Chapter 4 - River

I’m seriously freaking out. It’s been over twenty-four hours since I last talked to Leo. It may sound like something minor to you, but it’s not to me. Leo last texted me that they were being forced to attend the local fireworks display for New Year with their douchey family. That was it. Radio silence ever since.

I tried to call and text them at midnight on the east coast to wish them a happy New Year. Leo didn’t answer my call, and my text was left unseen. I may be coming off as a total creep, but I’ve sent multiple texts, voice mails, and emails, not to mention DMs on various social media. None of them have gotten me an answer.

Right now, my gut is telling me something is seriously wrong. Leo would never ignore me. At least not willingly. Their parents must have done something like maybe they took Leo’s phone and computer away. I wouldn’t put it past them. Leo’s parents suck donkey balls, but this doesn’t feel like that. Something is wrong.

“Mom, please call them. Call Leo’s parents. Something is wrong. I feel it.” I demanded, practically shoving her phone into her hands. “Something bad must have happened. Please.”

“River….” Mom sighed, hesitant for a moment as she took the phone. She’s got to back me on this. I’m giving her my best puppy eyes and pout. Yes, I am stooping to pouting. I need her to make the call. As an adult, they might listen to her, tell her more, and even let her talk to Leo.

“Alright. I will call the Hanley family. I would rather not start my year by talking to them, but you are so worked up. Once we confirm that Leo is perfectly safe, you will drop it and have to wait until they are ungrounded to talk to them.” Mom sighed, unlocking her phone.

Her eyes went all googly as she looked at her background picture. It was of her and dad from a hike in the fall. Admittedly, it’s a good picture, but now is not the time for her to get all lovey-dovey about her mate. “Focus, mom! You can get all weird about a picture of you and dad later.” I rolled my eyes.

“No need to place that call.” Dad interrupted, taking the phone from mom’s hands as she looked for the Hanley’s home phone in her contacts.

“What does that mean? Leo could be in trouble. I need to know they are okay. This is the only way.” I demanded, growling, feeling my control starting to slip.

‘Get a grip, River. Or I’m taking over, so we don’t use my power against your parents.’ Lunar warned.

“I know, River. Calling them won’t do us any good. I already know that Leo is in trouble.” Dad sighed, putting a hand on my shoulder. “There’s an Amber Alert for them.” He explained, holding up his phone to show the alert.

I furrowed my brow, trying to focus on the words. It was a jumble and not because of my dyslexia. If there is an Amber Alert, that means Leo is missing. Leo is in danger. My Bunno is out there where they could be hurt or worse. My brain was overloaded, and my control was long gone.

I felt myself falling into darkness, into a pit of despair as my mind thought of all the possible things that could have happened. I was only faintly aware of the voices around me. I could hear mom and dad calling out to me, but they sounded so far away. Even Lunar sounded like he was miles away.

‘RIVER! WAKE THE FUCK UP!’ Lunar shouted, sounding strained and distant.

“They’re too overwhelmed by the news. I’ll keep us in control while I try to pull them out of this. Just tell me what you know and what can be done.” Lunar was calm as he spoke to my parents.

“Leo was reported missing last night. Based on the story, it is believed they were abducted from a local New Years’ Eve event. They were last seen at a Greyhound bus station in Buffalo, where local police had followed them after a lead reported seeing Leo get on a bus. They believe the kidnapper forced them onto the bus. But after seeing the police have sought alternate means of travel.” Dad explained, reading off his phone.

I could hear every word; the more he talked, the clearer things got. None of that made sense. I mean, sure, Leo is cute as hell, so someone may want to kidnap them, but Leo wouldn’t just go willingly with anyone. They may be small, but they are as fierce as their name. No way. But even if it’s true, I need to find them all the more.

“Then I’m going to Buffalo.” I suddenly spoke up, pushing forward, taking back control from Lunar.

“River, we should leave this to the police. This isn’t like when we lived nearby, and you knew all of Leo’s hiding places. This could be very serious, and I know you’re worried about them, but you rushing in could put Leo in more danger.” Mom tried to rationalize.

I shook my head. “No, mom. I need to find them. I need to find Leo. If they are in danger, if someone did kidnap them, I can handle it. I can deal with a kidnapper. I’ve spent the last two years learning to fight, and I have Lunar. No kidnapper would stand a chance. No one stands between my Bunno and me.”

I didn’t wait for them to respond. I was already heading for the door. “Dude? What’s going on? River, where ya going?” Sage called out as they came downstairs.

“To get my Bunno.” I snorted, yanking the door open, my mind focused only on my goal. So focused, I ran right into the hard chest of Stripper David. I need to get stronger because if running into him makes me stagger and he does not budge, it’s not a good sign.

“Slow your roll, kiddo.” David sighed, putting a hand on my shoulder to steady me. “Let me guess, saw a recent Amber Alert for a Marybeth Hanley?” David arched a pierced brow.

“How…” I frowned. “Don’t use that name. Their name is Leo.” I growled, realizing he used Leo’s eww name.

“Yes. I just saw it and brought it up to River and Erin. Do you know more?” Dad questioned, coming up behind me.

“Wait, Leo’s missing?! When did that happen? Are they okay?” Sage started shouting out questions.

“Let’s all sit down, and I’ll explain,” David suggested. I don’t want to sit. I want to get out there and find Leo. I want to find them right the fuck NOW.

“Go sit down, River. What I have to say is important.” David instructed, more firm in his voice.

“Come on, and we’ll hear what David has to say. Then we will think of a plan and do what we can to help your friend.” Dad assured me, putting an arm around my shoulders to guide me back to the living room. Once we were all seated, David stood in front of the tv.

“I told you I’d check up on your friend. And I don’t say things that I don’t mean. So I dug into it and pulled a couple of favors.” David began. “So first off, your friend is a werewolf. They are part of a purist pack called the Silvermane.”

Way to drop an atomic bomb! Leo’s a werewolf too!? What are the odds? I was shocked I didn’t even have words. “Holy fuck…” I managed to utter.

“So if Leo is a werewolf, like us, they may be River’s mate! That’s even more reason we need to find them. Leo turned sixteen recently. They’d be able to know if they are mates now.” Sage started bouncing on their end of the sofa excitedly.

I’m excited about the possibility. Leo has to be my mate. It explained why what I feel for them is so intense. And although Lunar has never met them, he doesn’t get all snarky about Leo and my feelings for them. Lunar will get snarky and snarl at people here that have tried to flirt with me, making his stance on them very apparent.

“That’s even more reason I need to go find Leo. If someone took them, I will kill them.” I growled and started to stand up, only for David to shove me back.

“I’m not done.” He growled low.

“Silvermane is a fucked up pack. Alpha and Luna do not like them. The only time we went there, the Alpha was insulting to Luna Aurelia and nearly lost his face for his audacity. Fucker is lucky Beta John was there to hold Alpha Logan back. It took both Mikali and me to pull Luna Aurelia back after she claws out bitch slapped the Alpha out of his chair.” He sighed.

“Given the way Theodore and Jane behaved, I can imagine that their pack is jammed-packed of sexist pieces of shit who think anyone who doesn’t conform to their views is wrong, stupid, and needs to be put in what they deem their place.” Mom scoffed.

“Yeah, let’s just say rushing into Silvermane territory isn’t in pack interest. But despite the impression Luna Aurelia left….” David smirked. “I made connections with a few of their patrols who are tired of how the pack is run. When I put feelers out, they are the ones that told me your Leo is one of them. Leo wasn’t kidnapped. They ran.”

“They ran away from home?! I mean, I shouldn’t be as surprised as I sound. But why wouldn’t they tell me? I’d have helped them.” I frowned.

“From what you’ve said about their parents, I can see why they’d keep it tight-lipped. They wouldn’t want anyone to find out their plans. And given what I learned, I don’t blame the kid for running.” David frowned.

“Why? What happened? Did their fuckwad parents hurt them?” I questioned, once again having too much pent-up energy to stay seated.

“No. At least not yet. Silvermane is a fucked up place that emphasizes purity. Meaning werewolf purity. Males can seek their fated mate and bring them back to the pack. Females aren’t. They will be handed off to a mate chosen for her within the pack that didn’t find their mate.” David wrinkled his nose in disgust.

“It’s part of why we will never do business with them. Bloodmoon takes the mate bond seriously, so forcing a bond on a female makes Alpha and Luna’s blood boil.” He frowned. “And your Leo was recently promised to the thirty-one-year-old unmated Beta of the pack, Tucker Prescot.”

“I’LL KILL THEM! I’LL KILL LEO’S PARENTS! I’LL KILL FUCKER PRESCUNT!” I growled, blinded by rage, as I started for the door. I didn’t get far as I was yanked back by the collar.

“Slow the hell down, River. We have to be smart about this, and I told you I have more to say.” David rolled his eyes, holding me in place. “My contacts watched as Leo left the pack’s New Year celebration. They watched them to the bus station and ensured they were safely on a bus.”

“When no one in the pack could say anything about Leo’s whereabouts, the family went to the human police. That’s how they tracked Leo to Buffalo, where their bus was supposed to take a break before getting on the road. The bus they were on was heading for Portland. Leo’s parents probably know that. Probably suspect you were in on their kid going AWOL. I don’t know if they’d come here and risk crossing Bloodmoon, but it’s possible.” David sighed.

“So then what do we do? Leo is out there. They recently turned sixteen, and the full moon is coming! How often have you and others stressed how dangerous it is to be a rogue and shift alone?” I demanded, trying to wiggle free.

“That is why I went to Alpha. You and Hale are to come with me so we can try to find Leo now that they have had to find another way to get here. Austin, Suzie, Sage, and your mom will stay here to ensure if somehow Leo gets past us or tries to contact you here, someone can handle it.” David instructed.

I blinked, not having expected that. “What are you standing here for? Pack a bag. My jeep is out front. We have a lot of miles to cover if we are going to find Leo.” David smirked, letting my shirt go.

“Hell yes! Let’s go find my Bunno!” I pumped my fist in the air before I ran upstairs to grab a bag.