The Mates of Monsters novel Chapter 77

She makes a surprised face. "Can I have your name?"

"Luna Amin. It's an urgent matter."

"Yes, well, the Alpha is quite busy at the moment. I can send him a notice of your request, and I am sure he will speak with you as soon as possible."

I run my tongue over my teeth and rest my elbows on the countertop. "I know I may not look it, but I am very distressed. My advisor is missing, is nowhere to be seen, has vanished from his room, and I have to speak at twelve-fifteen. Your Alpha knows my advisor very well. Now I need to speak with him immediately."

"Of course, Luna. I will try to call him."

"Thank you," I say and step back. Bonny insists we sit down to collect ourselves and think things over, so we take a breather in the large leather armchairs situated as a waiting area. I glance back to the desk, unable to relax, and I see the woman on the phone.

"Brigette!"

Luna Lovegood scuttles into the lobby from the elevators, her mate left behind as she waves and hurries over. Her bright face dims when she surveys the poor mood of both me and my party. She stops before me and asks, "Is everything alright?"

"My advisor is missing," I tell her, still looking to the woman behind the counter.

"Missing? What on earth do you mean?"

"He's just gone. He didn't say he was going somewhere or doing something--he's just gone. So I'm waiting for Alpha Dreier."

Mary leans a tad closer when she asks, "You don't think something bad happened, do you?"

"None of us know what to think."

"Oh, goodness. You'll be giving your speech, won't you? Perhaps all of this will work itself out beforehand. I don't want your message going unheard."

I look to Bonny. "If worst comes to worst, Luna Godoy will read the speech."

Bonny shakes her head and says, "No, Brigette. There won't be a need for that."

"I just--I have a bad feeling about this. Something isn't right. Jeremy has been acting weird ever since we got here, and now he's disappeared? Something happened, and I don't trust Alpha Dreier."

"Darling," Mary nods ahead of us, "there he is."

Alpha Dreier's eyes lock on me like some graceful predator, entering the lobby from a restricted area. He jerks his arms to straighten his sleeves as he walks, so I rise from the leather chair and meet him halfway, not wanting the others to be frightened by whatever horrific details that may slip past his smirk. My mouth downturns and my hands fist at my sides.