Missing Star

Chapter 11

Thomas 

Before agreeing to leave back home the witches promised that they would keep me updated and that she would be protected and safe. As John picked me up that next morning I couldn’t seem to get my feet to move. 

I had just found my mate. After almost losing her I was scared to take my eyes off of her. But I knew she wasn't ready. Seeing some of what she had been through was hell. It made Lucian so enraged to the point that the witches had cast a claiming spell. Without it, I might have gone after him. 

After spending the night both me and Lucian had decided that the witches were right and she needed time to heal. We would go home. This would be hard since every bone in my body was screaming to go to her. Now standing here I had to find the strength to get in. If she could face what she had been through and still be this strong, so could I. For her, I could do this. 

The drive home was the worst. I had tears from leaving her, from seeing so much of her past, and also realizing that she was so beautiful inside and out. 

"So what's the plan when we get home?" John asked an hour into the drive back to the pack house. 

"Make sure that bastard can't find her." 

"You don't have to answer this but why are you coming back?" He asked 

"Because it's what she needs right now." 

"What happened? I can't imagine having to leave Cassidy behind as best for her." 

"Before she left, he r***d her." I managed to get out with a growl. "She has been abused her whole life and right now an overprotective male is not what she needs. The witches showed me a few things that have happened to her over the years. Right now I'm doing all I can to not go after her grandmother, father, and the Fernand’s." 

"While all you have to do is say the word and I'm with you," John said with his knocks turning white on the steering wheel. 

"I know you got my back," I said, hitting his arm. "But right now I need to get home and talk with my father. So don't break the wheel." 

With a chuckle, he loosened his grip on the wheel. "You still never gave me a plan. I want to help you through this." 

"Right now man I'm not sure I just know that she needs time to heal. But I don't know how long I can force myself and Lucian to do that." 

"That one is going to be a hard one… wait she loves animals right?" 

"Ya, she does. Why" I asked.

Then a grin that went  ear to ear appeared "Dude you're an animal." 

I looked at him like his mind had officially run away this time.

"Don't look at me like that. You're a wolf."

"I know I'm a wolf but how does that help me with being away from her." 

"Do I have to spell it out for you?! Be the wolf she needs. Until she is ready, be a wolf she can depend on and trust." Thinking on this he added "be a dog for her, like the one we see in town all the time. The ones that go everywhere with their humans." 

"I resent you calling me a dog. But I see where you're going and it's not a half-bad plan." 

“While when the shoe fits.” 

Finally, back at the packhouse in my father's office, a plan was set and I need to find a way to get through the next 30 days. At that time I planned to go back to my mate and stay there till she was ready. 

In those 30 days, there was a lot to do. John would be taking over my role until I could come back. Meaning I had to get him up to speed on everything. He needed to learn the paperwork for all the pack-owned business and other key duties that help the pack live day to day without worry. 

Then there was the matter of the ranch and the Fernand’s. Since Marissa had run away the ranch was in bad shape. It seemed that most of the hired hands had left after she was gone. Seeing that no one could handle all the so-called "chores" that she did. Plus the animals were missing her. 

Then came the fact that the ranches dealing with the Fernand’s had fallen through. From what I was told her father was furious and her grandmother had threatened to find her if it was the last thing she did. 

The last to deal with was the Fernand’s. It seems Joey was pissed about the whole situation. Also, it put the family back under the scope seeing that another woman had gone missing from that family. Both he and the son seemed determined to find her where it was to clear their name or take her life was yet to be seen. 

But to be safe we had teams monitoring every move to be safe. Now it was time to pack and plan for being with her. 

"Lucian, will you please stop pacing? You're giving me a headache." 

"Can't, too happy. Going to be with mate soon." 

"You do understand that this is going to be a long road ahead of us right" 

"Yes, just happy to be with her finial" 

"I know me too….but when we are in wolf form you have to let me lead" 

"Noooo…. I don't like that plan. You almost lost us mate!" 

Flinching from that blow "I know I'm sorry. I'll let you take over slowly when she starts trusting us." 

With a huff "fine" was all I got back. When there was a knock on the door. 

This time it was my mom. She walked in and sat in the bed. With a long breath in and out she said "I need to talk to you about your mate." 

The way she said this made my stomach crawl and my heart stop for a minute. "What's going on?" I asked before I sat next to her. 

“When you go to your mate there are some things that you need to do to help her. When she starts talking and telling her story you need to listen and be supportive.” She said, giving me a hug. 

“You okay mom?” 

“Ya son but the past is hard to let go of sometimes... Go be with your mate and help her walk through this tough time.”