Page 70 of Alpha Chained
I search his face for any hint of deception but find only genuine confusion.
“Well, he is,” I say, my voice rising in desperation. “And I need to find him.”
Jagger sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Raura, maybe it’s for the best. After what happened yesterday—”
“No!” I cut him off, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “You don’t understand. We’re mates, Jagger. Mates! I told you this last night. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
He looks at me with a mix of pity and concern. “Raura, I know you think you have a connection with him, but are you sure it’s a mate bond? Maybe you’re mistaken. Maybe Riot didn’t feel it the same way.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. How can he say that? How can he even suggest that what Riot and I have isn’t real?
“You’re wrong,” I say through gritted teeth, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “Riot wouldn’t just leave me. Not after everything we’ve been through together.”
Jagger’s expression hardens. “Raura, I understand you’re upset, but watch your tone. I’m still your Alpha.”
His words bring me up short, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “I’m sorry, Jagger. I didn’t mean to overstep. But please, you have to believe me. Riot and I have a bond. A real bond. And I need to find him.”
Or a part of me will die. A large part.
Jagger studies me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he nods. “Alright, Raura. I’ll have some of the security team look into it. But in the meantime, I need you to stay here. We have a lot to discuss about what happened to you.”
I gnaw on my lip, torn between obeying my Alpha and doing what my instincts are telling me to do. Namely, go out there looking for Riot on my own.
“Let me guess,” Jagger seems to be reading my mind – is everyone psychic now? “You’re not happy with that.”
I shake my head. “Jagger, we need to do more,” I say urgently. “We need to go after Riot and help him save his sister.”
Jagger frowns, his brow furrowing in confusion. “His sister? What are you talking about?”
I take a deep breath, realizing that I’d only given him vague details last night. “Riot’s sister, Willow,” I remind him. “She’s the reason he’s been forced to fight all these years. They’ve been using her as leverage to make him fight in their underground circuit, forcing him to do horrible things. Parker was going to hurt her if he didn’t do what he was told.”
Jagger’s expression softens, understanding dawning in his eyes. “You think he’s gone to save his sister?”
I nod, my throat tightening with emotion. “I know he has. And we have to help him, Jagger. We can’t let him face this alone.”
“So they have her?” Jagger’s brows pull together. “Back where they were holding you? Did you see her?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Parker let her live a normal life all these years. Have a family, even. Those were the conditions – that she could be free…as long as Riot fought in the cage for him.”
“Motherfucker,” Jagger mutters, rubbing his forehead. “But if that’s the case, how the hell are we even going to find them? She could be anywhere.”
“The bond between Riot and me, it’s growing stronger. I can feel it, even now. And I think I’ll know how to find him.” The words spill out of me in a rush. But even as I say it, I wonder if this is true.
Will I really be able to find him?
Something inside me stirs…the wolf prowls. And I know. I know she’ll do it. My wolf wants this. She’s chosen him.
It’s tugging at me now. A nagging sense on the edges of my consciousness. It’s how I knew he wasn’t in the apartment with me.
“I’ll be able to feel him,” I say firmly.
“Because he’s your mate.”
I nod vigorously. “You, of all people, should know how this works, Jagger. You’ve felt it with Sierra. The bond is new, but it’s unbreakable, isn’t it?”
He rubs his forehead. “Sure. But putting my pack at risk for this male…” He looks at me. “Why wouldn’t he go to his own people first? Surely they’d want to get involved?”
“No.” I pinch my lips together. “The Consortium wiped out Riot’s entire pack. There’s only Willow left.”