Chapter 7 - Home from home.

Pierce POV

I’ve visited Reuben’s and Evelyn’s new home plenty of times, but never with a purpose other than just spending time with them.

If Reuben’s trackers haven’t been spotted by mine, then there was the strong possibility that he hadn’t sent any out at all.

Fate had destined for Reuben and I to be in each other’s lives from a young age. Our Father’s were the best of friends until their feud, forcing Reuben and I to grow apart, to temporarily become adversaries.

A few physical arguments as teenagers, I believe one being over both having a crush on the same girl…then our fates crossed again the day he carried a collapsed Evelyn in his arms out of a warehouse located on my outer pack grounds.

I found immense pleasure in flirting with Evelyn so openly in front of him, even when he was denying their bond and remaining with Vicky.

Now their kids call me uncle.

The Royal Alpha family’s house was set away from both packs, geographically in the middle of the Red Stone and the Silver Moon. It helped them be together as a family and travel between both packs when necessary.

For the sake of the children there was an invisible border, helping them to feel more at ease after everything they have been through, especially little Elspeth…she suffered the most after the Silver Moon pack attack.

Confined in the dark basement hearing the attack play out, not knowing where her parents were. I can’t think of what she went through.

They have plenty of guards placed strategically around the area, remaining invisible. But don’t let that fool you, they are ready to intercept at any stage. However, I have free movement permission, being classed as family myself.

The house is quiet, too quiet.

It’s usually vibrating with the joyous sound of children’s laughter that constantly bounces off the walls.

I find him standing alone, his eyes staring off into thin space, my approach completely unnoticed by him.

The Alpha King.

The highest wolf in our nation, and he doesn’t notice someone entering his home where his family are.

Something wasn’t right.

“Reuben?” I’m cautious at first, he seemed to be in some kind of trance-like state. I’d be forgiven for thinking he might be in a mind-link but with the pack too far away for it to work, everything is technology based here.

That, and the fact that his eyes aren’t glazed over, which is a classic sign of a mind-link being in process.

The guards serving on site for the family’s close protection continue to communicate through the mind-link, a mixture of both Red Stone and Silver Moon guards. At least mind-links work if any same pack member is close by.

“Pierce…back for more mayhem.” His eyes remain in a trance like state until he seems to shake himself out of it.

He was tired.

He missed the first 4 years of Rex’s and Evelyn’s lives…knowing Reuben he was trying to make up for it now with Angel. Overstretching himself with a newborn.

“Something like that….I need to speak with you.”

“Drink? About what?”

“Sure. I’ve had trackers out for the past 3 months…”

“You have, why?”

I have to bite the inside of my mouth, isn’t it obvious? But I have to remember that they were in a newborn baby bubble and the outside world wasn’t top priority for them right now.

“To search for Libby.”

“I told you my men were on top of things, we should find her soon.”

“Reuben…cut the crap.” I can’t help that my tone takes a sour note.

“I know you haven’t had men out there looking for her…have you ever?”

“Of course I have..”

“Show me?” I press for evidence. Yes I haven’t got a family like him but I’m just as tired. My own mate connection on the brink of breaking tends to keep me up at night.

“Excuse me?”

“Show me, show me what your men reported to you…”

“Pierce!”

“Show me!” I can’t help but growl from the slight humour in his voice.

He has his mate now, he forgets what it is like to be parted from a mate, someone that was made for you and you alone.

“You need to just give it some time…”

“I have Reuben…6 months. I can’t keep going on like this. I need to find her.” My voice is sounding as exasperated as how I feel. I take a deep breath in before continuing.

“Look, I’ve put Dane in charge of the Grey Howl pack…for however long it takes. I can’t even feel her Reuben, through the mate bond.”

A moment passes where he seems reluctant to respond. His eyes closing as if he is contemplating internally whether to tell me something.

If he has any information on where she could be he’s got to start talking. It might not mean anything to him but for me it could be a tiny clue that points me on the right direction.

“I just need to make sure she is alive, that she is safe.” I plead with him as he starts to turn away from me, I have to pull his shoulder back so that he is continuing to face me.

That’s when he gives me the news I needed to hear.

The admission that soon makes me realise he has been holding out on me, letting me struggle daily.

“She is safe.”