41. Quinn

41

QUINN

The echo of the argument still rings in my ears as I turn back to the now silent living room. My heart races, a drumbeat of panic thrumming through my veins. The others look as stunned as I feel, the anger that fueled our shouting match quickly replaced by a chilling realization.

She's gone. I can feel it in my bones and in my soul.

"Where's Aria?" Malachi's voice is the first to cut through the silence. His usually calm tone is now edged with worry. The lines in his brow deepen, becoming more pronounced.

We glance around, but there's no sign of her. My gut twists. Zane's words echo in my mind. Get the fuck out. I never want to see you again.

"She couldn't have gone far," Dash says, though he doesn't sound convinced. With wild eyes, he scans the living room and kitchen, but she isn't there.

Panic slices through my veins.

"Aria!" I call out, my voice tinged with desperation. No answer. My eyes land on her belongings, neatly placed on the coffee table—her phone, keys, everything she'd need.

"Shit," Zane mutters, rubbing his temples. "She left everything."

"Fan out and stay vigilant," Malachi commands with a calm yet firm tone. "She can't have gotten far. We'll find her, but we must think like her. Stay together and keep your senses sharp."

We rush out of the house, the cold air biting at my exposed skin. The street is empty, covered in shadows cast by the streetlights just flickering on. My heart pounds louder, matching the rhythm of my footsteps.

"Aria!" I call again, but the night swallows my voice. I jog down the street, glancing down alleyways and behind parked cars.

Nothing.

"She's gone," Dash says breathlessly, catching up to me. "We need to call her."

"She left her phone," I remind him, frustration and fear gnawing at me.

"Try anyway," Malachi says, his calm demeanor now strained. "Maybe she has one of those smartwatches on?" He's reaching for straws here.

I dial her number, my hands shaking. It rings and rings before going to voicemail. I try again with the same result. Her ringtone slices through the living room like a haunting lullaby. "She doesn't have a watch," I murmur more to myself than them.

My panic spikes.

"Damn it!" I curse, hanging up. "What do we do?"

Zane's face is a mask of regret and fear. "We need to find her before something happens. This is all my fault."

"Yeah, it fucking is." I snap the bond closed on my end. I'm mad at Zane and hurt that he could ruin this for us, but anger won't help us find her.

"We'll figure this out," Malachi says, trying to keep us grounded.

I run a hand through my hair, my expression troubled. "We need to figure out the legal implications of this. I'll start researching discreetly. If Aria is truly undocumented, we could be facing serious charges."

Malachi nods grimly. "Good thinking, Quinn. We need to know exactly what we're up against. The new law complicates things significantly. "Let's think. Where would she go?"

"Somewhere safe," I say, my mind racing. "She might try to find someone she trusts."

My thoughts land on one person—Cayenne. She's across the country, but she's the closest ally Aria has.

"I'll call Cayenne," I say, pulling out my phone again. The line rings twice before she picks up.

"Quinn?" Her voice is groggy and confused. I know she usually stays up late, sleeping during the day. "What's going on?"

"Cayenne, it's Aria," I blurt out, my voice trembling. "She's gone. We had a fight, and she ran off. We can't find her. She left her phone and everything."

"What do you mean she's gone?" Cayenne's tone shifts instantly, sharp and demanding. "Tell me exactly what happened."

I take a deep breath, recounting the argument, Zane's outburst, and our frantic search. With every word, my fear and guilt grow.

We fucked up.

"This is bad," she says when I finish. "Really bad. She's vulnerable, and if Noah finds her before we do…"

"Cayenne, we need more information about Noah." I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "We know he is dangerous, but what exactly are we dealing with here? What should we be looking out for, and for the love of all the fates, can you send us a picture of him?

"You're asking me this now?" Cayenne's voice is a mix of disbelief and anger. "I told you about him. He's dangerous. He is lethal. He killed Aria's aunt and nearly beat Aria to death. I barely got her out of the state alive."

The gravity of her words hit me like a punch to the guy. We knew Noah was a threat, but hearing the details again makes me realize how badly we've underestimated the situation.

"I know Cayenne. We…we lost focus," I admit, shame coloring my voice. "We let our shock over Aria's omega status blind us to the bigger picture," I say, guilt weighing heavily in my voice. "We knew she was in danger, even if we didn't know all the details. We should have focused on protecting her, regardless of her designation or our feelings about it."

There's a moment of tense silence before Cayenne interrupts. "I can't believe this," she snaps, her voice sharp enough to make me wince. "You knew about Noah. That's why you were supposed to be protecting her in the first place. How did you lose sight of the real danger here? I trusted you with her safety, and you're telling me you forgot the very reason she needed protection?"

Her words cut deep, each one a reminder of our failures. I can almost see her pacing, her frustration palpable even through the phone.

"Do you have any idea what Aria has been through? What she's still going through? And now she's out there, alone and vulnerable, because you all got distracted by your own petty issues? This is exactly what I was afraid of when I asked for your help."

I swallow hard, the weight of our mistake crushing me. "You're right, Cayenne. We screwed up, badly. But please, we need to focus on finding Aria now. What else can you tell us that might help?"

"She wasn't lying," Zane mutters, glancing at the door.

I look up at the others, their faces mirroring my own shame and regret. Malachi steps forward, his usual composure cracking under the weight of our failure.

Malachi runs a hand over his face, his usual composure cracking. "We failed her on multiple levels," he says, his voice tight with regret. "We knew she was running from something, but we didn't dig deeper. We let our surprise and hurt over her secret distract us from the very real danger she's in. And now…" He trails off, the weight of our mistake hanging heavy in the air.

Zane nods, his face a mask of guilt. "I…I was so focused on feeling betrayed that I didn't stop to think about why she might have kept her omega status a secret. We knew she was running from something dangerous, and I just…I forgot."

Dash runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. "We were supposed to be her protectors, and instead, we became another source of fear for her. God, how could we have been so blind?"

I turn back to the phone, Cayenne still waiting on the line. "We all realize how badly we've messed up, Cayenne. But right now, Aria needs us more than ever. Please, help us make this right."

"Listen to me right now, you imbeciles," Cayenne snaps. "Dark humor is the only thing keeping her going. She's like a rubber band getting stretched too far. Eventually, she will snap."

"She's going into heat," I add, the realization hitting me like a freight train.

"If Noah finds her…" Cayenne's voice shakes. I've known this woman for years, this woman who put fear into homeland security, and her voice trembles.

My heart beats too damn loudly in my head.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Cayenne, we screwed up," I admit, my voice steadier now. "But right now, we need to focus on finding Aria. What else can you tell us about Noah that might help us predict where he'd look for her?"

There's a brief pause on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear Cayenne collecting her thoughts.

"Noah is cunning and patient," she finally says, her voice tense. "He won't just be wandering the streets. He'll have a plan. He knows Aria's habits, her fears. He might stake out places she frequents—cafés, libraries, anywhere she might feel safe."

Malachi leans in closer to the phone. "Does he have any particular methods he uses to track people? Any contacts in the area we should be aware of?"

"He's got connections," Cayenne replies grimly. "Former military buddies, some with less than stellar records. They might be helping him. And he's tech-savvy. He could be monitoring social media, security cameras, anything that might give him a lead."

"What about Aria?" Dash interjects. "Are there any specific places or people she might turn to when she's scared?"

Cayenne sighs. "She…she might look for somewhere quiet, secluded. When she first ran, she hid in an old abandoned church for days. Look for places like that—old buildings, quiet parks, anywhere she could hunker down and feel hidden."

I nod, even though Cayenne can't see me. "This helps, Cayenne. Is there anything else? Anything at all that could give us an edge in finding her before Noah does?"

"Stay calm," she says, her voice steady but urgent. "You need to search everywhere she might go. Contact everyone she knows in town. I'll get there as soon as I can."

"Okay," I say, my heart pounding. "Please hurry, Cayenne."

"I will," she promises. "Keep me updated, and, Quinn…be careful. Noah is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He even had me convinced."

"I will," I reply, hanging up.

I turn to the others, who are anxiously waiting.

"Cayenne's on her way," I say, my voice strained.

As I hang up the phone, Cayenne's words echo in my mind. The weight of our mistake settles in my chest, making it hard to breathe.

How could we have been so blind? I think, shame washing over me. We knew about Noah all along, but we let our personal feelings overshadow the danger Aria was in. We were supposed to protect her, and instead, we drove her right into harm's way.

I look around at my packmates, seeing the same guilt and fear reflected in their eyes. The extent to which we failed Aria is overwhelming.

We got so caught up in our own drama—the omega revelation and the potential legal issues—that we completely lost sight of why she came to us in the first place. She trusted us with her life, and we let her down.

A surge of determination cuts through my guilt. No more distractions or petty squabbles. We need to find Aria and make this right. Whatever it takes, we have to keep her safe from Noah. That's what matters now, nothing else.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. "Okay, guys," I say, my voice steadier than I feel, "we know what we're up against now. Let's split up and start searching. We need to find Aria before Noah does. Malachi, you and Zane check the park and the nearby streets. Dash and I will head toward the bay."

"What if she's hiding?" Dash asks, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with fear.

"Then we'll find her," I say, trying to infuse my voice with confidence I don't feel. "We have to." The desperation in my voice echoes in the silence that follows.

Just as we're about to head out, Logan rounds the corner, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's going on? I heard shouting."

"It's Aria," I say quickly. "She's gone. We can't find her, and she's going into heat. We need to find her before someone else does."

Logan's eyes widen, and he nods. "I'll help you look. Where do you need me?"

"Take the west side," Malachi instructs. "We'll cover more ground that way."

Logan nods again and starts jogging in the direction Malachi indicated. We split up, each taking a different direction. The night presses in around me, a living, malevolent thing. Streetlights cast sickly yellow pools on the sidewalk, creating more shadows than they banish. Every rustle of leaves, every distant car horn, becomes a potential clue…or a threat. The air itself feels heavy with our failure, the chill seeping into my bones a constant reminder of Aria, alone somewhere in this unforgiving darkness.

I push forward, calling Aria's name into the empty streets, my voice cracking with desperation. Each step feels like a step further away from hope, but I refuse to give up. I pray that we find her before it's too late, the fear of what might happen to her tightening like a vise around my heart.

The silence of the night feels oppressive, each echo of my footsteps a cruel reminder that she's out there alone. My thoughts race with images of what could happen if someone else finds her first. Fear gnaws at my insides, each anxious thought another weight on my chest.

"Aria!" I shout again, my voice hoarse. I scan the dimly lit streets, the shadows playing tricks on my eyes. Every corner and alleyway feels like a potential hiding spot, but she's nowhere to be found.

I approach a small park, my heart leaping at every shadow. The swings creak ominously in the breeze, the sound unnaturally loud in the silent night. I freeze, straining to hear any hint of Aria's presence. But there's nothing—just the mocking rustle of leaves and the pounding of my own heart. Each second of silence feels like a failure, another moment Aria spends alone and in danger. I clench my fists, trying to keep the rising panic at bay.

"Think, Quinn, think," I mutter to myself, trying to piece together where she might have gone. She's scared, vulnerable, and running on instinct. She'll look for a place where she feels safe.

A sudden thought strikes me, and I head toward the old library on the edge of town. It's a place she mentioned once, a quiet sanctuary where she used to go to escape. As I approach, my hope begins to wane. The building is dark, the windows lifeless. I peer inside, but there's no sign of her.

"Damn," I whisper, turning back to the street. My fingers tremble as I pull out my phone, the screen's harsh glow momentarily blinding me in the darkness. I dial Cayenne, the familiar tones a lifeline in the chaos. The phone feels slick in my sweaty palm as I press it to my ear, desperately hoping for good news.

"Quinn, any luck?" she answers, her voice tight with worry.

"No," I reply, my voice shaking. "She's not at the park or the library. I don't know where else to look."

"Keep searching," she says, her voice a lifeline. "Check places she might have mentioned, places that feel safe to her. I'm on my way. We'll find her."

I nod, even though she can't see me. "Okay. Be careful, Cayenne."

"You too," she says, and the line goes dead.

I pocket my phone and take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I can't afford to fall apart now. I have to find her. I jog back toward the main road, calling her name and listening for any response.

Don't fall apart.

My heart aches in my chest. It's so easy for Cayenne to tell us what to do, but we never really took enough time to get to know Aria.

Now, that oversight is a knife twisting in my gut. I feel so completely helpless, like I'm running in circles with no end in sight.

As I turn a corner, I see Malachi and Zane up ahead, their faces etched with worry. They shake their heads, confirming my fears—no sign of her.

I run a hand through my hair, my mind racing through possibilities. "We need to approach this systematically," I say, my voice tight with barely controlled panic. "Let's map out all the places she's mentioned, no matter how insignificant they seemed at the time."

Zane nods, his face drawn. "Good idea. We can't afford to overlook anything."

"Agreed," Malachi adds, his calm demeanor wavering slightly. "Every detail counts now."

We split up again, the weight of the night pressing down on us. I make my way toward the river, the cold air stinging my lungs. The sound of rushing water fills the silence, a stark contrast to the fear that grips my heart.

"Aria!" I shout, my voice echoing off the water. I scan the banks, the underbrush, anywhere she might be hiding. The minutes stretch into an eternity, each passing second a reminder that she's out there, alone and scared. Panic rises in me like a tide, threatening to drown out all rational thought.

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Dash, his face pale. "Anything?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

I shake my head, despair creeping in. "No. We have to keep looking," I say, the words feeling hollow and insufficient.

We continue our search, the darkness swallowing our voices. The fear gnaws at me, a relentless ache that won't be silenced. I push forward, refusing to let dread consume me.

We will find her. We have to. The thought fuels my determination. I won't let anything happen to her.

The night stretches on, the cold seeping into my bones. I call her name again and again, my voice growing weaker with each attempt. The streets are empty, the silence deafening.

With each footfall, my hopes deflate more and more.

We reconvene at the house as the first rays of dawn begin to paint the horizon a bleak gray. Our eyes are hollow, our shoulders slumped in defeat. The night has yielded no sign of Aria. It's as if she vanished into thin air.

"We failed her," Zane says, his voice cracking. "I failed her. This is all my fault."

Malachi places a hand on his shoulder. "We all played a part in this. Blaming yourself won't help us find her."

I pace the living room, my mind racing. Where could she be? What horrors might she be facing while we stand here, useless? The possibilities make my stomach churn.

"We need a plan," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "We can't just wander aimlessly. She needs us."

Logan nods. "I'll check with local hospitals and shelters, see if anyone fitting her description has turned up."

"I'll hack into the city's CCTV network," I offer, my fingers already trembling as I pull out my laptop. "I'll see if I can spot her on any of the cameras." The thought of seeing her, even on a grainy screen, brings a flicker of hope.

Malachi pulls out his phone, his expression grim. "I have some contacts in the police force. I'll give them a call." He's calm and collected, but I can see the worry etched into his features.

Zane turns from peering out the window, his eyes haunted. "I'll check the dojo and give Willow a call. I know they became friends." His voice is barely a whisper, guilt and regret heavy in every word.

"I'm going to stop at her apartment," Dash says, his voice tight with fear. He tugs at his hair—a nervous habit I've rarely seen.

"Come on," Logan says, his voice steady. "I'll drive." He places a reassuring hand on Dash's shoulder, grounding him and stopping his bouncing. I watch Logan and Dash depart, their faces etched with determination and worry.

The thought of Aria at her apartment, alone and vulnerable, makes my heart race. What if she's not there? What if someone else found her first?

I catch my reflection in a window—wild eyes, disheveled hair, a face etched with fear. I barely recognize myself. Taking a deep breath, I force my shoulders back and clench my fists. Aria needs me focused, not falling apart.

As each minute ticks by, I worry that we've already lost her before we even had a chance to have her.

I will regret that for the rest of my life.