Page 95 of Gigi and the Gym Rats

“Right. Fuck. Not your fault.” I draw a deep breath. “I’m a terrible person. I hadn’t realized how much I care until this happened, and now I can’t fucking imagine not having them around.”

“I know what you mean. I admit I also hadn’t realized how strong my feelings were until I realized I might lose you all to other people. We’re human, Ron. We make mistakes. And we fight to make things right, be happy. We’ll find our mates.”

“Our mates.” My heart is pounding. “Yeah. That’s right. Our pack.”

With renewed resolve, I hurry toward Grey’s apartment, hoping he’s come back, that I’ll find him, talk to him.

But no such luck.

* * *

Drawing a bracing breath, I call Gigi. She picks up on the second ring.

“Any news?” I ask.

“No. You?”

“Grey is gone,” I say. “He really has emptied his room. His roommates said it seemed to be a money issue. I don’t get why he didn’t come to me. Then again… I let him down, Gige.”

“Okay, time for a plan,” she says and I almost smile, because that’s my girl. Always practical and ready to apply herself to find a solution. “If he left, where would he go?”

“I dunno. Fuck. I know so little about him.”

Though I could tell you what his sated smile after sex looks like, how his dick points forward when hard, how his eyes glitter as he fucks himself on my cock.

What the fuck was I doing, not letting myself feel?

“I’ll ask Bee for help,” she says. “Her pack could help us look.”

“Good idea,” I say. “I’ll call Kaden.” That’s Bee’s pack beta and a friend. I’ve spent many hours inking his body and we’ve talked a lot.

“If Grey is on the streets, we’ll find him. He can’t have gone far.”

“Unless he took a bus out of town,” I mutter.

“Where? Back to his family? Has he ever mentioned them?”

“Not to me.”

“Okay, let’s start with searching the streets,” Gigi says. “I’ll join you. Can’t stay here forever in case Casey comes home. I’ll leave him a message. His things are here anyway. He’ll be back for them.”

* * *

“He won’t be going back to his family,” Zayne says, meeting Gigi and I on the street down from the gym, folding his arms over his chest. “They disowned him.”

“How would you know that? Wait… He told you that?”

“Last time I talked to him. I think… I think he was desperate and I felt it, though I didn’t know the why.”

I have my arm around Gigi who looks distraught. She leans into me. I like that she finds comfort in my arms. “If he’s on the street, he will be okay. The weather hasn’t been that cold.”

“But what if he was assaulted,” she whispers, “what if?—”

“Don’t go creating worst-case scenarios in your head,” Zayne says, slipping an arm around her so now we’re both holding her. “He’ll be fine.”

We’ve already walked up and down the avenue and the side streets, and despite what I said about the weather, the wind is cold. It can get chilly at night. If he’s been sleeping rough… I know a thing or two about that. And it fucking worries me.

“We’re expanding the perimeter,” Zayne says and I stare at him.

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