Chapter 14

Andrea was getting frustrated, no matter who they asked or where they searched. It was like her father, Terrence, had vanished entirely. Even their so called Warlock couldn't locate him. She was beginning to assume he was a sham.

"Nick, how was the interrogation?", she asked

"They are clean, even the head doesn't know what happened. I am beginning to fear the worse", he didn't want to sound crude but that was the truth.

The number of enemies they had was not enough to shake them as they knew who and what power each and everyone of them representing. What they fear the most, is the unknown.

Andrea took a deep breath and tried to think of who would bear a strong enough grudge against her father to think of going to all these lengths to harm him. He was still alive, they knew that, just barely, and the longer it took them to find him, the tougher the chances were that even if they do find him, it would be to collect his body. So, she needed to think hard and fast.

"Continue the search, widen the range. Anyone, even remotely, who had the capability to harm us. Give me something positive by dawn", she gave her command and without waiting for their bows and words of acknowledgement, walked away.

She walked straight to her parents' quarter where her mother has been holed up since the kidnapping. As she walked closer, she could see her tending to the rose bushes around the house. She was relieved, she had always known her mother to be a very strong woman, and it seems she was holding up just fine. She wrapped her arms around her in an awkward back hug.

"Andy, how is the search going?", Lily inquired.

Andrea could feel the spasms wrecking her mom's body, though she was healing the pain was very much real. She couldn't imagine what her dad is going through. She could feel the tears she has been trying to hold in threatening to fall.

Lily held her only child close to her, in her mind she could still feel the pain but her rationale reminded her that all was not lost yet. Since she could still feel him, he would be found. She turned to her daughter.

"I am so proud of you. Look at the way you took command of the park like your father never left. When we find him, I'll make him take us on a vacation, okay?", she smiled brightly.

"Yes, mom. I promise we will get him back"

...

Carl woke up with a start. He hadn't been able to sleep peacefully lately. It's as if he had things weighing his mind that is far greater than his current ones. The pay he gets for every successful job from Jeffery is enough to pay the school fees of the twins and Trey, together with most of the bills. Yeah, the pay is that attractive. He walked to the bathroom and looked at his face in the mirror. He looked like a middle aged man. He is currently 20 years old this year. He felt he needed to have a haircut and most definitely a shave. Trey walked in just as he was leaving the bathroom. He was baffled. Wasn't today Tuesday?

"No, it's Friday boss, so I can go to school later. It's almost a free day, if not for compulsory sporting activities"

"Oh, then the twins might be at the mall already"

"Mmmmm"

"You better get prepared then, I'll drop you off"

"Yes, boss"

Unlike some kids, Trey loved it when his parents dropped him off at school, even in high school. So, he decided to try his best to do just that for him, now that his parents couldn't do it anymore.

After dropping Trey, he headed to his workplace. He calls it that so it feels more official. Jeff and his beta were sparring again. He decided to join them

"Hey, boss"

"Yeah, Mr. Huxley. How are you doing?"

"Please, call me Carl. I am doing good and you?"

Carmichael looked like he was about to vomit. He looked at his mate and was about to say something but the Muggle continued.

"I'd like to join you guys for your training today, if that would be alright with you, boss", he smiled brightly too, so that they would think him harmless. He forgot one very tiny, detail though. He was talking to someone's mate and that smile could be taken for something else.

Carmichael froze for a second, before he felt the anger. He immediately turned around and walked away while seething. He knew he was being unreasonable but he couldn't control it and so he did the next best thing, he left. Jeffery though, was in official panic mode. Carl face palmed, he forgot sincerely. He didn't go after them though, that would only make it worse. He will apologise properly to the beta after his mate had soothed him.

'There goes my training plans', he mused.

He decided to pester the Omega instead, but found him daydreaming. He stepped lightly so as not to wake him from his reverie. He could see the Omega was approaching heat period and it was getting worse.

'This is a virgin Omega. Tsk, don't these little guys know it's bad for their health holding off the heat like this? Even when I am in a rut as an Alpha it's freaking hard to control. Well, maybe he can handle it, he has been doing so anyways. None of my business'

He consoled himself and wandered off. All of a sudden, a sense of worry appeared in his mind. He jolted from it, and was shocked because the feeling was gone in an instant, almost like he never felt felt it. Which is wrong, because he knew what he felt was real. He rubbed his chest and waited for a few minutes. When the feeling didn't come again, he chalked it up to the anxiety he had been almost overcome with these past days and gave up trying to discern what it was. It would clarify itself after sometime anyways. He didn't like to rush things.