Ares' POV

      I don't know how long I've been laying here on the floor, staring at the door of the apartment waiting for him to come back. My back is against the counter and I'm curled up, my face against the cold tile as I watch the entrance, barely blinking, not wanting to miss him coming in. It took me a while to calm down, to breath enough to realize that maybe I had gotten too rowdy with him.  That maybe I got too loud and triggered his flight or fight response.

     I couldn't back down, though, when I saw how defensive he got. Maybe I should have let it go and come back to it later when we were both calm. Maybe I should have walked away or just left it alone once he came in. There's too many maybes going on in my head and not enough assurances happening.

    The only concrete thing that I'm holding on to, is that Thomas swore to me that he would never leave. That he would never leave me high and dry like my mother did my dad and despite the turmoil that went through me before, I know I believe that.

    Which is why I'm starting to get worried about him not being back yet. Vampires are usually very emotional the first couple months because for once, they aren't feeling their emotions down a tunnel, so I knew he needed to get away, but as I force myself off the floor and look at the clock, I see it's been three hours since he left.

     After the realization, I begin to get worried that much more. About two hours ago I felt this bad feeling go over me, starting from my spine to the back of my neck and pain went through me. At first I thought it was just a reaction to him being away, but now. Now I'm not so sure. Before I panic, I decide to go looking for him in his favorite spots, hoping and praying that he'll be at one of them. He has to be because if this sinking feeling I have is correct, shit is going to get real ugly real fucking fast.

I grab my keys off of the table by the door, and head out, my sneakers and phone the only thing I carry with me. I run down the stairs, hopping into me car before turning it on, barely letting myself throw my seat belt on before I peel out the parking lot and decide to start from the furthest to the closest.

I make a left at my street and head to the south side, the drive thirty minutes until I'm pulling into the driveway at of Graves' house that he got with Cora. I hop out the car, walking up the drive way with my heart thudding, my anxiety not being able to settle without Thomas in my line of sight. And the feeling is only going to get worse.

I knock on the door and wait impatiently, my head on a swivel as I wait for someone to answer the door. It only takes a minute before it's is being swung open to reveal Graves who has a frown on his face, but I could give not one fuck about the look right now.

"What's up?" He asks me, his eyes searching my face, no doubt taking in the yanked hair, blood shot eyes and tear stained cheeks but I pay the curious gaze no mind.

"Have you seen Thomas? He left the apartment upset." I ask him and his face softens, the frown gone as he comes to an understanding.

"No, he's not here. Maybe you should wait it out, give him some spaceto cool down." He tries to tell me and I have to force my lip not to curl in disgust at the man.

"It's been three hours, Graves. He never just disappears like this. I think he's in trouble." I tell him and he leans against the doorframe, the cocky bastard way too calm in this situation for my liking.

"Why did he leave?" He asks me and I already know that this conversation is dead to him, but I have to try to get through his thick ass skull, if only to find my kitten.

"We got into an argument." I tell him and grit my teeth when he looks at me in amusement.

"Okay, so a little trouble in paradise, big deal. I'm sure he's just somewhere cooling down. He'll be back by tomorrow morning at the latest." He tells me but I'm already walking away from him, my back instantly turned once I knew he wasn't listening. My kitten is out there and I can feel that something is wrong and if he doesn't want to help me, I'll get shit done myself.

I get back into the car, not giving a fuck about the seat belt before I'm swerving out of the driveway and speeding my way down the road towards the pack lands back in the center of the city. With my disregard for any laws at the moment, it takes me less than fifteen minutes to get to that side of town. I'm passing through the entrance, nodding to the man at the station before I make my way further into the pack, making a right after the Pack House. I finally arrive at Cody's house and I open the door of the car to slide out and take long strides up to the house and up the steps to knock on the door.

There's no response for a few minutes so I knock on the door again, harder this time as my impatience and fear of being too late continue to lazily crawl up my spine, my body shaking in adrenaline and terror.

Finally after a few minutes the door opens to a sleepy looking Cody, who doesn't have his glasses on so it takes the bean a moment to recognize me after he rubs the sleep from his eyes.

"Come in." He tells me, and I think about arguing with him, but decide against it, not needing someone else upset with me at the moment, especially someone that would help me find my lover. My kitten. My Thomas.

I follow Cody's small form into the house, unable to shake the frown from my face as I do, walking down the familiar hallway with him until we reach the kitchen. I'm vibrating inside myself as my thoughts swirl around in panic, self-hatred, and doubt.

He would never just leave and not come back. Even though he ran away I know he would have come back when he calmed down. He's hot headed not passive aggressive, he should have been home. He should be in my arms so I could tell him I'm sorry and hold him against me. Fuck, why did I leave? He might be coming up now and not find me there. But I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. And that feeling is telling me that if I kept my cool and walked away, he wouldn't be in danger. And that little voice is messing me up right now, screwing my already fucked mental state.

I jump when a cup of tea gets set down in front of me, not expecting it. I look up to see Cody holding his own, his brows furrowed in worry. "There's something wrong. What happened?" He asks me.

I grit my teeth and grab the cup in front of me, needing something in my hands to stop the shaking that I no longer know if it's from fear or anger.

"I think Thomas is missing." I tell him and he put his cup down beside he places his hands on the table and lean forward.

"Missing? Why would he be missing?" He asks me his friends deepening as he stares at the counter in front of him. I steel myself for his reaction, hoping it's not similar to Graves' but already knowing it probably is.

"We got into a fight and he ran out. His phone is dead and he's been gone for three hours. Thomas isn't one to just disappear for hours at a time, Cody. Something doesn't feel right." I tell him and he look at me with his eyes narrowed and head tilted as he thinks.

"I know him being away from you with your first real fight is scary, but don't jump to conclusions on this one. Go check Chloe's house. Don't overreact, okay?" He tells me softly and I don't even answer as I set the cup of tea down and get up. I turn around to see James coming in the room, his head a mess from bed.

"Ares? What are you doing here?" He asks me and I continue walking towards the door, not pausing as I answer.

"Leaving." I tell him, keeping it short and I hear him begin to talk to Cody but I don't listen or care as I make my way out of the house, closing the door behind me before I make my way back to my car. I make the five minute trip to Alex's house, not even bothering to lock the car after I get out, sure I'm going to be on my way out of the pack soon enough.

I knock on the last door I can think of, ready to get this over with before I can be on my way and come face to face with Chloe and I have to stop my lip from curling when I remember that he was one of the last people to see my spitfire happy, my jealously irrational but real.

"Hey. Where's Thomas?" He asks and I immediately know this is a waste of time. I turn in my heel about to leave when a hand catches my arm making me turn around slowly with a raised brow.

Chloe is standing there with his nails digging into me as I look at him, but the sternest doesn't phase him as he tightens his grip on my arm. "Where's Thomas?" He repeats harsher and I allow my eyes to glare red before I raise my lip in a snarl, making him let go of my arm like it's burning coal as he gasps and steps back.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be here looking for him. Everyone says he needs a break. He's missing and I won't stop until I find him." I tell him and he looks terrified of me and though I'm anxious to get to my kitten I take a deep breath and force my eyes back to grey in guilt. "I'm sorry. I just need to find Thomas so I know he's okay." I tell him and though he still seems shaken, he's steadier than a second ago.

"He'll turn up by morning. If he doesn't, then we'll help you find him." He tells me weakly and though my temper flares at the same bullshit answer I keep getting, I nod stiffly and turn in my heel to make my way back to my car. I start it up and get on the road, not turning back to the people who are supposed to be his friends.

They say wait until the morning but so much can happen in three hours, much less fifteen plus. But it's alright. If they don't want to help me find my sweet kitten, they don't have to help, I already have people who will.

I turn on my phone and scroll through my contacts until I find the first name I need. "Yo. Meet me at the corner Fifth and Hell." I tell him gruffly, letting myself fall back into Ares, the man with no moral and always wins, leaving behind Zack, the one who learn about love and started to heal. "And bring the supplies."

~~~~~~~~~
I know this is mildly inappropriate but this use of Zack is so fucking hot. I love him so much. What do you guys think about everyone not believing him?

Thoughts?

Comments?

QOTD: Would you become a stripper?