Kalen POV

Something must have happened with that woman I saw leaving as I watched Everly leave. She seemed upset, turning back to Valarian and little Casey. Both were in a mood.

“Poppy, can you get us a drink?” Valarian asked, and I smiled. He looked so much like Valen when he was his  age, his big amber eyes looking back at me reminded me of his father, though Valen had grown out of his dimples.

“Of course. What would you like?” I asked them both.

“Banana milkshake,” Casey squealed, and I smiled before looking at Valarian, though I had a funny feeling of what he would ask for before he said it, especially if he was indeed like his father.

“Vanilla, please,” I nodded, happy I was right before looking around for the servers. Not seeing any, I spied the bar, which only had a small line.

“Okay, wait here; I will be right back. I am just going over there,” I point the bar out, which was only a couple of meters away before stepping through the playground’s safety gate. Excited for the day I planned out to distract the kids.

It kind of reminded me of when I used to take Valen out. Every Sunday was our day. Every Sunday was an adventure when he was a small boy, always hunting for unknown places to take him.

I place the kid’s orders and order them some subs to take with us too, before turning to look back at them. I waved before realizing they were gone.

Two minutes, if that, I had turned around for only a few moments and they just disappeared. Racing back to the playground, I searched the tunnels, climbed into the cubbyholes at the top, and checked the slides. They were gone, and my stomach sank, my heart racing like a drum at the thought of losing them.

“Hey, the kids, the kids that were in here, did you see where they went?” I asked, grabbing a security guard’s arm. He looked behind me at the playground and shrugged.

“I didn’t see any kids, Alpha Kalen,”

“I want all hotel security looking for a boy and girl. The girl is in a pink dress with, um, um, what is the name?” I tried to think of the name of that show she liked, the one Valen complained about. “Trolls, it’s a pink troll’s dress, the boy a light blue button-up shin and navy slacks,” the guard stans rattling off their descriptions across his radio before

turning to me. “Their names?”

“Casey and Valarian,” I tell him scanning the wine the gardens for any trace of them. How could I lose them, and why would they leave?

“And whose kids are they are?”

” My grandkids just fucking find them,” I snapped, darting off and yanking my phone from my pocket. My hands shook as I punched in the numbers, I dial my son’s number again, missing a couple of numbers in my haste as I ran through the foyer, looking for any sign of them. I manage to dial the correct numbers a few seconds later, scanning the place while I wait for my son to answer.

thought of what I was about to tell him, and I felt sick like I was about to throw up. Everly, and he would never trust me again. My

ribs, so hard I was at serious risk of heart attack. Do these kids not realize I am old? I can’t

I lost the

do you mean, you lost them?” my

and I turned around. They were gone,” I panicked, racing through the restaurants and bars,

gone far; I am on

ring Everly,” I tell him,

let’s see if we can find them first. They couldn’t have left the hotel,”

them, the entire security personnel was searching, and even a few police has showed up to help me search the damn place when

my phone out, I called my son back to let him know, and he told me he was nearly here. No doubt to rouse at the kids for hiding on me. Wal king into the kitchens, both kids were sitting on milk crates, the chef standing over them with his arms folded not

the mayor’s wife’s food,” the chef tells me, and

you two been up to

to my mum,” Valarian huffs, and

“Who was?”

up and walking to the double doors.

do?” I asked

called us riff-raff,” Valarian says, and

You should have told me. Your father is distraught and on his

food?” “No, caught them just in time,

he nods, handing me a tray that had escargot on it and a bowl of soup. I give the children a scolding look before noticing a snail in Casey’s hand and chuckle. “Were you going to put live ones

Valarian pouted before glaring out the doors at the woman. I glanced around and noticed the chef

tell the kids, placing the

“Huh?”

pocket. How many did this kid stow away? Valarian giggles when a waitress

she says, sending me

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