Chapter 15 - Leah

When I wake up the next morning, I”m still on the couch, but there”s no sign of Fisher anywhere. He”s not in the kitchen or his bedroom, and his truck isn”t in the driveway. It”s Saturday, so I know he”s not working. I”ve done four laps around the house before I notice the note sitting on the coffee table under a glass of water.

Liz,

Had to go handle some business. Not sure when I”ll be back. I left some cash on the kitchen counter in case you need anything

- Fisher

The note”s short and sweet, leaving me with even more questions than answers. Last night was incredible, a passionate whirlwind that left me feeling closer to him than ever. I thought we”d finally broken through, connected on a deeper level. But waking up to an empty bed and a brief note makes me wonder. Was I the only one who felt that way?

My lips tingle as I remember Fisher kissing me, pinning me against the front door. When he lifted me off the ground, wrapping my legs around him, I almost couldn”t breathe. The way his hands slid down my sides, gripping my thighs, pulling me tighter against him, it was like nothing else in the world mattered.

The room feels too quiet, too still without him. I thought we were past this, past the misunderstandings and the doubts.

”Dammit, Fisher,” I mutter, frustration bubbling up.

My mind races, trying to make sense of it all. Was it something I said or did? Or is it something else entirely? I can”t help but think back to our argument last night, the raw emotions and the accusations flying between us. Did that drive him away?

I reach for my phone, contemplating whether to call him or give him space. My thumb hovers over his contact name, but I hesitate. I don”t want to come off as clingy or needy, but I also need to know what”s going on.

Sighing, I place the phone back on the table. Maybe I”m overthinking this. Maybe he just needed some time to clear his head, like I often do. But that doesn”t make the sting of his absence hurt any less.

With a heavy heart, I stand up and head to the kitchen, hoping a cup of coffee will help clear my mind and soothe my emotions. But as the coffee brews, I can”t shake the loneliness that settles over me. It feels empty without him here, like a piece of me is missing, and I hate myself for feeling this way.

After grabbing a mug from the cabinet and pouring myself a generous serving, I make my way back to the couch and settle down, staring at his note. I read it again, wondering if there was something in there I missed the first time through. But no matter how hard I try to figure it out, I still come up with nothing.

I toss the note onto the table and pick up my phone again. I”m not going to sit around wallowing in self-pity. There has to be something to do around here on the weekends. As I ponder what to do with my suddenly free day, my phone buzzes with a message. It”s from Leah.

”Hey Liz, we”re planning a girls night out tonight. You in?”

A girls night sounds like the perfect distraction, and the thought of spending time with the other women from the pack cheers me up a bit. I quickly type back, ”Count me in!”

***

That evening, I find myself at Luna Lounge, a trendy spot downtown that I”m told is a favorite among the she-wolves in the pack. It”s small, intimate, with a laid-back atmosphere where you can just chill and drink. Leah and Tala are already there waiting for me when I arrive, and we order a round of drinks as we wait for Leah”s friend, Selene.

”I”m so glad you could make it,” Leah remarks, taking a sip of her martini. ”We don”t get to see you much outside of work, Liz.”

”I appreciate the invite. I needed a night out with some friends.”

Tala grins at me, nudging me playfully. ”Anytime you want to do something fun, let us know. You”re part of the pack now.”

”Thank you, Tala,” I say with a grin.

The bartender sets down my drink, and I take a generous sip of the fruity cocktail. The alcohol is already starting to dull my nerves, which is exactly what I was looking for tonight. It won”t fix the problems between me and Fisher, but maybe it will allow me to forget about them long enough to enjoy myself.

Selene arrives soon after I finish my first drink, sitting down beside me and offering to buy me a round. We chat as we drink, talking about nothing important, and as the conversation lulls, Selene turns to me with a grin.

”You know, I haven”t had a chance to really talk to you before now, Liz.” She pauses to take another sip from her glass. ”So, tell me, how are things going with your new husband?”

I feel a flush creeping up my cheeks, but I can”t help but smile. ”I”ve been good, thanks. Fisher and I are... navigating.”

Selene raises an eyebrow, ”Navigating? Sounds intriguing.” She gives me a mischievous grin, setting her drink on the table beside her. ”You have to give us more than that.”

My eyes flit to Leah. “Not with his sister sitting right here, I don”t.”

Tala laughs, rolling her eyes playfully. ”She has you there, Selene.”

”Yeah, yeah,” Selene grumbles, sipping from her glass again.

”So, do any of you happen to know where he disappeared to?” I question, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Selene shrugs. ”Knowing Fisher, he”s probably off doing something secretive and broody. You know how he likes his lone wolf moments.”

Leah chuckles, nodding in agreement. ”Oh, absolutely. Fisher”s always had a flair for dramatic disappearances. But don”t worry, he always comes back.”

”I think Holly said something about Ram sending him to Springfield,” Tala offers. ”They have an old friend there who might be able to help them with some intel. You know Fisher.”

I let out a breath I didn”t realize I was holding. That makes sense. Fisher has friends all over the state. There”s no need to assume the worst. Even if the timing is awful, he does have other responsibilities. The last thing I want is for him to feel like I”m not supporting him or letting him take care of his own business.

The conversation shifts to lighter topics as we continue to enjoy our drinks and each other”s company. We talk about the latest gossip in the pack, share funny stories from our past, and even discuss our favorite movies and TV shows. It”s nice to relax and let myself have fun, surrounded by my new family.

As the evening progresses, we hit the dance floor, letting loose and losing ourselves in the music. The atmosphere is electric, and I find myself forgetting about Fisher”s mysterious absence as I dance the night away with Leah, Tala, and Selene. Despite the initial sting of Fisher”s note, I realize that I”m exactly where I need to be—surrounded by strong, supportive women who understand and accept me for who I am.

As the night comes to a close and we say our goodbyes, I call an Uber and wait outside, still high on adrenaline from all the dancing. A few minutes later, my ride pulls up, and I slide into the backseat. It”s a short ride home, and before I know it, I”m sliding under the covers still in my clothes and drifting off to sleep.

I”m in a dimly lit warehouse, the kind you”d see in a horror movie. Shadows play tricks on my eyes, making the space feel even more ominous. My heart pounds in my chest as I realize I”m not alone. Fisher is there, bound to a chair in the center of the room. His eyes are wide, scanning the area, filled with fear and confusion.

The auctioneer steps out from the darkness, his face twisted into a menacing grin. His eyes lock on Fisher, and he starts circling him like a vulture eyeing its prey. Every step he takes sends a chill down my spine.

”You can”t save him,” the auctioneer”s voice whispers, chilling the very marrow in my bones. His words echo around the warehouse, amplifying the dread that has taken hold of me.

I try to move, to run towards Fisher, but it”s like I”m trapped in quicksand, my feet sinking deeper with every step I try to take. Panic courses through me as I realize I”m powerless, unable to reach him.

”Fisher!” I scream, my voice breaking with desperation. He looks at me, our eyes meeting for a fleeting moment that”s filled with fear and desperation.

Just as the auctioneer raises his hand, poised to strike, I jolt awake. My heart is racing, and I”m drenched in sweat. The nightmare was vivid, every detail hauntingly real. The lingering fear from the dream clings to me like a second skin, making it hard to breathe.

I grab my cell phone from beside the bed and check the time. It”s 4 a.m. on Sunday morning, and Fisher isn”t here. Where is he?

The thought of him being gone for two days without so much as a note or text message fills me with an anxiousness that leaves me sick to my stomach. If something bad happened to him, if he was attacked by another shifter or lost control and shifted while driving... what would I do? What could I possibly say to make amends after pushing him away?

A cold panic creeps through my body, seeping into my bones. But no matter how hard I try, I can”t shake the feeling that something is wrong. My nightmare wasn”t just some random dream. There was something real about it, something deep down in my core that”s telling me that Fisher is in trouble and I have to find him.

”Dammit,” I mutter, pushing the tangled strands of hair from my face. That dream felt too real, too visceral to just brush off. I need to make sure Fisher”s okay.

I dial Leah”s number. It rings twice before she answers, her voice groggy but alert. ”Liz? Do you know what time it is?”

”I”m sorry, Leah, but I had a nightmare. I saw the auctioneer, the one who sold me, and I think Fisher might be in trouble.”

”Liz, come on. It was just a nightmare.” Her tone is sharp as she tries to reassure me, but it doesn”t hit the mark.

”Look, I”m sorry, but I have this feeling about Fisher. He”s been gone for two days, and he hasn”t so much as texted me. He wouldn”t do that. Not with everything going on between us right now.”

Leah lets out an exasperated sigh, which I ignore as I keep talking. “I know it sounds crazy,” I continue, “but I can”t shake this feeling that something”s wrong.”

There”s a pause on the other end, and I can almost hear Leah”s brain whirring as she processes what I”ve said. David mumbles something in the background, and Leah responds quietly enough that I can”t hear the words. When Leah speaks again, her voice is more focused than before, no longer filled with sleep. ”Okay,” she says, her tone calm. ”If you have this strong a sense of unease, then we”ll help you figure out where Fisher went.”

”Thank you,” I breathe, trying not to get emotional.

”Now, don”t you worry about a thing. We”ll get your man back safe and sound. In the meantime, get some rest, okay?” She gives me a moment of silence before hanging up.

I stare down at the phone in my hand, relief washing over me. I wasn”t sure if they”d understand or want to help, but it means a lot that Leah is willing to lend a helping hand. There are very few things more frustrating than being trapped on the sidelines when the people you care about are in trouble. This is something new to me, but I”m learning that it well and truly sucks.

I can feel it now, stronger than ever. Fisher needs help, and I have to find him.