Chapter 109

Almara’s POV

I fold my arms across my chest and try not to look so annoyed. The temperature is beginning to drop and I wish I had brought a bigger jacket. I’d be warmer if I was allowed to hike around and actually look for my husband, not just stand on guard in case he comes this way.

“Don’t be so disappointed, sweetie. At least you got me.” Bess says.

“I’m not disappointed. I’m just cold.” I tell her, hugging my arms tighter around myself. Bess gives me a look that tells me she’s not buying it.

“Oh, fine. I am annoyed.” I admit, throwing my arms in the air. “What is Arthur going to think when he gets found and his wife isn’t among the ones who found him?”

Bess lets out a sympathetic sigh and softens her eyes. “I think he’s going to thank his lucky stars that his wife didn’t see him in such a vulnerable state.”

Bess makes a good point, but I think she’s wrong. Of course, I’ll never tell her that. Arthur and I have reached new depths in our relationship and nothing could make me see him any differently. In fact, I think witnessing him in such a desperate state and surviving it- for the sake of his family nonetheless, would only make me appreciate his strength all the more.

I take a look around and try to let the beauty ease my worries. The sky stretches out overhead in overlapping colors from a dusty rose to a honey bronze. The trees stand erect and mighty as if shielding the full glory of the mountains from being revealed. It really would be nice to live here.

I nod in agreement to Lily. I think back to what Emma had said about my life before Arthur, that it was boring. I don’t think that, but it was simple and sometimes simple is nice. Even the first few days of my daughter's birth haven’t been simple for her sake. I hope she’s doing okay right.

The rest of the crowd here has dissipated. Searchers sent on their way to sniff out Arthur, the news crew decided among themselves to break up and select a pair to follow. Even Bess and I got paired with some local news station. He looks just as happy to be here as we do. I think he got stuck on guard duty because he’s the station with the least amount of views.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and for a moment my hopes rise with anticipation that maybe it’s Arthur. Though when I check the caller ID, I’m only slightly disappointed.

“Hey, Cathy.” I say, almost embarrassed to be hearing from her. She probably wants an apology for my sudden departure. I basically ran into her arms crying for help and then bolted away.

I can feel Bess’s curious gaze on me. I try to give her a reassuring smile, but pretty sure it just comes out as an awkward grimace. “Cathy, I’m sorry for just running away like that. After I opened my big mouth, I didn’t want to make matters worse.”

“Oh nevermind about that.” Cathy quickly dismisses me with a sense of urgency in ehr voice. I clutch the phone tighter and hang on to every word she’s about to say. Bess must notice my shift in attention and takes a step closer as if wanting to hear just as much as I do what Cathy is going to tell us.

“Look, obviously you know that word is out about Arthur missing and him being bit by a vampire, but there’s something else you should know.” Cathy treads her next words lightly. How many more problems are going to arise today?

“Please tell me it’s good news, Cathy. I could really use some good news right now.” I hate the whine that escapes from my voice.

“Well kind of,” Cathy says, though by the way her voice went up an octave I doubt it’s all that good. “The news released the general location of where the search party is and it’s basically gone viral on the internet.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and my mind races to connect the dots of what this could mean. “So, what you’re saying is…”

“Is that hundreds if not thousands of people and werewolves are going to come to your general location and help look for Arthur.” Cathy finishes my thought. I close my eyes and let out a self-pitying laugh.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath in. “Are you okay, Almara?” I hear Cathy ask. I release a deep exhale.

“I’m fine, thanks for the heads up.” I tell her.

“It looks beautiful where you’re at.” Cathty says trying to brighten the mood.

“Yeah, well we’ll see how it looks trampled beneath a thousand feet.” I say bitterly. I brace myself to peer at Bess’s face and recoil under her grave expression. “I have to go, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Call if you need anything.” Cathy says and hangs up. At least I have one good friend in all this.

I pretend to stay on the phone a moment longer, just so that I can brace myself for Bess’s reaction.

“What in the world is about to happen, Alma?” Bess asks pointedly.

“We’re about to have a lot more help in the investigation.” I tell her, trying to put a positive spin on the whole thing. Still, as great as it is that so many people want to help and care about Arthur’s well-being, there’s no way Arthur- or Roman for that matter, will want that kind of publicity.

Anger begins to rise inside me, though this time not at myself or even Emma. I’m furious at the news anchor. I set my death-stare on him, and clench my jaw. I stomp past Bess and approach the news crew with Lily just below the surface.

The cameraman notices me first and sheepishly points the anchor in my direction. “Where do you get off and disclosing personal information?” I shout and some birds fly from the trees. For a moment, the anchor looks stunned, like he’s thinking of an escape route.

“Look at me, not where you’re going to run to.” I snap. “I asked you a question, why do you have to tell thousands of people where we are? Do you know what’s going to come from that?” I demand, feeling heat flush my face.

The news anchor straighten his posture and recollects his disposition. “It’s the people’s right to know” He tells me, lifting his nose in the air. Lily growls and my hair begins to stand up.

“What about the right to privacy?” I shoot back at him. The anchorman’s lips curl into a smile.

“Let’s not confuse governmental rights with freedom of the press.” He tells me as though completely dignified. I raise my hand to slap some sense into him, until I see the cameraman getting his camera set up to capture my outburst. I quickly withdraw my hand, refusing to give them more of a story to report.

I turn away and go back to stand next to Bess. “I have an idea.” She tells me.