Page 274 of Pucking Feral: Part Two

I do, because this omega owns me, apparently.

And I catch myself drifting off a moment too late.

Chapter 57

Ivy

So. Valek is gone.

Not gone gone. I don't think. I'm not letting myself panic just yet. When we came down from the loft this morning, I expected to find him in the kitchen, stealing Plague's tea or reading or… something.

But he was nowhere to be found.

His leather jacket is still hanging on the hook by the door, so I'm guessing he just stepped out for a bit, considering it's chilly out.

Then again, he doesn't mind the cold.

But he missed breakfast, and I'm starting to worry.

"Has anyone heard from Valek?" I ask the pack at large from my spot on the couch.

My head is resting on Whiskey's warm belly, which is the softest and most comfortable place I've ever put my head, and my legs are stretched out across Plague's lap. Wraith is sitting on the floor in front of the couch, his head resting against the seat cushion, dozing as I pet his dark hair.

Whiskey looks up from his phone, still petting my hair with his other hand. "I texted him twice. He left me on read both times." He frowns, thumb scrolling back through his messages like he's checking again. "Which is rude, by the way."

"You sent him an hour's worth of TikToks," Plague says dryly without looking up from his book. "It may take him some time."

"I curated those just for him," Whiskey protests. "I'm like a living FYP. None of you give me half the credit I deserve."

I like the ones you send me, Wraith signs without opening his eyes.

Whiskey grins at him. "Yeah, well, you're easy to please. TikTok's nothing but cat videos."

"We're not getting a cat," Thane says distractedly, his eyes locked on his laptop, from the armchair Valek usually claims. He's wearing glasses today. Unfairly hot glasses. He reminds me even more of Clark Kent than he did without them.

"No one's getting a cat, Captain Buzzkill," Whiskey shoots back. "But, uh, if you ever change your mind…"

"We're talking about Valek," I interrupt before we get derailed. "Have you heard from him, Thane?"

Thane blinks up at me, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Valek?" He checks his phone. "Yeah. He texted me at six AM. Said he had errands."

"At six AM," I repeat.

"He's Valek," Thane says with a shrug, like that explains everything.

To be fair, it kind of does.

Wraith's eyes open slightly and he turns his head to look up at me. He isn't wearing his gaiter today, or even a scarf he can pull up. Not even having a scarf is new, and worrying me, because I really don't think it's because he's feeling comfortable. He still flinches and turns slightly when anyone looks at him too long, even me, sometimes.

V-A-L-E-K left early, he signs to me. I heard him go. Before dawn.

"Did he seem okay?" I ask.

Wraith hesitates, thinking about it. Yes.

"Brooding in the dark is kind of his whole thing," Whiskey offers, but he's frowning slightly. I get the feeling he's actually somewhat concerned himself now.

I check my phone again. Nothing from Valek in my messages. We do text occasionally, but not very often. He's a man of few words.