"What about you?" I turn to Plague. "Notice anything off?"
Plague shrugs. "Can't say I did. But you know Wraith. He isn't exactly an open book on the best of days."
I grunt in acknowledgment. It's true. Trying to read Wraith's moods is like trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphics.
With your eyes closed.
Underwater.
And a trident up your ass.
Still, something doesn't add up. Wraith may be a loner, but he's fiercely loyal too. It's not like him to just up and vanish without a word, especially with a new player joining tomorrow.
I grab my phone, scrolling through my sent messages for the hundredth time today.
WHISKEY
Yo bro, where are you?
Dude, you good?
Seriously man, you're freaking us out
All unanswered. Not that he likes to reply anyway, but at least he'll usuallyopenthe texts. Right now, they're all unread, according to those little gray checkmarks mocking me from the screen.
"Maybe we should file a missing persons report," I mutter, only half-joking.
Plague snorts. "Right, because that'd go over well. 'Excuse me officer, we'd like to report a missing hockey player. Description? Oh, about seven feet tall, heavily scarred, and mute. Last seen brooding ominously in the general vicinity of an ice rink.'"
Despite my bad mood, I crack a smile at that. "Fair point."
"Look," Thane says, his tone shifting to full captain mode. "I know we're all concerned. But this isn't the first time Wraith hasneeded to... step away for a bit. All we can do right now is give him space and trust that he'll come back when he's ready."
I want to argue, to push forsomekind of action. But I know Thane's right. Wraith's always been a wild card, operating on his own inscrutable schedule. Trying to force the issue will just drive him further away.
Coach is gonna explode if we don't find him, and soon, but that's a problem for Future Whiskey.
"Earth to Whiskey," Plague says beside me. Shit, I must’ve spaced out. "Are you planning on putting on clothes anytime soon? We need to get back to the pack house."
I blink, realizing I'm still standing here in just a towel. "Oh, you noticed?" I ask, grinning at him. He just glares at me. Without a surgical mask on, I can see his entire condescending expression for once. "Like what you see?"
He raises an eyebrow. "In your dreams."
"Ouch." I press a hand to my chest in mock offense. "You wound me, habibi."
“Clothes, Whiskey,” he snaps, turning around to grab his bag.
Thane clears his throat. "If you two are done bitching at each other like an old married couple, we need to discuss something."
Right. The new guy.
Valek.
Bad enough having a pack member MIA, now we're supposed to integrate someone new? The timing couldn't be worse.
"What's there to discuss?" I ask, rolling my shoulders until they pop as I move to get dressed. "If the new guy's an asshole and a bad fit for the team, we run him off. Don't even need Wraith for that. Simple."
Thane's brow furrows at me. "What are you talking about?"
