As we made our way back through the woods, responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders. I wasthe alpha, the protector. And I would do whatever it took to keep Stock Creek safe.
The silence hung heavy as we entered pack territory, each of us lost in our own troubling thoughts.
Caleb fell into step beside me, his jaw set in a grim line. "You think she's still alive?"
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. I wanted to believe she was. Needed to believe it. But the truth was, I didn't know. And that uncertainty ate at me like acid.
"I hope so," I said quietly. "But we have to be prepared for the worst."
Caleb’s eyes hardened. "If she's not, whoever did this is going to pay. I'll make damn sure of that."
I didn't doubt it. Caleb was loyal to a fault, fiercely protective. He'd lay down his life for any one of us without hesitation.
As we neared the pack house, Gavin cleared his throat. "We should call it for tonight. There's nothing more we can do until the scent resurfaces."
I hated to admit it, but he was right. We were chasingghosts at this point. "Agreed. Everyone get some rest. We'll regroup in the morning and come up with a plan."
The others dispersed, heading to their respective homes. I lingered, staring out into the darkness. Searching for answers I wouldn't find.
My mind drifted to Rissa, to the way she'd looked at me on the pack house porch. Like she saw right through me. Right to the heart of the turmoil raging inside.
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I couldn't afford to be distracted. Not now. Not with so much at stake.
With a heavy sigh, I turned and headed inside, the night pressing in around me. Tomorrow was a new day. A chance to start fresh. To find the missing woman and bring her home.
Once inside, I couldn’t settle. I paced the confines of my living room, restlessness thrumming through my veins. The unease from the search clung to me like a second skin, sinking into my bones, my marrow. My wolf prowled beneath the surface, agitated and onedge.
I should sleep. I needed rest if I had any hope of finding the missing woman. But my mind wouldn't quiet, thoughts racing in an endless loop.
I clenched my hands, fingernails biting into my palms. The pain pulled me back from the brink. But it wasn't enough. It was never enough.
With a growl, I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside, the cool night air washing over me. The town was quiet at this hour, streets empty and bathed in the eerie glow of streetlights. I walked without direction, letting the rhythm of my steps soothe the chaos inside me.
But even as I tried to clear my head, my thoughts drifted. Not just to the case but to Rissa. To the way she'd smelled in the woods. To the heat of her breath against my lips, the electricity that had arced between us.
I growled, shaking my head. This was a bad idea. I couldn't go down that road. Not again. Not after Mira.
But even as I tried to push the memories away, they lingered, taunting me with what could have been. What should have been.
I looked up, blinking in surprise. Somehow, lost in thought, my feet had carried me to Gavin's house. To Rissa.
I stiffened, cursing under my breath. Damn it. I hadn't meant to come here. Hadn't meant to?—
The front door creaked open, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. Rissa stepped out onto the porch, dressed in sleep shorts and a loose t-shirt that skimmed her curves. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders in a tousled wave, like she'd just rolled out of bed.
She spotted me immediately, her expressive eyes widening before narrowing. An exaggerated sigh escaped her lips. "Are you stalking me now?"
I huffed out a quiet laugh, trying to ignore the way my pulse kicked up at the sight of her. "Come on. I'm not a creep."
Rissa leaned against the railing, arms crossing over her chest. The posture emphasized her curves, and I forced myself to keep my gaze on her face. "Then what do you want?"
The question hung between us, loaded with athousand unspoken things. I swallowed hard, shoving my hands in my pockets.
Hell if I knew. I’d just ended up here. Drawn to her like a moth to a flame, even though I'd no doubt get burned.
"I was just passing by," I said finally.
Rissa's brow arched, her expression skeptical. "In the middle of the night?"
