Chasing His Scentless Mate (Caroline) novel Chapter 341

Chapter 341: Chapter 341 No Trace

Ava’s POV

My chest tightened painfully as I stared at my phone.

Indefinite leave? Without telling me? Without answering my calls?

I couldn’t breathe as I leaned against the wall in the hallway. My lungs felt like they were shrinking, refusing to take in enough air.

I’d been avoiding the obvious conclusion for days, trying to convince myself there was some innocent explanation for my mother’s disappearance. A broken phone. A busy work schedule. Maybe she was angry with me.

But I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. My mother, like my grandmother, had vanished.

I was alone now.

"Ava?" Caroline’s voice came from down the hall. "Are you okay?"

I quickly wiped away the tears and forced a smile. "Actually, I’m not feeling great. I think I might need to head home and rest."

Caroline frowned, approaching me with concern. "What’s wrong? You look really pale."

"Just a migraine," I lied, unable to burden her with my problems. Not when she was days away from her wedding. "I took some medicine, but I think I need to lie down."

"Of course," Caroline said, touching my arm gently. "Do you want Nina to drive you home?"

I shook my head. "She’s busy with the seating arrangements. I’ll grab a rideshare."

"I’m sure," I insisted, forcing another smile. "This is your big week. I just need a few hours of rest, and I’ll be back to help tomorrow."

Caroline hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. But text me when you get home, and don’t worry about tomorrow morning. Come when you’re feeling better."

I hugged her quickly, feeling terrible for lying to her. "Thanks, Caroline. Everything’s going to be beautiful."

I wasn’t heading to Nina’s apartment. Instead, I directed the driver to my mother’s house.

As the car pulled up to the apartment building, I felt my anxiety spike. The last time I’d left was when my mother had tried to use a magical spell to force me to leave Harbor Bay with her.

I paid the driver and walked up the familiar path, fishing out my spare key from my purse.

"Mom?" I called out as I pushed the door open. My voice sounded small in the silent house. "Mom, are you home?"

Nothing.

I moved through the entryway, noticing immediately that something felt off. The house was clean – too clean. No mail piled on the side table. No coffee mug in the sink.

"Mom?" I called again, louder this time, though I already knew I wouldn’t get an answer.

I checked every room. Everything was clean and organized, but no signs of her.

When I reached her bedroom, I hesitated before pushing the door open.

Her clothes were all there. Her suitcase was on the top shelf.

I sank onto her bed, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. There were no signs of a struggle. No indication of a hasty departure. Everything was in its place, except for my mother.

I picked up her framed photo from the nightstand – the one of her holding me as a baby, my grandmother standing proudly beside us. Three generations of women with the same secrets.

"Has your mother been stressed lately? Work problems? Money trouble?"

"No, nothing like that." At least nothing she told me about.

The detective continued with her questions. Had my mother mentioned any enemies? Any strange occurrences? Any changes in behavior?

I answered as honestly as I could without mentioning anything supernatural. No, my mother didn’t have enemies. No, she hadn’t mentioned feeling threatened. Yes, she was a private person who kept to herself.

After nearly an hour of questions, Detective Morris closed her notebook. "We’ll open a missing persons case for Odelia Trollpoe. I recommend you reach out to any other family members or friends who might have heard from her. Sometimes people just need space."

"She wouldn’t just disappear," I insisted, frustration building in my chest. "Something happened to her."

"We’ll investigate thoroughly, Miss Flynn," Detective Morris said, like she thought I was making a big deal out of nothing. "In the meantime, here’s my card. Call if you think of anything else that might help."

I took the card, knowing the detective didn’t believe there was real danger. To her, my mother was just another adult who had chosen to take some time away.

By the time I left the police station, it was past eight o’clock. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. There was a small diner across the street – nothing fancy, just a place where I could sit and think about my next steps.

The diner was nearly empty. I slid into a booth in the corner and ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and coffee. When the food arrived, I just stared at it, pushing it around with my fork.

"My mom used to say playing with food means you’re either not hungry or too hungry for your brain to work right."

I looked up, startled by the familiar voice.

It was Alpha Kenneth.

"I’m sorry to intrude," Kenneth said with a gentle smile. "But you look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. I couldn’t help but notice."