Chapter 50

Grace is talking a mile a minute along with about a dozen other excited children. Several of the mothers and nannies of the pack had organized an outing to go to a carnival that had set up at the park.

The children were overjoyed and bursting with energy as we all gathered into the parking lot. Some of the mothers were friendly, but others were giving me snide glances. They definitely didn’t like me and were not afraid to show it.

“Ignore them.” Claudia’s mother says, shooting a glare at two of the mothers whispering together and making no secret about who they were discussing. “They’re just bored and looking for anything to gossip about. No matter how petty.”

I’m grateful for her words and the way she stays with me as we follow the children inside, keeping a close eye on them in case they decide to start wandering away.

We get tickets and play a few games and Grace joins Claudia on a few rides.

“Can we go on that one?” Grace points to the one with teacups that spin around in circles on a track. I get sick just looking at it.

“I don’t want to go on that one.” Claudia says. “It’s scary.”

“Can I go by myself?” Grace pleads with eyes so big it’s pitiful.

“Alright.” I agree and go with her to the gate. I watch her get onto the ride and the attendant buckle her in safely. Then she waves as the ride starts to spin.

She spins around and around and I watch her as she laughs out loud with joy. She’s having an amazing day and despite the judgy mothers, I’m glad we came. I quickly lose her as the ride spins faster, and I search the little teacups for her laughing face.

Then the ride stops, and I go to the gate where she is supposed to exit. Children trail through, but I don’t see Grace.

Where is she?

Then no one is coming through the gate, and the attendant starts loading more people for the next ride. Did she get stuck on the ride?

“Excuse me!” I call out to the attendant. “Is there a little girl in the green teacup?”

He walks over and checks and then shakes his head. “No.”

My heart stops.

“Grace!” I shout, looking around frantically. Fear spikes into my throat and I search every face in the crowd. Then I’m calling her name over and over again. Pushing my way through the people, praying that I see her.

I walk around the ride. Checking under the platform and yelling her name.

“Have you seen Grace?” I yell to two of the mothers we came with.

“You lost her?” One of them asks incredulously.

“She was on the ride. I watched her get on. I watched her in the teacup, but she never got off.” I explain, panicked.

“She’s around somewhere. We’ll start searching.” The other mother says, though I can see the judgement on her face. I don’t blame her. I’ve lost their Alpha’s daughter.

Before too long, every mother and nanny in the pack is combing the carnival looking for Grace. My heart has long since stopped and I’m panicking uncontrollably. No one can find her.

I pick up my phone and call Adrian.

“Grace is missing.” I say. I’m drowning in guilt and shame.

“What?” Adrian demands. “Stay there. I’m coming.”

Tears well up in my eyes. There’s a comfort and a dread in knowing that he is coming. Comfort because he will be here. Dread because it’s my fault that this has happened. How could I lose her? She was right there on the ride and then she was gone.

I feel as though I’m lost in a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I run through the park, calling Grace’s name.

“The carnival security is shutting down the park.” Claudia’s mother says. “They won’t let anyone leave until we find her.”

Tears stream down my face and I’m struggling to breathe. I can’t help but think that the worst has happened. I hear about these things happening, but I never imagined it would happen to Grace.

“How could you let this happen?” One of the other mothers demands.

“I don’t know!” I cry. “She was right there, and then she was gone. I don’t understand how she could just disappear.”

I hear the rest of the mothers and nannies talking. They all think it’s my fault. They aren’t wrong. I should have gone on the ride with her. I shouldn’t have let her leave my side. I’m lost in a sea of guilt and shame, tears soaking my face and dread consuming me.

Then Adrian is there, and my shame multiplies tenfold.

He doesn’t say a word. He just walks up to me and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.

“We will find her.” He assures me.

I feel a comfort in his arms and more in control of my panic now that he is here.

He releases me and we start searching the park together. It feels like half the pack has shown up to help search. They comb through every building, every ride, and show Grace’s photo to everyone they see.

My heart dies more and more with each minute that passes.

Adrian is distraught. Though he is managing to look calm, I know he is frantic under the surface.

“Grace’s mother will need to be told.” He says, sounding regretful.

“Who is she?” I ask. I’m not sure why I’m choosing this moment to ask. It’s hardly the time, but it feels like something I should have known before now. I just never thought to ask because it felt like prying.

“A close friend of mine who was human is her father. He died when Grace was a baby. His wife is employed by the pack. She never wanted a child and sent Grace to live with me. She isn’t close to her and has only met Grace a few times. But she likes to hear about her. She deserves to know what’s going on. I don’t want her hearing through the gossip in the pack.” He explains.

I watch as he picks up his phone and dials a number. Then he reaches out and puts an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in close. I wonder if this is just as much for his support and comfort as it is for mine.

I listen as he tells the woman on the other end what is happening. I can hear her response even though the phone is pressed to Adrian’s ear. I put my arm around his waist, not caring who might see as I listen to the angry woman on the other side yelling at Adrian about how he could entrust her daughter to me.

She blames him just as much as she blames me. Adrian looks stricken and my heart breaks entirely as the guilt eats me alive. This is my fault. He trusted me with Grace, and I let this happen.

Finally, he hangs up the phone.

“She’s angry, but she’s not coming.” He says, his voice is laced with bitterness. “She is going to start calling others to come and help find her. She wants updates and she will come later if we still haven’t found her.”

I squeeze him tighter. No wonder Grace never talks about her mother. I’m only her nanny and I can’t imagine not being here right now. Even if this is my fault to begin with.

We search for another hour, tearing the entire place apart and praying the sweet little girl everyone loves so much is found safe.

I’m about to lose every scrap of hope I have left, until I hear a voice ring out, “Alpha! Come quickly!”