163
LYRIC
She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. “I–I haven’t seen my sister in years. I don’t know where she is.” She stepped back and tried shutting the door, but Jace was quick to hold it open.
“Look, we mean no harm. If you know something, please help us. The reason we’re looking for her-”
“I just told you, I don’t know anything,” she snapped. “Now get off my property and top looking for my sister.”
She slammed the door in our faces.
I looked at Jace. “She’s hiding something.”
“She definitely is.”
I brushed my fingers into my hair. “What do we do? What if she knows something about Penelope?”
Jace stared at the door for some time. “Right now, she’s paranoid. We shouldn’t give her a reason to mess things for us. She might erase any trace of Penelope and ruin our chances at finding her. We should make her think we’re really backing off.”
“T–Then, how do we-”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her. I’ll come around tonight and see what she knows.”
He grabbed my hand. “We’ll find them, Lyric. We’re close; I can feel it.”
Gods, I hoped so.
With each day, I was starting to feel like a loser for not being able to find them. I’d been trying not to think about it, but were they actually fine? Who have they been with for six years? Were they loved and treated right?
“You know, you never mentioned their father,” Jace said as we settled back in the car.
I stalled with my seatbelt, thinking of the best response to give to him.
“I’d like to keep that a secret, please.”
Fortunately, he didn’t press.
We arrived Darkspire and I felt a sense of relief when I found Kael outside, leaning against his car.
Him being home meant Jaris was home, right?
Something about Kael’s demeanor seemed off.
He was smoking. He actually did smoke, but he always did it in private.
Today, however, he was doing it right outside, where anyone could easily see him. He wasn’t even wearing a suit but something casual; like he had been home for a long time.
Which was unsettling because I knew Jaris must’ve gone to work.
“Hey, Kael.” I waved at him, but he didn’t even spare me a glance. His dark eyes were on Jace.
I looked at Jace with furrowed brows, trying to understand what was going on. My bestfriend looked too quiet. Okay. Something was definitely up.
I was about walking away to leave them to it when Kael spoke up. “How was she?”
I stopped mid–step, looking back at him. His eyes were still on Jace.
“Did you have a good time with her? Did you realize she was what you wanted?”
Suddenly, I understood the emotion I’d seen in Kael’s eyes. They weren’t just dark. They were hurt.
Looking at Jace, his face was filled with guilt. “It’s–It’s not what you think.”
“What the fuck do you know about what I think?” Kael rasped, peeling himself away from the car. His movement 30 aggressive, even I got a bit scared.
“Do you know the things I had to say to get you here? How fucking hard I had to convince my boss. I told him I wanted to keep you close to me. Cause I thought you fucking felt the same! Who knew it’d be so easy for you to go whoring around?” Holy smokes, it became clear to me. Why Jace was gone for long yesterday while I was at TCH, and why he returned with a lipstick stain on his neck. Please, don’t tell me.
“You know what I think, Jace?” Kael inched toward him. “I think you should’ve been honest about your sexuality. I didn’t force shit on you, you know?” His eyes flicked to mine, a little hatefully. “Maybe you just needed me to get close to your best friend.”
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His words made me feel terrible, but I didn’t even know how to blame him ‘cause I understood how hurt he must be. Why would Jace do a thing like this?
“Come on, man. It’s not what you think,” Jace tried going closer to him. “I promise I can explain if you just let me. But I swear, I never lied to you.”
“You’re right for asking my permission. Cause I’m not letting you explain why the hell you went to fuck someone else. You should’ve told me you weren’t interested from the onset. Would have saved us both a lot of time.”
He started walking away.
“Kael. Kael!” Jace called, but he didn’t even glance back at him.
He got into his car and left.
“What the hell was that?” I turned to Jace. But he didn’t look at me as he stormed into the house.
I had to scurry to catch up with his pace.
“Jace! Did you really cheat on him? Why would you do such a thing?”
“Not now, Lyric,” he threw at me without looking back.
I stopped walking in the hallway and could only watch as he stormed into his room.
When I was over the Jace and Kael drama, I proceeded to check on Jaris. He wasn’t home yet.
The twins came to spend some time with me and that took my mind off him for some hours.
When it was night and I was sure he’d be back, I went back to his room again. But when I knocked repeatedly, there was no
response.
What was he doing out so late today?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t even ask Kael with what happened earlier today. Maybe I should ask Nerion.
I was heading to his room when I ran into Maddy with someone.
She was backed up against the wall, the boy’s hand wrapped possessively around her waist while she laughed at whatever he whispered in her ears.
I blinked in surprise when they kissed.
Was it a coincidence that this was actually happening a few steps from Nerion’s room?
“Hey,” she waved when she noticed me. But she didn’t try to free herself from the boy.
He didn’t even look familiar. It was obvious she brought him home.
“Are you looking for someone?” Maddy asked, her hands cupping the boy’s cheeks. She was seeming a bit drunk.
“Yes. I was-”
Before I could finish my statement, the door opened behind me. I already knew it was Nerion before I turned around and saw him coming from his room.
He stopped on a dime, and it wasn’t hard to figure out what was running through his mind.
I glanced back at Maddy and she was holding the boy even more possessively. She had her hands on him and made it seem like she hadn’t even noticed Nerion was there.
“Um…hey,” I turned to Nerion. “I’ve been looking for Alpha Jaris. It’s late, but he isn’t home yet. Is there a reason he’s staying out late?”
It took a little longer for his eyes to leave Maddy and move to mine.
“He isn’t home.” Was his simple reply.
“Okay. But do you know when he’ll be back?”
“Not yet. We’ve been trying to reach him. Why don’t you go get a room? It’s shameless doing this out here.” He directed at Maddy and her strange man.
I rolled my eyes, knowing a hell of a drama was coming.
“You didn’t build this place, Nerion. I don’t think you have the right to dish out such orders,” Maddy snapped back.
Nerion’s stare was as cold and clear as icicles as he walked toward them.
“You seem to be forgetting the position I hold in this place.” He looked at the boy. “Who are you?”
Maddy stepped in between them. “Don’t answer him.”
“I am the head of security over here. It is my right to access everyone that steps foot in the Pack. I don’t know this man, and I don’t trust him. So, I’m going to ask him to leave.”
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“You’ll do no such thing!” She stomped her foot angrily.
It was Nerion’s turn to smile. “I guess we should wait around and see what happens if he remains here by the time I’m back! He walked out on them.
Not having the time for Maddy’s rants, I followed after him.
I caught up with him and asked him more about Jaris, but he wasn’t of much help. It was as if they didn’t know anything of his whereabouts.
I returned to my room, deciding I’d try a little while later. But I slept off.
By morning, I was sure he’d be back and proceeded to check on him. But when I learned he didn’t come home last night, worry set in.
This was unlike Jaris. Something might be wrong.
I tried calling him on phone but couldn’t reach him. Kael and Nerion were not in the pack either.
What was going on?
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