Abbie's POV
Hunter, Anthony, and I made our way back into our little cave- meaning our room of course.
I sighed as I dropped my purse on the sofa, smiling as Hunter came behind me and kissed my neck, hugging me around my torso.
"Long day, babe?" he asked.
"No. Just... glad we're home. How did Anthony do on his first day?" I asked, hoping he could give me a little insight. Anthony didn't talk much during our meal regarding his first day. It almost seemed he tried to avoid the conversation a little, which concerned me.
"I'm not sure either. He didn't want to say. I guess Henry said he saw a kid bothering him during lunch. I don't know. I'll have Spencer follow him closely and see what's happening. I'd hate to see the kid hurt. He's already been through so much." Hunter says, making me turn and give him a worried look.
"No. Damn it... this is exactly what I didn't want him to go through. Babe, let me go tomorrow. I can rearrange my schedule and visit his school." I suggested, but Hunter cut me off in the middle.
"Abbie, if he sees you in school tomorrow, he'll know we noticed he's having trouble. Spencer is very secretive. Anthony will not even notice he's there. We don't want him to get embarrassed or make him feel like we're overbearing. Let's just see what,"
"NOOO!" our eyes widen as we hear Anthony yell from his room. We frantically ran to him and saw him crying on the floor.
He held a small brown leather bag tightly in his hand, fisting his other hand as he kneeled on the floor.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Hunter asked as he went to him.
"Anthony, are you ok?" I kneeled next to him, placing my hand on his shoulder.
"My... my grandma's amulet. It's... It's gone. I had it in my drawer. It was in here, I know it. It was the last thing I had of her. She told me to guard it with my life. And now... now it's gone." he says through tears. I could hear the pain in his voice, making my heart ache.
I look at Hunter, concerned about what he has just said. Did someone dare come into our room without notice and steal from him? Who would do such a thing? Hunter growled, making Anthony flinch a little. I hugged him, making him sob silently in my arms,
I smelled the air, but no unfamiliar scent hit my nose.
"Are you sure, honey? What if it fell out of the bag? Let's... let's check your drawer first and make sure, ok?"
"I did. I checked all the drawers. It's not there." he says calmly, but so much pain hid behind his voice.
"Henry... I need Nadia, Jocelyn, Peter, and Shawn in my room at once. And find out anyone else who may have come into my room today as well. I need them in my room now." Hunter says in his alpha tone, making me sigh as I look at him with knitted eyebrows. Anthony continued to cry, hugging me softly.
"Yes, alpha. At once." Henry replied.
"Please, alpha... you have to help me find it. It's my grandma's. She told me it's really important that I don't lose it out of sight. Please!" he says, making me close my eyes and grunt in frustration.
The girls that had come in to tidy up our room and the guard that had come to leave a few things for Anthony soon came in and were standing in a single file in front of our sitting area, with hands behind their backs and faces down, looking like sad puppies that just got scolded.
I had Anthony sit on a stool in front of our kitchen island as I held his head while he rested his head on my chest. He was still shedding quiet tears, sniffling from time to time as he refused to let go of the little bag.
"It seems something is missing from my room. All of you should know I have no tolerance for theft. Now speak." Hunter scolded, making them jump in place. They look at each other, a little confused about what he is saying.
"Who dared take the amulet out of Anthony's drawer? WHO? The last thing I will tolerate is for anyone to take what does not belong to,"
"Alpha, it was me." Nadia, one of the younger omegas, says, making Hunter growl. My eyes widened, and I became concerned with her.
Hunter growls again, going to stand in front of her with fisted hands. I signaled one of the girls to stand by Anthony's side as I got in front of the girl and blocked Hunter. He was beyond mad, and the last thing I wanted was for him to make a move he might regret. We needed to find out why she did it first.
"Why?...what gave you the right to take something from him? In my room?" Hunter asked with gritted teeth, looking at the poor omega with his eyes darkened. He was letting Titus out, making me fear for the girl.
"I... I... I didn't mean any harm, honestly!"
"Then why?"
"HUNTER!... let her explain," I said, making him growl slightly.
"I... I came to bring the clothes Luna asked me to buy for Anthony. I was putting it away and rearranging his things when the amulet fell. I... saw it was a little dirty, so... I took it to the jewelry shop for Mr. Gomesto to clean it up. I didn't know you would be back so soon. I... I was going to have it back before you got back home, alpha. I'm sorry." she says as she refuses to look up. Her lips quivered in fear as she cried.
"You better not be lying, omega. Or I'm going to personally break every finger of yours." Hunter says, making me look concernedly at the girl.
"Luna, I swear... I'm telling the truth," she whispered through tears, making me hug her around her shoulders.
"Mr. Gomes. I hear you have something of ours. An amulet." Hunter's mind links the pack's jewelry owner.
"Yes, Alpha," he replies joyfully. Making Nadia look at me with hopeful eyes. I smile at her but can't help but sigh as I see Hunter's back broaden as he fists his hands.
"I apologize, my young Alpha. Nadia told me to be extra careful and quick about it. I wasn't counting on you to be back home so soon. I'm just about done cleaning it. I can have Alonzo take it back to you. He's coming by to pick up the necklace you asked for, Luna." he says, making me raise a brow.
Hunter's expression changed as I looked at him with a raised brow. He clears his throat, lifting his chin and making me chuckle. My cheeks heat a little, making me bite my bottom lip.
"No need. Tell Alonzo I will be heading out there myself. I uh... need to talk to you about uhm... you know what." he says, making me tilt my head a little.
"Very well, alpha. I will be waiting for you," he says, chuckling and closing the mind link.
Hunter looks back, clenching his jaw. He looks at all the kids in our room and sighs. I clear my throat, making him look at me. I tilt my head, gesturing to Nadia and making him grunt.
I clear my throat again, making him huff. "Hunter Alexander Black... you apologize to the girl!" I mind linking him, making him growl lightly.
"No."
"Hunter!" I mind linking again, making him grunt.
"Nadia... I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so quick to lose my temper. I... apologize." he whispered the last part, making me chuckle inwardly.
"Hunter!"
"I'm sorry, Nadia," he says, making her look up at him slightly, whipping away her tears.
"Alpha, I'm the one that needs to apologize. I.. I should have asked if it was ok for me to take it. Anthony, I'm sorry. I didn't need to upset you."
"It's ok, Miss Nadia. You didn't mean to. Thank you for taking care of my Grandma's amulet." Anthony says, still sad but glad to know his grandma's amulet was ok.
"You're all dismissed. Anthony, let's get your grandma's amulet. Come on, buddy." Hunter says Ashe holds his hand out for Anthony, dismissing everyone else.
"I'll come with you," I say, smiling at them.
"No!" Hunter says quickly, making me widen my eyes and mouth gawks open.
"What?"
"I... mean.. You must be tired, baby. Besides, remember you have a lot of paperwork to catch up on. Didn't you say you had that, uh..." he says, snapping his fingers, making me cross my hands over my chest in suspicion. He's up to something, and I want to know what!
"No... no, not really."
"Yeah, Anthony, you remember, right? Abbie said she had to study for the exam that was coming up."
"No. She didn't."
" yeah, she did. Come on, buddy, help me out," he says with gritted teeth, whispering at Anthony. Anthony looked at him confused but caught on to Hunter's game, making me roll my eyes. Did they really think I was falling for this bogus act? I scuffed, chuckling as I rolled my eyes.
"Oh... oh, yeah. Abbie, you said the uh... the exam."
"Whatever. Get out of here, you too." I say, waving them off. Hunter and Anthony quickly hug me, kissing my cheek and scurrying off.
"We'll be back soon, baby. I'll make it up. Promise." Hunter says, making me look at him suspiciously.
"I love you," he says, making me chuckle. I kiss his lips and then hit Anthony, kissing the top of his head.
"Look after my nutcase, will you? Don't let him go crazy shopping out there for unnecessary things."
"Ok," Anthony says as he chuckles.
"Bye,"
"Bye, boys," I say, nodding my head and sigh.
I wonder... why is this amulet so important to Anthony? I get it was his grandmother's. But why did he say she asked him to guard it with his life? How important is this amulet to him? Should I be worried?
The last I want is for him to get hurt.