55. MAX
Chapter fifty-five
MAX
M y Omega isn’t responding to me. I know I should give her space. Loren explained about meeting Angus and how upset Katie had been. But fuck I want her to tell me all of this herself. I want her to joke with me, to let me flirt and tease her. To let me make her laugh and take her mind off of what’s stressing her out.
I watch the sparring matches. These are the more junior fighters, ones still learning technique. A few have potential– there are two beta women that both have excellent form and could be good recruits for the Conservatory guard. It will be another hour before the advanced group gets in the ring. Ace and his other Alpha Nova are both here. Not because they’re sparring, but because one of their MC’s Betas is. I think they said his name was Dev, but I’m not sure.
My Omega is distracting me and she isn’t even in the building.
I grab my phone. Still unread.
She’s sleeping . I tell myself that. But there’s an itch under my skin that warns me something is wrong. Maybe she’s more upset than we realize. We haven't been spoiling her the way most Omegas like– not enough presents or special trips. We just skipped the courting phase and had her move in. Maybe she needs more of that and doesn't know how to ask us?
Or maybe she needs us to go to her, to take charge of the situation like so many other Alphas do.
No. That’s not Katie. She’d be annoyed at us managing her. She’s stubborn and strong, and I love that about her.
I message Loren in our Pack group chat instead. He’s always good about letting me bug him when I’m antsy with too much energy and not enough to do.
Max: Lor I really hope you’re eating our Omega’s pussy out right now, otherwise I’m going to be real mad she’s not answering my texts.
Loren: Sorry to disappoint, but she’s been holed up in her room since dinner.
Max: Still upset about the Traveler?
Loren: I believe so.
Max: Have you gone to check on her? Maybe offer her something? You know Omegas like to be spoiled.
Loren: I’m trying to respect her space.
Max: You’re her Alpha, get in her space! She’ll feel better with you there, but she won’t ask for it. You know how she is. Just bring her a snack as a way in.
Max: She likes chocolate.
There’s a pause, and I assume Loren is getting his ass out of bed to go check on our Omega. Good. I know she likes her independence, but I think we might need to give her more of an Alpha push sometimes. She needs something to push against. I’m not afraid of annoying her– it’s one of my best talents.
Loren: Max, she didn’t go with you?
Max: Why would I ask you how she’s doing if she was with me?
I sit up, my heart dropping out of my chest to land somewhere in the basement of my belly.
Loren: She’s not in her room. She’s not in the library either. I’m checking the upstairs bedrooms.
Fuck . I stand, my skin itching to run from my gym all the way back to the house. I need our Omega. I need to know she is safe. My entire focus tunnels to this single point.
Loren: She’s not upstairs. Fuck. She hasn’t messaged you?
Max: No! Gods dammit–Loren are you sure she’s not curled up with a book? Please tell me she’s just asleep on the couch.
Panic rises inside me. Someone is asking me a question, but I can’t hear the words. They are static. My pulse rushes in my ears, and I am on the verge of either sprinting out of here to go hunt my Omega down, or ripping out the throat of whoever touched her.
Loren: The town car is gone.
I close my eyes. She’s gone. She left .
My Omega left me.
My heart cracks. This is worse than when my Ma died, or when I lost the championship title in the twelfth round with a lazy knockout. It’s worse than all the women that have come and gone in my life. It’s worse than watching Genevieve tear down my packmates piece by piece.
Fuck, it’s so much worse.
Anger burns in my chest, right next to my shattered heart. How could she leave us? Why would she lie? We weren’t forcing her to stay! I cover my face with one hand, and grip my phone so tightly with the other that I nearly crack the screen.
Katie where are you?
My phone buzzes again. Please, every god of the above and the below, please let this be good news. Let this all be a mistake.
But it’s not. It’s the best and worst thing to be done, given the circumstances. Because Katie ran away . She left us, and whatever we may feel, however frustrated we are with her, we are still her Alphas. And we have to chase.
Callum: I’m going after her.