A Hybrids Tale: Hollow Hearts

4, A new visitor

Hunter's pov

It was a new day, and for the first time in a while, I felt refreshed. As I got out of bed this morning I was hit with the overwhelming realisation of what I had been doing. I had wasted weeks drinking in the hope of seeing her in my head instead of going out there and actually finding her so I could finally hold her in my arms.

I had never in my life felt attached to someone so much it physically hurt to be without them.

I had to get my head back in the game and get caught up on everything Dom knew, knowing Ophelia would be here today put my mind at ease slightly she was our best chance at finding her.

I made my way down to my office, opening the door I walk inside to be welcomed by a room full of people, heading straight for my chair Dom automatically stands moving to the next seat looking at me cautiously.

"What have I missed?" I ask looking at the map laid out in front of me.

"We were just talking about sending groups out to neighbouring packs, we don't think she's on your territory anymore" Dom answered.

"Don't bother, she is within our borders, I would have felt her leave. She's still alive and somewhere out there it's just a case of pinpointing where" I reassured them as I looked at all the pins that had been stuck in different parts of the map.

"With all due respect Alpha your territory covers hundreds of miles, she could be in any direction, if miss Ophelia is still coming today could she help narrow the search?" Edward asked, he was a young lad not long past all his training with Evans but he was a well-skilled fighter.

"That's what we are hoping, she's due here after lunch" I nod.

"No, she's not actually" my mother had entered my office with a glass of O negative for me, placing it in front of me, "I forgot to mention Ophelia rang early hours this morning and said she was having some family issues and wouldn't make it today."

"Is everything ok? I spoke to her last night she seemed fine, maybe I should give her a call to check up?" Dom insisted, moving to grab hold of the phone.

"No need, she was quite insistent on not being disturbed, she passed on her sincerest apologies and said she would make another date to come, but for now, she has other responsibilities" my mother as she took the phone from Dom placing it back on its stand.

"ok" he agreed.

"Hunter darling, I do have a request of my own, I've been talking to some old friends from years ago, I wouldn't think you would remember them, but they have asked me if their daughter would be able to come to visit and spend some time here. Apparently she was engaged to be married and her partner got violent with her and she barely escaped with her life. She is a lovely girl but she could do with somewhere safe to stay for now, her fiance isn't too keen on the idea of them going their seperate ways and is causing the family quite a bit of trouble, Her parents fear for her life and need her safe" she explained.

"Of course mother, do as you wish you don't need my permission, we will do what we can to help" I agreed. She smiled and hugged me before she left the room.

"Ok" Dom sighed as he stood leaning over the desk to get a better view of the map. "So back to the drawing board, I want everyone splitting into pairs today, everyone will be designated an area I want you going house to house, keep your guard up and nose open people if we can't see her maybe her scent could give her away" With all instructions given no longer than an hour later I was heading out the door with Dom, I pray we find something today.

Ashley's pov

Dom had left me hours ago as normal at first light he was down in the office making plans sending out search parties and trying to keep Hunter in check, that alone was becoming a full-time job.

I missed Trinity so much but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the night she went missing.

I distinctly remember dancing I went to ask if Trinity would come to the bathroom with me, and we went but on the way, she said she had to go to her room for something quickly.

If only I had gone with her maybe she would still be here.

But Jennifer was there, I remember hearing her voice but for the life of me, I can't remember where. Each time I try to go over the events of that night it's just a jumbled mess in my brain, the more I tried thinking of it the more I was getting these strange headaches, I couldn't help but think Jennifer was more involved that night than we know.

Maybe it was the champagne, yes the Damn champagne had to be the reason for my memory loss that night, this is why I don't drink, I must have had quite a bit but I could only remember having the one glass with my meal, strange.

Later that day I headed downstairs wondering if Dom had come home yet, checking the office I notice it was still empty so I decide to go watch some tv, just as I made it to the lounge I hear my name being called.

"Ashley" I turned to see Jennifer heading in my direction.

"Yes Jennifer, everything ok?" I asked as she approached me.

" I need you to make up the guest room, the one next to Hunters. I have a friend that's coming she needs to be under the watchful eye of my boy at all times" she said curtly.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, that was Trinity's room Hunter might not like...."

Jennifer cut me off looking down at me like she was getting ready to scold me. "Well she's not going to be using it is she, just do as your told girl and we won't have any problems"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "ok" I reluctantly agreed, I knew this was a bad idea straight away, I just hoped this doesn't send Hunter over the edge again. I made my way upstairs to freshen up the room, looking behind me I noticed Jennifer still standing in the same spot staring at me, smiling. It wasn't a happy smile, it made me feel uneasy, I just couldn't stand to be near that woman at all, but why did it seem like it was only me that felt this way about her.

Hunters pov

Driving back to the house with Dom I got a gut-wrenching feeling like I was missing something that was right under my nose. I couldn't help but wonder what it is I was missing, I felt like there was something screaming out at me,I just couldn't figure out what that something was.

I sighed at the uneasy feeling, " I don't understand it, I can feel her here but it's like she's all around me all the time I just can't pinpoint where she is, I can't even say what area the feeling is strongest in, it's like she is everywhere" I leaned my head back against the headrest and rubbed my eyes to wake myself up.

"Maybe it's a trick to make you think she's close, she could be anywhere on the planet by now it's been months" Dom was right, maybe I've been looking at things wrong by thinking she was here, I've just allowed whoever took her to get her further from me.

"I've lost her haven't I," I asked not wanting the question to be answered, I just looked out my window as we entered through the gates.

"I don't want to hear you talking like that Hunter you..."

He slammed the brakes on jerking me forward, "what are you doing?" I shouted as I shifted to the front of my seat looking at his face, he looked like he saw a ghost, I looked ahead at what he saw and my heart stopped beating.

A tall slender woman walked into the packhouse, her long red hair falling down her back, could it be her? I couldn't pick up her scent but It's just like her, it had to be her.

In a split second I was out of the truck, running towards the house, my heart doing flips on my chest, could it be her? I was now behind her she looked just like my Trinity I pulled her arm around turning her to face me "Trinity" I called out in disbelief.

The woman turned around and smiled at me, It wasn't her, my heart sank, the girl before me was not her, yes she had many similarities but she was not Trinity, even her scent was very similar but it just wasn't good enough for me, it's not my Trinity.

I retracted my arm and held up my hands "Sorry, I thought you were someone else" I whispered slightly embarrassed, looking around at everyone's faces it was like they felt my hurt also.

"It's ok" she answered me softly.

"Hunter, this is Jessica my friend's daughter that I said would be visiting, I've put her in the room next to yours for now" she smiled.

I knew she meant well but I wasn't keen on the idea of having another woman close to me, but for my mother's sake I just nodded and walked away to my office.

"Are you ok man?" Dom asked closing the door and taking a seat opposite me.

"Yeah" I nodded, I didn't want to talk about it, the urge to down a bottle of whisky right now was overpowering.

having that glimmer of hope ripped away from you in a split second hurt like hell, she was so similar to my Trinity but deep down nobody could ever compare to her.

It was late, I hadn't realised the time had been lost catching up on all the work I had missed that had come in from other packs.

I put everything away and headed up to my room. As I walked in I stripped my shirt off closing the door behind me, I headed straight into the bathroom to freshen up.

I stopped when I heard knocking at my door, who could it be this late at night, maybe it was Dom, had he heard learned something new.

I opened the door but to my disappointment, I saw it was Jessica. She was dressed in a small netted nightdress that reach her mid-thighs only just covering her lower breast leaving plenty still out on show. Some men would be all for this, A beautiful female showed up at their room late at night but it made me feel awkward, I didn't want her here.

"Hi, sorry for knocking so late but I couldn't sleep and I heard you moving around and wondered if you fancied a nightcap?" she held up a bottle of whisky my favorite brand to be exact, she must have good taste.

As much as I would have loved a drink I knew it wasn't a very good idea. "I don't think that's a good idea, another time maybe" I tried being polite, I remember mother saying she had just come out of a violent relationship so I didn't want to be too harsh on her.

"Oh ok, well I just wanted to say thank you for letting me stay here it means a lot, I'll try to keep things quiet next door but im not a very good sleeper at the moment, I have bad dreams" she looked upset, was it mean of me to just want her to leave me in peace.

"No need to thank me, you'll be safe here" I smiled.

"It's just so hard at night, that's when the abuse used to happen I hate being on my own, that's why I was pleased when I heard you moving around. I'm sorry to bother you though, I'll go back to my room" she looked like she was on the verge of crying, this poor girl what she must have gone through for her to look so broken.

I let out a loud breath "You know what, one drink won't hurt" her face lit up like Christmas, I opened my door for her to walk in, what could go wrong?

An hour had passed and we were both laid back on the bed, laughing as she told me about her high school antics. she seemed like a nice girl I could sense she was bottling a lot of things up though.

"I'm grateful for your company tonight, I've had nightmares since I left my ex-fiance being here with you helps" she smiled topping up my glass.

"I don't mind, you know your safe here you don't have to worry about anyone hurting you, im right next door if you need me" I reassured her.

"I suppose I should feel privileged, how many women can say they have been in the Almighty Alpha Hunter's bedroom being kept safe under his watchful eye" she smiled leaning into me a little more.

"It's not that big of a deal, I've not been much of an Alpha lately" I looked down at my glass, I knew this small glass was partly to blame, I knew deep down I shouldn't be sat here drinking again.

"Yes, your mother explained your girlfriend left you, how are you coping with that? she's very silly if you ask me, throwing away someone like you, some women just don't know a good thing when they have it" she placed her hand over the top of mine, I was instantly hit with the reality of what was happening, hearing Trinity's name hit me like a ton of bricks why is Jessica here in Trinity's place in my bed, how stupid was I, I've failed her again.

I pulled my hand away from hers, "She was my wife, and she didn't leave me, she was taken by someone" I stood from the bed looking back at Jess laid out in my bed "I think we've had enough for the night, I need to get some sleep" I said ending the evening abruptly.

"Of course, I'm sorry I've kept you so long, I didn't mean any offense with what I said, I can see she means a lot to you" I simply nodded and walked over to open the door for her. As she left she turned back to me.

"Thanks for tonight it meant a lot to me" before I knew it she was hugging me, I couldn't face putting my arms around her as I looked down at the red hair pressed against my chest.

She walked to her room, and as she entered I saw someone standing further down the hallway outside the next room, it was Dom he looked angry shaking his head, he came storming over to me, the way he walked was quite intimidating. To anyone else, this would be the point their heart would fall out their an*s.

I go back into my room closing the door behind me heading back to the bed, suddenly my door flies open behind me, there stands an angry-looking Dom.

"What the hell are you doing? please don't tell me something happened between you two" he seethed.

"What do you take me for Dom, nothing happened, do you really think I would do that to Trinity" I got into bed pulling the covers over the lower half of my body.

"Well I don't know you've not exactly been yourself lately have you"

"Good night Dom, shut the door behind you" I turned over in bed closing my eyes, I knew straight away this would p**s him off.

I heard him walk closer to me, leaning over me "I will kick your a*s if I have to, don't think I won't" he growled angrily.

"noted! now good night" with that, I heard him retreat and my door slam shut, I couldn't help but smile, he's looking out for me I know that.