Not-So-Fated Mates

Chapter 39: Brutal Truth

Drake POV

Day three of no communication, and Drake was a complete mess. He’d hardly slept, barely eaten, and his gut was screaming at him that something was wrong. The pack had also noticed the tension thrumming through their alpha, and most were giving him a wide berth. Even May had stayed away from him, and that was saying something. The only ones that didn’t seem to run the other way when they saw him were Jackson, Rod, and Kieran, his delta.

In fact, they’d tried to help. Whenever one was with him, they were trying to ply him to eat or sleep, joke with him, or get him to talk to them about what was going on, but nothing had worked yet. At first, he’d done the very minimum to get them to leave him alone, like taking a few bites of food or attempting a nap here and there, but now he just couldn’t bring himself to give a s**t. At least he could do his duties, though it was getting increasingly difficult to focus on that, as well. Something was off, and he knew it. And, if his gut were to be believed, that thing not only involved the situation with the rogues, but Layla as well.

Her radio silence just didn’t sit right. There was the possibility that she was simply avoiding him. Yes, she’d seemed like things were cool between them when she’d said goodbye, but when he remembered how weird she’d been acting from the night before until then, not to mention what Chelsea had said, he had to admit there was the chance that she was still upset over whatever problem she’d had with him. Still, it didn’t seem like that, for some reason he just couldn’t name. He didn’t ordinarily fear much, but that particular emotion had taken hold of him, making him nauseous with it every time he thought of her. He hated it, especially when it seemed she was almost all he could think of.

Thankfully, he hadn’t had to do much since the rogues had all left his territory already, though he’d sent a couple of scouts to watch them so they could report on where they were going. While he couldn’t be absolutely sure they were up to something nefarious, all the signs pointed to that, and he wasn’t going to take chances with his pack or anyone else’s. The reports so far said they were taking different directions, but that could just be a diversion. Hopefully, he’d know more by tonight so he could determine where to go with it all.

As he finished logging all the up-to-date information, a knock came at his office door, shaking him from his thoughts. He’d been so focused on both wondering what the hell was going on with him, debating what the silence on Layla’s end could mean, and filling out his own reports, it was like he’d forgotten the world around him. He rubbed his blurring eyes and said, “Come in.” He winced when he realized how much of his weariness and stress came out in his voice.

“Hey, alpha,” Rod said, coming in and taking one of the seats in front of Drake’s desk. He settled back, showing his devil-may-care attitude even in the way he sat, with his legs stretched out, crossing at the ankles, hands hanging down from the arm rest, head resting against the back of the chair.

“Do you need something, Rod?” Drake asked, a bit of a bite to his words. Truth be told, he really envied Rod’s ability to relax right now. Normally, he was totally a workaholic, but in his current zombie-like state, all he wanted to do was lay down and pass the f**k out for a couple of days. Unfortunately, every time he’d tried, he just ended up tossing and turning until he gave up.

“Not really, other than to check on you,” his gamma replied, unaffected by Drake’s obvious annoyance as he examined his fingernails. “I think we all are well-aware you aren’t doing good. You should be thankful your pack is so damn loyal to you, ‘cause most alphas would’ve probably started getting challenges by now.”

“Hmph, maybe I could use a good fight,” Drake grumbled.

“Come on, something has to give here,” Rod said, sitting up and glaring at his stubborn alpha. “Its like you lost Jess all over again.”

“That b***h is the last thing I want to talk about,” Drake growled.

“Yeah, well, if I need to bring her up to get you to take care of yourself, it’s worth it, even if you beat the s**t out of me.”

“I just might if you keep this s**t up.”

Rod rolled his eyes. “You can’t keep going on like this. Is it about that lady-friend of yours from the Howling Moon pack?”

“So what if it is?” Drake spat.

“If it is, we need to solve the problem,” he stated simply. “Anyone can see how you feel about her. So why don’t you do something about it?”

“For one thing, I haven’t heard from her since the first night we got here. For another thing, I won’t uproot her entire life just to not be able to promise I can give her what she deserves,” Drake replied, ticking off the reasons on his fingers. “Don’t you think, if it really was as simple as you and Jackson seem to think it is, I’d have already taken care of it?”

“No, I don’t think so and neither do Jackson or Kieran,” he said as he stared hard at Drake. “Ever since that stupid f*****g b***h betrayed you, you’ve made damn sure no female will ever get to your heart again. But from everything I’ve heard, this female did, even without meaning to. You’re head-over-heels in love with her, yet you’re being the most selfish I’ve ever seen you be. No, let me talk,” he said, putting his hand up as Drake tried to interrupt. “Yes, you’ve convinced yourself you are doing what is good for her, but that isn’t the reality. I’m going to hazard a guess that you never asked nor cared what her opinion on it is. From everything I’ve heard, she is a very capable woman, who can protect herself from almost anything, and yet, here you are, stupidly convincing yourself you are doing this to protect her. Bullshit. You’re trying to protect yourself and it’s f*****g you both over. So grow some goddamned balls and go get that woman that you’re longing for even now.”

Silence followed Rod’s words as Drake looked down. Damn it, he was right. He was protecting himself, and deluding himself so as to feel better about it. He was scared. The big, bad alpha was terrified of being hurt again. He felt like such a failure. He had wanted to protect Layla, but had only managed to hurt both of them by lying to himself. He wasn’t wrong in thinking she deserved better, but he was wrong in taking the choice from her like that. He’d f****d up, big time.

Just as he raised his head to admit it all, another knock interrupted them. Before he could answer, Jackson came barreling in, the look on his face telling Drake he was about to get news he wouldn’t like. “Drake, we have a problem. Layla’s missing.”