Chapter 232 The Phone Full of Missed Calls

Chapter 232: Chapter 232 The Phone Full of Missed Calls

The line went dead.

Alpha Sebastian stared at the unfamiliar number on his screen. His first instinct was to blame Beta Jordan for leaving the contact unnamed. Then he remembered giving that order himself. No name, no record, just a number quietly added to his whitelist.

He turned the phone toward Beta Jordan. "Whose number is this?"

Beta Jordan glanced at it. "Sam’s, Alpha. You had me buy the phone, set up the plan, and save your number."

"Then why was he calling all night?" A chill ran down Alpha Sebastian’s spine. "Find out what happened."

Beta Jordan was already dialing the caregiver.

"Sam doesn’t get overlooked," Alpha Sebastian said sharply. "Do you understand? Nothing happens to that boy."

Because if it did, the last thread connecting him to Eira would be gone.

--

By dusk, the precinct received word that Sam was awake and able to answer questions.

A deputy drove to the hospital and arrived minutes after Kate and Barry came in from Palo Alto. Because Sam was still weak and easily overwhelmed, they entered one at a time.

To everyone’s surprise, Sam did not panic at the uniform. He answered what he could in a quiet, cooperative voice.

Alpha Killian explained that Sam had become terrified when anyone reached toward his head. He also told the deputy how the sight of a white coat had sent the boy into a full panic.

The deputy wrote everything down, thanked them, and left.

At the door, Kate offered him a professional smile.

"Deputy, please send anything related to Sam Miller’s case directly to me. Kate Morgan. I’m Dr. Crawford’s assistant and Mr.Sterling’s chief of staff."

The deputy nodded and left.

Kate and Barry entered the room.

The air smelled of antiseptic.

Eira sat on a low stool beside Sam’s bed, while Alpha Killian stood behind her shoulder, tall and steady. Both turned when the door opened.

Kate and Barry greeted them quietly, then looked toward Sam. Neither approached right away. They waited to see whether he would tense.

Sam did not.

Only then did they move closer. Eira pointed them toward the two empty chairs.

A nurse knocked and stepped inside. She carried Sam’s battered phone on a plastic tray.

"We tried this first," she explained, handing it to Eira. "It was powered off, so we checked the emergency contact listed in the file. The only number saved in his contacts was this one. He called it repeatedly last night, but no one answered."

Her voice softened.

"When children are given a way to reach someone, the adults need to make sure that number stays active."

Eira lowered her eyes. "You’re right. I understand."

"The phone needs to be charged."

"I’ll get a charger," Kate said.

She left and returned a few minutes later with a charging cable and a brand-new phone still in its box.

Eira plugged in Sam’s old phone. When the screen finally lit up, she looked at him, silently asking permission.

Sam gave a small nod.

The newer phone was covered in scratches. A spiderweb crack spread across one corner of the screen. It could have been dropped. It could have been thrown.

Eira opened the contacts.

There was only one number. No name.

The call log showed more than twenty calls from the previous night, placed one after another in the dark hours.

Alpha Sebastian had not answered a single one.

Anger rose hot in Eira’s chest. Then Sam’s hand found hers.

His fingers curled around one of hers.

"Sis," he whispered.

Her anger softened into something painful.

"You were trying to reach me last night, weren’t you?"

Sam gave a faint nod.

"Sis."

"I know." She smoothed his hair. "But that number doesn’t reach me. I’m giving you a new phone. I’ll save my number under ...Sis.’ If you need anything, you call me. Only me. Okay?"

Sam watched her with tired, uncertain eyes.

Kate handed Eira the new phone. Eira entered her number, called it, and saved the contact in front of him.

Sis.

She placed the phone in Sam’s hand, then stepped into the doorway and answered her own call.

"Hey, Sam. It’s your sister."

Sam tightened his grip on the phone and smiled.

The small smile went straight through Eira’s heart.

She had barely returned to his bedside when the old phone buzzed.

Only two people had access to that number. Alpha Sebastian or Beta Jordan.

Eira’s expression turned cold. She answered and placed the call on speaker.

"Sam?" Alpha Sebastian’s voice came through, warm and careful. "It’s me. Your sister’s husband. I was asleep last night and missed your calls. What’s wrong, buddy? Is there something you need to tell your sister? Take your time. I can pass the message along."

The same smooth voice that had lied to adults and frightened children without blinking.

"Enjoying yourself, Sebastian?" Eira asked.

A sharp clatter came through the phone, followed by a stunned silence.

"Eira?" His voice changed. "You found Sam?"

"Oh, I found him." Her tone was colder than the winter wind outside. "Thanks to you. After you dumped him at that so-called special school, he fell from a second-story window and ended up in surgery."

"Eira, wait. I can explain. I didn’t..."

She ended the call.

Then she set the old phone aside and pulled out her own.

Alpha Killian watched her scroll to a contact labeled Susan. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Susan," Eira said. "I want to file a civil claim against Sebastian Hale and Serena Winthrop. Start the process tonight."

"Tonight?" Susan asked.

"I found Sam. So yes. Tonight."