Chapter 117 Urgency
CADE
My eyes fluttered open for no reason.
The first <b>thing </b>I noticed was the nket <b>covering my </b>shoulders–tucked gently. I blinked up at the dim study light, still faintly glowing from the desk above me..
<b>Arden</b>. My lips curled slightly at the thought. She must’ve seen me knocked out and covered me up. was just like her. No matter how tired she was, she was always thinking of others.
<b>But </b>if she put this on me, that meant she was awake.
That
I sat up straighter, rubbing the back of my neck and yawning. I was still groggy, but the moment I turned
my chest. to the doorway and saw it empty, that familiar tug started deep in
“Arden?” I called out gently, still half–asleep.
No response.
My brow creased. I stood quickly, the chair scraping behind me. I walked toward the hallway, ncing left and right.
Nothing
I picked up the pace, walking down to the far end where our room was. The lights were off, but I opened the door without knocking,
“Arden?”
Still nothing
The bed wasn’t <b>made</b>, which was very unlike Arden. She always liked to keep everything neat.
A small cold draft passed behind me, but it wasn’t from the windows. It came from within. I started checking everywhere–the kitchen, the backyard, the porch–even stupid ces like theundry area and under the staircase.
“Arden!” I called again, louder this <b>time</b>.
Still no answer.
She wasn’t the type to leave without saying something.
“ARDEN!”
My <b>voice </b>echoed down the empty street, hollow and sharp in the stillness of the night.
The light turned on from one of the upstairs rooms. I heard hurried footsteps. Then another door creaked open behind me.
“What’s happening?” my mom asked, wrapping a robe around herself as she hurried down the steps.
Chapter 117 Urgency
“Why are you yelling?” my dad asked, already in joggers.
But Honey’s voice hit the hardest.
“Where’s Arden?” she asked, already teary–eyed. “Why is Cade calling Arden? Why?”
My mom turned to me with furrowed eyebrows. “Right, Cade. Where is Arden?”
“She’s not here,” I cut in, running a hand through my hair.
Everyone froze.
“What?” my mom eximed, frowning deeply.
“I don’t know where she is,” I said <b>quickly</b>. “She’s <b>not </b>in our room. She’s not in the house. I checked everywhere. She’s gone.”
“Did she leave anything behind? A note?” my <b>mom </b>asked.
“Maybe she got called for something urgent?” Nathan suggested.
“But no goodbye,” Honey shakily said, on the verge of tears.
“I <b>know</b>,” I said, trying to keep my voice level.
Just then, my phone rang. I fumbled to grab it, not even checking the number before I picked up.
“Hello?” I snapped, breath short.
“Is this… Alpha Cade?”
I paused, frowning in suspicion. “Who is this?”
“Umm, I’m sorry, <b>Alpha</b>. It’s Owen.”
My chest deted slightly, though I didn’t calm down.
“I’m sorry to call you thiste,” he said quickly, his voice tense. “I’ve been debating whether I should… but I <b>had </b>a feeling.”
“<b>What </b>is <i>it</i><i>?</i>” I asked sharply, already walking back toward the living room to grab my coal.
“It’s <b>Tessa</b>,” he said. “She wasn’t around this afternoon. I asked around. And I just confirmed with their dorm leader, Maisey, that she didn’te home.”
That stopped me.
“What?”
“And I don’t think she’s out for a walk or sleeping over with someone. She’s missing, Cade.”
My heart dropped.
“Tessa’s been acting strangetely. I think she’s been watching Winters,” Owen continued. “She was
Chapter 117 Urgency
investigating something on her own. But you know Winters. If he found out…
My mouth dried.
If Tessa <b>were </b><b>in </b>trouble. Arden would do something
She would go. No second thoughts.
“She didn’t tell <b>me</b>,” I muttered.
But I couldn’t be mad at her. Not <b>when </b>I knew her heart.
“I got it,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I’ll do something. Thanks, Owen.”
I ended the call.
“Who was that?” my mom asked<b>, </b>eyes wide.
“I’m going to look for Arden,” I said tly. “She’s in trouble”
“Do you need help?” Nathan asked, already grabbing his jacket.
I shook my head. Stay with Honey and keep the pack safe. I’ll alert you if I need backup.”
My mom looked like she wanted to protest, but something in my expression must’ve stopped her.
“Then, where are you going?” <b>she </b>asked gently.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I’ll find out.”
I grabbed my keys and a silver knife from the drawer.
And I headed to the front <b>door</b>.
But just before I could twist the knob, a knock made me freeze.
Everyone behind me stilled.
I opened the door fast, expecting anything. But instead-
“Bethany?”
She stood in front of <b>me</b>, a scarf around her neck and a coat too big for her frame.
“<b>What </b><b>are </b>you doing here?” <b>I </b>asked/
Bethany staggered forward, one hand gripping the frame of the door, Her other hand clutched her coat to her chest, but I could still see the way her shoulders trembled underneath.
Her face was pale, more than usual. There were dark shadows under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in weeks. Her lips were cracked. Her breath came out in short, painful bursts, and she winced like every <i>inhale </i>was <b>a </b>battle.
“Where’s Arden?” she asked, not answering my question.
Chapter 117 Urgency
I tensed.
My throat went dry.
“She’s missing.” I said honestly. “She left in the middle of the night, so I’m going to look for her
Bethany’s hand dropped from the doorframe. She swayed, nearly falling forward.
I reached out instinctively and caught her arm, steadying her. Her body felt cold and fragile, making my frown deepen
“I had a feeling,” she murmured. Her eyes darted past me toward the dark road behind the house. “We need to go.
“What?”
“I feel her urgency,” she said, sounding frustrated.
1 frowned. “Feel her urgency? What does that mean? How?”
“It’splicated,” Bethany muttered, waving off the question. “I just… I feel it. So, let’s go. The two of us will look for her.”
I crouched in front of her, searching her face, “Bethany, you’re sick. You shouldn’t be here, and you shouldn’t be pushing yourself like this. Stay here. I’ll look for her.”
“I don’t care,” she snapped. “She’s in trouble, Cade.”
I swallowed, unsure what to say. Part of me still didn’t understand how she knew and how she could feel something like that when they didn’t have any sort of connection.
She looked at me. Tears welled in her eyes, and she didn’t blink them away. I was surprised. Bethany Winters was actually crying? I haven’t seen her cry ever since she became Praetor.
“Please…,” she said, her voice sounding even more broken than before.
“We need to go.”
<i>“</i>My daughter is in trouble.”