Chapter 10: VANISHING HOPE
Antonio stared at his phone, the abrupt end to the call leaving a hollow feeling in his chest. He understood Rachel's need for space, but he wasn't ready to accept it. With a deep sigh, he dropped the phone on the dresser and sat at the edge of the bed, running his hand through his jet black hair.
What should I do?
Do I let the elders cause a separation between Rachel and I?
Lots of thoughts ran through Antonio's mind as he contemplated on what to do. Antonio's hand trembled as he dialed Rachel's number, his heart pounding with each unanswered ring. He dialed her number once more, only to hear the dreaded message:
the number you're trying to reach is not available at the moment, please try again later, thank you.
Unable to control his growing anxiety, Antonio stormed out of his room, his face a mask of determination.
"Prepare the car, Jerome. We're going to Rachel." His voice was sharp, leaving no room for hesitation.
Jerome stared at Antonio in confusion, what's going through the Alpha's mind.
"Jerome!" Antonio called out, noticing Jerome's black out.
Jerome shook his head slightly, jolting himself out of his thoughts. "Yes, Alpha."
They hurried to the car and drove to Rachel's home, the tension in the vehicle palpable. Antonio's mind raced with worst case scenarios, his heart pounding with fear and frustration.
When they arrived at Rachel's house, Antonio practically jumped out of the car, rushing towards the front door. He knocked loudly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"Rachel, Rachel, are you there?" he called out, desperation creeping into his voice.
There was no response. Antonio knocked again, louder this time, and when there was still no answer, he turned to Jerome, his eyes wild with worry.
"Something's wrong. She would never just disappear like this."
Jerome tried to calm him down. "Alpha, we need to stay calm. Let us look around and see if there is any sign of where she might have gone."
They circled the house, looking for any clues or signs of Rachel's whereabouts. Antonio's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and fears.
What could have happened?
Was she threatened?
She said she needed to do something, what was it?
He could not shake the feeling that something terrible had happened.
As they reached the backyard, they found a neighbor tending to their garden. Antonio approached her, trying to keep his voice steady. "Excuse me, have you seen Rachel? She is my girlfriend, and I have not been able to reach her."
The neighbor looked up, concerned. "Rachel? I saw her leave a few minutes ago with a couple of bags. She was in a hurry. I did not get a chance to talk to her."
Antonio's heart sank. "Did she say where she was going?"
The neighbor shook her head. "No, she did not. I am sorry."
Antonio thanked her and returned to Jerome, his mind racing. "She left with bags, Jerome. What if the pressure got to her? What if she decided it was too much?"
Jerome put a reassuring hand on Antonio's shoulder. "We will find her, Alpha. Let us go back to the pack and think of the next thing to do. She couldn't have gone far."
Antonio nodded, trying to steady his breathing. "You are right. Let us go."
They drove back to the pack's territory, Antonio's mind filled with worry and determination. He had to find Rachel. He could not lose her.
Upon returning to the pack, Antonio's panic was clear to all who saw him. He quickly gathered his inner circle, instructing them to discreetly search for Rachel. "Jerome, I need you to look for her quietly. We cannot let the elders find out and cause more trouble."
Jerome nodded solemnly. "I will handle it, Alpha. We will find her."
As Antonio's inner circle discreetly searched for Rachel, whispers of her disappearance spread through the pack. Members cast worried glances at their Alpha, sensing his growing desperation. The elders' pressure to reunite Antonio with Olivia only added to the tension.
For months, they tried looking for Rachel, but all their efforts were unsuccessful. Each lead turned into a dead end, and the weight of her absence grew heavier on Antonio's shoulders. Despite Jerome's tireless efforts, Rachel seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, the elders, seeing the toll Rachel's disappearance was taking on Antonio and the pack, decided to take matters into their own hands. They believed that reuniting Antonio with Olivia, his destined mate, was the only way to stabilize the pack and restore order.
One evening, the elders made a discreet visit to Olivia's pack. They were received with a mix of curiosity and caution. Olivia, though surprised by their visit, listened as the elders laid out their proposal.
"Olivia," Elder Marcus began, his tone respectful yet urgent, "we need your help. Antonio is struggling without his mate. The pack is in turmoil, and we believe you are the key to restoring balance."
Olivia's eyes narrowed slightly. "I rejected Antonio once before. What makes you think I will change my mind now?"
Elder Helen stepped forward, her voice soft but persuasive. "We understand your past decision, but the circumstances have changed. Antonio is the alpha, and he needs a strong mate by his side. We are prepared to offer you anything you need to reconsider."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Anything?"
The head elder nodded. "Yes, Olivia. We are willing to promise you significant power within the pack, influence over important decisions, and resources to support your career. We need you to accept Antonio and help him lead."
Olivia leaned back, her mind racing with the thoughts of the consequences. The promise of power and influence was tempting, but the idea of being tied to Antonio again filled her with dread.
I need some time to think," she finally said, her voice firm. The elders exchanged hopeful glances, but Olivia's mind was far from made up.
"What about Rachel?" she asked out of the blue.
"Rachel is no longer a factor," Elder Marcus said firmly. "She has been gone for months."
"And what if she returns?" Olivia asked.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone