46. Unexpected Twist
AURELIA
Raiden was losing his shit.
Somehow, I could sense every bit of his emotion before he walked out of the hall. An unmissable tight knot was in my chest as he stormed off. I hated that feeling, but it grew stronger by the second even though I was surrounded by happy people.
In fact, I saw some of Raiden's pack members cheering Tristan and me on as we were called to dance. Apparently, Larisa included a Couple Dance in the plans.
"I wonder why she's being all nice and pretentious," Inara stated into my mind while Tristan and I danced.
I sneaked a peep at Larisa and found her grinning from ear to ear. "She's suspicious. The entire arrangement is but we will be leaving tomorrow. I'm not worried about her-"
"But you're worried about the asshole that broke your without thinking twice." Inara chimed, reminding me of the knot in my chest.
"Why would I be worried about it?" I blurted, holding on to Tristan whose hands were gently guiding my movements. "What I feel is guilt, Ina. I know I deserve to be loved by someone like Tristan but I'm not certain about-" "Don't doubt your decision, Relia." Inara interrupted. "I feel uneasy as well but it isn't about Raiden or Tristan. I just can't place my hands on-"
Before my wolf could finish, I felt a persistent tug on the white dinner dress Jessica and Hazel had picked out for me some hours ago. I looked behind me and found Kyle. "Hey, baby," I muttered, bending to pick him up.
"I can't find Katie, Mama," Kyle mumbled, causing my hands to freeze on his ribcages. "She went out to pee but she hasn't returned."
"To pee? You were supposed to stay with Hazel, baby. Where is Hazel?" I asked, my face squeezed into a frown.
"I don't know, Mama," Kyle answered, his eyes searching my furrowed face.
Alpha Tristan bent over our frames as he whispered, "What's going on? Is Kyle here to join the dance? Katie should join us as well." The loud music blasting within the hall must have hindered him from hearing the exchanged words between Kyle and me.
"Kyle doesn't know where she is, Alpha Tristan." I voiced, unable to stop fear from slipping out of my mouth along with those words. "Just Tristan, Lia." He corrected.
With time, I'd get used to calling him by his name. Tristan grabbed my hand, leading me off the dance floor and I pulled Kyle along with my free hand. Tristan didn't stop until we were far from the stereo. "I can't sense her in the hall. Where could she have gone?" Tristan asked me, looking at Kyle too.
"She told me she was going to the restroom. I offered to go with her but she said boys aren't allowed in the ladies' room." Kyle explained to Tristan before shifting his gaze to me. "Is she going to be okay?" My frown deepened. Yes, I was worried about Katie not being in the hall but she should be in the restroom and I don't see her getting hurt there. "What do you mean, Kyle?" I asked my son.
Kyle's hold on my hand tightened and to my surprise, I noticed the glint of unshed tears in his eyes. Fearfully, he announced, "My heart hurt, Mama. I don't think Katie is okay. We have to find her, Mama..." I gasped as it suddenly drew on me that the pain in Kyle's heart must be caused by the Twins' bond. The knot I had been feeling in my chest for the past hour was also because of the bond Katie and I shared. Goddess, No!
How could I have missed the warning or even mistook it for-
"Focus, Relia. We've to find her now." The urgency in Inara's voice didn't help loosen the knot in my chest.
"Lia?" Tristan called out to me.
Unlike Kyle and I, Tristan was still confused.
Tears filled my eyes as I murmured shakily, "K-ka-katie i-is in t-trouble."
"Hey. Look at me." Tristan cupped my face. "Tell me everything I need to know. I'll find her."
Despite my teary eyes, I saw
affection and a bit of fear in Tristan's eyes. It was relieving to know that he loved Katie but before I could utter a word, Hazel's voice announced her presence behind me.
"Kyle, I've been looking everywhere for you and your sister. Jeez1" Hazel snapped at Kyle for disappearing on her. "Where's Katie?"
I didn't bother to ask Hazel how she
lost the kids in the first place
because it should have been meCcontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
looking after them if I didn't get
carried away by Larisa's suspicious feast-
I inhaled sharply suddenly.
Larisa.
Everything about her and the feast has been suspicious. What if she did something to my daughter... Just like Nina warned?
No! No! No!
"Lia?" Hazel tapped my back to break the daze I was trapped in perhaps.
However, I dashed towards Larisa like a blinded and wounded lioness. "You bitch! What did you do to my daughter because I know damn well she isn't in the restroom!"
I didn't have to check the restroom to know that Katie wasn't there. I could feel it.
"What? Your daughter?"Larisa asked putting on her fakeness.
I went straight for her hair, pulling as hard as I could despite the many eyes watching us. "I won't ask you again, Larisa. Where's my daughter?"
"I don't know bitch! Get your hands off my hair!" Larisa yelled right back.
Maybe I should have listened to her but I didn't. I couldn't.
"I'll snap your neck if you don't fucking tell me." I gritted, anger pumping through my veins.
I was ready to choke the life out of
Larisa but Nina put herself between Larisa and me. She tried to free Larisa's hair from my grip but I
shoved her as hard, sending her net
flying@few feet. "Stay out of this, puppet! I know you both planned this and if you hurt my daughter, you'll live the rest of your days regretting-"
"Your child is at the Pack's hospital," Nina exclaimed.
I let Larisa go as my eyes cut to Nina who was still on the floor. "D-did yo-you say hospi-"
Nina etched, cutting me off, "Yes, I saw Alpha Raiden carry her into the hospital and he told me to inform you-"
I didn't wait to hear the rest of her words. I picked Kyle up, held him to my chest, and began running. If anyone called for me, I didn't hear and to be honest, I didn't care.
I just wanted to see my girl in good shape.
However, my arrival at the hospital marked the beginning of another unexpected twist in my destiny.