Page 10 of A Love Bite (Werewolf Motorcycle Club #1)

10

A lex

Finding Opal huddled in the corner of the gazebo fills me with an overwhelming sense of relief and joy. She’s unharmed, thank goodness, and as I rush to her side, tears of gratitude spring to my eyes.

“Opal!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug. “Thank God you’re okay. We were so worried about you.”

Opal looks up at me, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and relief. “Alex,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I thought no one would find me.”

“You’re safe now,” I assure her, squeezing her hands. “But we need to know what happened. Why did you disappear? What happened to you?”

She takes a deep breath, her gaze darting between me and Jake. “It’s a long story,” she begins, her voice shaky. “I was supposed to meet Mark at the park, but before I got there, someone grabbed me. I didn’t see their face, but they dragged me here and told me to stay put. They said if I tried to leave, I’d be in serious danger.”

My heart pounds as I listen to her recount her ordeal. “Did they say why?” I ask gently. “Did they give any hint about what they wanted?”

Opal shakes her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “No, they didn’t. They just threatened me and left after taking my purse and phone. I’ve been too scared to move or call for help. I didn’t know what to do. They didn’t tie me up or anything, but I got the feeling they were watching me. Why I don’t know, but…”

Jake steps closer, his expression serious but comforting. “You don’t need to be worried anymore, Opal.”

I smile up at him. “This is Jake,” I tell Opal. “He helped me find you. Kathy and I were worried sick about you.”

“Thanks,” Opal murmurs.

“We’ll make sure nothing happens to you,” Jake assures her. “Do you remember anything about your attacker? Anything that might help us identify them?”

She closes her eyes, trying to remember. “I don’t know… I heard them talking on the phone. They mentioned a plan and making a move soon. That’s all I remember.”

I exchange a worried glance with Jake. This sounds serious, but I can’t make sense of it yet.

“Thank you, Opal,” I say, giving her a reassuring smile. “We’ll figure this out. Did this…” I glance at Jake and then shrug. “Was this because of a case you’re working on for The Metro Gazette?”

“No. I’m currently between cases, so…” She shivers.

I rub her arm. “Let’s get you home and safe.”

Opal nods, leaning on me for support as we help her out of the gazebo. My mind races with questions and fears, but for now, I’m just grateful that we found her and that she’s unharmed.

As we make our way back through the park, I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. This isn’t over. Whoever took Opal is still out there. I glance at Jake, who looks just as concerned as I feel.

Once we near the edge of the park, Opal hesitates, glancing around nervously.

“I don’t think I want to go back to my place just yet,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to be alone.”

I squeeze her hand reassuringly, my heart aching for her. “You don’t have to be alone, Opal. We can stay with you.”

Jake has been quiet for the most part, but he clears his throat. “How about we go to Luna’s Moon to celebrate? First round’s on me.”

Opal’s eyes light up a bit at the mention of a drink, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “I could definitely use a drink right now,” she says, her voice a bit steadier.

I nod in agreement, grateful for Jake’s suggestion. “That sounds like a great idea. Let’s go.”

We head to Luna’s Moon, the lively atmosphere of the bar a welcome change from the tension of the past few hours. I know that when I walked in the other night—had it been last night? Time is getting away from me—everyone looked at me. I take it that generally speaking, only regulars come here, but when the others see us with Jake, they accept us as one of them, and I feel so relieved. This is a place where we can relax and regroup.

Jake leads us to a booth in the corner, offering some privacy while still being part of the bustling bar. “Take a seat, ladies,” he says, smiling. “I’ll get us some drinks. What’ll it be?”

Opal and I share a look before she speaks up. “I’ll have a gin and tonic.”

“I’ll take the same,” I add, grateful for the distraction.

Jake nods and heads to the bar, leaving us to settle into the booth. I turn to Opal, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze. “How are you feeling?”

She takes a deep breath, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. “Better, now that I’m not alone, but I’m still scared, Alex. What if they come after me again?”

“We won’t let that happen,” I promise, my voice firm. “We’ll figure out who did this and why. And we’ll make sure you’re safe.”

Jake returns with our drinks, setting them down on the table with a warm smile. “Here you go. To finding Opal and to friends,” he says, raising his own glass.

“To friends,” Opal and I echo, clinking our glasses together.

As we sip our drinks, the tension slowly begins to melt away. The familiar hum of conversation and laughter around us creates a comforting backdrop. For the first time in hours, I feel a sense of normalcy returning.

We spend the next hour talking, laughing, and trying to forget the fear and uncertainty of the day. Jake’s presence is a steadying force, his calm demeanor and easy smile putting us both at ease.

But beneath the surface, I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning. Whoever targeted Opal is still out there, and we need to find out why. As the night wears on, I make a silent vow to uncover the truth and protect my friend.

For now, though, we focus on the present moment, finding solace in each other’s company. And as I glance at Jake, I can’t help but feel happy. I barely know him, but he was willing to put everything aside to help me. He’s one of the good ones.

Maybe, just maybe, this strange turn of events is leading us toward something good.