Chapter 44 An hour later, I got up from the bed, determined to pull myself out of my gloom by unpacking my suitcase. One by one, I took out my things and put them in order-until I came across the shopping bag tucked inside. Right. Caelan's watch. I pulled out the small velvet box. My chest loosened slightly. Suddenly, I didn't want to do anything else. I just wanted to leave this house and be with the people who truly cared about me. I grabbed my phone and typed: "Where are you?" Caelan's response came back immediately: "Just got home. Miss me already?" "In your dreams, Your Majesty. I have something for you." A gift? Now I'm definitely curious." 'Don't get too excited. It might just be a restraining order." "Ouch. My feelings are wounded. Come over anyway?" "On my way." "Wait, I'll come pick you up." "No thanks. I can drive myself. I'm a big girl now, not some spoiled princess who needs a chauffeur." "Sabi, what's wrong? That doesn't sound like a joke." I stared at the message. How does he do that? Read me through text messages? "Everything's fine. Just excited to see if you cry tears of joy over your gift." "…Alright. Drive safe." I tucked the watch box into my purse and grabbed the car key on my nightstand where I'd dropped it earlier. Caelan had arranged the car to be transported back to Blackwood. My phone buzzed as I headed downstairs. An old message I'd somehow missed. "This is Darrell. Stop playing games and come home RIGHT NOW. Apologize to Camila and me for what you did, or I swear I'll lock you in the pack dungeons until you learn some respect. You have 24 hours." The timestamp showed two days ago. Right after Caelan had kicked him across that hospital lobby. I almost laughed out loud. How many burner phones does this idiot have? This had to be the sixth or seventh unknown number he'd tried. Each one blocked as soon as I realized it was him. Delete. Block number. Darrell's POV I gripped my phone so hard the case cracked. 1/4 7.22 pm Chapter 44 Blocked. Every fucking number I tried, blocked. "How dare she?' I slammed my fist against the mahogany desk. Im her Alpha! Her boyfriend! The coffee mug went flying. Dark liquid splattered across the reports. Hot coffee dripped onto the rug. My mind kept replaying that moment in the hospital lobby. That bastard humiliated me in front of half the pack. "Why would the Lycan King defend some nobody orphan?" I ran my hands through my hair. "Unless…" No. Impossible. 'Caelan Blackwood could have any woman he wanted. Pure-blood Alphas, wealthy heiresses, political alliances." "Why would he waste time on Sable?" But the doubt gnawed at me anyway. I grabbed my keys and headed for the door. She'd be at the hospital. I scanned the crowd for Sable's familiar figure. Nothing. The nurse at the information desk looked up nervously as I approached. Good. At least someone still showed proper respect. "Crawford," I barked. 'Dr. Sable Crawford. Which floor?" The woman shrank back against her chair. "Alpha, I… Dr. Crawford is no longer employed here." The words hit like ice water. "What?" 'She resigned several days ago. Alpha." I was stunned. "Where did she go?" 'I… I don't know, sir. She just said she was going home." Home. But Sable didn't have a home. She was an orphan. Our house was the only stability she'd ever known. But doubt crept in like poison. If she'd really left Moonridge, if she'd actually quit her job… "Thank you." I turned and walked away before the nurse could see the panic building in my chest. I burst through our front door with enough force to rattle the hinges. 'Relly?" Camila rose from the living room sofa, magazine sliding to the floor. 'What's wrong? You look…" 2/4 7:22 pm Chapter 44 I need to check something upstairs." Should I come with you? She started to follow. "No. Stay here. I took the stairs three at a time. Our bedroom door stood open. I closed the door and yanked the closet door wide. Empty. Every hanger bare. Every shelf cleared. I dove for her dresser drawers, pulling them out so hard one nearly fell to the floor. Nothing. Not even the cheap jewelry I'd bought her for birthdays. Wait. Did she find… no, she couldn't have… Panic shot through me as I realized what else might be gone. If Sable had been thorough in packing, if she'd searched through everything… I reached into the drawer to the small wooden box I'd hidden in the back corner. Relief flooded through me as my fingers closed around familiar wood. I pulled it out, checking the contents- Camila's photos, her black lace panties and the love letters. All safe. Sable had never discovered my secrets. I rushed to the bathroom, which told the same story. Her toothbrush, face wash, birth control pills - everything gone. Back in the bedroom, I checked the nightstand. Even our couple photos had vanished. I collapsed onto the edge of the bed. Right. Ever since Sable said she moved to the hotel to give space to Camila and me, I'd barely come home. Too busy with Camila at the hotel. I'd been so wrapped up in having my real woman back that I hadn't even noticed Sable packing up her entire life. Where the hell did she go? My phone was in my hand before I'd consciously decided to call my beta, David. "Dave? I need you to check every camera in the city. Find Sable Crawford." "Yes, Alpha." Thirty minutes crawled by. When David called back, his voice carried bad news. "Alpha, I checked everything. There's no trace of her anywhere." 'What do you mean? Do you understanding she is a fucking woman? How can she just disappear?' I shouted. 'It looks like someone deleted the footage. This isn't some random disappearance." I hung up. Ice formed in my stomach. Sable doesn't have those kinds of resources. But someone helping her does. Who the hell is protecting her? And why?