CHAPTER 7

　　ACE’S POV 　　“The car is ready, Sir.” My chauffeur’s voice pulled me out of my regular zoning. 　　Ever since Luke made that shocking revelation about Betty being my mate, I have searched every pack for her. I have searched with a heavy and regretful heart with every hope of seeing her again. I need to apologize and make my newly found feelings known. 　　I have never felt connected and concerned about a woman not until Betty left. I felt the bond that I stupidly ignored, and I couldn’t let it die with him. I sighed and stood up from the sofa. This was the seventh pack I would be visiting in search of Betty, and I’m onto my eighth already. 　　It was quite tiring, but I have vowed never to stop looking until I find her. I know I will. Pack duties were hanging on my neck, but I have learned to trust Luke with them while I go on the search. I just felt like things could be better between me and Betty. I followed my waiting chauffeur to the parked car. 　　THREE YEARS LATER….. 　　“Okay. Thank you very much for your help.” I shook hands with the man in front of me. He is the Alpha of Silver Pack. I stayed in the Silver Pack for three months, searching for Betty. Yes, it has been three years since she left, but I didn’t stop looking for her. This was the fifteen pack to be searched with the same futile result. I would have brushed more packs, but because of feuds between us, it was quite difficult for me to visit the rival pack. 　　I tried, though, cause I would do any fucking thing to find Betty. 　　Alpha Julius smiled back as he returned the handshake. He has been a very good help throughout my stay in the pack. He mobilized his strongest men to search every crook of the pack. I returned to the car. Sitting still in the moving car, I sighed. It has been one hell of a ride looking for Betty. I have received humiliation and insults from different packs, but I wasn’t giving up any time soon. 　　I was returning to Viking Hills to handle some pack duties and meetings before embarking on another search journey. The car stopped after hours of deafening silence. I descended and walked into the pack house that doesn’t feel like home anymore. I have been away for too long, carrying a heavy heart. 　　“Hey, Man!” Luke's excited voice welcomed me. 　　I smiled faintly. I have missed him. 　　“Hey. How are you doing?” I asked. 　　“I’m good. How was the search?” He asked with a little hint of hope in his eyes. I shook my head in a negative response. He sighed and patted my shoulder. 　　“You would find her. Don’t worry.” he sounded so sure that I tried to believe him. 　　“ The pack elders want to see you….” Luke spoke on, but my mind drifted away as I walked to my room. Images of Betty were all over the house. I could not think straight, and that was another reason why I didn’t stay in the house anymore. I couldn’t bear seeing images of her everywhere with no idea where she was. 　　“……Ace! Ace!” Luke called and tapped me before I was drawn out of my deep thinking. 　　“Can you handle the elders? I will be leaving again in the next two days. I can’t have them disturb or stop me.” I said. 　　He nodded. “ Sure, Ace.” 　　I smiled faintly. I left Luke standing in the hallway and walked into my room. It was dim, clean, and neat. I sat on the bed for a while and pulled off my clothes to take a shower. The water is my comfort, and I feel relieved and calm as the cold water flows down my body. It was comforting and soothed my weary mind. 　　As I stepped out of the bathroom, I wrapped a white fluffy towel around my waist, and water dripped down my body. I dried myself. Sitting on my bed shirtless, wearing only sweatpants. I sighed and calmed myself down from the long trip. I decided to turn on the TV to watch the news and probably catch up on all that I had missed for the past three months. 　　The bright lights from the screen made me squint my eyes, and I turned the volume on. I barely paid any attention to the news as my mind drifted away. 　　“……..Miss Betty Danforth launched her first clothing line a few days ago, and it has been a rousing success as investors are going haywire for her products. It was a huge success that the successful young woman has decided to host a party to that occasion tomorrow in her..…..” 　　My attention returned to the TV at the mention of her name. 　　“Betty?” I mumbled and paid attention to the rest of the news. It was really her. She just launched something huge and would be hosting a party to celebrate. I smiled in excitement, and my heart leaped in joy. 　　“I finally found her!” My wolf yelped in excitement, and I could not contain the happiness. I can’t believe after all these years of searching, and I would get to know her whereabouts on a public screen. According to the news and Google searches, she was quite successful and popular. I was not only happy that I knew where to find her, but I was also happy she was doing great. 　　“I have to attend the party. I have to see her.” I said to myself. 　　“Mary!” I called out the head maid. She rushed into the room with her head bowed in fear. 　　“Get Luke!” I ordered, and she sprinted out of the room to find him. He came in a few minutes later with a look, asking why I called him with so much urgency. 　　“Can I get a ticket to Moonlight Pack tomorrow morning?” I asked, and he gave me a questioning look. 　　“Why?” 　　“I need to be there before evening. The party is in the evening,” I replied, and he obviously looked like he didn’t understand anything I was talking about. 　　“Betty! Betty is in Moonlight Pack.” I said, and his face beamed. 　　“Really? How did you know that?” he asked. 　　“Just watched it on the news, and she would be hosting a party to celebrate her success tomorrow. Turns out she is smarter than I thought,” a hint of regret visible in my voice. 　　“But…..but Moonlight Pack is a rival pack,” he said, and my shoulder dropped. There has been an irreconcilable feud between the two packs for years now, and we have tried staying out of each other’s business. Going to Moonlight Pack would probably not be a good idea, but I don’t care! 　　“I don’t fucking care, Luke! Just get me the damn tickets!” I ordered, and he frowned a little before walking out of the room. I got up and started packing a few clothes for the trip. My heart was still racing from the earlier news, and nervousness began to creep in. 　　Would she want to see me? Would she be excited? How do I talk to her? What do I say to make her forgive my brutality? 　　Those questions flooded my mind. It was not going to stop me, though. I needed to see her. I discarded those questions as I have never felt so nervous about meeting someone. 　　I couldn’t sleep throughout the night. Constantly turn on my bed and remind myself about tomorrow’s big step to getting Betty back. I hoped she would hear me out and forgive me. 　　The day could not get any better. Sitting in the car as I was driven to the airport. Luke had obediently gotten the ticket, and my flight was in the next thirty minutes. Even though I would not be seeing Betty for the next six hours, I still felt nervous and scared. 　　After going through every procedure to board the plane, I approached the already boarding plane. Luke held me back, and I could see a slight glimpse of fear in his eyes. 　　“Be careful, Ace,” he said, and I smiled weakly. 　　“I would,” I replied. 　　“Bring her back home.” he patted my arm, and I left to get on the plane as nervousness washed over my every being. 　　Taking a deep breath to face the task ahead.