Richard's POV
Few hours to the kidnap,
It was a typical busy Monday. It was a struggle to leave my pregnant mate to herself, but I had to. I have a pack to take care of, and she has work to do.
My mouth tugged into a smile as I remembered all our activities yesterday. She was truly a vixen. She had made me break my oath. I promised not to fuck her until she gave birth, but she seduced me, and my defense crumbled.
And now, I can't get enough of her. I adjusted myself as I felt myself growing in the pants. Isabella will definitely be my undoing. I tapped my forehead.
I had no choice but to let her go to work, after getting confirmation from Gamgam multiple times that it wouldn't be stressful to her health or the baby's. Now that I think about it, I should have assigned a warrior to keep a close eye on her. I don't want anything happening to her.
"Is that drool I see on your mouth?" Ian's loud voice is difficult to miss.
I swiped my hands on my mouth to clean it, but the fool burst into laughter, saying, "You are one whipped man. I can't believe this day will come."
"Fuck off, man. like you aren't worse."
"I am not denying it. I love my mate so much." He finished off with a dreamy look in his eyes.
"Whatever, let us just get started. I have to be home on time." There was a new restaurant that just opened, and I am thinking of taking Isabella there so she can dine to her delight.
I spent the next two hours hunched over my desk, tying up loose ends and working on the pack's inventory. One of our stores in the human area has been experiencing troubles, so I had to settle that.
"Care for Pizza?" Ian's head poked through my door.
"Sure." Whenever I am at work, I completely forget about food. I wouldn't move an inch from my spot until I had done a thorough job. But thanks to my ever-thoughtful Beta, he would always bring food to me or send someone up to deliver it.
I looked at the wall clock on the wall, and it read 3:50 pm, just three hours until I meet my baby. I can endure it. Nowadays, it was difficult letting her out of the sight. Hermes has been extra protective of her after she became pregnant. If he could have his way, he would carry her everywhere.
I stuffed myself with the Hawaiian pizza as I worked. I had to multitask if I wanted to leave here on time.
I stood up to get water from the refrigerator when I staggered, knocking the book on my desk, and they flew, scattering everywhere.
At that moment, Ian rushed inside and saw me bent. He rushed over to help me. "What is wrong? Are you drunk?"
"No, you know damn right, I don't drink on workdays." Something was wrong somewhere, but I couldn't place it. My mind was disoriented from whatever had just happened.
Hermes spoke in my head. I was about to do just that when my vision blurred and I staggered.
"Richard!" Ian held me up and was moving me to the recliner that doubled as a bed. "I think you need to rest. You have been stressed. I will take over your work."
Ian's eyes widened as I went limp in his hands and my body shut down, falling to the floor.
"Richard!"
***
With that singular thought, I woke up, and immediately I stood up, heading to the door.
"Oh Richard, you are awake? I've already sent for your mother. What the hell happened?"
Where is my mate?"
"Uhh?"
"Where is Isabelle? Why didn't you send for her?" I asked again, already getting anxious.
"I asked for her, but they said she had already left for home and I didn't want to disturb her." His words should have put me at ease, but they did quite the opposite.
I tried to contact her through the mind kink, but her mind was blocked. I tried again, but something was blocking me. No matter how I tried to break the wall, it didn't work.
"Richard!" Ian's voice jolted me up from what I was doing. "You are bleeding."
I touched my nose, and he was right. I felt something sticky on my hands and removed them; the bright red color confirmed that it was indeed my blood.
"What is wrong?" He asked me, as he noticed I wasn't settled.
"It is Isabelle. I can't feel her."
"That is strange. She should have blocked it."
I glared at him. "I am the Alpha." I can enter anyone's mind as long as they are awake, no matter if they block it. "I've been attempting to contact her, but nothing is working."
"That is strange. Ava is in her room. I will send her up to check on Isabella. Just relax, it may be nothing serious." I know he said to relax, but I couldn't do that. I was parading the whole room, waiting for Ava's response.
"What did she say?" I rushed to his side after he had relayed his message.
"Calm down, Richard, she just went to check the room. She will get back to me. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
Hermes got back to me after a while;
I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself. No need getting worked over these. She may be very tired and just sleeping. Ava will soon confirm that.
I watched as Ian's eyes gleamed over at Ava as she was replying. I moved closer to him, as if that would help me hear them. But his facial expressions began to twist, and I knew I was going to get good news.
"She said she couldn't find her. The room looks like no one has been there for a while." My heart sank to the ground, and without thinking, I ran outside the door, taking the stairs three at a time as I ran to my room.
I had to check for myself to be sure. She must be there. I entered the room with Ian hot on my heels. Ava was still there, and she looked at me. "She isn't here, Alpha. I don't think she has come back."
"Isabelle? Baby, where are you?" I went into the bathroom, but she wasn't there. I barged into the closet, shuffling the door, but saw no signs of her.
Her scent was faint in the room, indicating that she hadn't been here since she left in the morning. "Ava, call her number, and Ian, you call Gamgam and ask about her whereabouts." I barked the orders, not caring that I had let my aura slip. I couldn't care for anything until I saw Isabelle.
"Yes Alpha!"
"Isabella?" I continued calling out, checking everywhere in my room.
"Her phone isn't going through Alpha." I nodded and looked at Ian expectantly.
"Gamgam said she had made for home. She closed by 4 PM today." I screamed out my frustration, scattering the items on the dress table.
I was out again, marching down the stairs in fury, my eyes already turning red. If anything should happen to Isabelle, then it will be a blood bath.
Ian and Ava were hot on my heels, probably trying to prevent me from doing something stupid. But it was already too late.
I ran all the way to the hospital, not caring about the looks on people's faces as they saw their Alpha running. I rushed to Gamgam's office and barged in without knocking. "Where is Isabelle?!"
"Good day to you too, Richard."
"I don't have time to exchange pleasantries, Gamgam, where is my mate?" She became serious as she noticed I wasn't in the mood for jokes.
"I don't know. She already left for home after work, so she should be at home."
"Where the hell is my mate?!" I roared as I turned over her desk. "How can you not know? Isn't it your duty to know the whereabouts of your underlings?" I jacked her collar.
"I don't know Alpha."
"Are you telling me that my mate disappeared? How can my pregnant mate suddenly vanish in thin air?" I screamed in her face, my saliva flying all over the place.
"Richard!" Ian pushed me away from her. "Calm down, it isn't her fault. Let us ask around." He led me outside while Ava did damage control.
I met my mom on the way, and she stopped me, asking, "Richard, what happened? I have been hearing your voice from afar." She asked, concerned.
"I can't find my mate. Do you know where she might be?"
She shook her head. "No, I don't. I hardly see her in the hospital." I wasn't surprised; it wasn't news that my mother and my mate can't stand each other. They tried as much as possible to avoid each other.
I looked at my mother very well to see if I could detect any hint of a lie, but there was none. She was telling the truth. I know my mother. She may not like Isabelle, but she will never do anything to harm my mate.
"Good riddance. She has finally gotten the memo and gone home."
"Mother! not now!" I snapped.
Something is wrong somewhere, and I must get to the root. If someone dares to take Isabella away from me, their blood will pay for it!