20. Max

Chapter 20

Max

F eeling like I've barely slept, I wake up to the sound of my alarm blaring. Groaning, I reach over to silence it and force myself to sit up. The farmhouse is quiet, too quiet. It's been like this for days now, with Jack and Sam spending more and more time away.

Rubbing my eyes, I head to the bathroom for a quick shower. The hot water does little to wash away the tension that's been building up. As I dress for work, I catch a whiff of Lily's scent lingering on the bouquet of flowers that sit on the chest of drawers, looking a little beaten after being thrown in the bin and kicked across my office. I don't even care who they are from anymore. All I care about is Lily's faint scent clinging to the petals and stems in a way that makes me think it's doing it on purpose. Taunting me.

"Prick," I mutter and give the bouquet the finger. It doesn't make me feel any better.

I clench my jaw, trying to ignore the way it makes my stomach flip. Keeping this around is not doing me any favours, especially after Jack walked out on our meeting yesterday. Just got up and fucked off. What does that even mean? That he doesn't want to mate at all or doesn't want us to mate with Lily? I don't even know her, for fuck's sake. This is getting to the stage where I'm going to take my mother up on this damned list just to force everyone's hand.

I growl, the prime alpha in me rearing to the surface. Jack and Sam need their arses kicking majorly if they think they can get away with this bullshit much longer.

Downstairs, the kitchen is empty. No Sam making coffee, no Jack rustling up breakfast. Just me and the sound of the kettle boiling. I make myself a strong cup of tea and grab a piece of toast, eating on autopilot as I scroll through my emails.

Mostly work shit, but there's one from my mother. Another gentle reminder about finding an omega. I delete it without reading further. The last thing I need right now is her meddling.

As I'm about to leave, my phone buzzes with a message from Sam. "Catch you later. We need to talk. Me and you."

"No shit, motherfucker," I snarl and jab that into my phone.

He replies with the laughing crying emoji which makes me send him the finger back.

Did I mention this week blows? Because it does. I've never been the type of prime of this pack to get them to do what I want by laying down the law. In my mind, that's not how this should work, but I'm close. Really fucking close to using that power over them unless they start treating me with respect.

"Fantastic," I mutter, shoving my phone into my pocket. "Now you're making me all arsehole-y when I don't want to be."

The drive to the bank is annoying because the temporary light is still up, making life difficult for everyone. The usual journey to Noletown feels longer than ever, my mind racing with thoughts I can't seem to shake.

At Forshaw's, I nod curtly to Claire as I pass reception, not in the mood for small talk. In my office, I settle behind my desk, trying to focus on the day ahead. But my mind keeps wandering.

What are Jack and Sam up to? Why all the secrecy? And why can't I get Lily Bloom out of my head?

I shake my head, forcing myself to concentrate on this blasted Bainbridge account. It should've been finalised yesterday but me with my head up my arse, hasn't got it done yet. But I can't concentrate, so I give up. Leaning back in my chair, I loosen my tie, feeling suffocated.

I'm restless.

I know where I need to go, and I won't settle until I do. Grabbing my keys, I pass Jamie on my way out. "Heading out to a last-minute meeting," I lie.

"Okay," he says, accepting it because why wouldn't he? That makes me feel even worse.

As I drive out of Noletown toward Keeley, I know I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of her. I could maybe talk to her, make her see I'm not an arrogant prick.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, forcing myself not to turn around. What am I doing? I can't just show up at her shop unannounced. Besides, I have no real reason to be there.

Approaching the small village, I take in the quaint Englishness of the area. There are people milling about on the village green as the shops open up for the day. I slow down as I approach Lily's shop. Forget me Knot. Well, don't worry about that, sweetheart. I can't get you out of my fucking head.

The ‘Closed' sign is hanging in the window, and disappointment washes over me, followed quickly by frustration. What am I doing here? Should I wait to see her when she opens? What if she sees me? I could always tell her I need to know who sent that bunch of flowers.

Pulling up in the parking bay outside behind a tiny Smart car, I drop my head onto the steering wheel with a groan and then sit upright again quickly as I sense someone walking past the car. It's not her. What am I doing?

Turning the car around, I drive back to the bank, angry at myself for this momentary weakness. I'm the prime alpha, for fuck's sake. I shouldn't be pining after some omega I barely know, especially one who seems to have my packmates wrapped around her little finger.

Or maybe that's why I need to do this.

Frustrated with myself, when I get back to the bank, I park my car and sit there for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. This isn't like me. I'm usually focused, in control. But lately, everything feels like it's slipping through my fingers.

Trudging through the already hot morning, back to my desk, I throw myself into work, ignoring Jamie's questions about why I was so quick at my meeting. I'll figure out what's going on with Jack and Sam, deal with my mother's matchmaking attempts, and get Lily Bloom out of my system, one way or another.

My phone buzzes on my desk next to me, and I jump slightly, glaring at it in annoyance. I swear if this is my mother, I'm going to go spare. But it's an unknown number. Curious, I answer, not in the business of refusing to take calls from strangers.

"Max Hamilton speaking."

"Mr Hamilton," a gruff voice says. "I'll cut right to the chase. This is Nigel West from the Dunmore pack. I believe we have a mutual interest."

I frown, not recognising the name or the pack. "I'm afraid you've lost me. What mutual interest?"

There's a pause on the other end of the line. "An omega by the name of Emily. Dunmore. She's disappeared from our pack, you see, and we have reason to believe she's being held by members of your pack."

My frown deepens. I don't know any Emily, and I certainly haven't heard about any runaway omega. But something about this doesn't sit right with me. Jack and Sam might be dicks right now with all this skulking and moping around but holding an omega against her will? Nah, not buying that for even a microsecond. Whoever this dick is, he has just brought out the protective prime alpha in me, and he's ended up on my shitlist.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about this. You've got the wrong prime," I state.

"Hmm, well, fair enough," Nigel says smoothly. "But if you do hear anything, I'd appreciate a call. We're very concerned about her safety."

I make a noncommittal noise. "I'll keep that in mind. Goodbye, Mr West."

I hang up, staring at my phone. What is this all about? Is it connected to the conversation Sam wants to have later?

With my mind now even more tangled and buzzing with questions, I toss the phone onto my desk and rub my temples, trying to stave off the brewing headache. Jack and Sam are up to something, that's for sure, but they wouldn't endanger an omega. It's not in their character.

But one thing is for sure, something is going on, and it's high time I was informed of whatever the fuck it is before I start kicking arses.