Xavier POV
"What! When did that happen? Are there any survivors?" Lucius grabbed the guard in alarm.
"We just got a notification from the airport authorities. They're requesting search parties that would search the area and rescue any survivor," the guard said.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Lucius barked. "Ask the Gamma to send out…".
"How about Selene?" I interrupted Lucius. "Isn't searching for the Luna of the Pack more important?"
"We will, I promise," Lucius said with a sigh. "But there could be hundreds of people at the risk of an explosion if we don't go out and rescue them. I know you're weak right now but you need to be an Alpha…the people need you,".
In the end, I decided to visit the accident scene. We hopped into the car, waiting for us outside the pack house. As we drove, my mind flitted back to the divorce agreement Selene had left on my desk.
Did she truly mean it? If eventually we follow up with the divorce, what will she do? Where would she go to? She had lost both parents and after their death; we merged packs.
She only had me.
And then there was the baby.
"What will you do?" Lucius interrupted my thought.
"About what?" I asked, still looking out of the window.
"The divorce," he mumbled. "A lot would be at stake if there's a divorce. You know the Pack Elders have been looking for every opportunity to depose you. Without Selene, you'll become weak,".
"As if I don't know that, Lucius," I hissed. "We need to find Selene. I need to convince her to retract the divorce agreement. I promise, I will change even though I know it cannot be,".
"What if she refuses?" Lucius asked, "We need a Plan B,".
"I don't know," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I and Selene… we need each other. I need her for my strength remember,".
"But with her being pregnant, you can stay independent of each other. That's what the myth says. The only reason you're still alive is maybe because of that,".
"Don't you think I know that?" I gave him a sharp look. "I can't live on this Mugwort shot every day of my life. We have to find Selene,".
As we approached the Airport, I could feel the chaos from a distance. The whole place was noisy and busy, and they packed several ambulances at every available parking space.
Several people were running in and out of the airports with stretchers that had injured people. Also, security personnel were trying to keep the affected family from spilling into the airport.
The whole thing was chaotic.
We parked a distance away from the entrance and used our legs to reach the crowd.
Just as I crossed the yellow line that separated me from the wailing families, my wolf, Colton, perked in excitement. My senses heightened as I caught a minty, fruity scent and I froze. It belonged to Selene.
A mix of relief and anxiety surged through me as I followed the trail into the Airport reception. Her scent was everywhere. I could practically envision her walking into this place.
Trying not to sound like some lovelorn man, I beckoned to Lucius, who was talking with the Pack's chief of police.
"Can you come here for a second?"
He excused himself and sprinted lightly towards me. "What's up?"
"Do you know what Selene smells like?" I asked.
"What?" his eyes widened in confusion. "H-How…".
"No," I shook my head, "Not intimately. Like, if you walk into a room, how can you tell Selene was there?"
"She has a fruity scent, or maybe minty, I think." he scratched his head. "Why are you asking?"
"I think she was here," I told him. "Take a deep breath and sniff. Selene was here. She walked into this airport,".
I watched as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, they widened in surprise. "She was here indeed,".
"Do you think maybe the abductors dragged her here and got on a plane with her?" I asked, getting nervous. "Do you think maybe she was on the plane that…" I couldn't complete the words, they got stuck in my throat.
"Don't jump to silly conclusions like that," Lucius stared at me with unease. I could see he was worried too, but was trying to mask it.
"The crashed plane wasn't the only plane that left today. I'm sure there are other destinations people are flying to today. Let's ask them at the service area just to confirm,".
We approached the counter with my heart pounding in agitation… If anything should happen to Selene… I didn't want to bring myself to imagine never seeing her again. I don't know the feelings coursing through me at that moment, but I wanted her to be fine.
I wanted to see her one last time and watch her sleep like the other day…
"Can we get the list of all the passengers that flew today?" I heard Lucius ask the service desk officer.
"Just a moment, Beta," she smiled and her hands moved over the keyboards expertly.
"Can you check if my wife's name is there?" I breathed.
There was no need to show us an entire list.
"Alpha, could you tell me Luna's name please?" the desk officer asked.
"Selene Thorne Steele," Lucius told her.
She nodded in acknowledgment and began typing furiously on her keyboard.
The air thickened as I watched her, trying to read through her mind. She stopped, her eyes flickered with sadness for a minute, and then she excused herself and came back a short while later with another man.
"Good morning, Alpha," the man greeted me warmly. "Can you come with me?" he motioned towards a room.
"Just tell me the goddamn information I asked from you," I growled with annoyance.
My heart was beating ten times faster than it was. I felt scared.
The desk officer turned to the man, who nodded, and then she turned back to me. Lucius drew closer to where I was standing and draped his hand casually over my arm.
"I'm sorry, Alpha, the plane she boarded... is the same plane that crashed,".
I felt Lucius stiffen beside and for a moment, everything faded. Time stood still as I absorbed the news. I could feel Lucius's face hovering over mine with worry.
"Alpha," he nudged me slightly, "Are you alright?" his voice sounded from afar.
I think I nodded, turned to the desk officer, and murmured what seemed like a thank you before heading toward the exit.
I could feel Lucius running behind me, trying to catch up with me.
"Xavier," he grabbed my hand, yanking me to himself, "Are you alright?"
The noise had stopped.
"Let's just go back to the car," I said quietly and continued walking.
It wasn't until I was sitting inside the car that the realization struck me with force. My shoulders slumped with grief as I bowed my head, trying to grapple with the harsh truth that Selene was on that plane.
Lucius must have sensed my worries.
"There's a high chance that she might still be alive," he said soothingly. "The control officer said so far, all the survivors that were rescued are still alive. Let's be hopeful, Xavier… please,".
I nodded, my head still bowed on the dashboard of the car. I didn't dare speak. I couldn't trust my emotions. If Selene dies… Colton whimpered at the line of my thought… it'll be too much for us to bear.
"They'll get back to us when they're done rescuing the survivors. I'm sure it'll be good news. I already placed some key officers to take care of things here. Let's just go back to the Pack House," Lucius said again, trying to sound cheerful.
"No," I murmured, "I'll wait,".
Time tickled, and I watched as several families of the crash victims came to identify their families. I couldn't feel, I dare not think. Nothing in the world had prepared me for this.
I didn't want to lose, Selene. Even if I hated her so much… curse or not… I wanted to see her every day. To walk down the corridor and breathe in her scent each time I come home late at night. To constantly nag at her… I wanted that…
If she comes back to me… I would treat her right. I would try to be more understanding… I would break up with Belinda… It wasn't going to be easy, but I would try my best.
It was midnight when the Control Officer walked towards our car. With him were three other men. They had blank expressions on their faces as they approached. Quickly, I came down from the car and met them.
"Good morning, Alpha," they chorused.
"What's the update?" I ignored their greeting and tried to sound normal.
"So far, we've rescued almost all the passengers. 457 people boarded and 456 of them have been rescued successfully. We have taken them to the Pack Hospital and they're currently responding to treatment,".
"And the last person?" I asked.
They shared looks amongst themselves before the oldest of them came forward. I could see he had fear in his eyes.
"It was Luna Selene, but don't worry, Alpha," he blurted quickly, reassuring me, "Our search parties are still looking."
The world around me blurred as I felt something inside of me snap and break into pieces. Selene's scent, which had lingered in my nostrils all day, suddenly vanished, and her mark on my neck burned… The signs were glaring.
Selene was dead.