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Nineteen

Dean was pacing the living room when we stepped inside. He was alone, which was unlike him. When we stepped inside, Dean stopped and looked at us. "About time. I called you both for over an hour. Don't either of you keep a phone on you?"

I rolled my eyes. "We were at the beach. It wouldn't have done much good."

"Have you seen Bentley and the girl?"

"They were with us."

"What's going on?" Gage asked.

Dean ran a hand through his hair. "Carter's missing."

"What do you mean he's missing?" I asked. Knowing Dean, Carter was probably hiding and hadn't been found yet in a game of Hide and Seek. It was childish but it was something they did, especially as wolves.

Dean glared at me like I wasn't catching on. "He's missing. I can't find him. I can't get through to him."

"Did you try looking for him?"

He exhaled loudly and fell back on the arm of the couch. "Gee, I hadn't thought of that. I'm glad I waited hours on you two to get back and tell me to do that."

Gage sighed. "Come on, Dean. Don't be so rude."

"Well excuse me for freaking out and thinking something happened to everyone."

I walked over to the phone and dialed the number for the hardware store. A man answered, clearing his throat before he spoke. "Burt's Hardware. Burt speaking."

"Hi, sir. It's Victoria. Can I talk to Evan or Noah?"

"How are you doing, sweetie?"

"I'm okay. I'm just in a hurry."

"Yes, yes. I'll go get one of them."

"Thank you."

There was rustling in the background before I heard a Evan's voice yell directions on how to find the weed eaters. Then he spoke to me. "Hey, V. What's up?"

"Is there any way you can leave work now?"

"You okay?"

"Carter's missing."

Evan cursed and I heard more rustling in the background. "We're on our way."

"Wait, stop by my place and see if he's there first."

"You got it."

I put the phone back on the receiver and saw Dean and Gage staring at me. "Noah and Evan. They're gonna stop by the house and see if he's there."

"We should start looking for him." Gage said, meeting my gaze.

"Actually, I want V here in case he comes back." Dead said, already standing at the door.

"He's my brother. If anyone's going, it's me."

"He's the pack leader. We're going." He said, pointing to him and Gage.

"Dean-"

"You're not a werewolf, V. You can't keep up and I'm not risking losing Gage if he loses his focus over you."

I glared at him.

Gage kissed my forehead. He was trying to reassure me but it only made me more mad. It wasn't fair that I couldn't help find my own brother. It wasn't my fault I wasn't a werewolf. "We'll find him."

I rolled my eyes.

The two of them left and I was stuck by myself. Left to worry. That was all I was allowed to do.

My life had gotten more stressful since I left college. I thought college was supposed to be the hardest few years of my life. I'd never felt more stressed out.