Where He Belongs

Thirty-Six

A/N: I got my laptop! Finally! You can all start to expect normal updates again. This is just a little one to peak your interests again. Thanks so much for sticking with me!

Peace Out, Girl Scouts

~Kate~

My punishment?

I was locked in this damned room again. I paced in front of the locked window. All I wanted was to feel the sun on my pale skin. I wanted to absorb the warmth... I rested my forehead on the cool glass and sighed. Nothing would ever quite work out in my life. I missed Emory so much it felt like a constant stomach ache. All I could think was, if I had gone on that date with that a-hole I could have fled with Emory...I could have been with my family.

I supposed that meant I had picked men over my own pup... Maybe I deserved this?

Axel said he'd be back in a few hours so we could get ready for this 'pack gathering'. I told him I wanted nothing to do with it. As usual he'd just glared at me and told me I'd "do as you're told!". I didn't argue with him when he looked that angry... I didn't want him to hurt me. I could stomach why I had feelings for this man and I knew we had a really long way to go if he expected me to love him. That was it, wasn't it? I didn't love him, I lusted him. And that couldn't be a good foundation for our mating...especially if he felt the same.

I sat back on the bed, hands clasped in my lap. I tried to think about what my Emory was up too. Probably being his adorable, mischievous self. Just thinking about him made my eyes prickle with tears. I wanted to be with him and because of my so-called mate, that wasn't an option. I took a deep breath. This was all so hard to cope with and it hurt that Axel didn't care. Not that was surprised. He was completely comfortable with his father treating me like some object meant to be bred and nothing else. Just thinking about it made my stomach clench and my blood boil.

The door opened and I looked at the stranger who looked equally confused. The well built man looked at me with a tipped head. "Uh...is Axel here?"

"No. Who are you?"

The male looked at me. "Name's Chandler, however I could ask you the same thing."

"Colton." I said softly. "Axe left a while ago. I dunno where." I drew my knees to my chest and hugged them. "He didn't tell me."

Chandler nodded at me, turning to leave. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Fine." I forced a smile. "I, uh, hope you find him?"

The stranger chuckled. "I'd say I want to find him just as much as you want to see him..." he suddenly looked uneasy. "Uhm...he's not hurting you, right? I mean...you're here and--"

"I'm fine," I lied. "Axel wouldn't hurt me."

"Huh." He said, looking at the bruise on my face.

Instead of addressing the mark I ignored him. The man shifted a bit on his footing, clearly trying to think of something to say to me. Finally the silence grew ackward enough that I managed to dismiss him with a, "Well. I hope you find him."

He smiled, seeming relieved to be able to escape the moment as well. He gave me one, final, fleeting wave and then was gone. While the tense awkwardness wasn't there any longer, the loneliness began to really set in. I was missing Emory more and more each day and all I could was hope that my pup was safe and alive. And it was nothing short of torture. The sound of arguing captured my attention. I welcomed the distraction for the sense of emptiness in my chest and slid off the bed, moving toward the door. With my ear pressed against the hand carved wood door I was able to hear them speaking clearly.

"--the fuck were you doing in there?"

"Nothing, Alpha, Jesus. What? Afraid I'll tell someone about the omega you've got trapped in there?"

"Its not what you think," snarled Axel venomously and I worried for the ackward, though mouthy stranger. "Now I suggest you back the hell off before I make you!"

The power struggle was a quick one, the man mumbling a meek, "Sorry Alpha. It's none of my concern. I just wanted to tell you that your father moved the meeting up an hour. Thought you should know."

"Son of a bitch," huffed Axel. "Uh...okay. That'll be fine. Just go spread the news. I'll be there--we'll be there."

"You and the omega, sir?"

"Just go, Chandler."

"Yes Alpha."