7 yrs, Gone and Forgotten

Chapter 28: Vamps

Xander’s POV

    A week had passed since the event, and I was becoming irritated and impatient at the fact there was no news about anything. The girl was like a ghost, not a trace of her anywhere, Dylan was yet to return to his pack, the human woman like the girl was also a ghost. And no one could seem to find out who had the bounty out on the girl or why.

     The door flung open in my office, and I looked up from the papers on my desk to see and out of breath Jake. I raised my brows, and he took a seat across from me, with a death grip on his phone.

    “You alright?” I really didn’t care, but I asked anyway.

    “Yea, but I have news.” He leaned back a bit. “But you aren’t going to like it.”

    “Well go on then.”

    “Vamps, they have moved into North America,”

    “What?” I shouted. “There haven’t vamps in this area in a hundred years. We ran them all out.”

    He shook his head, “I know. They have been living under surveillance overseas, but they have been spotted in different parts here. Our trackers say they are moving in a formation from state-to-state hunting for something.”

    “We need to send a team out, and we need to contact the coven, have them put a warding on this area at least until after the wedding.” I wasn’t ready to call them in yet, but I had to do what was best for our people. “And send our men to Dylan’s pack. Those who want to join our pack put them in those empty houses on the east side, those who don’t want to leave be, but leave under surveillance.”

    “There’s more.” He grumbled and I almost missed it.

    “What is it?”

    “The human woman has been spotted in Georgia. The trackers lost her again, but they are searching. And we have confirmed that Dylan, her and Lumen and Claire are all working together.”

    “Must be how they are getting the humans so easily, but what are they doing with them?” We knew that they had been doing this for a while, but once they were taken, they were never found again. What we didn’t know was how they chose who they would take or how they snatched them.

     “Do you want my theory?” He asked and I nodded, I could use some guesses myself, I was so focused on the wedding, the girl, and everything else my brain was feeling a little fried. “I think this all goes hand in hand with the vamps. I think that’s who has a bounty on the girl as well. And before you ask, I have already contacted Alpha Lane about all this, and he is working on it as well.”

     “Alpha Lane, huh?” I huffed. “Where exactly is his pack?”

    “Xander don’t even start. I don’t know what your problem with him is. Yes, you are king, but he is the demon beast himself, he is the strongest of them all and let’s face it, he is the Alpha of all Alphas. So yes Alpha. There is only one stronger than him.”

     I waved my hand in the air like I was bored, “Yea, yea, yea, we all know the fairy tale of how a prophesized child will be born, but unless you know something I don’t that child doesn’t exist.” I huffed, he was right though, I might not like the guy, but he was definitely someone we needed on our side. “But you are right, just let me know if any new news comes up.”

    “Why are you doing that?” He asked as he pointed toward my hands.

    I looked down and there I was again scratching the palm of my hand where the scar was. No one seemed to be able to tell me where the scar came from and I had no recollection of being injured there, and it didn’t help that we always healed, and scars were not left. There were times sparks shot throughout my body like I was being electrocuted and they originated from the scar, but no one could tell me why, not even the witches. Trying to tell someone about it all always made it sound painful, but it was everything except painful, when it happened, I had an almost euphoric feeling from it. It was the one thing that grounded me on my worse days. Many people thought that it was Tess that calmed me, and I would let them believe it, at least until I figured out the origin of the scar.

     “Hey!” Jake shouted as he snapped his fingers in my face.

     I dropped my hands flat on the desk, “Sorry, I was in my own head there thinking about everything going on.”

     He leaned back and smiled crossing his arms, “A certain little human girl has got your panties in a wad, huh?”

     I blinked a few times trying to figure out what he was thinking, but being honest with myself he was right, she was all I seem to dwell on. That’s why I had to capture her immediately and deal with the problem. “Nonsense. You know there is more going on than worrying about her. And we will catch her soon enough.”

     He laughed as he stood up and made his way toward the door, “You keep telling yourself that. But I have to say, it’s good to see my old friend starting to show himself again. I knew all along you were in there.”

     He shut the door behind him and left me blinking several times trying to find the meaning behind his statement. Old friend?

     I caught myself rubbing the palm of my hand again and quickly grabbed the phone to distract myself. I dialed Luscious and waited patiently for him to answer.

     “Hey man,” he chirped through the phone.

     “Any news?” I grunted back.

    Luscious had been on the move for years, after his father died, he moved his pack to our lands. He was never one to stay settled too long and liked being the on-the-go man. We had grown quite close, and I trusted him as much as I trusted Jake. He came home occasionally to see his wife and son, but never stayed long. I had to give kudos to his wife Laney, she was understanding and accepted the free spirit he was.

     “Nothing new, but still on the hunt. I guess Jake told you about the vamps?”

    “Yea, any luck on tracking any down?”

   “I have located a small group south of LA, I am enroute there now to stake them out. I will let you know when I have more information. And I will be home in a few days. Got a bachelor party and wedding to attend.” He laughed.

   I couldn’t help but laugh with him, being Prince of the Dark, you would think that he would be a prude, but he was actually quite opposite, He was the fun guy to hang around with, always laughing and cutting up. “At least you aren’t trying to stop it like everyone else.” I finally choked out.

    His laugh died down and he cleared his throat, “Look man, you know me. I am straight forward and won’t lie to you. Do I think you are making a mistake? Absolutely. Do I think you should be marrying Tess? Hell no, she is not queen material, but to each their own. I do respect you enough though with your decisions to not put my two sense in and try to make you stop a wedding.” He chuckled a little, “We all make choices, and we all have to live with them and learn to except the consequences.”

     “Thanks,” I said with no enthusiasm at all. “I appreciate the honesty.

    “Welcome, now I got to go. I am on the road.” And with that he hung the phone up.

    I laid the phone down and twisted my chair to look out the window over the land. With everything going on, the life and death situations happening I couldn’t get my mind off the human girl. Jake was right she was creeping into my every thought; I didn’t know why. The only thing I could figure was that my brain was trying to connect the dots, so much had happened in such a short time it couldn’t be coincidence. I just couldn’t figure out where she fit into the whole equation.

     Twisting back around and taking my phone out, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I needed Tess and I was going to make the arrangements to go to her, surprise her, and bring her home.