As Tanner and I are walking back from the woods I hear someone call my name.
"Cade, you fat lard!" I turn around to see two angry lesbians marching towards me. Abby and her girlfriend, Crystal--the one who spoke.
"I'm not fat, this is muscle," I say defensively once they're within earshot.
"Whatever," Crystal rolls her eyes, her hands on her hips, the epitome of sass, "have you seen James at all today?"
I'm taken aback by the question, and deciding I can't say the whole truth I just shake my head.
"Told you, let's go ask his boss," Crystal turns to Abby.
"Why do you ask? What's going on?" I press, how much do they know?
Crystal looks me up and down with a disapproving look. She also body checks Tanner who shifts uncomfortably under her reproachful glare.
"He won't answer any of my calls this morning and when I saw him last night... he didn't look so good," Abby explains in a weak voice. All her fire from this morning has burnt out, Crystal on the other hand seems to have inherited it tenfold.
"Maybe he just shut his phone off?" I suggest, not wanting to worry her but I'm a really awful lier and Crystal glares at me critically.
Tanner takes my hand, he can tell I'm drowning here. "I'm really sorry we can't help you more, ladies, but Cade has been with me all day. I really hope you find him, and I hope he's ok." Tanner finishes sincerely.
Abby looks satisfied and Crystal doesn't say anything. "Thank you, Martian isn't it?" Abby asks in a small voice.
"Yeah," Tanner gives her a half smile and a nod.
"My name is Abigale and my girlfriend is Crystal. Maybe we'll see you around," with a slight wave the two girls continue down the street away from us.
"Are you hungry?" Tanner asks me as we keep walking down the street as well.
"No," I say quietly, my mind still on James. What will the explanation be if we don't get him back alive? How will I explain this? Can I?
"Me neither," Tanner agrees, but he can tell I'm not listening.
What if Tanner and I don't get out alive? Let alone James, what will be of my pack? Ben is a great beta but is he ready to be an alpha?
Tanner squeezes my hand and I return to the real world. "You worry too much," he smiles at me. We've been walking for longer than I realized as I see the peer a head of us. He walks me out onto the short dock and we lean on the railing, staring out over the foggy ocean. Heavy storm clouds hang low over head, misty sea spray blurring the horizon into a dark gray smudge.
"Do you think James is ok?" I ask aloud knowing Tanner won't have an answer. "I'm afraid he'll see things I can't explain, and that I'll have to tell him the truth. I don't know if he can handle it... there's a reason I didn't tell him in the first place--"
"Can we not talk about your ex-lover, right now?" Tanner snaps and I look at him shocked.
"What do you mean?" I ask surprised by his tone.
"I'm sick of hearing about James all the time. It feels like he's everywhere! Can't we go—I don't know—fifteen minutes without talking about him?" I hadn't realized how angry Tanner was about this. I didn't expect this from him.
"Well what do you want me to do? Forget him? He's missing, I can't ignore the feelings we share!" That strung, he flinches away but the anger hasn't left his eyes.
YOU ARE READING
The Alpha's Choice
Werewolf(Previously titled Well I Don't Give a Shit) Alpha's have a lot of responsibility. They have to make big decisions for their packs, but sometimes those choices are made for them. A decision was made for me, and I couldn't go against it, even if I wa...
