Chapter 5

Andrew took a deep breath, nodded to Taylor and went after her, "Blair," he called chasing her. Blair stopped when she hit the red creek, she crouched down and sobbed into her knees. "Blair," Andrew called catching up to her. He sat down on a small rock next to her, "Why would he do that?" She asked turning her head to the side to look at him. "I don't know, I don't understand people who reject their mates," Andrew told her softly. "Why did Taylor call you alpha? I thought your father wouldn't make you alpha without a mate?" She asked. Andrew looked at the ground, "I had a mate, I brought her here," Andrew replied sadly. "Where is she?" Blair asked, no longer able to stay crouched she stood. "It doesn't matter," Andrew stated angry. "I'm sorry," Blair told him. "You have nothing to be sorry for," Andy replied, his umber-colored eyes landing on her blue green eyes. Blair felt a tingle up her spine, but that was impossible, only James gave her tingles like that. "She didn't like it here, she wanted all the glitz and glamour of a bigger, more powerful pack I guess," Andy explained with a shrug. "It's not all it's cracked up to be," Blair stated wiping away an errant tear. Andy smiled, "A cruel joked by moon goddess in retaliation for my father's faults, I guess," he shrugged. "No one should have to pay for the faults of their father," Blair told him as she thought of her own father and the weight, he had put on her. "What a pair we are," Andrew chuckled. Blair half smiled, "I should call Ben," she said remembering her predicament. "Sure, let's go," he replied, and they headed back to the house.

It was easy to forget her problems here, it was so peaceful with the soft summer breeze caressing her skin and the smell of fresh earth and flowers was intoxicating. Instead of going inside to get her phone, Andrew went around the house, "Where are we going?" she asked. "You phone was pretty waterlogged when you got here, so we gave it to Beachum, he's probably got it fixed," Andrew explained. Blair nodded and followed down the dirt road, lined with maple trees, "Do you not have a car?" Blair asked. "I do, I just don't drive it much, it's a beautiful day and Beachum's isn't that far," Andrew explained. Blair smiled. It was nice to walk, she had never lived so close to town before. It was maybe fifteen minutes before they had reached the main square, and it was only another block before they stood outside a small brick building called Beachum's Electronics. They walked in and a little bell rang, "Be right there," a man's husky voice called from the back. It was a small shop and smelled like fresh paint, there were a few rows of electronics and a counter in the back. Andrew led Blair to the back at the counter, "To what do I owe this visit from the alpha?" A portly man with balding brown hair asked coming out from the doorway. Andrew smiled at him and shook his hand, "Mr. Beachum, this is Blair. You were repairing her phone," Andrew introduced. "Ah yes, pleasure to meet you," he said holding out his hand. "Pleasure is all mine," Blair said shaking his hand. "Oh, with a beauty such as yourself, believe me the pleasure is mine," Mr. Beachum replied with a chuckle. "Your phone is ready, I went ahead and put a new case on it to help next time you go walking in the rain," Mr. Beachum explained as he dug around in a box of large envelopes. He pulled one that had "Alpha" written on it and opened it pulling out Blair's phone. "Should be ready to power up," he said handing it over. "Thank you so much," Blair said holding the button until the screen lit up. "We won't keep you Beachum, thank you," Andrew told him and ushered Blair out of the store and she stared at the screen.

There were hundreds of texts and missed calls, Blair was sure her voicemail box was full. "Here, if you go across the street, you can sit at one of those tables, I'll go get some lunch," Andrew told her. "Thank you," she replied smiling sweetly. He nodded and walked down to the pizza place, while Blair looked both ways and headed across the street to the park. She found a picnic table and sat down to look at the messages. Most of them were ordering her to pick up her phone and a few sayings, "You need to call us," She debated who to call first, but it was decided for her when Ben's name popped up, "Hello," she said quietly answering, like a child about to get into trouble. "Blair, where the hell are you?" He barked, his worry coming out more like anger. "I'm fine Ben, thanks for asking," she stated sarcastically. "You're fine? This isn't a joke Blair, you've been kidnapped," Ben nearly yelled. "I'm not a kid, so it's not kidnapping," she stated dryly. She would answer his questions when he calmed down. "You've been gone a long time, Blair. This isn't a joke," he told her toning down his anger. "It's been a day, and I think some time away from James and Aileen are good," she asked angrily. "Who's Aileen?" Ben asked. "The blonde he was with, you and Jen were with them at the ceremony I saw you guys in the window," she snapped. "Listen, I don't know anything about an Aileen being all over James at your ceremony because you and James never made it to the ceremony. Blair, you've been missing for two weeks" Ben informed her. "What?" Blair whispered nearly dropping her phone, thinking of the memories that played in her mind. Was that really James' voice? She closed her eyes, she could almost smell damp cinder blocks, and hear that voice, but it wasn't James. "You need to tell me where you are?" Ben continued to bark. "What do you mean I never made it? Erik drove me there, I was standing outside in the rain when I saw them talking to you and Jen," Blair told him, more to see if the memory was real. "Blair it wasn't raining the night of your ceremony and you wanted it outside, remember," Ben asked. "Let me talk to her," a voice in the background said. Blair stiffened, "Blair, you've been kidnapped. You need to tell us where you are?" James' voice rang out. She felt angry and hurt, but the mating bond pulled on her heart, causing her to open her mouth to say something. "Blair," Andrew called as he reached the park side of the street with a box of pizza. "Who is that?" James asked. Blair kept silent, "Blair, please talk to me," James sounded so sad. "I got cheese, I didn't know what kind you liked," Andy said walking up with a pause. "Oh sorry," he whispered setting the pizza down. "Blair," James' voice called again frantic. Blair hung up, "Did you talk to Ben?" Andy said sitting across from her. "Yeah, he was worried," she told him, with a fake smile. If Andrew was in on this plot she didn't want to tip him off. "Did you tell him you're safe here?" He asked. Blair smiled, "Is he coming to get you? Probably won't take long, with how worried he must've been," Andy rambled, as he grabbed a slice of pizza. Blair grabbed a slice and bit into it, the cheese was hot but so good and the sauce flooded her mouth. "So, when's he planning to arrive?" Andrew asked. "Who?" Blair asked. "Ben, isn't he coming?" Andy asked. "I... I didn't tell him, where I was," Blair admitted sheepishly. "Oh, I see," Andy replied taking another bite of pizza. "James got on the phone, and I just froze," she explained with a pause to collect herself. "It's ok, let's just enjoy the day," Andy assured her. "James said he thinks I've been kidnapped," Blair tested Andrew's reaction, peering up threw her lashes. Andrew laughed, "Kidnapped, that's funny," Andrew replied. Blair smiled and took a small bite of her pizza, Andy regarded her, "Blair, you know you can leave whenever you want, just say the word and I'll have someone take you home immediately," Andrew reassured her. Blair nodded and smiled sweetly, her mind was in turmoil, what did Ben mean it's been two weeks.