Mr. Valentine's Heart

Lost Without Her

~Alexi~

I send another chair crashing into the wall, watching it split apart and hit the floor. I’ve torn up more rooms than I can name. Right now, I’m tearing up my office. I know my pack members have tried to cajole me, but it’s been a lost effort. They haven’t been able to get close enough to me to say anything that would be worthwhile. It’s taken everything in me to keep from killing everyone who’s brought me bad news.

It's been days, and no one can tell me where my wife is. My best tracker couldn't get a whiff of her scent no matter what direction he went in. He seems to think that she used a scent blocker. How could that be? She doesn't even know anything about blocking scents because she doesn't even know what we are!

Someone had to have taken her, or worse, helped her escape, but who? I had my warriors and trackers check everything. They’ve left no stone unturned. No one has been at my pack that I haven’t invited personally. I haven’t had someone at my pack in ten years. There was no need to expose my wife to the vermin of the world.

My trackers can’t find a hint of her, and no one has helped her. My wife disappeared, and I’m at a loss as to how the hell that happened. I told you to question everyone again.

We’ve questioned everyone twice already. Neither of us has detected any falsehoods.

Someone has to be lying! Someone knows what happened to Cherise! I can’t deny that Dagon is making sense, but I don’t know how to find out for sure. All I know is that I need to figure out how the hell she disappeared from my pack that has been set up as a fortress.

I pick up a lamp and toss that, too, watching the shards dance along the floor. “What, exactly, is all this supposed to accomplish?” I look to see Dr. Reynolds standing in my doorway. I roll my eyes and huff. I really am not in the mood for her bullsh.it. “I was told to come here and check on you. Something about you bleed profusely.” She walks into my office and looks around the room. “I can see where the concern stems from.”

I slump into my chair, resting my head in my hand. My elbow rests on the armrest. I want to scream; I want to cry. I gesture to my arm with my other hand. “I'm sure it's healed by now.” Dr. Reynolds comes over to me and inspects the arm.

“Not quite, but almost. There's still a little blood, but it's minimal now. Want to tell me what all this is about?”

“She's gone.” My voice cracks, but I don't care. She's the only thing I've ever wanted in my life, and I had her in my grasp. “She just disappeared.”

It’s true. I never wanted anyone or anything as much as I wanted her. The moment I set eyes on her, I had to have her. I did everything I could to get her and keep her. Now, she’s gone, and my life has no meaning.

“I'm sure she didn't just disappear, that's impossible. Have you sent out your trackers?”

“OF COURSE I SENT OUT MY TRACKERS!” f***k! Does this woman think I'm an i***t or something? She flinches at the sound of my voice and holds her hands up.

“I'm sorry, I was just trying to help.” She moves her body forward, smoothing out the invisible creases on her top. I’m sure her only goal is to entice me to take her, but I’m not in the mood. My wife is missing, so it’s no time to be screwing the side piece.

“The only thing you can help with is doing your job… as a DOCTOR! Everything else you can leave to me!” I know I'm being an asshole, but I can't help it. I’m missing a piece of me, of my heart, and I'm dying without it.

My phone rings, and I check the ID. I have to answer this call, even though I don’t want to talk to anyone right now. “Leave!” She wastes no time and scurries out of my office. I connect the phone call. “I know, I’ve been dealing with something. I’m sorry.” I’m not paying the attention that I should. I just can’t seem to focus. “I need to go. I promise I will call you soon.” I hang up, not waiting for a reply. I need my wife back. I can’t function without her.

~Caleb~

I shuffle through the paperwork sitting on my desk. I rub my chest, feeling a slight ping of pain. I wonder if the pain will get worse the longer I go without a mate by my side. I sigh and shake my head. I can’t imagine being with someone other than my fated mate; then again, I don’t expect to ever see her again. My phone rings, and I answer it without checking my ID. That was my first mistake. “Justine, what can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to check in and follow up with you. Have you been thinking about our previous conversation?” I really haven’t been thinking about it because Eros was very clear. He has requested that I don’t deal with Justine, no matter what.

“Actually, Justine, I think I need to rescind my help request.”

“Now, why would you want to do a thing like that?”

“I guess the issue isn’t as serious as I originally thought it was. I’ll be able to handle it on my own.” Justine clicks her tongue.

“I have a feeling you will need me sooner than you think.” I huff but say nothing. “Tell you what. I will keep my offer open and you come to me when you realize that I can give you all the help you need.”

“Goodbye, Justine.” I disconnect the call and shake my head. Something tells me she won’t be taking ‘no’ for an answer.