The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 26

Alpha Ryker

I'm excited about spending the day with Astrid. Every day, she trusts me more and more. She is thankfully adjusting to werewolf life. After my shower, I knock on her door. There's no answer. I knock 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 the room. She must have been in a hurry. My stomach sinks. Her bag is gone. I sprint downstairs to the dining room. Seth and Mia are at the table with Kane, Hayley, and Vanessa. They all stand as I enter.

"Has anyone seen Astrid?" I ask. 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," Seth suggests. I call out for Astrid, running through the house, searching every room and end up back in the 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 the front door and pick up her scent. I rip my clothes off, shift into my wolf, let out a loud, sad howl and race toward Astrid's scent. An hour later, I'm deep in the woods when her scent vanishes. I run in different directions, becoming more and more distressed. Astrid, I don't understand why you'd leave me. Where would you go? I think about where she might have gone. The diner is the only place Astrid would go. There's no way she would have gone back to her Dad. I run to the diner and shift back 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 his wife 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.