Alpha Convict - Burgov Series I

3. Sasha

I slipped back into the house praying to the Goddess for not running into one of my brothers. I could still feel my throat throbbing and I didn't need a mirror to know I was sporting bruises on my skin. That would bring too many inconvenient questions, and I can't even begin to think about Vanya's reaction if he saw me hurt. We weren't in the position to go against the Alpha, and knowing my brother and how protective he was over each of his family members, there was a possibility he would snap and we would be left without a Pack once again. So it was best to keep it quiet until the bruises faded and I found out what's happening with Claudia.

Yes, I haven't forgotten about Alpha's vicious words that he has no Mate and my momentarily fright hasn't erased the questions from my mind. If my friend wasn't with this man, where was she?

I was tiptoeing to my room staying away from an argument between my brothers coming all the way from the kitchen, when while passing Father's bedroom I noticed him entering his own room through the window. We stared at each other for a moment before his blurry sight settled on my neck and I saw him opening his mouth with concern written all over his absent-minded face. I didn't want any extra attention on me, and I highly doubt that Father would say anything to the boys, so I chose to break eye contact between us and hurried to the solitude of my own room.

I quickly undressed and slipped under my sheets pretending to be fast asleep for anyone who would peek in, while in fact I tried once again to call Claudia. But when that brought the same outcome as before I decided to leave her a couple of texts just in case she wouldn't check her voicemail.

Sunday morning came quickly and thankfully my bruises faded by night sparing me the questions. However, Vanya was still watching me suspiciously when I was more playing with my scrambled eggs than actually eating them, and he even asked why I missed dinner. But the good thing about my older brother was that he knew when to let go, and when I brushed him off by claiming that I was simply tired after the run, he nodded, although there wasn't an ounce of belief in his eyes.

After breakfast I took Bummer and Jinx for the morning walk, but in fact they were just my cover. Instead of entering the woods like we always do on the weekend, I led my boys to the three-story building that resembled a college dorm, where Claudia's little one-bedroom apartment was.

The Compound was full of unmated wolves, mostly young from the age of sixteen to their early twenties. It was the place where young wolves, who wanted to start their grown up life settled after moving out from their parents, but it also was the place given to those who in Midnight Banes sought refuge and had no funds for a cottage in the village, like Claudia. It was one of the better ideas Alpha's sister implemented here, because even though the ones living here had a free board and lodging, she still saw the potential that fresh blood brought to this place.

I followed the corridors with my two hounds, dragging me by their leashes all the way to the second floor, where Claudia's room was. I knocked on her door waiting impatiently for any sound coming from the inside, but there was nothing but silence.

"She's not here. I haven't seen her since Friday morning." - I heard the voice coming from behind my back and when I turned I saw Jackson, one of the guys Ilia sometimes hung out with, leaning on the doorframe across the hall.

"Do you know where she might be?"

He shook his head and crossed his arms over his flat chest and sent me his best smug smile. We have a history of his failed attempts of flirting with me, but while the fact he's just a year younger doesn't bother me that much, the fact that he has less than a half of working brain cells than a normal human being, and most of them focused on his d**k, does.

"But I can help you look for her." - he said with a grin, and I narrowed my eyes expecting him to continue - "For a price." - He added pressing his lips together as if he was waiting for a kiss. Yup, here it is, the real Jackson.

"No thanks, I'll manage." - I said turning away and going back the same way I came in the first place.

Once I was outside surrounded by the chilly winter air I finally started worrying. Where could she be? I didn't know about any other close friends other than me and maybe Norvin, if you count her favorite squabble partner as a friend. But what other option did I have?

I started walking towards Nor's house, which was located in the richer part of the Pack, since his father was a successful accountant taking care of most of Pack's finances.

Once I was on his over-the-top porch and knocked on the door a middle-aged Omega, Lana, who served Norvin's family as maid, opened. She gave me once over and the usual smile she had for me turned into tightly pursed lips when her gaze landed on four pairs of muddy paws that came with me.

"Hi Mrs. Howard, is Norvin home?" - I asked in my best polite voice.

"He is." - she said slowly, yet she didn't move aside to let me enter. I knew what she was thinking, I need to clean the floors after my boys every day, after all, so I know how much mess they bring from every walk.

"Would you mind if I wait for him in the basement? I promise to clean after them." - I offered an olive branch and her hard stare softened until she was smiling.

"I knew there's a reason I like you, Sasha. Go through the back door, I'll let the young master know you came. Do you want hot cocoa or tea? You look rather cold." - she asked and I couldn't help the grin that spread on my lips.

"I'd love some, whatever will be less troublesome. Thank you."

She nodded with a playful smirk before closing the front door. I led the dogs to the back doors that went straight to Norvin's pit. His basement was the only place in the whole estate that Lana wasn't responsible for. As a part of learning what hard work is, Norvin's Mom made him clean his own bachelor pad. It wasn't by any means a hardship, since the place usually looked like a dumpster until I got too disgusted and cleaned for him. So I wasn't in any way guilty for the mess my boys will do there.

I used a spare key from under, surprise, surprise, a hollow decorative rock and entered the place like it was my own. We spent so much time here, especially during the winter, that I knew almost every corner, although I didn't dare to look under an old couch. Goddess, only knows what disturbing things Nor's keeping there.

I managed to slip my jacket off when a loud footsteps shook the whole room up. Norvin came down holding a tray with two steaming mugs and a plate of Lana's famous cookies. He grinned at me and skillfully avoided my boys before he set the tray down.

"I have no idea what kind of magic you use on her, but not just ten minutes ago she slapped my hand, when I was reaching for a cookie. And she never puts marshmallows in my cocoa." - he said, handing me one of the mugs.

"I don't know what you're talking about, she's lovely." - I said, shrugging and taking a first sip of a rich and sweet beverage.

"Yeah, lovely." - he snorted - "The old hag hates me."

"Maybe that's because you're the little s**t, who can't hit the bowl and has no regard for her hard work." - I pointed out with raised brows.

"Hey! That's not true…"

"Oh come on, Nor, I've used the bathroom after you, it's like raining man got a whole other meaning up there. Disgusting actually." - I cut him off with a no bullshit glare, because we both know I was right, and if he didn't… Well, that would explain why he wasn't Mrs Howard's favorite.

Norvin looked at me with annoyance, but refrain from arguing, so this means a point for Sasha.

"Why are you even here?" - he asked and my brain returned back on track.

"Oh right. I can't find Claudia anywhere so I wanted to check if you haven't heard from her?"

"Why would I? She hates me." - he said matter-of-factly knitting his brows together.

"No, she doesn't. You guys are friends." - I waved him off and went to sit on the leather couch that had definitely seen better days.

"No, Sasha, you are my friend, she is your annoying sidekick who doesn't get along with anyone beside you." - he said, folding his arms to make his statement that much true.

"No way, you are always playful with one another."

"No, we are not playful, we really fight." - he said - "Did you really think we were just teasing one another?"

"Well, yes."

He chuckled and shook his head with pity. - "God, Sasha, you're the smartest person I know, yet you can be so dense sometimes." - he sighed - "Alright, but where did she go that you had to seek her out at my place?"

I sighed and brushed my hair back with my hands. - "That's the thing, I don't know." - I said, meeting his eyes. - "You know that yesterday was her birthday?" - he did some funny motion that were a combination of shrugging and nodding. - "Well, soon after midnight on Saturday she sent me this." - I said taking my phone out and showing him the text I got, and with every word he read I saw his brows going higher and higher, until they disappeared in his disheveled hairline.

"Well f**k me, if she's going ti be the Luna, I'll better start paking now." - he muttered, handing me my phone back.

"That's the thing, I have a feeling something happened to her." - I finally voiced my main concern. I saw with my own eyes how violent Alpha VanWoert can be, yet I wouldn't let the bad feeling take over. But now that Claudia was nowhere to be found and she wasn't answering my calls and mindlink I couldn't ignore the possibility that this unpredictable man hurt her, just like he did me.

"And why would you think that?" - Norvin asked.

"Because I can't find her anywhere, her phone is off, and her mindlink is blocked. I even visited the Compound and that jerk Jackson told me he hasn't seen her since Friday morning. Since Friday, Nor! That's not normal and that's so not like Claudia. Is there any way to find her without alarming anyone from the Pack House? They've been covering for our Alpha for years, so if anything happened they would probably try to sweep it under the rug too. " - I said to him with hope in my eyes, matching the pleading expression of my boys when they saw juicy beef and a little bit of desperation.

"Okay, first of all, breathe. I'm not in the mood to ask Lana for the paper bag." - he said with a smirk and then sountered to the desk where one of his laptops, we used mainly for games, was placed. He took it and came to sit on the couch beside me. - "Alright, from the top of my head we can try to track her phone." - he announced, clicking vigorously.

"Can you do that if the phone is turned off?" - I asked in utter shock. When it comes to modern technology I was doing fine, unless you asked me for something more than using Google, social media or texting, then I was as useless like blind describing colors. Even Photoshop was a dark magic for me.

Norvin gave me a sly look and he focused back on the screen. I had no idea what he was doing, but while his hands looked like they were racing over the keypad, he asked me a few questions like dictating Claudia's phone number and email.

It lasted about twenty minutes before Nor raised his head from the screen and looked at me.

"Alright, so it looks like she's still in the Pack." - he pointed to the map with a red blinking dot on it.

"She is? Where?"

He tried to zoom it even closer, but the program he was using wouldn't allow to decipher the exact address. - "Not too far. We can follow the signal. Just let me download it on my phone and we can go."

Just a few more minutes was all he needed to get the app on his phone and we were good to go. To my surprise Norvin looked excited, rather than worried.

"What's up with you?" - I asked when we were going down the street towards the main square of the village.

"I don't know, it feels like being a secret agent or something. I'm Baxter, Norvin Baxter." - he said in a wirst British accent ever before looking back on the screen.

"You're Moron. Huge Moron." - I rephrased his words - "Shouldn't you be at least a little worried about our friend?"

He shrugged, not meeting my eyes. - "I'm not. If anything we should be worried about Alpha after his encounter with Claudia. This girl can take care of herself."

I frowned at this statement, but refrained from saying anything. I really hope Nor is right, and the feeling I have in my guts is actually wrong. But until I check it out and make sure she's fine, I chose to keep my senses on high alert.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when Norvin abruptly stopped and kept on frowning at his phone.

"What is it?" - I asked and he simply lifted his eyes ahead and then creased his forehead even harder.

"It looks like we're here." - he said and I just then took in my surroundings. We were standing in the small parking lot in front of the Pack House with just three cars parked there.

"What?! So she's in the Pack House, after all?"

"Not exactly. I said her phone is here… somewhere." - he said and we both started looking around. At the curb under our feet, the grass nearby, but when our eyes haven't found anything even remotely resembling a cell phone or even a part of it I felt the cold shiver spreading down my back again. What the hell?

"Something must be wrong with your app." - I said, giving him a side glance.

He gave me an annoyed glare and took two steps closer to the car parked close to us. He started circling it from every side and his eyes started widening while he was at it.

Norvin suddenly stopped by its locked trunk and waved for me to come closer.

"The app is showing this exact spot. So I'm ninety-nine percent sure it's in this truck. But look here." - he said pointing to the back bumper of the black Range Rover.

I tried really hard to spot what he was pointing at, but on the dark surface it was almost impossible. But when I finally noticed a matted splash on a shiny car paint, I gasped covering my mouth and jumped away from the car like a burnt ending on my ass in a cold snow.

"Is it…" - I couldn't even end my question feeling dread squeezing my throat.

"Blood, yes." - Norvin ended for me in a grim tone.

"Whose car is it?" - I asked and Norvin stayed silent for a moment, biting the inside of his cheek looking consumed by his thoughts. - "Nor?! Who owns it?" - I urged him.

He finally met my eyes, and there was no sign of his previous excitement, actually he started looking more like me. Bat s**t scared.

"Alpha Benson's."