Alec's POV.
I was kissing Lyra when the thought of Liana crossed my mind.
"I...think we should...stop," I murmured as I rolled off her.
Lyra seemed pissed by my sudden action, and she narrowed her eyes and asked, "What's wrong with you, Alec? You have been acting weird for days now. This is not our first kiss, is it? So why are you rolling off and acting as if I am forcing you into it?"
"Come on, Lyra. Because it's not the first time, it doesn't mean make it right. Besides, I want us to talk."
Lyra sat up on the bed, hugged a pillow to her chest, and looked at me. "I'm listening. "
"What's up with you and Liana River?"
She raised a brow and asked, "What do you mean ?"
"You seemed to have a personal vendetta against her. "
"Why all this sudden interest in Liana?"
"Sudden interest! Bloody no. I heard some junior students confessing that you paid them to assault and bully her. Don't you think you are taking this too far?"
"I know nothing about that," Lyra said, but couldn't afford to meet my gaze when she did.
"Stop lying, Lyra. Those boys confessed on their own without any coercion."
Lyra shakes her head before responding. "I am disappointed in you, Alec. You now believe the words of some strangers over mine."
"You don't have to-."
My buzzing phone made me pause my speech, and then I gawked at the phone screen.
"Who is that?"
"I don't know."
"Then reject the call."
"No. It may be important, " I answered back and immediately accepted the call.
"Hello, Master Alec. This is Berry Barrington, Sir. I am one of the boys who bullied Liana River at school yesterday. "
"Yes. How may I help you?"
"It's Liana River, Sir. "
Lyra Vane, who had been eavesdropping on my phone call, immediately moved closer to my side of the bed when she heard Liana's name.
"What's it about her?"
"She...well, I can't say persay. But I think she wasn't herself when Jace Calder helped her into his car a few moments ago."
"What do you mean by she wasn't herself?" I asked in a voice I prayed wasn't shivering enough to attract Lyra's suspicion.
"I mean, she was walking like someone under the influence of a hard drug... I think Jace must have spiked her drink and then taken her to whatever place he had in mind."
"Can you make this make sense by starting from the beginning?"
The line was silent for a while, and I was scared it had been disconnected.
"I worked as a part-time security guard at De-valor Exotic bar. Jace Calder and Liana River came to our bar and then left a few minutes ago."
"And you think Jace Calder spiked her drink before they left?"
"Yes. He practically half-dragged and half-carried her out of the bar and then into his car. I feel something is not right, and that's why I called you."
"Serve her right," Lyra said. "And I hope he rape her to death."
I looked sternly at Lyra, muttered "Thank you" into my phone's speaker, and then disconnected the call. "Hatred is eaten deeper into you, Lyra. Stop before it poisons your soul."
"And when did you become Liana River's advocate, Alec? Why did that blockhead have to call you instead of calling the cops or Liana's miserable mom? Is there anything I am missing?"
I shrugged in response.
Lyra suddenly leapt to my front and then stared at me. "Tell me, Alec. You aren't interested in that dirty thing, are you?"
I wanted to shout at Lyra. To warn her to mind her speech and never call Liana a dirty thing again. But all I did was sigh at my own hypocrisy and then stand up to leave.
Lyra pulled my shirt. "Where are you going... You aren't walking out of me."
I yanked my shirt from her hand. "Somewhere urgent. You can wait here for me if you want. "
"Alec!"
"Come on, Lyra. I need a few minutes to sort some things out."
"Are you going to play hero and try to save her?"
"No. As you pointed out, that duty belongs to her family. "
Lyra was about to respond when I banged the door after me and then raced down the corridor as I searched for Brook Anderson's contact details. The call was accepted after ringing twice.
"This is Alec Thorn, Sir. You probably won't remember me. "
"Of course, I do," Brook's deep voice boomed out of my phone. "Alec Thorn of the Bluetooth pack. To what did I owe this August call?"
"Well," I cleared my throat. "I just received an anonymous call that Liana may be in danger."
"Liana! Is she not at home?- Hey. Someone should check on Liana for me right now... Sorry, Alec. You are saying."
"I heard from a reliable source that Jace Calder left with Liana in his car, and she appeared to be drugged or unconscious. "
I heard a voice mumbling underneath, "Green drove her out of the mansion a few hours ago, Sir."
"Then she must be with Green.""
"I haven't called to confirm, Sir."
"Do you need permission to do that? Holy Maddona! Why am I surrounded by clowns-, sorry, Alec. Who did you claim she left with?"
"Jace Calder of the Mafia family, Sir."
"Oh! The infamous Calder family - " Brook Anderson paused his speech, and I can hear him asking, "Have you contacted Green yet?"
"Yes. He claimed she was inside the De-valor bar and promised to put her on the call in a few minutes. "
"What about Liana? Is anyone able to get in contact with her?"
"No, master. Her number is switched off or not reachable. "
Brook cursed under his breath and then disconnected the call.
Is Liana River truly in danger? God knows I warned her about Jace. Warned her to stay away from him.
Bloody hell! Why am I getting worked up over Liana? The voice in my head asked.
"BECAUSE SHE IS OUR MATE, CLOWN." My wolf screamed back
Brook Anderson had sounded more than concerned. He had panicked. This had never been heard before. Brook Anderson was a man known for not wearing his emotions on his face. If he had lost his usual composure because of Liana's disappearance, then who is Liana to him?