The Alpha’s Mate Who Cried Wolf
Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Alpha Ryker

I'm excited about spending the day with Astrid. Every day, she trusts me more and more. She isthankfully adjusting to werewolf life. After my shower, I knock on her door. There's no answer. Iknock again.

“Astrid, are you awake?’ I open the door. Her bed is neat and creaseless. She hasn't slept in it.Strange. I knock on the ensuite door. She isn't there either. One of her drawers is open. Inside,Astrid's clothes are strewn about. She must have been in a hurry. My stomach sinks. Her bag isgone. I sprint downstairs to the dining room. Seth and Mia are at the table with Kane, Hayley, andVanessa. They all stand as I enter.

“Has anyone seen Astrid?'lask. They shrug and say they haven't.

'Is she still asleep?’ Mia asks.

“No, she isn't there, and her bag is gone too,’ I say in a panic.

“Ryker, I'm sure she’s around somewhere. I'll mind-link the pack to keep an eye out for her, Sethsuggests. I call out for Astrid, running through the house, searching every room and end up back inthe dining room

“She isn't in the house!" I panic.

Alpha Ryker, your breakfast is ready, Alice says.

"You haven't seen Astrid, have you, Alice?’ I ask.

“No, Alpha, I've been in the kitchen since 6 am. She smiles and says she hasn't seen her. I run out thefront door and pick up her scent. I rip my clothes off, shift into my wolf, let out a loud, sad howl andrace toward Astrid’s scent. An hour later, I'm deep in the woods when her scent vanishes. I run indifferent directions, becoming more and more distressed. Astrid, I don't understand why you'd leaveme. Where would you go? I think about where she might have gone. The diner is the only placeAstrid would go. There's no way she would have gone back to her Dad. I run to the diner and shiftback into my human form, not caring that I'm completely naked.

Jim! I shout. Jim!" All the customers freeze in shock at my nudity. An overweight man catches hiswife grinning. He covers her eyes with his hands and gives me an unimpressed look.

“Ryker! Damn it. Get some clothes on! We're full of customers!

Jim yells.

“Astrid! Have you seen her? I ask in a rush.

“No, I haven't seen her since she left with you,’ he says.

“Shit! She's missing. Her bag is gone. I don't know why she would run away, I panic.

I'll call you if I see her. But, in the meantime, you need to leave. My female customers are gawking,and their husbands want to give you a black eye!’ Jim says.

Frustrated, I leave the diner and shift back into my wolf, searching the woods, hoping to pick up herscent and replace nothing, not a trace of her anywhere. I mind-link Seth and Kane and tell them toorganise search parties. I don’t return home for 24 hours until I have no choice but to rest.Afterwards, I continue searching for her.

In bed, a hand rests on my chest.

“Astrid!” I sit up and see Vanessa asleep in my bed next to me. I let out a loud growl, waking her up.“Ryker, don't growl at me! It would help if you got over her. Astrid left because she doesnt love you.Astrid doesn't want you or the responsibility of being Luna, Vanessa says.

“Get out of my bed and out of my room now, Vanessa!’ I yell.

“Fine! But eventually, you're going to have to accept me as your chosen mate, whether or not youlike it! You know the elders don't want a weak runaway as Luna! She says, getting out of my bed.Jumping out of bed, I pin Vanessa to the wall with my hand around her neck.

Don't you ever call my mate weak again! Do you hear me?’ I

yell.

“Ryker, you're hurting me, she says. I let go, letting her drop to the floor. She holds her neck andlooks up at me, her eyes well.

“Get out now and never return to the Packhouse!’ I yell. She stands and runs out of the room.Making my way downstairs, I replace Seth.

“Alpha Ryker, we had five search parties look for her while you slept. We found no trace of her. Wewill keep searching until we replace her, Alpha." Nodding, I sit at the dining table.

“Seth, tell Alice to be quick with the food. I need to continue looking for Astrid, I order. Seth nodsand retreats to the kitchen. Moments later, Alice brings me a plate of food and puts it on the tablein front of me.

“Alpha Ryker! I'm very displeased with your behaviour toward my daughter. She has done nothingwrong. Why can't you accept her as your chosen mate? At least she won't run away!’ Alice snaps.Glaring at Alice, I let out a growl of warning.

“Alice, I suggest you get back in the kitchen because my wolf is not in the mood today to tolerateyou or your daughter!! suggest you accept Vanessa will never be my mate!’ I snap back. Alice glaresat me and storms back to the kitchen. I

finish my meal and walk out the door, adamant I'll replace Astrid

“Alpha Ryker!" I see one of my best warriors, Leon, racing toward me.

“Leon,’ I greet him.

“Alpha Ryker, we have some good news and some bad news. First, we picked up Astrid's scent in thecity. It's faint, but it's her. The bad news is we haven't found her yet, but with this lead, we'llhopefully have your mate home soon,” he says. So what would Astrid be doing in the city? Shedoesn’t know anyone there.

“Excellent, Leon. I'll join you in the city. Show me where you picked up her scent,’ I command.

I'll get Seth to drive us. It would be quicker in wolf form, but we can’t look for her naked, Leonpoints out. Nodding, I mind link Seth to get the car. On the way there, I'm hopeful we'll replace her. Ishould have her back in my arms today. I want to inhale her scent, feel the sparks between us, andtaste her lips.

We split up when we arrive in the city. It's her scent, but it's so faint that we can't follow it. So Idecided we'll spend the day in the city looking for her.

Mind-linking Leon and Seth, I tell them: Maybe she is working in a shop? It might be worth lookingin the stores for her. I enter hundreds of stores. There is no sign of her, and I can't trace her scentanywhere else,

Nightfall nears when Seth mind-links me and says he'll stay the night in the city to keep searching.Leon drives me back to the house for food and rest, promising to go back in the morning whenwe'll take over from Seth.

It's an arduous drive home. I was so sure we would replace Astrid today. Arriving, Alice opens the frontdoor.

"Alpha Ryker, I want to apologise for this morning. Unfortunately, I was out of line. I hope you'llforgive me,” she says. I can't be bothered arguing with her. Forgiveness is easier.

'I forgive you, Alice, if you accept Astrid as your Luna, Alice pauses in thought and nods.

“Of course, Alpha,’ she says with a hesitant smile.

I made a special dinner for you tonight, Alpha,’ she says.

She was gesturing to the food on the table. I sat at the table and ate alone. Everyone else ate andleft before I got home. After eating, I feel unnaturally tired.