The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 10 - To the ends of the earth

Reagan POV

“It’s Jasmine…she ran away.”

Mom’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at her, my mind reeling, unable to process the reality of what she had just said.

“Run away?” I echoed. “Why? When? How did you know she ran away? Maybe she just stepped out or something.”

“She left last night or probably early morning when everybody was still sleeping,” Mom said, tears welling up in her eyes.

I felt a surge of emotions–shock, guilt, fear. That couldn’t be Jasmine. They must be talking about another girl.

“No. It can’t be her. You got it all wrong.” I dropped my bag and ran out of the palace towards the beta’s house as if my life depended on it. There were a few people outside but I ignored them. I went inside and saw Uncle Brandon and Aunt Audrey talking to who looked like the pack’s trackers. The atmosphere inside the house was full of tension. It was suffocating.

I stopped in my tracks, gulping at the scene I was witnessing. It couldn’t be happening. The beta couple turned to the front door, their faces full of hope and worry.

“Reagan,” Aunt Audrey whispered my name, her lips quivering. “She’s gone.” Her eyes were watery as I took her in my arms.

“No, Aunt Audrey. She’s just around,” I said, still not believing Jasmine left the pack. “She’s going to celebrate her birthday tomorrow. She knew I was coming home. I promised that to her.” I looked at Uncle Brandon, his face telling me I shouldn’t keep my hopes up.

Releasing Aunt Audrey from my hold, I made my way up to her room, searching for clues, anything that would say she was just around the pack lands.

“She did not go to training this morning. I was preparing for the day when her dad mindlinked asking about her because the training had already started, yet she was still not there. I checked the room and did not find her. I thought she was on her way, but after five minutes, ten minutes, she had not yet arrived at the clearing. That was when I started to worry. I had patrollers check the area and then I checked her room. That was when I found out her backpack was missing. Some of her clothes are missing.” Aunt Audrey started to cry. “That was when I found this letter on top of her drawer.” She lifted a piece of paper I didn’t notice she was holding. I took it and read it slowly.

…

Dear Mom and Dad,

By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. I can’t begin to express how sorry I am for leaving this way, but I couldn’t stay any longer. I felt trapped, overwhelmed, and suffocated by the expectations and responsibilities that were never meant for me.

I want you to know that this decision wasn’t made lightly. I’ve spent countless nights crying, agonizing over what to do. I’ve tried so hard to be the daughter you wanted, the beta the pack needed, but I’ve come to realize that I’m not cut out for this life. I’m not as strong or as capable as you deserve. I’m a failure, and I couldn’t bear to disappoint you any longer.

Please understand that this isn’t your fault. You both have been amazing parents, always supportive and loving. But I’ve been drowning under the weight of everything, and I can’t seem to find the surface. The more I tried to fit in, the more I felt like I was losing myself. I need to find out who I am, away from the pack, away from all the pressures.

To Aunt Kendra and Uncle Sam, I am deeply sorry for failing you. I know you had high hopes for me, and I’ve let you down. I’ve tried to be strong, to live up to the legacy of the pack, but I simply can’t. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me someday.

And to Reagan…I know you’ll be able to find a new beta, and probably a new best friend (?), who is smarter, tougher, and more responsible than I could ever be. Someone who can stand by your side and support you the way you deserve. Please do not waste any time and energy looking for me. You deserve so much better.

I love you all more than words can say. Leaving was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but it was the only way I could see to save myself. I hope, in time, you’ll be able to forgive me.

With all my love,

Jasmine

…

I could hardly breathe as I finished reading Jasmine’s letter. My vision blurred with tears, and my heart felt as if it was squeezed by a vice. The words on the paper cut deeper than any physical wound ever could. Jasmine had run away. She was out there alone, vulnerable, and believing she was a failure.

I refolded the letter carefully, my fingers trembling. How could she think she wasn’t good enough? How could she believe that I could find someone better? There was no one better. There would never be anyone better than Jasmine.

Fisting my hands, I tried to contain the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. My heart was breaking, but I couldn’t afford to fall apart.

“Thank you, Aunt Audrey,” I said. I forced myself to focus, to push aside the agony tearing through me. I needed to act, to do something.

Aunt Audrey nodded. “We will find her, Reagan. She can’t have gone far.”

I hoped she was right, but a nagging fear gnawed at me. Jasmine was resourceful. If she wanted to disappear, she could make it very difficult to find her. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as we walked back to the living room.

Uncle Brandon was still talking to the tracker, his expression grim. I could hear snippets of their conversation. My mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information.

“Uncle Brandon,’ I said. “What’s been done already/”

Uncle Brandon turned to me, his face etched with worry. “We’ve alerted the border patrols and sent out trackers. They’re checking all the known routes out of the territory. The tracker is analyzing her scent trail, but it’s faint.”

I nodded, absorbing the information. “We need to expand the search. She would have been far from the pack by now. Send word to neighboring packs.”

“Already in motion,” Uncle Brandon replied. “We’ve also checked her usual spots around the territory. There’s no sign of her.”

I felt relief and frustration. I was glad they were doing everything they could, but it wasn’t enough. I needed to take charge to make sure no stone was left unturned.

“Double the trackers,” I ordered. “We need to cover more ground. Also, send out a call for volunteers. We need more eyes searching the surrounding areas.”

Uncle Brandon nodded, and immediately relayed the instruction.

As the pack mobilized, Reagan couldn’t shake the image of Jasmine’s tear-streaked face from his mind. She must have been so scared, so desperate to leave everything she knew behind. It broke his heart to think of her feeling so alone.

I closed my eyes for a moment, silently vowing to bring her back. She was my mate, and nothing would stop me from finding her. Not distance, not fear, not even her own doubts about herself. I would track her to the ends of the earth if he had to.