Chapter 10 Nathan
Nathan
The inky darkness of the night pressed in around me as I stood at the edge of the woods, Gavin and the pack enforcers flanking my sides. After finding the cabin last night, we’d decided to search again tonight, but all I could think about was running into Rissa at the grocery store.
Ula was already at work, her wolf form slinking low to the ground as she sniffed the air. "The scent is still here," she muttered, muffled by the underbrush. "But it's weird."
Weird was never good. "Weird how?"
Ula glanced up at me, her snout twitching. "Like it's layered. She was here, but so was something, or someone, else."
Beside me, Gavin shifted his weight from foot to foot, radiating tension. "A rogue?"
I shook my head slowly. "No. A rogue would be messy, desperate." I inhaled deeply, trying to parse out the strange, overlapping scents. "This feels intentional."
Dread pooled in my gut as the implications sank in. If this wasn't some lone wolf gone feral, then we were dealing with something far more sinister. An unknown threat, lurking in the shadows of Stock Creek.
I squared my shoulders, determination steeling my resolve. "Spread out," I ordered, my wolf stirring restlessly. "Look for any signs of disturbance, anything out of place." I met each of their gazes in turn. "And be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with here."
As the enforcers melted into the trees, their forms rippling and shifting, I turned to Gavin. My beta, my right hand. The unspoken question hung between us, heavy with implication.
What fresh hell had come to Stock Creek?
I picked my way through the underbrush, leaves crunching beneath my boots as I followed the fading scent trail. Beside me, Gavin moved silently, scanning the shadows.
Caleb, one of the younger enforcers, crossed his arms over his chest. "Is someone trying to mask their scent?"
Ula let out a low growl, her muzzle wrinkling. She shifted into her skin and said, "Not just mask. Corrupt. There's something wrong in this mix."
I crouched down, inhaling deeply. Beneath the missing woman's scent was something off. Like wet earth, rotting leaves, and the faintest trace of death. A shiver rolled through me, my wolf snarling uneasily. Decay.
I exchanged a look with Gavin, who clenched his jaw. "You think we're dealing with a wolf?"
I nodded slowly, the pieces clicking into place. "Yeah. But not just any wolf."
Ula circled a gnarled tree, her nose pressed to the roots. "The scent is strong here."
She shifted back, and we followed the trail for another mile, weaving between the trees, but it cut off abruptly near the highway as if the kidnapper had simply disappeared into thin air.
Frustration burned in my veins, my wolf pacing agitatedly. We were missing something, some crucial piece of the puzzle. And with each passing moment, the chances of finding the woman alive grew slimmer.
I raked a hand through my hair, trying to think. To plan our next move. But the truth was, I had no idea what we were up against. No idea how to protect my pack from an enemy I couldn't see.
Gavin placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure this out."
I met his gaze, drawing strength from his unwavering faith. He was right. We'd faced worse threats than this and come out standing. We would again.
I straightened, squaring my shoulders. "Let's head back. We need to regroup and come up with a plan." I turned to face the others. "And we need to do it fast. Before anyone else goes missing."
As we made our way back through the woods, responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders. I was the alpha, the protector. And I would do whatever it took to keep Stock Creek safe.
The silence hung heavy as we entered pack territory, each of us lost in our own troubling thoughts.
Caleb fell into step beside me, his jaw set in a grim line. "You think she's still alive?"
I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. I wanted to believe she was. Needed to believe it. But the truth was, I didn't know. And that uncertainty ate at me like acid.
"I hope so," I said quietly. "But we have to be prepared for the worst."
Caleb’s eyes hardened. "If she's not, whoever did this is going to pay. I'll make damn sure of that."
I didn't doubt it. Caleb was loyal to a fault, fiercely protective. He'd lay down his life for any one of us without hesitation.
As we neared the pack house, Gavin cleared his throat. "We should call it for tonight. There's nothing more we can do until the scent resurfaces."
I hated to admit it, but he was right. We were chasing ghosts at this point. "Agreed. Everyone get some rest. We'll regroup in the morning and come up with a plan."
The others dispersed, heading to their respective homes. I lingered, staring out into the darkness. Searching for answers I wouldn't find.
My mind drifted to Rissa, to the way she'd looked at me on the pack house porch. Like she saw right through me. Right to the heart of the turmoil raging inside.
I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I couldn't afford to be distracted. Not now. Not with so much at stake.
With a heavy sigh, I turned and headed inside, the night pressing in around me. Tomorrow was a new day. A chance to start fresh. To find the missing woman and bring her home.
Once inside, I couldn’t settle. I paced the confines of my living room, restlessness thrumming through my veins. The unease from the search clung to me like a second skin, sinking into my bones, my marrow. My wolf prowled beneath the surface, agitated and on edge.
I should sleep. I needed rest if I had any hope of finding the missing woman. But my mind wouldn't quiet, thoughts racing in an endless loop.
I clenched my hands, fingernails biting into my palms. The pain pulled me back from the brink. But it wasn't enough. It was never enough.
With a growl, I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside, the cool night air washing over me. The town was quiet at this hour, streets empty and bathed in the eerie glow of streetlights. I walked without direction, letting the rhythm of my steps soothe the chaos inside me.
But even as I tried to clear my head, my thoughts drifted. Not just to the case but to Rissa. To the way she'd smelled in the woods. To the heat of her breath against my lips, the electricity that had arced between us.
I growled, shaking my head. This was a bad idea. I couldn't go down that road. Not again. Not after Mira.
But even as I tried to push the memories away, they lingered, taunting me with what could have been. What should have been.
I looked up, blinking in surprise. Somehow, lost in thought, my feet had carried me to Gavin's house. To Rissa.
I stiffened, cursing under my breath. Damn it. I hadn't meant to come here. Hadn't meant to—
The front door creaked open, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. Rissa stepped out onto the porch, dressed in sleep shorts and a loose t-shirt that skimmed her curves. Her long hair spilled over her shoulders in a tousled wave, like she'd just rolled out of bed.
She spotted me immediately, her expressive eyes widening before narrowing. An exaggerated sigh escaped her lips. "Are you stalking me now?"
I huffed out a quiet laugh, trying to ignore the way my pulse kicked up at the sight of her. "Come on. I'm not a creep."
Rissa leaned against the railing, arms crossing over her chest. The posture emphasized her curves, and I forced myself to keep my gaze on her face. "Then what do you want?"
The question hung between us, loaded with a thousand unspoken things. I swallowed hard, shoving my hands in my pockets.
Hell if I knew. I’d just ended up here. Drawn to her like a moth to a flame, even though I'd no doubt get burned.
"I was just passing by," I said finally.
Rissa's brow arched, her expression skeptical. "In the middle of the night?"
I shrugged, aiming for casualness even as tension coiled in my gut. "Couldn't sleep. Thought a walk might help."
She studied me for a long moment, searching my face. For what, I wasn't sure. But whatever she saw there made her sigh, the hard line of her shoulders softening slightly.
"Do you want to come in?" she asked, the words quiet and tentative.
Everything in me screamed yes. Screamed to close the distance between us, to pull her into my arms and never let go.
But I couldn't. I wouldn't. Not when I knew how this story ended.
So I shook my head, taking a step back. "I should go. Early day tomorrow." I hesitated, then said, “Stay inside at night.”
Rissa raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
I held her gaze. “You know something’s wrong in Stock Creek.”
“And you think I can’t take care of myself?”
She had such an attitude. It was hot and absolutely infuriating. My patience snapped. “I’m warning you because you matter.”
Rissa stilled, lips parting slightly. For a second, I thought she was going to say something. Something real. But then she blinked and shook her head. Disappointment flickered across Rissa's face, there and gone in a heartbeat. She pulled back from the railing.
"Good night, Nathan," she said softly, turning back toward the house.
I watched her go, something heavy and aching settling in my chest. "Good night, Rissa," I murmured, the words lost to the night air.
I stood there for a second, jaw tight, staring at the closed door. The wolf inside me paced restlessly, urging me to go after her, to make her understand. But I couldn't. Not now. Not like this.
The door opened again, but this time, it was Gavin. My best friend looked between me and the closed door, brows furrowed. "You wanna tell me what that was about?"
I forced myself to stay neutral, shoving my hands in my pockets. "What?"
Gavin crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "You and Rissa. I caught the tail end of that conversation."
I shrugged, looking off into the distance, the dark mountains a jagged silhouette against the star-strewn sky. "Just warning her to be careful."
Gavin didn't look convinced. "Seemed like she didn't take it well."
I exhaled, the sound harsh in the quiet night. "She's stubborn."
Gavin let out a short, humorless laugh. "No kidding. Runs in the family."
I didn't respond, hoping Gavin would drop it. Hoping he wouldn't push, wouldn't ask the questions I couldn't answer.
But instead, Gavin tilted his head, studying me with those sharp, knowing eyes. "You've been acting weird lately."
I tensed. "You're imagining things."
Gavin huffed, shaking his head. "Yeah? Then why do you look like you want to rip someone's head off?"
I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake off the stiffness, the restless energy buzzing under my skin. "Just frustrated about the search."
Gavin didn't answer right away. He watched me carefully, like he was piecing something together, fitting the jagged shards of my behavior into a picture I wasn't ready for him to see.
"If you say so," he said finally. “Goodnight, Nathan. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He shut the door behind him, and I headed home.
What a fucking mess.