Chapter 23

Zac's Point of View “Come on babe, we'll head down early for dinner,” I tell her, as I pull my t-shirt on.

“You don't mind eating early?” She asks.

“Not at all. I'm always hungry, and I did work up an appetite” I wink at her.

“That we did," she smiles. I pull her into my side, and we head down to the cafeteria. There aren't a ton of people, becausmost people come around 6 pm. It's mostly parents with little kids here right now. To my surprise, Jessica is here. Sheprobably came early to avoid us, thinking we wouldn't be here for another hour.

She's not at her regular spot at my table, thankfully. She gives us a small smile and puts her head down. I look to Lauren,and she gives her a small tight-lipped smile in return. She's nicer than I am. If some fucker tried that s**t with me, Iwouldn't be so forgiving. Shes a much better person than I am. She's too good for me actually, but I'l just thank MoonGoddess for the blessing, and love her enough, hoping she doesn't notice.

We sit together, just the two of us, which is nice. We eat our dinner together and talk until she needs to get ready for worThen I finally drop her off at work, and I have Malcolm, Jenny, and two of my strongest warriors, Samuel and John follow ¢and keep watch over Lauren while she works from 6-10pm. Paul was out on a date, so I couldn't send him.

I wanted to stay, but I have so much work piling up, and I need to catch up on the work I missed yesterday. I also have myGamma and three warriors watching her, so she is well protected. I want Saturday afternoon off, and all of Sunday to sperwith her, and that won't happen if 1 don't buckle down.

As soon as I get back to the packhouse, I get straight to my office and get to work. Just as I'm starting, I get a text, (6:17 pm)

Lauren Waitress: My Mom just texted, she’s headed to the bar. She says she should be here around 8:30 pm. Thought I'dgive you a heads up that she is going to make it in tonight after all.

Me: Great news. She can stay in an empty room on the 3rd floor until her place is ready in a few days, or even in one of otspare rooms. It's up to you. We'll just have to be quiet if she stays with us. lol Lauren Waitress: We need to be realistic and practical here.

Lauren Waitress: She can stay on the 3rd floor. LOL Me: (6:19) lol Always so naughty.

Lauren Waitress: @

I keep thinking I should change her contact information, but it makes me smile thinking about the first day we met everytime she texts me.

Lauren's Point of View My shift has been crawling by. I keep looking at the clock, waiting for it to be 8:30 pm, 50 I can see my Mom walk throughthat door. Peggy is complaining about the time crawling too. We're both dying to see her. Thank Moon Goddess it's kind obusy for a Thursday, otherwise, time wouldn't move at all.

Finally, just before 8:30, I hear the door open and there she is. I stop talking to Jerry mid-sentence and run to greet her.When Peggy sees me moving, she’s hot on my trail.

“Lauren,” My Mom cries. We wrap our arms around each other, and for some reason, I'm crying.

A part of me worried I might never get to see her again, I might never get to hug her again. She must have had the samefear because she's all tears too. Peggy pulls my Mom into a hug as soon as I let her go, and she’s a blubbering crying mestoo.

I notice everyone is looking at us and probably thinking we're crazy. I don't even care. We both ignore the customers for 5minutes until we hear the kitchen bell ringing, indicating an order is up.

“You two sit and catch up. Ill take over,” I insist. I grab the food and deliver it. Everyone I come into contact with asks whe“that woman’ is. I explain she’s my Mom and an old friend of Peggy. Time seems to go by a little faster now that I've seenher, and now that I know she made it safe and sound.

Nathan's Point of View “Alpha, this seems suspicious. Joan was at a diner for 2 hours 47 minutes, and then she left and drove 2 hours and she's 2a bar now for an hour. I looked up the location. There isn't a hotel nearby, she's not a drinker. She just ate 3 hours ago,”jake tells me.

Maybe she met with Lauren there? Why a bar though? It doesn't make sense. She has to be meeting someone, right? Shewouldn't hang out in a pub that long by herself.

“Get me the team that is tracking Joan on the phone,” I say to Jake. A minute later he hands me the phone, Me: Hello, who am I speaking with?

Man: Hello Alpha, It's Frankie Kimbell, Sir.

Me: Frankie. Do her actions seem odd to you?

Frankie: Yes sir. Most Pack’s are hidden away, off the beaten path. Not in plain sight, so it might be hard to give directionswould make sense to meet at an establishment and then travel to the packhouse together. Or maybe she’s meetingsomeone? It might be valuable to see who she’s meeting regardless.

Me: I think your right. You know how to handle this. Get as little of your scent lingering as possible. If it turns out to benothing, I don't want to spook her.

Frankie: Yes, sir. This might be best. An extraction from a bar would be easier than an extraction from a packhouse orstalking her for days to be able to grab her.

Me: Okay. Keep me posted.

Frankie: Yes sir.

Frankie's Point of View “Guys, let's proceed. Drive to the pub. I'll be the only one getting out at first. I'll see who Joan is meeting. If it's herdaughter, we'll all make an extraction plan. If she's alone, or meeting someone else, we'll try and get out with as little ofour scent left behind as possible,” I explain.

We start driving, and 10 minutes later we're pulling into Peggy's. Right away I can smell her. I am the best tracker at ClawMoon, and Alpha gave us her blanket to catch a scent off of. I can also smell other wolf smells. I know she’s close. I get ouof the van, and there are smaller round windows every 7-8 feet on the front of the pub. I move to one that has a shrub neit, hoping to avoid being seen as much as possible.

From this angle, I can't see Joan. s**t. I'll have to look in more of these windows. Wait... That waitress. Turn around... let msee your face... BINGO! Hal She works here! 1 watch for another few minutes. I don't see anyone else working. Where is shegoing behind those doors?

She comes out with food in her hands. So someone is working with her. I move to another one of these small roundwindows, and I see a table of large men. I wonder if they are the other wolves I could smell. Is one of those her Alpha? Thall seem to be watching her. I move again, and finally, I see Joan sitting with an older woman, also wearing a shirt likeLauren's.

I need to head back to the Van and call Alpha to tell him I found her. Alpha was so pleased, it feels good to make himproud.

I need to devise a plan, I only have 2 other guys with me because Alpha has so many search parties out looking for her, sthe groups are small.

“Drive around back, and see if there's a door,” I order. There usually is, and I'm pleased to see my gut was right. We get ouand grab the handle to pull, but it's locked.

“small towns are usually more trusting,” I grumble. “Move to the side, I tell the guys.

I knock on the door, but not too harshly. Hopefully, it will sound innocent and harmless. 'm not sure how many people arin this kitchen if they're a wolf, or human, so this is a risk. I leave my hand on the handle. Sure enough, the steel dooropens.

A large-looking man opens the door. He's human. He furrows his brows, “What do you want?” he asks.

“Ym 50 sorry, I was walking by, and I saw a wolf, and 1 just ran to the door and knocked. Can I walk through to the bar? I'llwait there while I call a friend?” I ask.

“Sure. Come on dude,” he says and he turns his back to me, to lead the way. There's that small-town trust.

I grab a syringe out of my belt with Propofol, and stab him in the neck with it, releasing the full contents into him. Hestaggers and mumbles something before he falls to the ground. I quickly drag his body behind a prep counter and open tback door to let my guys in.

We wait and ready ourselves at the door between the bar and the kitchen for her to enter, so we can grab her, but nothin“Ding the bell," one of my guys Jeff says.

“Brilliant,” I smirk.

“Get your syringe ready, Jeff. Empty some of it out. If we made the cook overdose, who cares, If we make her overdose,Alpha will have our heads. It doesn't have to last long. I just need her quiet for a minute to get her out of here," I explain.Jeff has his needle ready, my other guy is ready to grab her, so I ding the bell.

About fifteen seconds later, she opens the kitchen door. Jeff is quick and efficient, as he stabs her with the needle in theneck. She moves to struggle a little, but Jeff's hand is on her mouth immediately, and within seconds her body goescompletely limp. They both grab her so she doesn't hit the ground, and we swiftly move her outside.