The Right Girl

FIVE

ALPHA RICHARD

The work pile in front of me isn't getting done at all. I stare out the window instead. It always brings me comfort looking into the woods. All my greatest problems are solved by taking time and just staring into the dense abyss. The buzzing of a mind link interrupts my peace. I am assuming they have found Audrey safe and sound. Wood staring for the win! 

”Alpha, there is no sign of Audrey, no tracks, no scent, nothing."  

My heart sinks at this revelation. I run my hands down my face. I can feel the stress building, absolutely not the outcome I had thought.

”TRY HARDER." I boom through the mind link. A 17 year old girl who doesn't know the area should not be this hard to find. Our territory isn't that large, they just aren't looking hard enough.

"I have sent a team to the human settlements. Maybe we will have more luck there."  Dustin, Justin? I can't remember his name right this minute, but whatever it is, if he doesn't find Audrey, then he doesn’t have a job anymore.

”Contact me ONLY when you have found her!"  I demand. This girl! 

”Yes, Alpha." His reply sounds uncertain.

My men are not use to this kind of treatment; I have spent the latter part of my leadership being their friend. Unable to treat them as anything less than friends. Confrontation is not for me, not a trait an Alpha should posses, but it has lead me this far and I shouldn't change it now. 

”Margie, can you please come to my office." Time to break the news to her. She is going to be mad. If anyone wears the pants around here, it is Margie. She is firm but fair. I don't know how fair she will be when it comes to Audrey's disappearance though. 

My thought race while I wait for Margie to join me. Lucky for me, it doesn't take long to hear the soft tap of her shoes coming down the hall way. She closes the door behind her and gently takes her place on the arm rest of my chair. Her fingers gently comb through my hair as she stares lovingly into my eyes. She won't feel like being this intimate when I tell her what is happening.

" Why can I sense such worry from you my love?" Her voice is soft and warm. 

I stare down at the pile of papers once again. I can't look her in the eye for this one.

" The trackers can't find Audrey, no signs, no scent, vanished, gone." I notice her tense beside me, those gentle fingers combing through are now dragging and grabbing. I wait in silence while she processes what I have just told her.

" I TOLD YOU TO SEND THEM EARLIER!" She explodes, jumping up from the side of my chair and throwing her arms up in the air. 

I watch as she paces up and down the office, working out her anger, I hope. As she paces I start to think of the "what if’s."

I notice her eyes are welling up with tears and I can't help but feel bad. I needed to handle this whole situation differently, from the start. 

“It is almost dark Richard. What will she do in the dark?" She sobs out. 

I move to comfort her, draping my arms around her. At first she begins to melt into me, using the mate bond to sooth her worries, but my Margie, always the stubborn one. She pushes back facing me with fire in her eyes. 

“OHHHH NO YOU DON"T! You don't touch me! If she is still missing, you take your sorry self and go find her." She spits, anger rolling off her in waves. 

“My love please be reasonable. Let us leave it to the trackers. If there is still nothing tomorrow, I will call in some trackers from another pack to help us with our search." I beg, trying to be the voice of reason. Truth be told, I have had my days out in the field, I don't care to do it again. Sure I am worried; I just don't think my presence is required. I have our packs best trackers on the case and let’s face it; tracking is not my strong point at all. 

“Don’t you dare sit there and expect me to buy this s**t. Get up, get dressed and get out there!"  She jabs her finger into my chest as she spits words into my face. 

I resign to the fact I am spending my night out looking for Audrey and start making a move towards the door. 

“And don't come back until she is found. Do you hear me Richard?"  I nod, hightailing it out of there as fast as I can. Better not antagonize the beast by hanging around longer than I need. 

”Dustin, where is the team. I am coming to join." May as well let them know I am on my way. 

”It’s Justin, sir. We are doing one last lap around our border before we go into and around the human settlements."  His voice is strong and full of confidence this time. It shouldn't be. If the Alpha has to join your search, you can't be too good at your job. 

I sulk as I make my way to the edge of the forest. I look up to my office window. Margie's, silhouette is there, watching my every move. 

I crouch low and feel the prickle of skin turning to fur, the cracking of bones as I turn into my wolfs form. My white paws stand out against the dark background. I have always loved my socks. They give character, I think. The rest of my fur is black, not anything special really. I look towards the dark forest and pause. I really hate this, I never liked patrolling and I don’t enjoy tracking. 

”Do you think staring at the problem will fix it? MOVE!"  She is mad; her sarcastic remarks are saved exclusively for when she is angry, mostly with me. 

I take one last look at the woman I love standing in the window, turn and hurtle off into the woods to find my tracking team. 

JOHN

I am running along the borders of the Crystal Lake pack when I hear sobs coming from the woods and they are getting closer. I crouch low and watch closely as a young girl slumps to the ground and cries. I don't particularly care. This pack is weak and it would seem its inhabitants are also. I scoff internally. Stupid Alpha, creating such weak minded individuals. Her mousey hair is caught all around her face, damp with tears. I stay low. I can't risk being caught out. Alpha Richard often doesn't have patrols run along the borders, I have been able to roam free for the most part. Stupid man he is. She stands and starts to move forward. I study this girl; there is a familiarity about her. I can't quiet put my finger on it. My wolf is getting restless and forces us to stand up, so we can closer inspect this girl. 

She hears us and starts looking around wildly. Maybe a little too fast. I move forward gently, not to blow our cover. She looks up and I catch a glimpse of her eyes. I know who this is. My smile grows, I can't believe my luck. I didn't come here today expecting to have revenge handed to me on a silver platter, but here we are. 

I move into the clearing, exposing my wolf to the young girl. She freezes, horror etched across her face. 

I feel my mouth contort into a wolfish grin as I stalk closer to her. The fear is rolling off this one in waves and I am debating how to approach this. 

A minute passes, we stare at each other, scoping the enemy as it would seem. I turn and walk into a nearby bush. I hear her exhale a sigh of relief. 

Stupid girl, I am just shifting back to my human body. It's easier if she comes with me freely. 

I quickly put my clothes on and emerge from the bush. Hoping I don't look familiar to her at all

her eyes are wide like dinner plates, her mouth gaping open. 

" I.. Wha... The..."  She stammers, causing delight to courses through my veins

" Hello Audrey." I greet her. 

" H.. How." The words have trouble forming. She is terrified.

" Come with me, let us talk this over." I offer her a hand.