Chloe sat at the kitchen table as the sun started to filter in the window.
Justin and Tyler had just gotten there and were filling cups with coffee and trying to get to a functioning level.
Grayson was eating across from her.
She looked to her mate, “How are your eggs?”
Grayson shrugged, “Okay, think you still need to practice though. The bacon is a bit crispy.”
She rolled her eyes at him, “I'm not your mother.”
“Yeah.” Grayson nodded, “This is why we can't move out, cause you need to learn how to cook.”
“You do realize how demoralizing you sound, right?” She snapped at him.
“Luna.” He smiled at her and kept eating.
Justin sat down, “This is so messed up.”
Chloe nodded, “Yeah, and Colten, why he won't wake up? I'm really worried.”
Grayson finished what was in his mouth, “His alpha blood will help him. He's just healing.”
“Yeah, but Grayson, he's hardly responded to anything.”
“He woke up.” Grayson pointed out, taking another mouthful, “Sort of.”
Justin watched, “You're a really laid back alpha.”
Grayson pointed at him, “If you freak out as an alpha, you never get anywhere.”
Tyler was standing at the counters silent but he was about to break it, “We should go.”
“We are.” Grayson finished his food off as the phone rang in the house.
Chloe looked to it as it rung again, then got up and answered it, “Hello?”
“Hi.” There was a pause in the male's voice, “Is Colt around?”
“Umm...” Chloe swallowed, “Not really... who is this?”
“Huh?”
Chloe wrinkled her nose, “Hello?”
“If he's around, tell him it's Pete.”
“Pete?” Chloe echoed, “As in, Peter Daniels?”
“Yeah.” Peter answered in a weary voice.
Chloe's eyes widened, “Grayson, it's Colten's beta on the phone!”
Grayson stood, “Give me the phone, Little.”
Chloe gave him it.
“Hello.” Grayson said.
“What's going on? Who's this?” Peter asked.
“I'm Grayson Holtz.”
“Oh, Ella's uncle?” Peter put it together.
“Yeah...” Grayson told him, “You need to get back here, like now.” He chewed at the piece of bacon he held.
“Where's Colt?”
“Passed out cold from getting his head beat in by your rival pack.”
“What!” Peter exclaimed, “I just talked to him yesterday!”
“We need your help.” Grayson told him, finishing the bacon.
“Okay, I'm coming. It's going to take us like six hours though.”
“Yeah, you need to hurry up. We think they took his mate, considering she hasn't called or showed up.” Grayson said slowly.
“What! Mateo took Abigail Redding?” Peter exclaimed.
“Yeah, like I said. We think so.”
“Go south-east over the border. Mateo has his pack house about fifty miles in. It's white. You'll smell it because they live like animals in it. It'll be a good place to start at least. I mean it's right into the den but it's something.”
Grayson nodded, “Justin and Tyler have mentioned that already.”
“Grayson,” Peter paused, “You have to find her. We need her.”
“I'm going to try my best.” Grayson assured him.
“Good luck.”
“You too.” Grayson snapped the phone down on the receiver and turned to them, “Does Colten have any milk?”
They all stared at him, blinking in confusion.
“Grayson, oh my gosh!” Chloe shot.
Grayson walked to the fridge, “They're coming.” He opened it and looked through the fridge.
“Glad he called.” Justin said, “So, where are we going first?”
“I'm not wasting anymore time. We're going to that pack house.” Grayson grabbed the milk.
Chloe watched him and Justin and Tyler seemed weary.
“By ourselves?” They asked.
Grayson sat back at the table, “Mike's going to come too. Where is he?”
“Asleep still.” Chloe snapped, “Because you all got super drunk!”
“Enough, little.” Grayson looked to her, “Go wake him up.”
“Yeah.” Chloe got up and walked out of the kitchen.
“Your luna seems upset.” Justin noted.
Grayson swallowed half a glass of milk down and smiled, “That's just Chloe. Some people call her spunky, I like to say, she's a-”
“Grayson, I can hear you!” She shrilled.
He shut up and smiled at them, “Yikes.”
“The mansion is full of the pack. They live together.” Justin told him.
Grayson nodded, “And this Alpha is mated?”
“Yeah, newly mated.” Tyler told him, “Been about four weeks from what we figure.”
“Jeez, out for blood much?” Grayson asked, “That's a way to get taken down fast.”
“He obviously wants to hurt us and in order to that, you need to hurt our alpha. If Colten can't mate, then we're screwed. It'll only be a matter of time before Mateo pushes the border and takes over.”
“No.” Grayson cut him off, “Trust me. I can take care of this.”
Chloe walked back into the kitchen with Mike following. She then came to his side, “If there's one thing Grayson has over a lot of alphas, it's his strength. You two, just need to make up the brain power for him.”
Grayson looked up to her, “Funny, Little.”
She smiled and he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her into his lap. She landed on him where he wanted and proceeded to nuzzling his luna.
Justin and Tyler stood, “We'll go outside and get ready.”
Mike grumbled, “Yeah, better wake up, battle time says Alpha.” He followed the them to the back door of the kitchen.
Grayson looked up to his beta, “Wakey, wakey, pretty beta.”
Mike waved a hand at him in annoyance as they left the kitchen, the porch door swung closed, bouncing in the frame before it settled.
Chloe sighed, “I want to come, Alma is upstairs with Colten and Ella.”
“I don't think so.” He laughed before she could continue.
She sighed, “But you need help.”
“I have help. Endangering you makes zero sense, but nice try.” He kissed her cheek and pulled her in tighter.
“You always sit and wait.” She stuffed.
He sighed and kissed her neck, “Calm down.”
“Please, find her, Grayson.” Chloe breathed.
He nodded, “I will.”
“But don't get hurt.” She turned towards him, “Don't.”
He dropped his forehead against hers, “Yeah.” He flattened his palm to her stomach.
Chloe looked up to him, “Gray...”
He kissed her, “I better go.”
She bit her lip as he stood, helping her in the process.
He kissed her once more, “See you in awhile. Be good.”
“Yeah.” She nodded as he stripped his shirt and threw it over a kitchen chair.
He undid his belt and pulled it free from his jeans, “Don't worry.”
“I'll try not to.” She told him, swallowing as he threw the leather belt on the table and pulled off his socks.
“I'm in the mood to kick some ass anyway.” He smiled and walked to the back door.
Chloe sighed, “Love you, Alpha.”
He paused and turned back to her, “I love you too, Luna.”
She watched as he left the kitchen. The familiar sounds of shifting and snarling happened and then the departing run. She sat in the kitchen chair and stared at his empty milk glass, “Please, find her.”
Alma came rushing in and Chloe twisted in her chair towards her, “He's awake.”
“What!” Chloe jumped up, “Actually awake?”
“Yes!” She nodded, “He's coherent but... weak.”
Chloe swallowed, walking past the woman and heading towards the stairs. Alma followed.
“He's not said much.” The older woman informed her, “But knowing Colten, he's going to want to get up. We need to keep him in bed, I don't think he's fully healed.”
“Yeah.” Chloe agreed, “I'm not going to say anything about her.”
Alma stopped her in the hall and lowered her voice, “If we can keep him calm for a bit, just till your mate get's back. It'll be better for him.”
“I agree.” Chloe swallowed and looked towards the closed room door.
Alma sighed, “I hope they find her. He's going to be heart broken. I know him well and how much he loves her. All he's ever wanted was his mate.”
Chloe took a staggered breath, “Grayson is strong and Mike is a quick thinker, they'll have a good shot if she's there.”
Alma took her arm and walked her to the room. She opened the door and Chloe stepped in first, walking to the bed and sitting next to him.
“Hey, Colt.”
His head tilted and his eyes met hers. His face swollen, his eyes black and blue and his bottom lip twice as big as it should have been.
She took in a sharp breath, “I'm glad you're up.”
Colten grumbled and looked up to the ceiling, “Where is she?”
Chloe winced and turned slowly on the bed to look at Alma, who stood still in the door frame of his bedroom.
“Where's Abigail?” He repeated.