Chapter 117 Urgency
CADE
My eyes fluttered open for no reason.
The first thing I noticed was the blanket covering my shoulders–tucked gently. I blinked up at the dim study light, still faintly glowing from the desk above me..
Arden. My lips curled slightly at the thought. She must’ve seen me knocked out and covered me up. was just like her. No matter how tired she was, she was always thinking of others.
But if she put this on me, that meant she was awake.
That
I sat up straighter, rubbing the back of my neck and yawning. I was still groggy, but the moment I turned
my chest. to the doorway and saw it empty, that familiar tug started deep in
“Arden?” I called out gently, still half–asleep.
No response.
My brow creased. I stood quickly, the chair scraping behind me. I walked toward the hallway, glancing left and right.
Nothing
I picked up the pace, walking down to the far end where our room was. The lights were off, but I opened the door without knocking,
“Arden?”
Still nothing
The bed wasn’t made, which was very unlike Arden. She always liked to keep everything neat.
A small cold draft passed behind me, but it wasn’t from the windows. It came from within. I started checking everywhere–the kitchen, the backyard, the porch–even stupid places like the laundry area and under the staircase.
“Arden!” I called again, louder this time.
Still no answer.
She wasn’t the type to leave without saying something.
“ARDEN!”
My voice echoed down the empty street, hollow and sharp in the stillness of the night.
The light turned on from one of the upstairs rooms. I heard hurried footsteps. Then another door creaked open behind me.
“What’s happening?” my mom asked, wrapping a robe around herself as she hurried down the steps.
1/4
Chapter 117 Urgency
“Why are you yelling?” my dad asked, already in joggers.
But Honey’s voice hit the hardest.
“Where’s Arden?” she asked, already teary–eyed. “Why is Cade calling Arden? Why?”
My mom turned to me with furrowed eyebrows. “Right, Cade. Where is Arden?”
“She’s not here,” I cut in, running a hand through my hair.
Everyone froze.
“What?” my mom exclaimed, frowning deeply.
“I don’t know where she is,” I said quickly. “She’s not in our room. She’s not in the house. I checked everywhere. She’s gone.”
“Did she leave anything behind? A note?” my mom asked.
“Maybe she got called for something urgent?” Nathan suggested.
“But no goodbye,” Honey shakily said, on the verge of tears.
“I know,” I said, trying to keep my voice level.
Just then, my phone rang. I fumbled to grab it, not even checking the number before I picked up.
“Hello?” I snapped, breath short.
“Is this… Alpha Cade?”
I paused, frowning in suspicion. “Who is this?”
“Umm, I’m sorry, Alpha. It’s Owen.”
My chest deflated slightly, though I didn’t calm down.
“I’m sorry to call you this late,” he said quickly, his voice tense. “I’ve been debating whether I should… but I had a feeling.”
“What is it?” I asked sharply, already walking back toward the living room to grab my coal.
“It’s Tessa,” he said. “She wasn’t around this afternoon. I asked around. And I just confirmed with their dorm leader, Maisey, that she didn’t come home.”
That stopped me.
If Tessa were in trouble. Arden would do something
“She didn’t tell me,” I muttered.
But I couldn’t be mad at her. Not when I knew her heart.
“Who was that?” my mom asked, eyes wide.
“Then, where are you going?” she asked gently.
And I headed to the front door.
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