Page 48 of Unsubmissive Omega
A thorough search had proven that. By the time we returned to camp, heads down and tails dragging, the pack was distraught. This was unheard-of, to lose an Alpha Mate like this, and without a trace. I tried to hold myself together, both Xander and the pack needed me to function at my best right now, even though inside I was frantic with worry and close to falling apart.
As I strode my way to our room, I searched our telepathic link again. I thought I caught a trace of him, but the link was incomplete, maybe broken or …blocked.
Blocked? Had he blocked me?
I stared around our room: the rumpled covers from our last encounter, Xander’s clothes, neatly folded and placed on the chair beside the bed, mine still scattered haphazardly on the floor. He was not your traditional submissive omega. No way would he tidy up after me. A wistful smile twisted my lips. I liked him just the way he was, and I missed him.
Zendius surprised me, appearing at my shoulder. His entrance into my private room was presumptuous, and I had to tamp down on the instinctive flare of aggression at the appearance of the alpha in the private space I shared with my mate. I reminded myself he was my friend and he was trying to help me.
“What are you going to do?” Zendius asked.
“I’m going to the office. I need to report this to the police.”
I whirled in place, facing Zendius and herding him out of the room. Even as a friend, my wolf did not want him in our personal sanctuary.
“The police? Are you sure that’s wise?”
“I have to report him missing. The police have a lot of resources and they’ll help search for him.”
Zendius gave me a pitying look, as he lengthened his stride to keep up with me. We’d reached the office, and I had my hand on the drawer where I kept my cell phone. The door latch clicked loudly as Zendius closed the door behind himself.
The phone was in my hand and the screen had flashed to life, when Zendius cleared his throat. I paused.
The alpha stepped up to me.
“Darius. I’m sorry, but it’s obvious he’s left you. Don’t make it worse by making a scene about it.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? He hasn’t left, he’s fucking disappeared!” I snapped, the anger taking ahold of me. I felt my throat thicken, the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I was barely holding my wolf at bay.
Zendius shook his head. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but he told me yesterday he wasn’t really happy here.” He paused, then, “He said he was faking it to keep you happy, until he could get away.”
I stared in disbelief, shocked. Xander wouldn’t have done that. Would he?
“I find it hard to believe he’d do that.”
“He’s been unhappy for a while, but I honestly didn’t believe he would run away, or I would have said something. I’m sorry.”
There was some truth in that… hehadbeen unhappy. But not now. Surely. Had the last week been a lie?
“Just… leave me alone for a while,” I told him. I felt the tension banding across my forehead and the prickle of moisture in my eyes, but I’d be damned if I fell apart in front of my friend. “I need some space.”
Zendius nodded understandingly, retreating to the door. “I’ll go put out any rumors that have started.”
The chair squeaked as my weight dropped into it, nearly rolling out from under me. I grabbed the edge of the desk and pulled myself back in. The timber was comfortingly solid in a world that was spinning off its axis. It was hewn from our own forest, and I felt the power of the earth steady my wolf while I thought.
Had Xander left me? His early days here had been so difficult for him, and Ihadbeen blind to his suffering at the time. Had I been naively unperceptive again, thinking our union was as satisfying – no,thrilling– for him as it was for me?
I sighed. Xander had told me he’d intended to run away. Maybe he’d done just that.
*****
Zendius’ comments had given me pause. I slid the cell phone into my back pocket and headed off down the corridor to find Xeres.
“Come in,” a voice called out, before my knuckles had time to touch the wooden door. I shook my head. Even distressed as I was, I couldn’t help being amazed how the mage always sensed my presence at his door.
The door opened of its own accord, as it always did, and I entered. Xeres was sitting at his gloomy desk as he habitually did, but quite unlike his usual self-contained manner, his head swung up sharply, as if he sensed my distress. The cowl puddled around his shoulders and his eyes gleamed sharply as he studied me.
“Xander’s gone. He disappeared during the run.”
