It's Always Something - 14. Chapter 14

John's call went to voicemail after receiving the nine-one-one text from his son, then he felt a disturbance in his gut and knew his boy was in danger. He called George and asked him to inform the family and to put everyone on high alert while they weren't together. Then he gathered a couple of Deputies to help search, jumped into his truck, put the flashing bubble on the roof, enabled the siren, and sped over to Magic Manor.

"This is my night to set this town a-rockin' on its heels. This is my night to go crazy just to see how it feels. I'm gonna dress up, gonna let my hair down. Like a wild cat on the prowl. This is my, my, my night to howl." Rhylan let his wolf's howl out as he drove to the DMV, singing along to Lorrie Morgan's song "My Night To Howl." from her Nineteen-ninety-four album, "War Paint."

When he pulled into the parking space and looked through the window, the raven-haired teen was happy there weren't too many people waiting to be called. He opened the door and walked inside. However, as everyone knows with DMV, looks can be deceiving. An hour and a half later, he walked out the door, exasperated but ecstatic that he'd taken care of half of his mate's birthday present.

The teen climbed up into his truck, then happily sighed and smiled as he looked at the picture of Fabien on his dashboard. "You're worth any and everything, my beautiful leprechaun," he softly said. Closing his eyes, the bond with his mate vibrated, and he felt Fabien's thoughts and love. "I love you, Ian," he telepathically communicated and grinned when he heard the Irish teen respond with his declaration of love.

Rhylan had just started the pickup when his phone rang. "Hey, Dad... What... I'll be there in about ten to fifteen minutes, depending on traffic, I'm across town at the DMV." He tossed his phone in the passenger seat, backed up, and turned right onto Dogwood Avenue. "If someone's hurt Ethan, I'm ripping limbs first and asking questions later," he growled as the GMC threw rocks into the ditch and across the road when he turned into the Manor's gravel drive.

*****

Magic Manor was in turmoil once everyone learned of Ethan's disappearance. No one was more distraught about his best friend missing than Alex. His tears streamed down the young man's face as he talked to John and the Deputies about the last time he'd seen Ethan. The two-tone-haired teen was still emotional when Rhylan arrived, rushed over, and lovingly embraced him. He repeated everything he'd said previously through heavy sobs when the young shifter asked what happened. John stood silently on the side and listened for any deviation from what he was told and was relieved when the story remained predominantly the same, the only alteration being Alex interjecting his apology for not being more attentive. Tears splashed on Alex's head as Rhylan pushed all his comforting and love-filled energy into his cousin's best friend.

"It's okay, Lexie," Rhylan said. "We'll find Ether."

"Wherever he is, I just hope he's not suffering or in pain," Alex said.

“That's our hope also, baby bro." Rhylan offered. He released the embrace, guided Alex to George's open arms, then walked over to his Uncle and hugged him. "Anything useful yet, Uncle John," he asked.

"Nothing yet, Nephew. Your brother's in wolf form and is assisting in trying to follow Ethan's scent."

"Anything I can do to help, let me know, and pray you or your Deputies find our lost one before us," Rhylan firmly stated with a fire burning in his eyes. Despite the circumstances, his wolf howled with joy when he felt the presence of his red-haired mate. Calmness and love filled the teen's body when Fabien's slender arms wrapped around his waist from behind and his boy's head pressed into the back of his shoulders.

"I love you, Wolfie/Leprechaun," they said in unison.

"How can we help, Uncle John," Cameron asked as he hugged and kissed the older man.

"Just you guys showing up and supporting your family is help enough, Cammer," John replied.

Alvora and Declan arrived with a folding table, platters of various sandwiches, and thermoses filled with hot coffee, hot chocolate, and tea. After setting everything up, they joined the family.

"We knew everyone searching would need something to sustain their energy, especially with shifters in the mix," Declan said.

"You guys are amazing angels," one of the Deputies said as he approached the group.

"Yes, thank you, my brother and sister," John stated as he wiped the tears from his eyes. He got on the radio, telling the search party to take turns returning to the main lawn for hot beverages and sandwiches.

Taylor returned with his head hung down. "I'm sorry, Uncle, but the trail ran cold at the edge of the forest at the back of the building. I can't explain it because the scent just seemed to stop."

"You did your best, my son," George said, placing his arm around the younger shifter. "God, Goddess, and the Great Spirit are watching over us and will keep our lost boy safe."

"I wonder if the disappearance has anything to do with whatever Ethan picked up just before he went to call you, Uncle John," Alex said. He jumped when everyone suddenly turned to face him.

"What," Rhylan asked.

"Lex, you didn't say anything about Ethan picking something up before going to his truck," John softly said as he gently placed his hands on the young man's shoulders.

"I'm sorry, it's just everything's been swirling in my head, and it got misplaced in my memory banks," Alex cried as he bear-hugged John.

"It's okay, young one," George said. He sent a sense of comforting energy into the teen and calmed him by lightly stroking his hair.

Alex's breathing slowed, and his mind settled enough to relay everything from when Mystofelles returned asking if he'd seen a black disc.

Fabien and Rhylan shared a glance and walked over to the abandoned truck. They walked around the vehicle and saw the shallow indentation around the driver's side door. “Uncle John, have you seen this," the couple asked in unison.

John and the rest of the family gathered around them. "I missed this in all the chaos," he said before getting one of the guys to dust for fingerprints.

"Uncle, do you have a spare set of gloves?"

"I do. What's up, Rhy?"

"Just a hunch we have," Ian responded.

"Go on, son," Declan encouraged.

"If Ethan picked up something he thought might be evidence of some kind, maybe he stashed it in the bottom of his console. You know he always does that, so nothing important gets lost.

After pulling on the latex gloves, the dark-haired teen opened the truck's door and pulled out the items. "Aha," Rhylan exclaimed. "I think I've hit paydirt," he stated excitedly.

Everyone stared at the discovered disc.

"If this is what this Mystofelles dropped and came back to retrieve, then it would make him a prime suspect in Ethan's disappearance."

"Nice work, bro," Taylor smiled for the first time since learning about his missing cousin and hugged his younger brother.

"That's my Wolfie."

Alex had another thought. "Tay, where did you say Ethan's trail ended?"

"At the forest's edge of the back lawn."

"I think we might have something else to go on. Ethan and I know this place like the back of our hands, and there are multiple entrances to hidden passageways around that area."

"So, that's possibly the reason for the scent suddenly going cold."

"Yeppers." Alex's response gave everyone some much-needed light-hearted comic relief from the distressing circumstances. His eyes sparkled with cautious happiness because he was able to provide something possibly helpful in finding Ethan.

Cameron got everyone's attention with a wolf whistle. "Okay, listen up, guys. Mom, Dad, Ian, and I are going to D&B to get some heartier food and replenish the hot beverages. I'll also have one of the staff on hand, bringing replacement food, as needed."

*****

"Don't worry, young Stormcloud, you'll be back with your family in due time. I only need to complete my plans first, and then this will all be a memory for us both," the slender black suit-clad man said as he lightly stroked the restrained unconscious male's hair.