Page 9 of A Love Bite

“Just the park near her place. We usually meet there and then decide what to do next,” he replies.

I thank him and hang up, turning to Jake. “She was supposed to meet him at the park two days ago. It’s not much, but it’s something.”

Jake nods. “Let’s head there. Maybe we’ll find something we missed before.”

We make our way to the park, the tension between us a mix of hope and fear. The park is quiet, the shadows long and dark under the dim light of the street lamps. We split up, searching the area carefully.

As I walk through the park, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re close, that Opal is somewhere nearby. I hear Jake calling my name from a distance and rush toward him, my heart pounding.

“Alex, over here!” he says, standing near a bench. As I approach, I see something on the ground—a notebook. Opal’s notebook.

“This is hers,” I say, picking it up and flipping through the pages. “She always carries it with her.”

Jake’s expression hardens. “This means she was here. And recently.”

We look around, the park suddenly feeling much more ominous. The night air grows colder, and a sense of urgency pushes us to keep searching. As we move deeper into the park, we notice a trail of disturbed grass leading into a more secluded area.

Following the trail, we find more signs—footprints and a dropped scarf, all pointing to a struggle. My heart aches with worry, but Jake’s presence beside me keeps me grounded.

“We’re close,” he says, his voice a mixture of determination and concern. “We’re going to find her, Alex. I promise.”

With renewed determination, we continue to follow the trail, each step bringing us closer to finding Opal and uncovering the truth behind her disappearance.

If Jake wasn’t here with me right now, I don’t know what I would do. I’m so scared and nervous. The signs of a struggle… I’m not sure what case she’s been working on. What if someone kidnapped her to silence her?

What if they didn’t stop at kidnapping?

9

Jake

Hearingabout Alex’s friend Opal being missing sets off alarm bells in my head. My protective instincts kick into overdrive, and I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to this than meets the eye. As Alex explains the situation, her worry is palpable, and it tugs at something deep inside me.

Could this be my chance to really get close to her? To show her that she can rely on me, not just as someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time, but as someone who genuinely cares? It feels like a strange twist of fate, but maybe this is how I can worm my way into her life.

As we make our way to the park, I can’t help but glance at her, noting the determination in her eyes despite the fear. She’s strong, and it makes me want to be strong for her too.

The discovery of Opal’s notebook fuels our search with renewed energy. As we follow the trail of disturbed grass and scattered belongings, a sense of urgency grips me. This isn’t just about helping Alex anymore. It’s about keeping her safe and finding her friend.

We delve deeper into the park, every sense on high alert. The night air grows colder, and the shadows seem to press in around us, but I push forward, driven by the need to protect Alex and solve this mystery.

“We’re close,” I say, my voice a mixture of determination and concern. “We’re going to find her, Alex. I promise.”

As we follow the trail farther, I find myself wondering about the deeper connections at play here. Is Opal’s disappearance linked to the rival pack? The thought sends a chill down my spine, but I push it aside, focusing on the immediate task of finding Opal and keeping Alex safe.

With each step, I feel myself getting more entwined in Alex’s life, and it feels right. Despite the circumstances, I can’t help but feel that this is where I’m meant to be—by her side, facing whatever challenges come our way.

As we continue our search through the park, I can feel Alex’s anxiety growing. Finally, she stops and turns to me, her eyes filled with concern.

“Jake, the longer it takes to find her, the more worried I get,” she admits, her voice trembling slightly. “What if something terrible has happened?”

I step closer, wanting to offer her some comfort. “I understand, Alex, but we’re making progress. We found her notebook, and that means we’re on the right track. We can’t give up now.”

She nods, but I can see the doubt lingering in her eyes. I wish I could tell her everything—like the fact that I don’t smell any blood, which is a good sign, but explaining that would raise more questions than answers right now.

“Listen,” I say, my voice soft but firm, “we’re going to find her. I can feel it. She’s out there, and she needs us to stay strong and keep looking.”

Alex takes a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing just a bit. “You’re right. I can’t let myself think the worst. We need to keep moving.”