Chapter 3

Callum's Pov

 *Seven years later*

Another Friday afternoon, another bowl of popcorn and another glass of orange juice with Theo.

It had become a routine for both of us. Every Friday, the little man would skip school and stay back home with me, claiming he wanted to be like me because I didn't go to the Pack on Fridays. 

Some traditions were worth keeping.

We sat on the couch in the living room, staring at the flat-screened television, trying to find something exciting. 

The sound of the television in front of us was a bit distracting as I was trying to converse with Liam, my Beta, through our mind link. I wanted him to bring in more snacks and maybe a bottle of wine for me.

Theo seemed pretty invested, though, taking deep sips from his lidded cup while he stared at the screen.

Why he still uses a sippy cup at six, I'll never know.

“Dad?” The little thing cocks his head in that precocious little gesture toward the TV screen. "Who's that?"

I turned my attention to the screen and nearly dropped my glass. It was someone I'd recognized anywhere. 

Her straight dark hair fell down her shoulders, ending with bouncy curls at the tip of her hair, and it complimented the corporate gown she had worn. 

Her face looked a lot more serious, causing me to wonder if it came from the steely glint in her eyes or her pert expression as she took in the talk show host's comments, slowly nodding with an unreadable expression. 

I honed in on the words that were coming out of her mouth after she had received the microphone.

"... This man used *children* as drug mules. Kids aged 8 to 12 were caught with several pounds of these narcotic sweets. They're experiencing withdrawal symptoms as we speak.” Her voice breaks, and she averts her eyes from the camera. 

When they returned, though, I could feel the fire in them.  My wolf reacted, but I remained calm.

“Many people would say I'm putting myself in danger by investigating these type of cases but they're forgetting that I have over five years of experience investigating cases like these, and I haven't given up on any of them. All I know is that I will avenge these children. ”

The newsroom is silent for a bit as she takes a deep breath and spots her features.  

The host, a rather unremarkable man in his late 30s, gives her a quick once over as if memorizing her face. I didn't know why, but that gesture made me want to rip his head off. 

Then he turns to the camera. “Thank you, Ms. Slater. That concludes our talk for today. See you next time on—”

The TV suddenly goes off. 

Theo stood in the corner, blinking owlishly. “Dad, you look like you've seen a ghost.”

I sat with my elbows on my knees, carding a hand through my dark hair.

“I might as well have.”

I missed Lorraine more than I cared to admit.

I had to banish her because of what what she did and mostly, the other thing. Pushing Lana made it easier for me to get her away from me because keeping her would make me look like an unfair Alpha in front of my pack, so I did it. 

Whether right or wrong, it didn't make the pain any less.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair and closing my eyes. I could still smell Lorraine's scent on my skin.

The feeling of her warmth as she pressed her body against mine never left. 

I missed the way she would laugh at my jokes and the way she would run her fingers through my hair.

After watching that little clip, I realized she was not the same person I had banished seven years back; she had grown up, and she was doing a lot of significant things.

I face-palmed myself, knowing Lorraine was putting herself in deep trouble, yet she wouldn't listen. 

I watched as Theo returned to his seat, but he had a pen and a piece of paper in his hands. He was writing down something about Lorraine. 

I didn't think much about it as I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe I was being affected by Lorraine without even seeing her in person in years.

I had to speak with Liam. 

***********

“I have been calling her back all this time, and she has never replied. Now she decides to go out there and make more enemies?!” I was pacing around in my study room with my hand pushing my hair back as I tried to calm myself down. 

I sounded weary even to myself. Lorraine was the cause of my sudden migraine. It was the seventh letter I sent her telling her to come back here, but she never replied. I was sure she read them, yet she ignored them. 

“There's word about a bounty of two million dollars being placed on a female journalist by some mafia don. I wonder who that might be...?” 

Liam stood in front of the desk, delivering the outcome of the job I had sent him to do.

I wasn't going to take it easy anymore. Lorraine had to come back to me whether she liked it or not.

I couldn't leave her alone when she had almost half of the criminal underworld fighting for her head.

My head throbbed again, causing me to let out a grunt. 

“The video is blowing up online, too.” Liam suddenly said, and I turned to him.

"What video?" My brows furrowed in confusion at his statement, and I had not heard about any video.

Liam held out his phone, and I immediately tried to understand what else was happening.

My eyes widened as I saw many people being hauled into police vans while they yelled curses in that direction. The headache worsened as I realized who stood in that direction without a care in the world–Lorraine.

I immediately handed over the phone to Liam.

"Go to that City, and bring her back by any means possible even if you have to… " I immediately got interrupted when I saw Theo rushing into his room.

I wanted to ignore him when I saw the paper in his hand–The one he held a while back. 

"Give me a minute," I told Liam and went upstairs after Theo.

I stood by the door of his room and watched as Theo started to type something in the computer's search bar.

Using my enhanced vision, I realized he was searching for more information about Lorraine, but why?

He took up his pen and jotted other things down.

I wanted to walk up to me, but I waited for his next move.

Then he confirmed my speculation when he reached for his jar of money filled with hundred-dollar notes.

I never thought that Theo would put the weekly allowance I was giving him to such use.

"What are you doing, Theo?" I walked up to him with a slight smile on my face.

When I was at the proper distance, I crouched down to meet his eye level.

"I want her to help me," Theo said in a low whisper.

"What do you want her to help you with?" I was interested as to what this little genius had in mind.

"To find mom." His words caused a dull ache in me.

I sighed. I had told Theo that his mother would return, but I also did not know what to say anymore.

 Any decision to back his idea down would be futile so i decided to just let him.

"You don't have to do it yourself, Theo. I'll tell Liam to take you to the journalist, ok?" I smiled at him with my words, causing his face to brighten up.

I immediately took Theo down and handed him over to Liam.

"Protect him, Liam, and make sure Lorraine returns. Don't bother returning if she isn't with you." It was time I had to be serious.

If I didn't make a move now, I could lose my last chance of getting my mate back.