Chapter 24
Alexander
Alexander had suggested they park near cabin six. It’s the quickest route to their first stop. He hopes that Liam is right about the picture map. He’s not sure how to follow a bunch of pictures, but he’ll give anything a try. They’re not getting much information any other way. At least not until William gives him a call back.
They pulled down a small maintenance road not far from cabin six. Liam has his satchel with him like always. They were able to put shorts, a phone, and photos inside. Everything else they left inside the truck. Even the keys stayed with the truck. Keys jingled too much when you were running on all fours. After shifting, Logan picked up the satchel with his teeth so Liam could slip it over his head.
Hearing something in the distance, everyone stop to listen. With the mountains so close together, it funnels sounds. A scream echoed through the trees. Then he heard it like it came from feet away, Jessica screamed out for Michael. Alexander’s first thought is that Michael ran off again. Alexander bolted in that direction, not waiting to explain to anyone. They can come with him or continue without him. All he knows is that his family needs him.
The screaming continued along with cries, and sobbing. He must be coming closer to them since he can hear Madison’s cries. Not even looking behind him, he pushed on. He knows the others are following, he can hear them running behind him.
Alexander came to a steep slope, he stopped, and listened. He could hear a constant cry. Pinpointing the location, he narrowed his eyes. On the trail behind he can see movement through the trees. Knowing it’s them down at the bottom he took off down the slope, sliding a couple feet but managing to catch his footing.
Jessica and Madison are running down the trail just behind a thin patch of trees. Michael is nowhere in sight. Jessica wouldn’t have let him get too far so he must be around here. He can tell Jessica is panicking. She must have heard him coming because she turned in his direction. She no longer looks panicked, to him she looks pissed.
“Alexander, where is he?” Jessica yelled at him before he even stepped onto the trail. “Damn it! Bring him back right now! I’m not playing your fucking wolf games.”
Alexander had no idea what she was talking about. That is until he made it onto the trail. He stopped dead in his tracks, taking every scent in. There’s a shifter here, and it’s not Michael. At least not Michael alone. This scent belongs to an adult male shifter.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happened. Alexander went over to Jessica. She doesn’t appear to be injured. He licked Madison’s face to let her know she is safe, and she wrapped her arms around him giving him a tight squeeze. Now that he knows the girls are okay he needs to find Michael.
Caleb pulled some shorts out of Liam’s bag. Alexander isn’t going to stick around. He dashed up the trail following the scent of Michael’s fear. Even though the adult shifter’s scent is mixed with it, fear is the strongest scent. Some of the pack followed him, and a few stayed behind. He is grateful for the help but this just became his fight. This is his family they are messing with.
The scent suddenly veered off into the woods. If this person is from the same pack, why is he not using the de-scenter? This place isn’t known to bring in shifters unless invited. He must be with the pack. The scents led to a maintenance road. This must be where the shifter parked. Tire tracks are dug into the dirt like someone had peeled off.
Alexander isn’t giving up. The only way the vehicle could have gone is out to the main road. They ran down the dirt road, slowing when they came up to the paved main road. Just as Alexander wondered which way, he notices a trail of dirt from tires leading to the right. He had hoped they would go to the left. At least then he would know his son is still on the mountain. Going to the right will lead them off the mountain. Fear burned his throat, making it difficult to swallow.
He glanced at the others then took off to the right. Alexander didn’t know how far he would be able to catch their scent but he has to try. The road had sharp turns left, and right. They didn’t stop, not even slowed down. Going around a turn that’s almost ninety degrees, he’s able to see into the next turn. Blue lights are flashing from the sheriff’s jeep. Thinking that something may have happened to Michael, Alexander picked up his speed.
Coming around the last turn, Alexander took in the view before him. The sheriff’s jeep is parked on the side of the road. He slowed his pace a little, not sure of what is he about to see. He heard one of the others shifting. Logan stepped out of the woods, only wearing a pair of shorts.
Catching Michael’s scent again had Alexander moving forward. Walking up beside the jeep, he’s able to see the scene of a horrid attack. Blood darkened the pavement, a smear lead to the front of the sheriff’s jeep. Alexander and Logan stepped around the front. It wasn’t the scene he had expected.
The sheriff somehow managed to drag himself off the road. His uniform shirt is no longer covering his Kevlar vest. Instead the sheriff has it pressed against his neck, and face.
“Sheriff Carter!” Logan ran to the man’s side. “What happened?”
Alexander couldn’t understand anything the man is saying. Logan must not have either since he leaned next to the sheriff’s face and asked again.
“Did you see a small wolf?” Logan asked.
The sheriff nodded before screaming out in pain. Logan grabbed the mic from the sheriff’s radio to call for help but the line must have been severed during the attack. Logan explained to the sheriff he was going to call for help then went to the sheriff’s jeep to do just that.
Tire tracks marked the spot in front of jeep. They were the same as the ones on the maintenance road. Alexander knows Logan should stay here with the sheriff, but Alexander isn’t stopping yet. The road only goes a few miles before it forks off. One way goes to the interstate, and the other goes to town. Alexander isn’t even sure he will be able to tell which way, but he has to know. If they went to town there is still a chance they are in the area. If they got onto the interstate, then there is no telling where they are going.
Liam caught up with Alexander. Liam nodded when he caught Alexander’s eye, letting him know he is there to the end. To Alexander’s surprise, he felt relieved that Liam is there. Even with the unanswered questions, he still sees nothing but good in Liam. If you need something, Liam is always there to help.
Finally, they came to the fork in the road that confirmed Alexander’s worst fear. Due to a puddle from a recent rain, a clear trail of the tracks told him they went to the interstate. Turning to the right they followed the road to the on ramps. Frantically looking, he didn’t see any tracks. He couldn’t smell the shifter or Michael.
Alexander howled out in despair. He walked back and forth between the on ramps, desperate to catch the smallest scent, but there was nothing. Now Alexander will go into panic mode. How is he supposed to find Michael? What is he going to tell Jessica? How did this happen? Why did she even take him out in the woods? Michael is faster than humans, even if he is only three.
Admitting defeat, Alexander headed back to where Logan is with the sheriff. Maybe the sheriff has a computer on board that has the last vehicle that was pulled over on it. It didn’t seem like it took them that long to get back to Logan, and the sheriff. They walked up to Logan to see how the sheriff is doing.
“It will take a little while for paramedics to get here.” Logan said to Sheriff Carter but looked at Alexander. “I don’t think it cut an artery. Head wounds bleed like a son of a gun.”
Logan held up a ticket for him to see, and then put in in the satchel around Liam’s neck.
“I’ll stay here with you Sheriff.” Logan told him but really was telling Liam, and Alexander to leave.
Alexander nodded, he understood that two wolves shouldn’t be here when the ambulance, and police show up. They ducked into the woods to head back to Jessica. She must be out of her mind right now.
Chapter 25
Jessica
Je
ssica felt as though she was having a heart attack. Alexander came up without Michael. He just took off with no explanation, and everyone else followed, leaving them alone again. Madison hugged onto her legs, not letting them go. Jessica’s legs burned, and her arms felt like jello. She could work out every day for a week, and not be this damn sore. Suddenly the sound of shifting came from the woods where Alexander came out. After a minute, Caleb came running up, clothed in only a pair of shorts.
“Are you okay?” He asks stepping in front of her, and looking down at Madison.
“Physically yes, but no I’m not okay.” Her voice a more forceful than she meant. “I thought Alexander took Michael.”
“Alexander has been with us all day.” Caleb informed her.
“I couldn’t tell a difference. The wolf looked just like Alexander.”
“Did you see him shift?”
“No, if I did I would have known it wasn’t Alexander.” She replied sarcastically.
“He saw daddy.” Madison said then put her head back on her momma’s leg.
“Michael thought the wolf was Alexander?” Caleb asked kneeling down in front of Madison. Madison nodded quickly. “What were y’all doing out here?” He looked up at Jessica.
“We were a lot closer to the cabin. I wanted to get them out of the cabin for a walk.” She neglected to say before they left in the morning. “Michael was only a little ways in front of us, sniffing everything around. He saw the brown wolf, and took off straight for it. I didn’t see the wolf until it jumped out from behind the bushes, and snatched Michael up.”
Jessica started crying. She tried to be brave for Madison, but her heart hurt. She feels as though her heart is ripping out of her chest. How could she let this happen? Why did she even think this would be a safe place for Michael?
“It’s okay, we’ll find him.” Caleb tried to comfort her, but it was starting to piss her off.
“How is it going to be okay? My baby boy is with some wolf somewhere. I need him back.”
Madison squeezed Jessica’s leg a little tighter. She immediately felt bad for freaking out for a second. Regaining her composure, Jessica redid her ponytail and then picked Madison up to carry her down the trail in the direction the wolves went.
“Where are you going?” Caleb asked placing a hand on her hand to stop her.
“I’m going to find my son.” She turned, and continued walking.
Even though she knows she will never catch up, she can’t just stand around here, and do nothing.
“Let Alexander, and the others handle that. Come back to your cabin. You must be tired. I know Madison is.” He nods at Madison, laying her head on Jessica’s shoulder. She is barely able to keep her eyes open.
Feeling helpless, Jessica agreed, and turned around. Caleb offered to take Madison from her. At first, Jessica didn’t want to let her go. Although seeing as how her legs feel like they are going to fall off, she handed Madison over to him. They walked back towards the cabin.
Jessica had no idea they were this far away from the cabin. She wondered how far they had ran before the others came along. It took them over an hour to get back. Walking out of the woods, Jessica noticed other vehicles in the front besides just hers.
“How did y’all know to come?” Jessica asks. She didn’t call anyone because she didn’t have a signal past the wood line.
“We didn’t,” he replied. “We were further up the mountain, when we heard screaming from a distance. We went to see if someone needed help, and stumbled across y’all.”
She is glad they did come along. It would have been hours before she would have gotten out of the woods. Especially if she had to carry Madison the whole way; before she could even ask whose vehicles were here, she had her answer.
Every female in the pack came running around the cabin shooting off questions. It was hard to tell who was talking to whom. Makenna looked at the other girls, and they instantly shut up. Jessica wants to know where she learned that trick, so she can do that with the twins.
“I’m sure they are tired. Let’s get them in.” Makenna said leading them to the cabin.
“Where should I put her?” Caleb asks walking up to the door.
“First bedroom bed farthest from the closet.” Jessica replied.
As they entered the cabin, Caleb went straight to the bedroom to put Madison down. Makenna and Chloe went into the kitchen, and started shuffling around in the cabinets. Bri and Abby came into the living room with Jessica.
“Do you need me to get something?” Jessica asked Makenna.
“No, I’ll manage my way around. You just sit down.” She replied.
Caleb came back into the living room with Madison walking behind him. She came up to Jessica, and held out her arms. She reached down, and picked Madison up setting her down on her lap so she could rest her head.
“She woke up. I guess it’s harder than it looks.” He says with a half-smile.
“It’s alright. I knew she wouldn’t stay down. The twins have never been apart.” Jessica ran her hand through Madison’s hair.
“Michael scared.” Madison whispered.
“I know, baby. I know.” Jessica kissed the top of Madison’s head, trying not to cry herself.
“Bad wolf hurt star man.” Madison said a little louder. That certainly got Jessica’s attention, along with everyone else’s.
“What? What do you mean star man?” Jessica asked. “I don’t know,” she said honestly, shrugging her shoulders. “He had star, right there.” She leaned up, and pointed to Jessica’s chest.
“A police officer?”
Madison nodded, laying her head back down on her mother. Jessica put a finger on Madison’s chin, making her look up.
“Baby, how do you know this?” She asked looking in her daughter’s eyes.
“Michael tell me.” Madison put both her hands on Jessica’s cheeks. “He try. He try more.” She grinned.
“Madison, can you hear Michael?” Makenna asked joining the conversation. Madison nodded. “Can you talk to Michael?”
Madison suddenly became sad. She shook her head, but at the same time shrugged her shoulders.
“I not good.” Madison started to cry.
“Oh, it’s ok baby. You tried.” Jessica hugged her.
What she did know from Michael is still amazing to Jessica. She knew that the twins had a special bond, but she never would have thought it would go so far.
“Does Michael know where he is?” Jessica asks hopeful, but Madison just shook her head.
“Truck,” Madison commented.
Jessica’s heart skipped a few beats. It felt like it stopped altogether. Michael is in a truck to who knows where. She needs to get away for a minute, so she excused herself to the bathroom. She went to her bedroom, and shut the door before going into her bathroom. Closing the door after she entered, Jessica let the tears flow. She let herself go for a minute to let it all out. If she doesn’t there is no way she will be able to stay strong for Madison. Once she gets Michael back in her arms, they will go back home and not return to this place.
Before she realized it, ten minutes had passed. She stripped off her sweaty shirt, and ran some cold water in the sink. Washing her face with cold water, she hoped would hide the fact that she has been bawling her eyes out. Brushing her hair out; she put it back into a ponytail, and left the bathroom. She slipped a different shirt on before going back out into the living room.
Chloe had put on a movie for Madison to watch. Madison sat on the couch with a juice box in hand, and her eyes glued to the TV. She probably didn’t even notice that Jessica came out. Instead of sitting on the couch, Jessica went to the dining room table where everyone else seemed to be gathered.
“Have you heard from Alexander?” She asks Makenna.
“Nothing yet.
Jessica hates waiting, especially with this. She shouldn’t be here she needs to be out there looking for her son. Getting up, she went into the kitchen. Even though she doesn’t drink, a sh
ot of whiskey would be great. Since she doesn’t keep any liquor in the house, she will have to settle for coffee. All she can do is sit and wait. Not her strong suit, but she will try not to drive everyone crazy.
“Some of them are on their way back now.” Makenna told her an hour later.
“How do you know?” Jessica asked. The phone never rang, and Makenna didn’t leave the room.
“Sebastian told me.” She replied.
“I didn’t hear the phone ring.”
“It didn’t.” Makenna said simply. “It’s a mate thing, sometimes. Mates, that were meant to be, are sometimes gifted with ways to communicate.”
“Talk like Michael and Madison?” Jessica asks, and Makenna nods.
“Speaking of twin talk. Logan will be a while. He is still caught up with the sheriff’s situation.” Chloe informed them.
“You can do that with Logan, too?” Jessica asks Chloe.
“Of course, ours developed when we were five.” She explained. “Everyone is different though.”
“Not all twins are able to do it either. It’s all the luck of the draw.” Makenna commented.
Madison stepped into the dining room, and all talking stopped.
“Mommy, I have cookie?” She asks sweetly with her hand held out.
“Sure baby.” Jessica retrieved a cookie from the kitchen. The cookies have helped Madison; she hasn’t gotten sick since she ate the first one.
“After you finish this why don’t you go, and try to take a little nap. Your brother is going to need us to be strong.” Jessica gave Madison the cookie.
Madison nodded, and slowly ate her cookie. Jessica walked with Madison to her bedroom. She had finished the cookie before entering the room. She didn’t make a fuss about laying down for a nap, but she did have her momma promise to wake her up if anything happens to Michael.
After she covered Madison up, she gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. Madison would probably know before anyone else if something happens to Michael. Jessica prays that nothing will happen. She just wants her baby back with her. No matter how it happens, she just wants Michael safe.
Missing Mate (O'Neil Pack Series) Page 15