Chapter 9: Abandoning the Search
**Benard Walter’s POV**
I had been on edge for hours, anxiously awaiting news about Thelma Zane. Deep down, I couldn’t imagine her miraculously reappearing like some magician stepping into the spotlight to reveal that it had all been an elaborate trick. No, the reality was far grimmer than that.
The search party combed the area along the stream relentlessly. They uncovered scattered items: a lone high heel, a broken bracelet, and a tattered piece of blood–stained cloth. Each discovery further solidified my conviction that she was gone. Falling from such a great height, coupled with the injuries she’d sustained, made survival impossible. Even if her body wasn’t found, there was no realistic hope that she was alive.
Meanwhile, my father tried to comfort Mr. and Mrs. Zane, who stubbornly clung to the faintest glimmer of hope. Rhode had joined the search as well, tirelessly scouring the area. My father, drenched in sweat after hours by the riverbank, reassured them with soft words, though I could see the strain in his expression.
As for me, I didn’t share their misguided optimism. The effort seemed futile–an exhausting endeavor driven by denial. It had been over three hours, and for what? A fragile, naive human who would have succumbed long before now. I held back from voicing my thoughts, knowing the others were too blinded by sentiment to accept the truth.
It was laughable, really. Here we were, mighty werewolves, wasting precious time and energy for a mere human. We were supposed to be the superior species, yet we were bowing to the emotional whims of weaker beings. It was absurd. But no one dared to say it aloud, of course. Respect for all species was the law, and openly expressing disdain for humans would be considered barbaric.
Still, in my heart, I knew I had done the right thing. Rejecting Thelma had been my greatest act of self–preservation. Despite the minor chaos that followed, it was far better than having her as my mate. I was destined for greatness, and I couldn’t allow a weak human to drag me down. If she hadn’t accepted the rejection, my father would have forced me to stay with her, bound by tradition and duty.
But there was no room in my life for someone like her. Thelma was fragile, lacking the strength or ability to stand by my side. She didn’t belong in my world.
Her torn, bloodied clothes painted a grim picture–one that should have convinced the others to abandon their fruitless search. If she had drowned, her body wouldn’t have drifted far. If a predator had claimed her, there would have been clearer signs. Yet, despite the obvious, her father had sent teams to comb the surrounding forest, unwilling to give up hope of finding her.
How long would we continue this charade? Searching the stream and forest for hours without results should have been enough for anyone with common sense to realize it was over. And
Chupf & Abandoning tar Search.
yet, my father stood at the cliff’s edge, deep in thought, unwilling to call it off.
It was frustrating to watch. This endless, futile search was wasting a perfectly good night. If they wanted to grieve, they could do so tomorrow–or not at all. Most of the pack would move on by morning. Only her parents would truly mourn her absence. For the rest of us, Thelma’s loss was insignificant.
“Father,” I said, pulling him aside. “You need to let everyone go back and rest.”
His face was etched with regret, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. He was a responsible leader, but this misplaced guilt was unnecessary. He had done nothing wrong. In fact, he had done more for Thelma than anyone else ever would.
“But-
“Father,” I interrupted gently but firmly, “everyone is exhausted. We can’t keep searching indefinitely. She was only human. Even I might not have survived that fall, let alone her. We have to face reality. There’s no point in lying to ourselves anymore.
He sighed heavily, his broad shoulders sagging under the weight of my words. I had never- seen him look so defeated, and for a moment, it struck me how much he had aged. The once unshakable Alpha now seemed burdened by responsibilities too great for one man to bear.
But his silence stirred a quiet resentment in me. Thelma didn’t deserve this level of devotion. She was weak, always leaning on others, and now she had dragged the entire pack into this pointless search. Did she think the world revolved around her just because her parents doted on her?
This was only one rejection. Life would throw countless more obstacles in her path. If she couldn’t handle this, how could she have ever hoped to survive in our world? She was unworthy of such an effort.
After a long pause, my father finally nodded. “You’re right,” he admitted reluctantly. He turned toward Mr. and Mrs. Zane, his expression a mixture of sadness and resolve.
“Jim, I’m so sorry,” he began softly. “It’s late, and everyone is tired…”
Mrs. Zane, her eyes red and swollen from crying, forced a small, trembling smile. “We understand,” she said, though her voice wavered. “Thelma is probably…
She didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant.
My father sent out a mind–link, informing the search teams that it was time to return. There was no point in continuing to wade through the icy stream or stumble through the dark forest. It was time to head back to the warmth of our homes, to rest, and to let go of this hopeless
endeavor.
As we walked back toward the packhouse, the air was thick with unspoken emotions. The weight of the night pressed down on us all, but no one dared to voice their thoughts.
It was over. Whether or not Thelma’s body was ever found didn’t matter. Her parents would grieve, but the rest of us would move on.
And 171 felt a strange sense of relief. This chapter was finally closing, and I was free to focus on my future–a future unburdened by the weakness of a human mate.
די
C
