The Finding (63 page)

As the door
swung shut, she heard him softly call out. “I’ll never forget you,
either. Goodbye, girly”

Girly. He’d
called her girly! The tears streamed down her face at the familiar
term. Her vision was so blurred, she could hardly see as she made
her way to the elevator. “Damn him!”

“Miss, are you
all right?” Someone, a woman, placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll be fine.”
Cassie brushed passed the concerned citizen, uncaring that her
scarf had fallen from her shoulders and was now in the stranger’s
hands.

“Miss, you
dropped—”

Cassie walked
on, trying to hold back her tears. Girly. Why had Kellen said that?
It was one of the first words he’d said to her and now it was the
last... Looking around, she suddenly realized she was in the lobby.
How had she arrived there? She didn’t even remember using the
elevator. She pressed her hand to her mouth, and tried to calm
down, but her mind kept going back to what had just happened.

She’d cut her
ties to Kellen. It had been the right thing to do, the only way to
force him to get help, but now... Oh God, she needed a shoulder to
cry on, but where was Bryan? She scanned the room, but there was no
sign of him.

Cassie quickly
walked around the perimeter of the lobby. He’d been here, she could
scent him, but why had he left? Had Ryne or Kane called him with a
job? But surely he could have told her he was leaving. Just in case
she was mistaken, she peeked in the gift shop and the small cafe
that was off to the side. No. He wasn’t there. She bit her lip and
blinked hard, tears welling in her eyes again. Had he just left her
here? He had the other morning after the full moon. Was he going to
be like Kane? From what Elise said, Kane worked all the time...

Insecurities
filled her. Bryan had been so cold and bossy this morning. And he’d
been angry while driving her here, almost as if spending time
together was a burden. Had the tenderness just been a show to lure
her into joining the pack? And now that he thought he had her
convinced, he was going to ignore her, possibly leave her to fend
for herself back in Canada? What proof did she have that pack life
was one big happy family, beyond what he’d told her?

Suddenly she
felt empty and abandoned. The two most important people in her life
were gone; Bryan had left her and she’d just pushed Kellen away.
Was this how Kellen had felt just now when she said goodbye? Had it
hurt him as badly as the loss of Bryan was doing to her now? Oh
God, she had to get out of here before she totally lost
control.

She began to
walk towards the exit as fast as she could, brushing past other
visitors, skirting around a grouping of chairs. The door was in
front of her. She had to get outside, had to breathe some fresh
air. The doors slid open automatically and she hurried through
them.

The sounds of
conversation washed around, but she had no thought other than
escaping. She looked around wondering where to go, then focussed on
a grouping of trees, instinct telling her to head that way.
Blindly, she set off for the small green belt, picking up speed,
then running, cutting across the parking lot, splashing through
puddles, uncaring that it was raining, giving no thought to the
traffic. Brakes squealed, profanities yelled, but she didn’t
stop.

Run, get away.
Hide. It was all she could think of. If she ran fast enough surely
she’d be able to escape the pain inside...

Chapter
28

Bryan strode
down the halls of the hospital, peering into rooms, scanning
seating areas. Where the hell was she? When Cassie hadn’t appeared
after fifteen minutes, he’s gone upstairs to get her. He wasn’t
leaving her with Anderson any longer than necessary. Whatever she
had to say to the man should have been over and done with in that
period of time. Cassie was his and he didn’t want Anderson near
her. The man had had his chance and he’d messed up.

But when he’d
arrived at Anderson’s door, the man had been talking softly on the
phone to someone. A quick scan of the room had allowed him to pick
up Cassie’s scent, but she wasn’t there any longer. Thankfully,
Anderson had been facing the other way and never even realized
someone had popped their head in. Bryan doubted he’d be able to
exchange a civil word with the man.

Now he was
looking for Cassie. The stench of illness, medicine, antiseptics,
and humanity swirled around him as he tried to distinguish her
scent. She’d headed to the elevator and then...? Logically, he
decided she would have headed back to the lobby. Perhaps their
paths had crossed, Cassie coming down while he was going up? He
took the stairs, too impatient to wait for the elevator to arrive.
As he clattered down the stairwell, he gave a short ironic laugh.
With all the stairs he was climbing lately, he didn’t have to worry
about missing his workouts.

Arriving back
in the lobby, he made his way to the middle, looking around
expectantly. When Cassie didn’t immediately appear, he stopped in
the middle of the busy space, turning in a slow circle, studying
each grouping of chairs, each huddle of humans. He clenched his
jaw; she wasn’t there.

He closed his
eyes and inhaled deeply, frowning in concentration as he used all
his skills to sort through the confusing cacophony that assaulted
his keen senses. A smile slowly spread over his face as he detected
the faintest trace of her scent. Following it carefully, he made
his way through the hospital down one hallway and then the next;
where was she headed? Her scent grew stronger and he walked with
greater speed. Surely she was just around this next corner.
Mentally, he planned the chastisement he’d give her for not meeting
him as they’d arranged. He turned the corner and stopped abruptly.
Cassie wasn’t there. An older woman was holding her scarf though
and handing it over to someone at an information desk.

“...and she
didn’t stop when I called after her, so I thought I’d just leave it
here.”

Bryan stepped
forward. “Excuse me, that’s my girlfriend’s scarf. I’ll take it.”
He snatched the scarf, the cool silky material sliding over his
fingers; it was a soft and smooth as Cassie’s skin. Resisting the
urge to bury his nose in the fabric and revel in her scent, he
cleared his throat and tried to speak civilly. “Um...where was she
heading when she dropped it?”

“Oh! It was
near the elevator. Fourth floor. She seemed upset though and was
crying.” The woman flushed and leaned closer. “I don’t know if she
was referring to you or not, but I’m sure she was saying ‘damn
him.’ You might want to have an apology ready.”

“Thank you.
I’ll do that.” He stepped back, guarding his expression to give no
indication of the emotional turmoil he was suddenly experiencing.
Who had she been cursing? Anderson or him?”

Swearing under
his breath, he’d moved farther down the hall and then leaned
against the wall, closing his eyes. He was so tired he could hardly
think straight, he’d barely had three hours sleep in the last few
days. Kane was a task master at the best of times and then when the
Chicago Alpha had sent the granddaughter to the meeting... Well, it
had been touch and go if they’d be able to keep Cassie and maintain
control of the Estate. While he hadn’t cared about the Estate, the
idea that another pack wanted control of Cassie had made him almost
rabid with rage. Ryne had to order him from the room, to keep him
from attacking the Chicago pack’s representative. Thankfully, Kane
knew the law well enough to ensure everything worked out, but the
experience had been draining and had left everyone on edge. In
fact, Kane was still muttering about taking over the Chicago
territory and running it as a satellite operation.

Bryan rubbed
the heels of his hands over his eyes and then gave his head a
shake. He needed to find Cassie and she had to be somewhere in the
hospital. She wouldn’t just go wandering off...would she? And so he
began searching floor by floor, even being scolded by irate nurses
for poking his nose into places where he wasn’t allowed.

Still there was
no sign of her. Obstetrics, geriatrics, paediatrics... Fuming, he
swallowed his pride and headed back to Anderson’s room, determined
to beat the man if he didn’t reveal where Cassie had gone.

Without
knocking, he pushed the door open, startling Anderson who was
eating some debatable looking food.

“I’m here for
Cassie. Where is she?” Bryan growled the words and Anderson dropped
his fork and inched back in his bed.

“I...I think
you have the wrong room. I don’t know anyone named... Wait a
minute. Do you mean Sandy?”

“Her proper
name is Cassandra Greyson, as you well know. Now where is she?” He
almost barked the words and Anderson visibly paled.

“Are you with
the government? She said you might be coming...” Anderson paused
and frowned. “Though you don’t look the type.”

Bryan quickly
clued in to what the man was thinking and used it to his advantage.
“I’m plain clothes; undercover. Now where is she?”

“I’m...I’m not
sure. She left about half an hour ago. Listen, do I have to sign
something for you because if I do I—”

Bryan left
before the man finished. Half an hour ago. Where could she have
gone? He ran his hand through his hair and tried to quell the fear
that twisted in his gut. What had she said the other night? Once
Anderson was safe, she’d leave if he took his eyes off her.

Damn. He
thought they’d moved beyond that. After all the talking they’d done
about belonging to the pack and how he’d take care of her... And
then during the full moon when they’d been wolves together. No. It
couldn’t be true. Cassie wouldn’t leave him, not when he’d finally
found her.

But what if she
had? It would be his own fault. He’d left her alone—with good
cause, mind you—but a werewolf’s first transformation could leave
them feeling off-kilter and vulnerable. And what if she was going
into heat? Hormonal surges happened four times a year with the
seasons, but given the pills she’d been taking, who knew what her
system might be up to. If she was in season, her emotions could be
all over the place!

And this
morning, God he’d been so tired. And when he’d seen her, she’d been
looking up information for Anderson. Without meaning to, Bryan knew
he’d just sort of snapped, barking orders at her, not listening,
not thinking. Little wonder she’d taken off at the first
opportunity.

He walked out
of the hospital and sniffed the air, hoping to catch Cassie’s
scent, but the rain was pouring down now, washing the air clean.
Shoulders slumped, he sank down on a nearby bench. The rain soaked
his hair and shirt, trickling down his face, but he paid no
attention; his external discomfort was meaningless now. The pain
inside him was all consuming, there was an aching emptiness where
his heart should be.

People walked
past. Conversations drifted around him. They barely registered. His
brain couldn’t seem to process anything beyond the fact that he
might never see Cassie again. He propped his elbows on his knees
and leaned forward, burying his head in his hands.

How could he
have screwed up so badly? Right from the very moment he started
looking for her, he’d made one stupid mistake after another. He’d
tried his best to make up for their awkward beginning, painting a
glowing picture of pack life and how he’d be there for her. Did she
really hate the idea of being with him, of being part of his pack,
so much that she had to sneak away without even saying goodbye?
Apparently so.

He scrubbed his
face with his hands. What should he do? Find her again, track her
down, and drag her screaming and kicking back to Canada? Or should
he admit defeat? She’d protested continually that she didn’t want
to be a werewolf, but he thought they’d been making real progress.
The full moon they’d shared had seemed so special. And the times
he’d held her as she slept... Well, he’d been sure he’d found his
other half. Obviously, he’d been wrong.

His throat grew
tight as a lump formed in it. His eyes burned with suppressed
tears. He squeezed them tightly shut and firmed his jaw, willing
his chin not to quiver. A pack Beta didn’t cry, not even when his
heart had been ripped from him. He’d never love another; never find
a mate to replace her.

“Bryan?”

God, he could
hear her voice as if she were beside him. And her scent... He’d
never forget it as long as he lived. It would haunt him in his
dreams...

“Bryan, are you
okay? Are you sick or something?”

A soft hand
touched his hair and then his shoulder and he jerked as an electric
zing travelled straight to his heart. Cassie? In a blur of
movement, he was standing and holding her in his arms, raining
kisses down on whatever part of her he could find.

“Bryan! What’s
wrong? What’s going on? You’re holding me too tight, I can’t
breathe.” She pushed against him protesting and he finally let her
go, grabbing her shoulders instead.

He held her so
he could see her face and shook her gently. “I’ve been looking all
over for you. I thought you’d left. Where the hell did you go?”

“I...I was
upset so I went over to that grove of trees to calm down. I looked
around the lobby, but you weren’t there and for a while I thought
you’d left me...” She stuttered to halt and reached up to touch
him. He closed his eyes as she brushed the hair from his forehead
then cupped his face, running her thumb over his cheek bone. He
leaned into the caress, pressing a kiss to her palm, a soft rumble
rising from his chest. “Once I calmed down, I realized it was
pretty stupid to get so worked up over you not being in the lobby.
I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Slowly,
reluctantly, he straightened and her hand fell to her side. “It’s
all right. I might have over-reacted a bit.” He cleared his throat.
“Or maybe a lot.”