her the toy back.
"Teddy!" the girl exclaims.

I smile.

The task is done.

The child has been found.

The child is safe.

And I believe that Shayla is the reason for that.

'Why? You're so nice. you stopped those meanies.' the child's words ring through my mind. 'you stopped those meanies'?

"Do you mind if I talk to the child." I asked.

A shock to look is placed on their faces for the moment. Before they reluctantly shook their heads and put the child on the ground so I go talk to her.

"Who were the meanies?"

"Just meanies that live two houses from me. They like to pick on me because I'm younger."

"Do you know they're names?"

She shook her head.

"How were they picking on you?"

"They throwed things at me. They took teddy from me. And they pushed me."

"How did Shayla stop then?"

"Shayla? That's a pretty name."

"Yes, it is. Did she not tell you her name?" Tilting my head at the child very slightly.

"No. But I didn't ask. I'm sure if I did she would have told me. But I asked if I could call her shadow instead."
"Why shadow?" That name reminding me of the story I was told as a child.

'She came out of nowhere. Almost as if she was a shadow. Like she came from the shadows. And she reminds me a lot of the character Daddy's telling me whose name is shadow."

"Ok." Laughing slightly. "How did shadow stop them?"

"One of the boys had pushed me that I fell over. Then the next thing I know shadow was my side helping me up. They must have sensed that she was human because they tried to hurt her too. But just as they were about to she turned around. And they just stopped. All she did was turned around and they stopped. And then they just left. It was so cool."

"They just left?"

The child nods.

"Then what happened?"

"I think she said 'I can't take her home. You said that you wouldn't leave the house. Can't leave her here' I think. Then she turned around. And I instantly asked if I could call her shadow. She smiled and said yes. Then she asked what she could call me. I said Nicky. She smiled and looked at scratches on my arm. She then asked if it would be ok if cleaned them. I said it would. So, she brought me here and cleaned my cuts. Then we talked. And we played. We played 'snakes and ladders'. We played 'guess who'. I wanted to play 'hide and seek' but she didn't want to. But that was ok. She taught me how to play chess. And it wasn't very easy but I won. Then we drawed. Her flowers are amazing!" She exclaimed.

"Yes. They are quite beautiful aren't they?"

"She saw that I liked them and let me colour them in. Then she was teaching me how to draw them. But then you knocked on the door."

"So that's why you didn't want to go home?"

She nods.

"Sorry I cut your lesson short." I apologise.

"It's ok."

'Well, it was very nice meeting you, Nicky. Maybe we could meet again someday. But you need to go home now."

"Ok, bye." Waving as she returned to her parents.

Standing straight I walk back to the house.

"Alpha?" Nicky calls.

"Yes." Turning around.

"Will I be able to play with Shadow again?" She asks over her father's shoulder.

"I don't know. It depends on what your parents say. But I'm sure Shayla wouldn't mind playing with you again." I answer.

Nicky smiles and waves again, being carried home.

I smile back at her, watching her leave.

"Everyone is dismissed." I commanded, returning to my blank expression.

But no one moved.

"You are dismissed." I repeat.

"But the human-" warrior.

"Is not a concern of yours." Cutting him off.

"Why is she here?"

"It does not concern you."

"Why is she staying at the beta's house?"

"It does not concern you." I repeat again, allowing my authority to come out. And that was enough to shut him up.

"The task is done. The child has been found and is safe. You may all return to your duties." Razing my voice, maintaining the same tone.

With that, they reluctantly returned to their tasks. All except Chris.

"That includes you." I inform him.

He opens his mouth to protest, but he closes it seeing it not to be a good idea. And sighs. "It's not like she's going to talk to me anyway." Returning to his tasks.