The party continued, but my thoughts were with Clara. Time dragged on, and as the night fell, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. The guests and pack members were gone. Randolf had not returned, and neither had Clara. I glanced at the watch on my wrist; midnight had come and gone.
Unable to bear it any longer, I reached out to Randolf through the mindlink. “Randolf, where is Clara? She hasn’t come back yet.”
His response was cold and distant. “Why are you asking me that? I came to the pack hospital an hour ago for urgent matters."
I was taken aback. “You left Clara alone in the woods? You should have at least informed me!”
There was a brief pause before he replied, “I had no choice. It was urgent. Besides, she was having so much fun in the woods."
Something in his voice made my annoyance spark. “You should have brought her back before you left. She’s only six years old! You can’t just abandon her like that.”
Randolf’s response was curt. “I’m dealing with important issues, Haley. I can’t be everywhere at once.”