My Silver Mate

Search

[Dylan]

“I don’t understand how the hell she could have just disappeared like that,” Heather whispered, and I was still surprised that I was seated at the same table as Samara’s best friend, Heather, her boyfriend, Ben, and her other friend, Wesley. I wasn’t even sure how I had managed to get myself into this situation, but here I was, sitting in Oakville’s diner.

“They found blood,” Wesley remarked. “Blood!”

“They…we don’t know that it is hers,” Ben argued, but I already knew that the blood sample they had taken would come back from the lab as positive. I already knew that, and I couldn’t say a word. This had turned into something else entirely. From a search and rescue to a possible kidnapping or even murder. It was insane and I shook my head as I sighed softly. Humans and their overactive imagination made me wonder again what on earth I was still doing here. I should be on my way to save my brother.

“This is all just so surreal,” Heather said as she clung to Wesley’s arm. “I just…I can't stop thinking about what could have happened to her…I can't stop…we should have gone looking for her…” The female felt guilty, but I didn’t know these people, but they knew my mate. My mate, who was being held at the pack. My injured mate.

“The Sheriff will find her,” Ben muttered, but even I could tell he wasn’t very hopeful. I certainly wasn’t the right person to say anything, so I just sat there as we waited for our order. The diner was full, and the kitchen was probably working hard to get the food out as quickly as possible. Every inch of the forest had been searched, that was how many had come together to look for Samara. However, as I listened to the different discussions at the other tables, I picked up on their next plan.

“We have to search it,” a man whispered. To anyone else, he wouldn’t be heard, but to my sensitive ears? I heard every word.

“We can't just go waltzing in there,” another man said softly. “They have to get permission…a permit or warrant or something,”

“That’s bull, there is a girl missing. She is missing! And we found blood, which means there was foul play involved!” I shivered as I realized they were talking about the pack's territory. What did these humans know about shifters?

“They shouldn’t be allowed to live out there anyway,” a female remarked, and I frowned. “It’s so…”

“It’s their stupid beliefs or whatever…it doesn’t matter, the Sheriff will get whatever he needs in order to search that part of the forest,”

“Hey,” Ben said to me as he poked my side. “What are you thinking about?” I wasn’t surprised to find all of them looking at me curiously. I was a complete stranger to them and yet they needed a distraction and possibly someone to blame for the sudden disappearance of their beloved friend and girlfriend. I shrugged as I faced them.

“Just listening,” I admitted truthfully. That little piece of information wouldn’t give them anything and yet, I could still see the suspicion on their faces. It was warranted, of course, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make me feel uncomfortable.

“It’s pretty convenient for you to just show up like this,” Wesley commented, and I sighed. There it was. The first sign of blame.

“Is it?” I asked nonchalantly as I gave them my best-bored look. “I have to say, I hadn’t been expecting this when I came to Oakville,” this much wasn’t a total lie. I hadn’t expected to find my mate. In fact, I was still in shock.

“But you have to admit…your timing is…questionable,” Ben picked up and I sighed even louder. I wasn’t going to suddenly be suspect number one. While I did know where Samara was, I most certainly wasn’t the one who had taken her.

“Understandable,” I said with a nod. “Yet, I have nothing to do with your friend’s disappearance,” again, it wasn’t a total lie.

“So you say,” Ben leaned back in his seat, almost as if he was putting some distance between us. “And yet, you showed up for a walk? Without a car? Where is your car?”

“Look, if anyone wants to question me, the Sheriff can do it…until then, I’m simply an innocent guy who happened to walk into a town at the wrong time,” it was at this point that our waiter finally showed up with our food. Now that was perfect timing. However, as we were momentarily distracted by our food, the topic of conversation soon continued.

“Well, if you have nothing to hide, then you will join us in the morning,” Ben said, and I frowned. What did he mean? What were they planning?

“And what will we be doing in the morning?” I asked curiously.

“We are going out to look for her,” Ben said firmly, and I nodded. Of course, he wanted to continue searching for his girlfriend. Why wouldn’t he? “Maybe something important was overlooked,” he added between bites of his burger. No one said anything as silence fell over us. The rest of the diner hummed with chatter, but for me, all I could think about was how I was going to get myself out of this situation. I shouldn’t be here, and I don’t know why I had thought it would be a good idea for me to stick around. I could always come back for my mate. My brother, on the other hand, couldn’t wait. Not much longer anyway.

“Where are you staying?” Heather then asked.

“At the motel up the street,”

“Ugh, that place is just nasty…you are more than welcome to crash on my couch,” her offer sounded genuine, and I frowned as Ben and Wesley shot her concerned looks. Looks that she ignored.

“That would be great, thank you,” I said, but even though I had accepted, I wouldn’t be able to, otherwise my so-called cover would be blown.