Cristi
I had just come back inside from hanging the first load of laundry out when I heard a knock on the front door. Walking down the hallway, I made my way to the front door, and when I opened it, I was surprised to see my brother Liam standing on the front porch.
"Liam, is everything okay?" I asked.
"Is Honey here?" he asked, avoiding my question and peering over my shoulder.
"Honey? No, she's at school. Liam, what's going on?" I asked, worried now.
"Actually Cristi, Honey isn't at school. I know this because I was just at the school," he replied, looking annoyed now.
"I don't understand what's happening. She left for school at the same time as Zac. Is Zac at school?" I asked him, worried about the safety of the children. What if there had been an attack at the school? Or if there had been rogues on the pack grounds? Something had to be wrong. Why else would Liam have been at the school?
"Zac is at my house with Caleb," Liam replied.
"What? Why? You need to start talking Liam. You need to tell me what the hell is going on here!" I shouted.
"What's going on?" Tony asked, from behind me.
"That's what I would like to know! Liam, start talking," I demanded.
"Cristi, how about instead of making a scene, we invite Liam in and discuss this situation like rational adults," Tony told me as he moved me out of the doorway and proceeded to invite Liam inside. I followed behind Liam as Tony led him through to our living room and motioned for him to take a seat on one of the sofas. "Can I get you anything to drink?" Tony asked, after Liam had taken a seat. When Liam declined, Tony took a seat and motioned for me to do the same. Once I was seated, Tony asked, "What's happening Liam?"
"I need to speak with Honey," Liam replied.
"Do you mind if I ask why?" Tony asked him.
"I would rather not discuss it until I have a chance to speak to her.
"Well, she is at school at the moment. We can take her up to your house when she gets home," Tony told him.
"No, she isn't. I have already been to the school. Honey was there this morning. She isn't there now though," Liam informed Tony.
"I don't understand," Tony stated, looking at me in confusion.
"I know nothing about this," I told Tony.
"Where would she go? Does she have any close friends here?" Liam asked.
"There is one girl she has been spending time with. A girl named Avery," I told Liam.
"Avery, as in my daughter Avery," Liam said, nodding his head.
"Wait? You have a daughter?" I asked, looking at Liam in confusion. "I thought you and Charlotte Tony had a son?"
"Charlotte and I do have a son. And when Charlotte died, I met my second chance mate, Leah, who has a daughter, Avery. I became her father," Liam stated.
I was stunned. Charlotte had died and I hadn't known. My brother had lost his mate and had found his second chance mate, and I had had no idea. How could I not have known?
"Why didn't you or dad tell me?" I asked, feeling like I had been kept out of the loop.
"Cristi, with all due respect, this isn't about me, and it isn't about you. I am here because I need to speak to Honey, and that's all I want to speak about. So, how about we work on finding her, shall we?" he replied.
"Was Avery at the school when you were up there?" Tony asked.
"I wasn't told otherwise," Liam stated.
"Look, this isn't about blame, okay? We are worried about her. Besides, you still haven't even told me why Zac is at your house with Caleb," I retorted, feeling annoyed at my brother.
"Wait, Zac is where?" Tony asked, looking at Liam.
"Zac is at Liam's house with Caleb," I informed Tony.
"Yes, he is at my house with Caleb. And he is fine," Liam stated, looking at me in annoyance. "Now is not the time to be petty, Cristi. I only want to talk to the girl."
"Well, if you want to talk to her, then you will be talking to us as well. I have no idea what you need to speak to a young girl about. Seems hinkey to me," I informed him.
"Well, I am an Alpha, Cristi, and the beauty of being an Alpha means that I don't have to explain myself to you. Got it?" Liam growled, gazing at me in annoyance.
"Okay, look, I am sure that once we locate Honey, this will all be resolved very quickly," Tony told me, as he nodded to Liam.
"Well, where would she go? She doesn't know her way around here that well. And besides, we have never had issues with her missing school in the past. This doesn't make sense," I stated.
"I don't care about what issues you may have had or not had in the past. I am only concerned about here and now. Find her," Liam growled, clearly growing impatient.
"Cristi, what's going on?" a voice asked from the living room doorway.
I looked up and let out a breath of relief, "Honey, thank the Goddess," I whispered, jumping up and running to her, throwing my arms around her.