3 - He's Gone

 Veronica's POV 

My hands shook holding his phone in my hand, I dropped it on the floor and spun around heading back to his bedroom.  I sighed as I looked around, I don't even know what is gone, it looks like he didn't take anything with him.  I went into the bathroom, staring at the sink at an empty holder sitting there, "he took his toothbrush."  I went back to his bedroom and just sat on his bed, inhaling deeply, embedding his scent to my memory.  I laid back, his pillow, sheets, every inch of this place smells divine, my eyes leaked all on their own, my wolf whimpered in my head, I blew out a breath and sat up, wiping at my tears, "don't worry, we'll track him down if we have to, I won't lose our mate, especially since it's him."  I stood and walked out of the cabin, "he took his bike," I shook my head, "it won't be easy to find him, especially if he doesn't want to be found."  I eyed his 1967 Mustang and walked back to his kitchen, grabbed his keys off the table, "since I need a car and he left everything behind, he shouldn't mind me using it to find him."  I locked his door and went to his car, unlocked it and slid in to the driver’s seat.  I looked at his cabin and a small smile tried to curl on my lips as the memory of our first kiss, right there on those steps, played in my mind. 

I went back to the dorms and grabbed my backpack, stuffing a few changes of clothes, toiletries and feminine products.  Rochelle walked in and stopped just staring at me, "going somewhere?"

I didn't bother looking at her, I just kept shoving items into the pack, "yup, I need to find him?"

She grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face her, "find who?"

I sighed at her, rolling my eyes, "Beta Bastien, that's who?"

Her eyes widened, "really, is he missing or something?  Should we all go tracking him, we could make it a game, where's the Beta, you know like where's Waldo?"

I shrugged her hands off me, "not funny, Roe, he's left, and my wolf is going nuts."

She sat on the bed next to my pack, "you're serious aren't you, he really is gone?"

I nodded as I zipped the pack and slung it over my shoulder, "yes, I need to find him," I stammered a bit, "he's, he's..."

She gave me her evil smile, brow arched, "your MATE?"

My cheeks reddened, my bottom lip quivered as I whispered, "yea, he is."

She laughed as she leapt off the bed, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug, "I knew it, I told you he was your Beta, you two look fabulous together, not to mention the sexual electricity that just sparks around the two of you."  She pulled back and looked me in the eyes, her excitement faded as she seen the vulnerability and tears welling in mine.  She put her forehead to mine, "stop, you'll find him, he can't stay hidden forever."  

I sniffled, "well, I know it was him at my party and he just bolted before I even got to see him."

Her eyes narrowed, "something is off with that,  I'm sure if he knew you're his mate he wouldn't have bolted, he's been panting over you since you got here for goddess sake," she rolled her eyes, "you want me to come with you, I'm in if you want me to be."

I shake my head, "no, this is for me to do, some kind of punishment for how I've acted in the past or test to see if I'm worthy of the fated mate kind of happiness," I shrug, "either way, I'll track him down and we will work this out, we have too."

She steps back, looking at me and blows a swoosh of air out her mouth, "whoa, you already fell for him?  Veronica, that was dangerous, what if he wasn't your fated?"

I shook my head, "it wouldn't have mattered, and it still doesn't, he's my fated mate, mine and now I need to go find him before it's too late." 

She walks out with me to the parking lot, she stops looking at his car, "you're seriously stealing his car?" She laughs, "you know he's going to be mad if anything happens to his car, right?"

I scoff as I throw my backpack in the passenger seat, "yea, well you don't leave behind what you really care about, now do you?"

Her hand lands on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze, "Veronica, he cares about you, don't think for a minute he doesn't, I know something happened for him to bolt, he wouldn't have left you for no reason, promise me to let him explain." 

I nod and open the door, she smiles, "if he sees this car, he'll be looking for whoever is driving it, so you might be in luck, if you can get ahead of him that is."

She shuts the door as I rev the engine to life, "yea, I'm sure there aren't a lot of these still around, especially panted flat black," I put the car in gear as she pokes her head in the window and kisses my cheek, I look at her, "what was that for?"

She winks at me, "good luck, hey do me a favor, text me every day, it could be just a "hi, or Good morning, nothing lengthy, I just need to know your still alive and ok."  

I look at her eyes and concern swirls in them as I nod, "no problem, I think I can do that, at least one person will know I'm good."  I pull out of the parking spot and head to the border I stop at the crossroads, looking to the east then to the west. 

My wolf stirs, "east, he went east." 

I sarcastically laughed, "really and you know this how?" 

She giggles, "his wolf will direct him back to the last place he scented you, he's heading back to NY."  I arch a brow, "interesting, OK lets track our Alpha."