The Alpha Beast's Rebel Wolf

Ch. 04

CARTER POV

"Hello?" I called out after Lindy, and I entered the Beta house.

"We're in here, Tony." Kim's voice called out, the sound coming from the family room.

We found a large group of curious smiles inside the room—almost unnerving, if I had to be honest. Lindy stayed slightly tucked behind me as we stepped into the room.

Kim's expression dropped instantly when her eyes landed on Lindy holding me.

"What the f***k is she doing in my home?" she hissed, springing to her feet. Jealousy was fueling her irrational advance on us with the vicious intent to confront my mate.

I felt Felix push through the bond, letting out a warning growl as we tucked Lindy closer behind us. "Think wisely, Kim. I'll rip you to shreds if you touch her." The threat was real. The room felt heavy.

"I told you I don't want her in my home. It's disrespectful to the family."

"You want to compare disrespect?" I challenged back.

"Mom! Dad! Enough. Mom, sit down." Matthew intervened, trying to calm both of us down.

I watched in predatory silence as Kim stepped back and reclaimed her seat on the plush leather recliner. I then entered the room to make a quick survey.

Everyone was freshly showered and in loungewear. I looked at the clock overhead, confirming that it was only after four p.m. It was a little soon for loungewear and a fresh shower. This was odd to me. I knew everyone in this room; better yet, I knew how preemed they kept their image in the pack. This was out of character for them all.

"Why aren't any of you dressed? Also, why is everyone freshly showered? What's going on?"

The room froze, and glances were exchanged. I silently took it all in. I could feel Lindy alongside me. She was often underestimated but tended to understand people and their intentions with extreme precision. Perhaps because she was frequently mistreated? That wouldn’t happen again, however. Not with me by her side.

"We went for a family run and got muddy. So, we decided to have a night in once we returned. We ordered pizza if you want to stay, Dad." Matthew responded to the group.

"You went for a family run? Through the woods behind the house?" I asked. I could feel that Felix was pacing. We already knew the SUV was still warm and covered in fresh red dust from miles away, out of the pack lands. They were lying, but about what?

"Are we not allowed anymore, Tony? Does Miss homewrecker wish to take that away from us now, too?" Kim spat in bitterness from Lindy being in the house.

"Watch how you speak about her. Final warning." Felix pushed his aura through with each word.

"Yes. Will everyone calm down?" Brittany sighed as she curled deeper into Ryan, who had remained stiff and quiet until then.

I squinted in suspicion. Ryan is the most arrogant charmer I’ve ever met. He was rarely silent. I sensed his wolf was unhappy with him, but Felix was met with a wall from the other wolves. Another red flag!

"Where is CC?"

"How would we know? She doesn't involve herself with us. Your guess is as good as ours." Brittany shoots out quickly. Her eyes stayed trained on the movie playing.

"I think I remember her heading out before we all left. Why?" Matthew added nonchalantly.

"Because I want to take her to dinner. Lindy and I want to share our news with her. Any idea when she's coming back?" I observed Matthew—the warmth of the SUV still at the forefront of my mind.

"I have no idea. I'll tell her to call you if I see her again," Matthew shrugged.

"If you see her again? She still lives here, does she not?" I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

"He just means that she makes herself scarce around here. She's always out. Stop the inquisition, Tony." Kim clarified with a scoff of annoyance. "So, if we see her, we will tell her."

"Yeah. You do that." I turned to leave but stopped and re-entered the room. I tossed the signed divorce paperwork on the table in front of Kim. "These are signed on my end. Have them signed and delivered to Kane by tomorrow morning, or I will kick you the f***k out of this house and empty your bank accounts by noon. Clear? I'm done with your bullsh.it delay tactics."

I didn't bother to wait for a response. I reclaimed Lindy's trembling hand and led her out of the house.

Something wasn't sitting right with me. Carissa didn't have any friends; Brittany and Matthew made sure of it. She had few places to wander where she would feel welcomed, and Lindy was the main one.

"That was— weird." Lindy finally broke the silence when they got into their truck.

"It sure was. We need to head to Kanes and talk all this out. Something isn't lining up right."

As I reversed into the street to leave the driveway, I saw Matthew watching us go from the front window. This action only confirmed the gnawing in my belly. Something was wrong.

I needed to figure out where CC was. I needed Kane's help.

***

When Lindy and I arrived at the packhouse, we stayed inside the truck to collect ourselves before heading in. I knew that by then, the dinner hall would be cleared out, and most of the house would be moderately vacant.

"Have you had any luck yet?" I looked at the truck's passenger side, where Lindy was using her cell phone.

"No. It's not ringing anymore; it’s sending me straight to voicemail now."

"Someone turned her phone off. f***k!"

"CC wouldn't ghost our calls," Lindy stated with concerned certainty.

"I know she wouldn't. Especially yours."

"What are we going to do? We should be out there searching for her." Lindy's panicked voice pinched higher.

"We need to start by staying calm. Wolves can detect our emotions, baby. We don't know who is involved and what is happening. We will relay everything we know to Kane, and he will send out a patrol group to search for her. Then I will drop you off at home in case she heads there. You'll keep trying her cell while you're there."

"Where are you going then?"

"I will search all of her favourite places. If I don't find her, I should detect her lingering scent if she's been there." I smiled as I spoke. I needed my love to stay in control of her emotions. Kane is a good Alpha, but he may not receive the information well, considering it may involve his own son. I knew that we needed to approach it calmly.

"Okay. Promise you'll find her, Tony. I know I'm not her mother, but—" Lindy started, but the tears began to well in her eyes.

I cupped her face gently. The padding of my thumb wiped away any wandering tears. "Hey, shh-shh. None of that. We'll find her. As for you being her mother, I assure you, Kim doesn't have a maternal bone in her plastic body. You and Ginny were the closest thing that CC has ever had to maternal love and care. I promise you, right now, I am bringing our girl back!"

My lips were gentle on her trembling lips after my promise. "I promise!" I whispered into the kiss again, only reaffirming to her that I will.

Tap. Tap.

The knock of the driver-side window broke us apart.

"You old horn-dog! You can't even be apart from each other long enough to submit the dang paperwork." Kane smirked as he watched us quickly pull away from one another in the truck by his front door.

I turned to Lindy, giving her a nod. "Game face, baby!" I whispered as we stepped out.

"What the hell took ya so long? Kim is blowing up my damn phone." Kane chuckled as he gave us both a quick hug. "Man, she hates you both more than I ever thought she could." he laughs again, leading us inside.

I knew Kane sensed something was bothering us. We weren’t typically this silent and constantly engaged in banter, so he led us to his office.

As soon as the door in the Alpha's office was closed, he turned to us sternly.

"Alright, spill. Why are you two acting like this? Did you bring the paperwork?" Kane walked around the desk and took his seat. His eyes stayed on me expectantly. After all, we didn't keep secrets from each other.

I felt Lindy nudge me, snapping me out of my trance.

I handed the paperwork over. Kane tilted his head in concern at me but turned his attention to the paperwork. He signed his portion and called in his assistant.

"Sir, you called?" The middle-aged woman, Gloria, entered the office.

"Indeed. Gloria, please see that these documents are submitted immediately. We want this process expedited with no further delays." Kane smiled as he handed the woman the documents, including CC's adoption paperwork and custody forms.

"Of course, Alpha."

"Thank you, Gloria. That will be all for the day." He dismissed her and returned his full attention to us.

Kane thinned his lips and sighed. "Alright, you two. Start talking."

Lindy looked to me to take the lead.

"It's an unusual one, Kane. I need you to keep an open mind when you hear it." I started.

"Alright, how about you two take a seat first? You're creeping me out." Kane joked, trying to loosen the tension.

After we were seated, I relayed the events of the day. I detailed my suspicions and what I suspected had happened, and although vague, it was clear that I felt something terrible had happened to CC at the hands of the four wolves sitting in the family room back at the house. Those four people included Kane's son, the pack's future Alpha.

It was a big accusation. One that could unseat me as Beta and strip me of any rights and rank if I wasn't careful.

Kane listened to everything impartially, despite his upset when Ryan was dragged into the claim.

I knew that Kane was aware that his son was no saint. He got into minor trouble here and there, but everything was manageable. What I had suggested was criminal and, in Kane’s mind, would be impossible. He was often blinded to the true actions of Ryan, which is why I planned to leave this pack with both of my girls.

"Carter, we've been friends since diapers. I will let it slide that you made a baseless accusation against my son this time, but I must remind you to remember your place. Ryan isn't someone who assaults women. That is what you're suggesting, right? That my son worked with your rejected family and harmed your bastard pup?"

"Don't call her that!" I rose to my feet. Felix didn't like how our Alpha spoke disrespectfully about our pup. Blood or not, Carissa was a good person, and we felt that bond with her organically.

"Says the wolf who accused his future Alpha of a crime without evidence. Now sit down before I accept the challenge, Carter." Kane growled back.

Lindy tugged on my sleeve, pulling me back to my seat.

"We are just asking that you send a patrol out to search for her, Alpha Kane. We meant no disrespect. Everything is all over right now, and CC isn't someone who goes missing." Lindy spoke softly, defusing the tension between the two men.

"Of course," Kane smiled. "I will alert the patrol that Carissa is missing. They will search the entire pack land for her. When we find her unharmed, I expect an apology, however!" His eyes burned into mine.

I, however, didn't look away. Instead, I matched the intensity.

"And the rogue territory surrounding us!" I snarled. "They took her off land."

"Absolutely not! There is nothing to support this claim, Carter! We search our territory and then go from there. That is proper procedure protocol."

"Then I will, myself!" I shot back.

Kane sighed and shook his head. "You will not go out and wander the rogue lands, Carter. It's unsafe. You've been the Beta of this pack for over twenty years now, and you know how things are done for missing members. We search the pack lands first. Then, we section outside of the territory in grids. Do not jump the steps on baseless suspicions."

"Felix and I—" I stood and snarled. My wolf was fighting for control. We knew we were getting stonewalled.

"Are acting emotionally and not logically. I know. Stand down, Beta!" Kane stood and challenged back.

I opened his mouth to retort, but Lindy jumped to her feet suddenly. "We appreciate the patrol searching the lands. Thank you, Alpha." She interjected. The last thing we needed was for me to get in trouble before finding CC. That was what was necessary at the moment.

"Carter, you should listen to your female more. She is the only one acting logically between the two of you. Now leave. I will let you know what patrol finds." Kane scoffs. His dismissal was firm.

We were about to leave the office, Lindy practically dragging me out.

"Oh, and Carter," Kane calls out as the door opens for our retreat. "You are not to leave the pack lands. Don't go renegade over suspicions chasing ghosts. CC will turn up somewhere. Stay strong."

Although his words sounded encouraging, it was clear that Kane was warning me to watch my step. I was being ordered not to leave in search of the red dust. It would be against Alpha's orders and hold consequences if I did.