ENDURING {Sequel to Everlasting} ❗️EDITING ❗️

Chapter 74

~ Hardin's POV ~

"Can you pass on my message? It's been ten days and I haven't heard anything." I near growl down the phone, sick and tired of these games.

"Sir, the Elders cannot contact Miss Slovak whilst on duty, I've told you this." The male responds with that same fucking bullshit.

I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. "Something has gone wrong, it's their responsibility to check in, is it not? She said a week-"

"A week?" He seems surprised by this. "Sir, Miss Slovak is on duty for the rest of the month."

What?

"Are you certain?" I speak through gritted teeth, seething as I glare forcefully at the wall.

"Yes, Sir."

"And there's nothing else you can tell me?" I bark in anger, my usual restraint long gone.

"It's really not in my jurisdiction, Sir." Is the response I get. Professional and familiar. A response I'd give when being pestered about something and it's got fuck all to do with them.

Slamming the phone onto my desk, I rise quickly from my chair.

The idea of my mate being out in the world is already unnerving, but to be told that she's lied to me, is even worse. What reason would she have to lie to me? A question I very well know the answer to.

If she'd told me the truth, I'd of done everything in my power to keep her locked up. Kalli is out there, risking her life because of an agreement she made with the Elders.

Is she eating? Is she warm? Sheltered? Does she have enough guns? Is she sleeping properly? Is she safe?

Of course she isn't safe. If she was, she would have told me about the job. She'd have explained some random asshole that needed taking care of, I'd of grinned and told her to do her worst.

Fuck!

"Any luck?" Zeds voice echoes as he catches up to me in the hallway.

"None." I grunt, dismissing him.

I've never been the kind of man to lie, I value honesty about all else. And yet here I am, a goddamn hypocrite as I lie to my beta, to my pack. All they know is Kali took a job, if they find out she's lied to not just them but their Alpha, her own mate, they'll turn on her in an instant.

Wherever she is, I pray to the fucking noon that she's safe. Because if she doesn't come back...I worry for what I will do to those who sent her to her death.

*

~ Jackson's POV ~

"Any sign?"

"Not yet. Her phone must have some kind of blocker, last place it's locating is pack land." The computer whiz kid who looks far dumber than he is, responds regretfully.

"What about cameras? Did you manage to track the plane she took?" I question, leaning against the desk as I stare at the screens.

"There's no trace of her, I'm telling you someone's covered her tracks completely." The male says with confidence, his eyes slightly wide as if he's never seen something like this before.

"Jesus...there must be something, there has to be.." I exhale, dropping my head in defeat.

Where the hell are you, Kali? I know she didn't just leave, she made that mistake once, she wouldn't do it again. This job that was supposed to be a week, has escalated into ten days and there's still no sign of her.

It's even more peculiar that there's no trace of the plane she took, the pilot that flew her, or where she dumped her car.

Something isn't right. Hardin feels it too, I think he felt it before she left but didn't want her to leave on bad terms.

A stressed-out Alpha is a dysfunctional Alpha, and that means a dysfunctional pack. Hardin is saving face in front of the pack, for their sake. But everyone feels the tension, the looming silence of his wolf ready to burst free and go in a rampage.

I only hope he's capable of containing himself until she's back. What if she doesn't? That nagging voice comes back, and that awful feeling in my gut returns.

She will.

She has to.

*

~ Katalayha's POV ~

I gasp for breath, my lungs tight and burning for oxygen. The foot that has slammed me against the ground doesn't lift, threatening to crush me beneath it.

I drift in and out of the darkness, like I'm being thrown back and forth between life and death. The only thing standing between that, is my will to survive.

It's not about tomorrow, or next week. I thought I was surviving before, but I was wrong. THIS is surviving, a human amongst lycans, lower on the hierarchy that a dog.

By day I am condemned to a tiny prison build into the ground, the door above me, out of reach. By day I am dragged out, given a choice between the many things I need to survive out here. Forced to fight for it, for their entertainment.

And the day I tap out...that's the day I die.

I fear that day is coming, far sooner than I ever expected.