Tamara POV


    My anxiety increased when Matt didn''t return the next night either.


    I looked at Brad. "Did Matt tell you as to where he was going specifically?"


    "Nope!" Brad replied. He nced at Summer who was sleeping.


    She had woken up during the day. Brad had pampered her to the hilt. But the girl was too fragile to walk and fend for herself. What kind of abuse she must have gone through? It sent a chill down my spine. I was going to talk to her in time in order to help her heal mentally and physically.


    Brad continued, "He roughly said that he was going toward the cult building. But that shouldn''t take so much time."


    "We should send some people to find him. I''m not feelingfortable about it," I admitted.


    "I''ve sent five of my warriors with him," Brad replied, rubbing the back of his neck.


    My phone buzzed in the room. I rushed to pick up the call, thinking it was Matt, but it was Seth.


    "Hi Tammy, where is Alpha Matt?" Seth asked on the phone, his voice filled with worry.


    "Where are you?" I asked.


    "At his house."


    "I''ming," I said with urgency in my voice.


    "Do you want me toe with you?" Brad asked, shifting on his feet.


    I shook my head as I picked up my bag. "No. Take care of Summer. But I''ll call you if needed."


    Brad seemed to rx, and I walked outside. I took Brad''s car and rushed to Matt''s house, which was only two blocks away. Seth was standing outside with other warriors from his pack.


    "Tammy!" Seth came to me, his demeanor that of anxiety. “I hadn''t heard from Matt for the past two days. We are getting worried. Where is he?"


    His words only added to my nervousness. "I don''t know," I replied.


    "What do you mean? He was with you!"


    I ran my fingers through my hair. "Come on. There''s a lot I have to tell you."


    When we were in Matt''s house, I spilled out everything regarding Summer and how Matt had gone to find the cultists along with a few wolf warriors.


    "Why the hell did he not tell me?" Seth seethed. "I don''t like it when he is secretive!"


    "Seth, instead of getting angry, you should go to find him," I pointed.


    "Of course, that''s what I will do!" he gritted. "But I also want you to be safe. Don''t go to your dorm. Stay with Brad, okay?"


    I nodded. "When are you leaving to find him?"


    "Right now!" he said. He looked at his warriors and instructed them what to do. Then he turned to me. "If you don''t hear


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    14:59 Thu, 22 May M


    from us in twenty-four hours, inform the local police."


    84%


    "Yes, I will," I said, but tears welled in my eyes. "Please find Matt." I rasped. It was the first time I felt so lonely, so empty. I swear to the goddess, if Matt returned safely, I would marry him and mark him. Instantly.


    Seth pulled me in a hug. "Don''t worry, Tammy. We will find him. But please be safe. I''d suggest that you don''t go anywhere, okay?"


    Though I nodded, I felt like I was nodding in auto mode. My feelings were all over the ce. Depression mmed in my chest like a speeding train. I needed to see Matt so urgently, like my life depended on it.


    Seth left soon after to the location I told them while I returned to Brad''s ce. My next two sses of art and herbology were in the evening. I contemted whether to attend them or not.


    "You should go." Brad said. "I''m also going. It''ll be a good distraction for both of us." We were both sitting in the dining room as the omegas served us coffee and bruschetta. I didn''t feel like eating, so I didn''t touch the bruschetta.


    "Hmm..." I replied absent-mindedly. He was right. Maybe the sses would give me some distraction. But on the inside, I knew I would sit nkly even there. "Seth asked me not to go anywhere," I informed him.


    "You''ll be with me, Tam," Brad said as he extended his hand to me. "I know you are very anxious. I just want to help."


    "Okay..."


    I went to the college along with Brad. He dropped me to the art ss and then went for his math ss, instructing me not to go anywhere with anyone, until he arrives.


    As I sat in the art ss, the pencil felt heavier in my hand. All I could think of was Matt. My mind reyed thest time I had drawn him, when the professor had asked him to model for the rest of the ss. The way he looked darkly at me, the way his eyes seemed to pierce right through me. I felt like crying. The idle chatter from my ssmates faded into the background. I exhaled, but the space felt so suffocating. His memories tugged at my heart, making it difficult to focus.


    Somehow, I managed to sit in the ss for the entire one hour. After that I gathered my things and quickly exited, hoping to go back home, but I stood in the corridor, waiting for Brad.


    "Tamara!" Sheena''s sweet voice pierced through my thoughts.


    Surprised, I whipped my head toward her. "Hi! What are you doing here?" I asked.


    She grinned. "One of my mom''s friend''s daughters is taking art as a subject. She asked me to wait for her here. What about you?"


    "I just finished my ss here. Was waiting for my brother."


    She blushed slightly. "Ginny is going to bete. How about we have some coffee


    in the café?" she asked. "It''s on me!"


    I chuckled. "No, thanks. I''m in a hurry. Brad ising to pick me up."


    "Oh,e on! You can ask him toe to the café," she insisted.


    I shook my head. How could I exin to her what was going on at my ce?


    "Next time, Sheena. I''m too busy today."


    She pouted. "Okay. But you have toe with me to the café tomorrow morning."


    Iughed lightly. "I can''t promise."


    She pouted again. I couldn''t help noticing how cute she looked. "My mom wants


    to meet you. Is it okay to bring her to your ce?"


    14:59 Thu, 22 May MKO


    Her request surprised me. Why would her mom want to meet me?


    ???? 84%


    +20)


    She must have sensed my surprise. "I''m sorry for this stupid request, Tamara," she exined, lowering her head. "But my mom''s condition is inexplicable. She is paranoid of everything and everyone Ie in contact with. And I-" She looked away with tears welling in her eyes. "I try to alleviate her anxiety in the hope that she would stop taking drugs. I hate her condition, but I also pity her." Sympathy washed over me. I ced my hand over her arm. "You cane over to meet us, Sheena. And I''m so sorry it. You are a brave girl with a big heart."


    She grinned through her tears. "Really?"


    I chuckled. "Yes,e over tomorrow evening."


    "How about we all have dinner together? Mom makes great chicken pot pie!" she enthused.


    "If that makes her happy, sure. Why not?"


    Sheena squealed and hugged me tightly. "You''re the best!" sheughed. "I''ll tell my mom and she is going to be ted!"


    about


    I shook my head. Small things made people so happy. Sheena hade into my life like a warm breeze. She was sweet and was looking for eptance. What I liked about her was her honesty. She didn''t hide the fact that her mom was a drug addict. "Tomorrow it is then," I said as I stepped back. From the periphery of my vision, I saw Brad. He was staring at us with a soft smile.


    "See you tomorrow!" Sheena beamed.