Her Human His Lycan

Missing

Emma POV

I was about to find time to meet with Flint and Bryn after class, but as I walked, I noticed Melody approaching me. She looked visibly distressed, on the verge of tears. I decided to accompany her instead. The sight of her tear-streaked face and trembling hands tugged at my heart.

We entered her house together, and as I stepped inside, Melody shook her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "Besides Kris, I don't have many friends." Her voice quivered, and the sound of her sniffles filled the air.

Inside her room, chaos reigned. Broken objects scattered across the floor, adding to the disarray. The sight of her belongings in shambles made me worry. "Did someone break into your room?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

"At the party, some strange people arrived after you left. The power went out and their eyes were either bright yellow or red. I swear I was sober," she cried.

I tried to take in the scents in her room, but it was difficult. Inara's growl indicated that something was wrong - rogues and vampires. What was happening?

Melody sat on her bed, her body shaking with sobs. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to find her voice amidst the overwhelming emotions.

"No one seemed to notice," she whispered, her voice quivering. "They just...left, as if nothing was wrong. It was...weird." She paused, her eyes searching for understanding.

She continued, her voice filled with desperation, "Everyone even Kris...they were acting strange too. I was worried, so I brought Kris to my room. But he...he tore everything apart, searching frantically until he found the project notebook." Melody's hands trembled as she recalled the moment.

"He only took the pages you gave me," she said, her voice trembling with fear. "Then he...he broke my window and jumped out. I saw his blood, Emma. He cut himself."

Her words spilled out in a rush, her sentences overlapping, "And now he's not answering my calls. Everyone in the other rooms...they're acting like nothing happened. Like the party just...got crazy." Melody's voice cracked, her tone filled with disbelief.

"I went to the campus police," she choked out between sobs, her voice filled with frustration. "But they...they refuse to help. They say the same thing." Melody's body trembled, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. The anxiety that clung to her seemed to fill the room, enveloping her in a suffocating embrace.

As I listened to her, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. It seemed that some of the vampires involved may have held higher ranks, their powerful compulsion abilities manipulating those around them. Perhaps this group was working with the hunters, driven by their own agenda.

Melody's fragile state tore at my heart, but I knew that revealing too much of my world would only put her in further danger. I couldn't risk her safety. The decision weighed heavily on me as I considered the options. She couldn't stay here any longer, but bringing her into my true life would be a risk I wasn't sure I could take.

The room grew quiet, the only sound the soft hiccups of Melody's sobs. The tension in the air was palpable, as if the weight of the unknown pressed down on us both.

"Let me first help you find a safe place to stay," I suggested.

"I want to keep my room," she said, her voice hesitant.

I nodded, understanding her attachment to this space. "Okay, then let me help you clean it," I offered.

"We also need to get your window repaired," I added.

"I don't understand why would they go to all that trouble for your notes," Melody said, her voice quivering like a fragile leaf in the wind.

I had a feeling Clay was right and the hunters suspected me. With witches, anything they find can be used to gather information and track activities. My wish to stay a student may not last long. I might have to go into hiding, as Clay suggested. I can rely on my brother, Flint, and Bryn for help. Despite the hunters camping around, I can find a way back home for more protection. However, I won't leave Clay behind. His life is in danger now, especially if they discover our connection.

Bringing him with me would only cause more problems. Our current plan is our best chance to find the hunters' headquarters and take them down. Melody cried, "I have to find Kris. I know he's in trouble." I feared she was right. They used him, and I could imagine only a few bad outcomes. He might be dead, turned by a vampire, or held captive because of his association with me. For now, I have to assume my cover is blown. "I believe you, Melody," I said.

I took a deep breath. II feared they may use melody as well. For now, I would keep her here. I would ask Ryan's assistance, his pack keeping a watchful eye on her. If things were to worsen, I had no choice but to seek Jennifer's help. Her temporary housing would offer protection. I may have to reveal who I truly am, a mix of apprehension and determination coursing through my veins.

"I will help you find him," I said to her.

"I love him, Emma," she cried, her words carrying the weight of unspoken feelings. "I've never had the chance to tell him. I always feared he would not feel the same, but I love him." Her words hung in the room.

"Where does Kris live?" I asked her, my voice breaking the silence.

"Not far from here," she responded.

"Do you have access to his place?" I inquired further.

"Yes," she said, her voice gaining a touch of confidence. "He gave me a key for emergencies," she explained.

"Have you gone to his place yet?" I probed, my curiosity mingling with concern. "Yes, but he would not answer. I did not use my key," she admitted.

"Take me to his place, let's start there," I instructed her. "And then I want you to go to our next class, okay? Take notes for all of us, and I will handle this," I assured her.

"How?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and uncertainty.

"I know some people that can help," I replied cryptically, as we left her place. The familiar sounds of the campus greeted us as she led the way to the building that Kris lived in. Luckily, it was not far.

Using his key, we entered his room. His belongings were scattered, the room a chaotic mess as well. But amidst the chaos, what I needed was his scent. "How about you look through his desk and computer for any sign of where he went, maybe his search history," I suggested.

I needed her distracted so she did not think it odd of me for taking a belonging of his with me. I rummaged through his closet, the sound of hangers scraping against the metal rod echoing in the silence. Finally, I found his hamper and the smell of unwashed clothes hit my nose, a mix of sweat and cologne. I tore one of his shirts, the fabric tearing with a soft rip. I placed a scrap of it in my pocket.

Frustration gnawed at me as I realized there was nothing else that could help me. I left the room, closing the door behind me with a soft click. Melody walked beside me as we made our way towards our next class. I hugged her tightly, feeling her warmth against my body, and whispered, "Try to stay calm, okay?"

After parting ways, I entered my apartment and dialed Ryan's number on my phone. "We have a problem," I said urgently, the worry evident in my voice.

"I am assuming you mean yesterday's party," Ryan replied.

"Yes, did you witness any of it?" I asked.

"I left shortly after you did, but my warriors caught some of it," he admitted, the sound of his words heavy with unease. "Several vampires and rogue wolves were detected, none of them familiar to us. I just got off the phone with your brother about it."

A sense of dread washed over me as I absorbed the information. "Well, it would seem they destroyed the rooms searching for something," I explained, my voice tinged with frustration. "They took notes that I had written for a project, but that's it. The thing is, they used a human to take them, and he's missing now too. It's Kris, the guy I've been hanging out with."

"f**k," Ryan snarled, his voice filled with anger. "I'm sure they will use those notes to confirm you are at least a shifter."

I sighed heavily, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "I know," I said quietly. "It will be hard for them to confirm I am the lycan princess right away, but I'm worried they will use Kris against me if he's still alive. That being said, I can't just sit by. I need to find him."

"You do that, and you may be walking into a trap," Ryan warned, his voice laced with caution.

"I am well aware," I said to Ryan. "But I have trained my entire life for this. I know I can handle myself."

"But I am requesting that you come along," I continued, "or if you can spare some of your pack warriors to help me."

"I will come," Ryan replied. "And I will have a few of our pack warriors join as well."

"Are you at your apartment?" Ryan asked, bringing me back to the present.

"Yes," I replied.

"Okay, give me 20 and I will be there to pick you up."

"I will be in a Black Volvo with tinted windows," he continued. "It is a car the hunters should not recognize."

"Do not wait outside," Ryan warned. "Only come out when I call that I am here." As we ended the call, I took a deep breath.

I linked my brother, Noah, to fill him in on the plan. "I don't like this, Emma," his voice echoed in my mind. "I trust Ryan after speaking with him, but if they went into that house to gather information on you, then they already have an eye on you. You can't risk getting caught." I felt his concern like a heavy weight pressing against my chest.

"You know me, Noah," I replied. "They will not get me. And I need you to stay back, to keep an eye on Clay." The thought of my mate's safety sent a surge of protectiveness coursing through my veins.

"I will," Noah assured me. "But you stay connected with me at all times." The bond between siblings strengthened, like an unbreakable thread connecting us.

"I tracked Clay earlier. He is in the city right now, near the hotel where Flint and Bryn are. I am assuming the hunters caught onto us coming."

"Bryn and Flint are already aware that they are in that area right now," Noah continued. "And I will fill them in on what you are doing as well."

"Thank you, Noah," I said sincerely. "I am trusting you to make sure Clay is safe. For if they are already onto me, they may be onto my involvement with him as well."

"Don't worry, Emma," Noah's voice reassured me. "I won't allow anything bad to happen to your mate." His promise resonated in my mind, filling me with a sense of hope.

As I got ready to leave, Ryan's call came at exactly twenty minutes. Ryan's car pulled up, a sleek Black Volvo with tinted windows. The sight of it gave me a sense of stealth, like a predator ready to strike.

I got in his car and took out the item of clothing that smelled of Kris."Good," Ryan said. The engine roared to life, its sound a symphony of power. "My warriors caught them going towards the woods on the outskirts of the city. So we will drive there to start. My men are not far behind us."

"When we get to the woods," Ryan instructed, his voice a low rumble, "let my men go first, Emma. You stay in the car. We should not risk blowing your identity unless absolutely necessary."

"I plan on shifting quickly, my human form remaining hidden from sight," I said to him. "Inara is exceptional at tracking scents, but I need backup," I added, my voice filled with determination.

He hesitated for a moment before finally responding, "Fine, we will follow your command."

I looked at him, my eyes pleading. "Oh, and Ryan, please don't inform my mate to reject me again," I said, my voice tinged with frustration. “ I can handle my own mate."

"Understood. I apologize for overstepping. I have never been fond of hunters," he admitted.

I nodded, my expression thoughtful. "I am well aware of your feelings," I reassured him. "But I believe if you give Clay a chance, you will see that he is not as bad as he seems. He has been through a lot, and while it doesn't excuse all his actions, I think he deserves a second chance."

I knew the danger that awaited us, but the thought of standing idly by while harm befell my friends, or anyone for that matter, was unbearable. If these hunters and their allies wanted to challenge me, they would soon realize their grave mistake. They had no comprehension of my true capabilities, and I was determined to make them regret ever crossing paths with me.