“He’s probably just lost somewhere,” Kyle offered.
“Yeah.” Scout considered this. “Yes, he has to be.”
Then the fear and stress and worst case scenarios slammed into Kyle like a tsunami. If he wasn’t sitting down, he would have staggered over with the overwhelming force of anxiety pummelling him.
Scout saw the tears threatening to overflow in the corner of Kyle’s eyes and jumped to his feet. “Okay, don’t worry, don’t cry - well, cry if you have to - but I’ll find him, I swear.” The other omega was completely focused now after the initial panic had worn off. “I amnotletting Stark abandon you on your wedding day.”
Kyle forced himself to get up even though it was strenuous on his lower back. Scout rushed over to help him stand. “You don’t have to come, you know. I know this is already a lot for you to handle, never mind the baby and everything,” Scout offered.
“No, I want to come,” Kyle said. “I don’t want to just sit around and let everyone else do the work.”
“But Kyle - “
Kyle nearly glared at his friend. Finally Scout seemed to understand why he needed to do this. He nodded and said, “Alright.”
They began through the nearby halls, checking each room to see if Stark was there, but found nothing. The place was empty except for the regular staff. After every fruitless lead, Scout tried to make Kyle feel better, saying they wouldfind him soon, which he appreciated at first, but by the tenth time he was starting to get irritated - and immensely depressed.
There was no way in hell he was going to admit it, but Kyle was in pain. A lot of pain. Under normal circumstances, he never would have been running around like this so late into his pregnancy - not to mention the exorbitant amount of stress he was under.
After half an hour of searching and coming up empty handed, Kyle was close to having a panic attack.
He stopped for a breath and huffed, leaning onto Scout for support.
“Kyle,” Scout said, his face scrunched up in concern. “You have to stop and sit down. I’ll find him.”
“No, you won’t!” Kyle snapped. “You won’t find him because he’s not here!”
Scout stared at him, wide eyed with shock. “Kyle, we don’t know that - “
“Yes, I do,” Kyle interrupted. “He’s not coming. He must have realized his parents were right all along. That I’m useless and undesirable, and he never should’ve gotten involved with me.” He grimaced with anger and grief. Sweat from exertion was beginning to bead on his forehead and run down his temple. “I bet he regrets getting drunk that night and having sex with me.”
“Kyle!” Scout nearly shouted. “Cut that out right now!”
“I bet it’s true,” Kyle muttered. “That would explain why he didn’t show up.”
“Maybe he’s just late!”
“No one is this late to their own wedding!” Kyle protested. “If he really cared, he would’ve been here by now!”
“Hey, come on. Do you really have so little faith in me?”
Kyle and Scout whipped around. Standing there in the center of the hall, wearing a handsome pitch-black suit and his hair styled handsomely back, was Stark.
“Stark!” Kyle cried. He ran - or attempted to run - to Stark’s side, but his mate met him before he could travel too far.
“Whoa, hang on, what are you doing up? Never mind running around,” Stark said. “Honey, you look exhausted. Come sit down.”
Too tired to argue, Kyle let himself be guided to a nearby leather stool braced against the wall. He panted heavily and groaned as he sat, only now realizing how much strain he’d put himself through. The painkiller he took earlier must have been wearing off, he thought.
“Where were you!?” Scout asked, more concerned than accusatory. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Stark rubbed the back of his neck. “I apologize. I was running a last minute… errand,” he said. “I really didn’t mean to make you worry so much.”
“What errand?” Scout asked. He was still baffled, and Kyle thought he was rightfully so. He would like some answers himself.
“Well, when I saw the crowd gathered, I noticed there were a few guests missing and I didn’t want to start without them,” Stark said.
“Huh?” Scout looked confused. He pulled out a long crumpled note from his pocket. “I triple checked the list and Istillmissed someone?”
