Chapter 25 Cole

Chapter 25 Cole

 

 

“I have to find her.” I paced my living room, shoving my fingers through my hair with growing agitation.

“Cole, calm down.” Damian eyed me warily.

“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down!” I roared. My wolf was dangerously close to the surface. It wanted to burst free and go on a killing rampage until Sydney was found. I’d never felt anything like it. This level of fury and terror rolled into one. I’d never had something as precious as a mate taken away from me before.

The thing is, I wasn’t aware of how important Sydney had become to me until she was gone. Guilt pricked me in the chest for pretty much ignoring her the last couple of weeks. I’d taken the cowardly way out, putting distance between us because I felt myself getting too emotionally attached to her.

“You have to deal with this as you would with anything else,” Damian said. “With a cool head. If you lose it now, we won’t get anywhere with the search.”

Taking a deep breath, I looked at my Beta and nodded. “You’re right.”

Dominic, Stephan, and Alex were in the room. I noticed they kept their distance. They’d never seen me this close to losing my shit before. I imagined it was uncomfortable for them. It was unfair of me to lash out when all they’d ever done was show me loyalty. None of them hesitated to help me keep Sydney safe, even though the elders and the rest of the pack would frown upon my actions.

“I’m sorry, guys,” I said. I didn’t apologize often, but they deserved one. “I’m just worried.” It was hard to forget the picture of the blood I’d seen in the alley between the apartment buildings a block from my place. I’d come home to check on Sydney instead of sending Alex back, and she was gone.

As I’d tracked her scent toward the park, I was livid. I had plans of lecturing Sydney when I found her. Of course, with the blazing passion between us, my lecture would likely turn sexual fast. When I smelled her blood and saw the evidence of a fight, my fury dissipated, leaving in its place sheer terror. I didn’t remember ever panicking about anything before seeing Sydney’s blood on the pavement.

Most of it wasn’t hers, but she was still injured. On the ground were her broken cell phone and the dagger I’d given back to her. There was blood on the knife, and I knew she’d taken a slice out of at least one of her attackers. I felt a sliver of pride about that. Sydney was fierce. That was a tad comforting. Wherever she was, I knew she’d fight.

“Of course, you’re worried. We all are.”

I glanced at Alex, who had stepped forward. He didn’t meet my gaze.

“This is my fault. I left her—”

“No, the blame falls on me,” I interrupted. “I ordered you to join the rest of us. I should have let you stay with her.”

Alex sighed and continued to study his boots. “Still, I feel responsible. I’m going to go back out and double-check the park. Maybe we missed something.”

Knowing that Alex just needed to keep busy because of his unnecessary guilt, I nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.”

When he was gone, Stephan stepped forward. He’d been the calmest out of all of us. He was usually back at the pack’s compound and hadn’t gotten as close to Sydney as the rest of us. So, he wasn’t feeling the level of concern we felt.

“I know you’re not in the space to discuss pack business,” he said. “But we haven’t discussed that the blood in that alley belonged to werewolves and not hunters.”

I scrubbed my face. That was crucial information, but I couldn’t care less with Sydney missing. Once I found her, I’d worry about everything else.

“Not a good time,” Damian said between clenched teeth.

Stephan blinked, glanced at me, and backed off. “Of course.”

Dominic gave Stephan an annoyed look. “Alpha, Stephan, and I should get that alley cleaned up before a human sees the substantial amount of blood and reports it or something.”

“Right.” Massaging the bridge of my nose, I said, “You do that. Thanks.” Usually, I’d be the first to recommend that, but my mind was out of sorts.

When Damian and I were alone, I allowed my vulnerability to show. “We’ve searched for hours. We’ve looked everywhere. What if—”

“If she were dead, you’d know.”

Logically, I knew that. Our mate’s bond would be severed, and I would feel the overwhelming urge to join her in death. But… “There was so much blood.”

“It wasn’t all hers,” Damian reminded me.

I really had to get it together. Someone had taken my mate, and she was counting on me to find her. Taking a deep breath, I said, “I’m going to find Sydney. I’ll tear this city apart until I do. Then, I’m going to deal with the bastards who dared to hurt her and take her from me.”

“And you’re back,” Damian said. “Thank God.”

“I need Macy’s help. You have to go get her.”

Damian sputtered, “W—what? Me? Why would you… Cole, come on.”

“For the love of God, Damian, I need you to put your discomfort aside and do this for me. I’m not going too far from the apartment in case Sydney makes her way back. She’s a fighter. There’s a chance she’ll show up, and I need to be here.”

Damian swallowed his protest. Shoulders stiff, he nodded. “Yeah, I’ll go and get Macy.”

“Damian.”

He paused at the door and turned back around.

“I’m asking a lot. I’m sorry about throwing you in Macy’s path like this. I understand now more than others how hard it is to face a mate you rejected.”

A muscle ticked in Damian’s jaw.

“But if anyone can help locate Sydney, it’s Macy.”

“No apology necessary, Alpha. I’ll do what you ask,” he said with his typical air of unwavering loyalty.

Damian yanked the door open, and we both froze. There was so much emotion between us, clouding our senses we hadn’t even detected the person we were searching for. My breath exited my lungs with a relieved sigh, and my wolf damn near howled its excitement.

“Sydney,” I breathed.

Her gaze jumped to me, and she looked terrified. I frowned, but then I noticed she wasn’t alone at the same time Damian’s menacing growl reached my ears. Sydney took a step and stumbled. Adam Blackwell appeared to snake an arm around her waist.

“Easy,” he said. “Watch the leg.”

I registered that Sydney was obviously hurt. The left leg of her jeans was rolled up, revealing blood-stained bandages. I was concerned about her, but at the same time, I wanted to kill the man with his hands on her, and I was going to do just that.

“Damian, stand down. He’s mine,” I growled, striding toward Sydney and Adam with deadly purpose.

***

Sydney’s eyes widened as I advanced. She pulled away from Adam and limped forward, placing herself between us. She held up both palms.

“You guys, stop.”

I reached for her as soon as I was at the doorway, pulling her inside and away from Adam. She stumbled, but I held her upright. “Where the hell have you been? How bad is your wound? Did Adam hurt you?” My questions were fired in rapid succession as I searched her for further injuries.

“Yeah, I wounded her and kidnapped her only to be stupid enough to return her to you myself,” Adam said, his words dripping with sarcasm. “I don’t have a death wish, Grayson.”

“I think you do,” Damian said softly. Deadly. His glowing eyes were fixed on Adam, who glowered at him, seemingly ready for an attack.

I tried positioning myself in front of Sydney to protect her if things got messy. However, she pushed her way back in front. “Come on, you guys, seriously? As Adam said, do you really think he’d be that stupid? He didn’t hurt me. He saved my life and tended to my wound. He took good care of me and kept me safe when I wasn’t even conscious. He was kind enough to escort me back here. I wouldn’t have made it on my own.”

She looked exhausted and pale. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I urged, “You need to sit.” Although jealousy reared its ugly head, I gave Adam a grudging “Thank you.”

He shrugged. “Mind telling your guard dog to back off?”

Damian still sneered at him.

“Please,” Sydney begged. “Adam is a friend.”

Damian didn’t stand down until I ordered, “Damian. Back off.”

I almost rolled my eyes at my Beta’s disappointment. He’d been itching to take down the Alpha of the Blood Claws. However, Sydney said the man saved her. I had to show gratitude by at least letting him walk out of here alive.

Sure that Damian wouldn’t pounce on Adam, I pulled Sydney into my arms. I didn’t care that Damian and one of my rivals watched. I crushed my lips to hers, drank her in, and basked in my relief of having her with me. She relaxed against me and kissed me back with fervor. I finally pulled away so we could get some air.

Then my annoyance kicked in. “I almost lost my fucking mind when I couldn’t find you. Why would you leave the apartment, Sydney?”

“I’m sorry, I…really?” she gazed at me wide-eyed.

Scowling, I asked, “What?”

“You said you almost lost your mind. I didn’t think you’d…”

“You didn’t think I’d care?” I growled. “You still think I’m that much of an asshole after all this time?” My molars clamped together. “Of course I care! I swear, I’ve never wanted to kiss and strangle someone at the same time.”

“Jesus, can you two save the crazy romance drama for later? I don’t have all night.”

I turned to glower at Adam, and he quirked an eyebrow. Grudging respect for him seeped in. He was in my home with a stronger- than-most alpha, a ruthless, blood-thirsty Beta, and more guys from our pack close by. Yet he didn’t show a sliver of fear. Adam had nerves of steel for strolling in here with Sydney. He was either brave or extremely stupid, and I didn’t peg him as foolish.

“Cole.” Sydney recaptured my attention.

“We need to get your wound looked at, and then you’re going to tell me what happened,” I said.

“Forget my wound for now.”

“Sydney—”

“Listen to me. I have something important to tell you. Two things, actually.”

She pulled away, putting distance between us. I didn’t like it.

“One of them is big. Huge.” Her nervous giggle made me suspicious. “At least it will be in a few months.”

Adam snorted, and Sydney shot him a warning glare.

That pissed me off. They were such good friends, they shared secrets now? Maybe I’d have to kill Adam after all.

“What’s going on, Sydney?”

She gulped, and that terrified look she’d worn when she arrived reappeared. Unease settled in my stomach as I wondered what was so bad about her news.