Chapter 7-A Mysterious Disappearance

The drive back to the city feels like it takes hours. I can feel Enyo pacing back and forth in my mind, and I’m trembling with rage and fear. Maybe I should go back and move his body. What if someone finds him or saw me and my truck there?

‘Goddess, I did not see today going this way,’ I think to myself as I check my rear-view mirror again to make sure no one is following us.

I finally turn onto Hilltop Road from Main Street, and easily find a parking spot on the quiet street outside Derek’s office. I take a deep breath and try to compose myself. I move the rear-view mirror to fix my hair back into a ponytail and realize I still have blood on my neck and hands. My face pales as I reach into my backpack and grab out the wet wipes I have in there and start cleaning myself up.

My phone suddenly rings on the seat, making me jump, and my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest as I look down and see that it’s Mom calling. I groan and consider not answering it.

‘You shouldn’t ignore her, Athena. She’ll worry,’ Enyo says.

I sigh and answer the phone. “Hi Mom, how are you?” I ask, trying to sound cheerful.

“Athena!” she squeals happily. “I’m good, sweetheart. How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks, Mom,” I say as I finish wiping my face. “How’s the pack?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

She sighs. “The pack is fine, Athena. Alpha Damon has been visiting other packs. Did you hear he found his mate?”

I snort. “Who cares? Just one more reason for him to move on and forget about what happened to us,” I say angrily.

“No one knows anything, Athena,” she says with a sigh. “Everyone is just trying to move on. You should too, sweetheart,” she says as she lets out a small sob.

“Sorry, but I can’t do that, Mom. I will not stop until I find out the truth. I owe it to Dad,” I say as tears well up in my eyes. “I left him alone that day. I should have been there to protect him…”

“That wasn’t your job, and your father wouldn’t want this, Athena. He would want you to take your place as our Gamma. Please come home. I need you here.”

“No. I have to do this, Mom. I’m sorry,” I mutter sadly as I pick at a loose thread on my sweats.

Mom sighs again. “Okay, Athena. Just promise me you will take care of yourself. I couldn’t bear to lose you, too.”

“I promise, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.” 

I end the call and cry, releasing everything I’ve been holding in since we left Stokes’ ranch. 

‘You didn’t tell her what the hunter said,’ Enyo says quietly.

I sniff and wipe my eyes. ‘What’s the point? It changes nothing until we have more information,’ I say.

‘I guess you’re right. Let’s find out what Derek knows.’

I nod and finish cleaning myself up, ensuring there is no more blood on me, and I put my hair back up into a ponytail. Then I step out of the truck and walk over to the small building where Derek’s office is. I walk through the main door, along the hallway, and stop outside Derek’s office door. Enyo is on high alert as I knock on the door and try to turn the handle to enter, but it’s locked. So, I knock on the door louder. “Derek! Are you in there?” I yell.

I press my ear against the door, but I can’t hear anyone inside. So, I go back outside to my truck and get my phone out. I lean up against the door of my truck and call Derek, but it goes straight to voicemail.

“Derek, it’s Athena. Where the hell are you? We need to talk. Ring me back asap.”

*

‘Athena, it’s been two hours, and he still hasn’t called back. We need to get into his office and see if there is anything in there we can use,’ Enyo nags me.

‘I’ve left him voicemails. He’ll call back soon. He always does.’

‘Athena, get the hint. He is not calling you back. So, let’s go around to the back door of his office and see if we can get in.’

I cave and put my phone in my pocket, get out of the truck, and go around to the back of the building. I find the back door to Derek’s office and try the door handle. 

‘It’s locked, just like the main door. What now?’ I ask Enyo. 

‘Do I really need to answer that? Break it down!’

I take a step back and kick the door in, and I walk into Derek’s office, but stop immediately. The entire office is trashed. “What the fuck?” I say, surprised. I take a few more steps into the room to look around. Every drawer of the filing cabinet in the corner has been left open and empty, and there are random pieces of paper spilled on the floor. The coffee table has been pushed over, and the plant that was sitting on top of it has been shattered on the ground.

‘The bastard has taken off!’ Enyo yells.

‘We don’t know that, Enyo. It looks like there’s been a struggle.’

‘Or he knew we’d be coming for his ass, and he’s cleared out!’ 

I bend over and pick up one of the pieces of paper and I read it out loud.

“Nicholas Teresi.

Male, 28 years old.

Member of the Red-River pack.

Current Status—Alive.”

The rest of the writing is covered in thick black lines. “It’s mostly redacted. Why would Derek have files that are redacted?” I think out loud. I look around at the other bits of paper.

‘Athena, your name is at the top of that one,’ Enyo says, and I bend down and pick it up.

“Athena Argos.

Female, 17, almost 18 years old.

Member of the Blood-Moon pack.

Current Status–Alive.”

‘Do you think this has to do with whatever operation the hunter was talking about?’ Enyo asks.

‘It’s probably just because I’m a client. Nicholas Teresi probably is too.’

“Then why is it redacted? And why does it have that you’re alive?” Enyo asks.

I walk over to another piece of paper and pick it up.

“Leo Watkins.

Male, 15 years old. 

Member of the Moonstone pack.

Current Status - Deceased.”

“The rest of the page is redacted as well,” I say, frustrated. I take a moment to think, then ask Enyo, “Isn’t the Moonstone pack down south in the desert, like Red-River?”

‘Yeah, it is. So why in the hell does he have information about packs from there? I thought Derek was from here?’

‘Well, Uncle Alex is the one that told me to use Derek. So maybe he knows something.’

I get my phone out of my pocket and call Uncle Alex.

“Hey Athena!” Uncle Alex says when he answers.

“Hey, Uncle Alex,” I respond. “I have a quick question for you. Do you know anyone from the Moonstone or Red-River pack?” 

The line is silent for a moment before I hear him clear his throat. “I know the Alpha of the Moonstone pack…”

I wait for him to continue, but he doesn’t. “And?” I ask.

“This isn’t a subject we should talk about over the phone. Where are you?”

“I’m at Derek’s office, which is another reason I rang.”

“Meet me at your motel room. I can be there in twenty minutes.”

“Is that necessary? Why can’t you just tell me?”

“Please, Athena…”

“Okay, I’ll see you in twenty minutes,” I say, and the line goes dead.

‘Is he getting senile? What the hell was that about?’ Enyo says. 

“I guess we’re about to find out,” I say as I go around the room and pick up the rest of the papers on the floor.

Unknown P.O.V

“The hunter failed. He’s dead. But the she-wolf has taken the bait in Derek’s office. She took all the papers I left behind.”

“Keep following her. I want to know every move she makes. If she gets too close, take her out.”

“Yes, sir.”