Opal

18 ☽ A creature unknown

Keifer POV

We've only been driving for a few hours when the weather slows. The snow storm has calmed, winding down to a soft flurry rather than a gusty downpour. I sit impatiently in the front seat, ready to find my mate. It's pitch black outside, night descending quickly.

I don't doubt that Opal is capable. She's strong, and she's smart. She undoubtedly knows how to take care of herself on the journey down to Colorado. I just have a bad feeling deep in my gut as I stare out the window at the misty mountain scapes. It's like my intuition is trying to tell me that there's something more going on, something that I don't know about.

Glancing at Ace, I decide to shrug it off for now. I should be putting all my energy into finding Opal instead of worrying about unknowns. There's no way to find out everything until I find her, or grill her Dad. I decide on the latter for now, because it will get me some answers sooner.

"So, how was Opal doing before, you know.." I trail off as Ace turns his full attention on me. He stares at me with too much scrutiny for me to feel comfortable.

I clear my throat, not knowing where to look.

"What, before she ran off in search of your sorry ass?" He questions, throwing his head back in the direction of the road and shaking his head. "I don't know what to tell you, kid. She was quiet, reserved. She still talked about you on occasion, and I knew she missed you. I just... I never thought she would do something this drastic."

I detect the pain and frustration in Ace's voice, it's an intimate side to him I've never seen before. He's typically joking and laughing so much you can't see what's on the inside.

Obviously, I don't point this out. I want to get as much as I can before his wall goes back up.

"Did you notice any changes or anything with her? Before she left?" I dig, and Ace's knuckles turn white as he clutches the steering wheel.

He's gone so quiet that I don't even detect his breathing. The only noise in the Suburban is the windshield wipers fighting the snowflakes.

"She tried to pretend that she was alright, but I knew it was bull. She just seemed to be doing better when she disappeared. I was patrolling the borders when I got the call that Opal ran away. Rain went to her parents and told them, but she passed out before she got through the whole thing. She started her shift mid sentence."

I lean forward, Ace grabbing my attention with both hands.

"What did she say?"

"She said that Opal was leaving to find you, that you two are mates, and something about finding you before it was too late."

I feel my eyebrows climb my face, my forehead furrowing.

"Too late? What did she mean by that?"