“The search continues for a missing daughter of a police officer, after the vehicle she was said to be driving, was found two-hundred and twenty feet below highway three just south of Polar, Alaska. There was no sign of her body ejected or an attempt to escape, but some sources say that the seatbelt looked to have been chewed apart. There is no word yet that seventeen year old; Chloe Pryce is alive or dead.”
Grayson snapped off the television and stared at the black screen. He sat in the heavy silence around him.
“Grayson...” His mother walked in, pulling her apron over her head, “Lunch is ready.”
“I'm not really hungry.”
Beth walked around the couch, “Grayson, stop. You have to eat something. It's been two days.”
He looked up to his mother, “Well, if I die from starvation, at least I'll deserve it.”
“Grayson!” Beth shot. “I know what happened is horrible but-”
He stood abruptly, “I don't want to talk about it.”
Beth swallowed as she looked up to her son, “Gray, just come eat.”
“No, I think I'm just going to go back outside.”
“You're father said the pack has been looking in the high mountains, you can take an hour to eat.”
He grumbled.
“Come and eat.” She walked out of the living room. He didn't follow right away, but a minute later, he headed towards the kitchen.
His lunch of soup and grilled cheese was laid out while his mother dished out another couple servings.
“They're still looking for her, Grayson. It's okay. Someone can't just disappear like this.”
He sat at the breakfast bar and grabbed his sandwich, filling his mouth and staying quiet as he sulked.
“Chloe is a strong girl.”
“I can smell a wolf though, Mom and it's the same wolf that has been hanging around our house.”
“Grayson,” Beth looked to him, “It could be anyone.”
“It's a different smell. It's an alpha line. Not a Balant pack dog. I tried to tell Darcy, but he won't listen.”
“Darcy will come around,” she said softly, not confident in the idea. “How do you know this wolf was near her?”
“The scent was all over the tree she hit,” his grunted, “Even the truck when I showed up.”
“Honey, I'm sorry this happened... she seemed like a sweet girl.”
“She is a sweet girl,” he corrected and finished his sandwich, about to start on the soup. The front door of the house opened and closed, Grayson lifted his head and tensed as Darcy walked in.
“Hey, Mom.”
Beth smiled at him, “Hello, how are you?”
“Annoyed.” Darcy huffed, looking to Grayson, “I pulled the pack. It's done.”
Grayson sneered, “Well, I figured you wouldn't keep looking for my mate anyway, let alone my human one.”
Darcy sat down next to him, “Don't be such a brat, Gray. I think I've been more than accommodating to her.” Beth dished up his food and brought it to him, “Thanks, Mom...”
Grayson finished his lunch in hurry and got up, “If we haven't found her body that means she's still alive.”
Darcy smiled, “Something could have dragged her way into the bush and you know it. Some wild animal.”
“It's a wolf! I told you that!” Grayson snapped. “But you won't listen to me!”
Darcy rolled his eyes, “There's no other alpha on my territory. He'd have to be dumb, blind, and lost.”
“You're an idiot. He's been around this house for the past week or so...” Grayson snapped, “Likely spying on you. I hope he takes the damn pack from you.”
“Grayson!” Beth snapped.
Darcy growled and stared him down, “Learn your place, Grayson. I've already warned you several times. I had my pack out looking for the human. She's gone. I think I've been fairly generous of this situation.”
“The only reason you sent out Tribune was because Dad asked you for Henry! This has nothing to do with me or her.”
Darcy smiled, “So, what? Do you want to really hear it, Grayson?” they stared at each other and Grayson looked away.
“That's what I thought.” Darcy looked down to his food and took a bite of his sandwich.
Grayson put his bowl and plate in the dishwasher and slammed it shut, “I'm going.”
Beth sighed, “You just got back.”
“If you go back out there looking for that human, you can forget coming back,” Darcy snapped. “It's an order.”
Grayson lunged towards the breakfast bar and gripped the counters, “Just kick me out, Darcy! Do it! Then I'll at least have freedom, unlike the rest of this pack!”
“I'm about done with you!” Darcy pointed at him.
“I shouldn't have been so stupid!” Grayson yelled. “You've gotten what you wanted, so why keep doing this to me, Darcy! You've always been such a dick!”
Beth stepped up beside Grayson and put her hands on his arm, “Boys, stop. It's just an emotional time.”
“No, Mom,” Darcy shot. “He wants out, fine by me.”
“Grayson,” Beth gripped him, “Don't do this.” She started to cry.
“Mom, come on. I can't do this anymore.”
Darcy smirked, “So, what's it going to be, brother?”
“This is wrong,” Beth complained to her oldest son. “Very wrong. He's your younger brother. He could be killed, if you send him out as a rogue.”
Darcy shrugged, “He causes me more trouble than he's worth anyway.”
Grayson growled, “I've been doing everything you want. I pushed Balant's borders, because you're too much of a lazy idiot to do it yourself and for no good reason too.”
Darcy shot around the breakfast bar and grabbed Grayson by his shirt, shoving him against the near cupboards, “You're the pussy, Gray and you know it.”
“Yeah, well, at least I'm not a crooked, lying, cheat,” Grayson snapped.
Darcy rung him around and pushed him across the kitchen, “You're done, Grayson. Get off my territory. You have one hour.”
“Darcy!” Beth shrilled at him.
“Fine,” Grayson walked out of the kitchen. Beth was quick to run after him, even with her slow tears.
“Gray, no.”
“I'm done, Mom,” he headed for the front door.
Beth ripped him back and put her hands to his cheeks, “Grayson, go apologize. If you don't, we will never see you again. Don't you realize what you're doing?”
“Mom...” he pulled her hands from his face.
“Think about Sherry and Ashton. Grayson, they love you. I love you, your father.”
“Mom, stop.” he breathed, “All Darcy's done is screw me over. You know it. Everyone does.”
“Grayson,” she wiped her tears, “You're my baby though.”
“Mom, I'm not a baby. I need to find Chloe. I knew I shouldn't have let her drive, but I did and I owe her enough to look. Look until I die.”
Beth sobbed, “Honey.”
“Bye, Mom,” he opened the front door and walked out as his dad's truck pulled up. Henry was in the passenger seat.
Grayson tensed and swallowed as he walked out into the falling snow.
Roger quick to exit the truck and question him, “Grayson?”
Henry got out and Grayson started off to the side of the house, not wanting the interaction between Henry and him.
“Grayson!” Roger called after him and went to catch up.
Grayson glanced up as he stripped his shirt.
“Where are you going?”
“I'll see you around, Dad.” Grayson glanced at him over his shoulder.
“Grayson! Enough, Henry said they just pulled the search parties. We're in now over forty-eight hours. They've done several searches – all directions, they’re going to do another day search tomorrow, but, it's not looking good. Grayson, maybe it's time to just-”
“Darcy forced me out. He doesn’t want me in the pack and I'm done taking orders from him.”
“Grayson. Darcy did the right thing,” Roger moved in front of him. “They needed a break. Their low on energy. Her smell is completely gone on top of it.”
Grayson snorted, “I don't care why the pack was pulled. I'm done with Darcy. I'll find Chloe myself.”
Roger sighed, “You're making a mistake. You know you can't just come back if you do this.”
Grayson shrugged, “I don't want to be in a pack that has a power-tripping Alpha and a bunch of push-overs for its members.”
Roger tensed, “Grayson-”
“What do you care, Dad!” Grayson snapped. “It's not like you really care about me. Darcy was always your favourite.”
“That's not true.”
“It's not?” he snapped. “Well, I don't believe you. You couldn't even stand up to Darcy for me! I deserved Chloe!”
“She is Henry's daughter! She's human!”
“And now she's gone! If she was mine right now, this would have never happened! But you're all too pig-headed to see past a few minor details!” He lunged forward, shifting to his big grey wolf.
Roger shook his head at him, “Grayson, you're my son and I don't want to see you do this.”
Grayson turned to him and met his eyes.
Roger sighed, “Bye, Gray.”
Grayson turned and bounded up the mountain side, his thick coat blending into the Alaskan terrain.