Nathan's POV
The seer stood in the middle of the room, very still.
Too still.
Her eyes were closed. Her lips moved slowly as she whispered words I didn't understand. Symbols carved into the floor glowed faintly beneath her feet, then dimd, then glowed again.
I watched her hands.
They were shaking.
That alone told this was bad.
Then suddenly, she gasped.
Her eyes flew open, wide with shock.
I stepped forward instantly. "What did you see?"
She shook her head once. "I didn't."
My chest tightened. "What do you an you didn't?"
"There is a spell," she said carefully. "A very strong one. Soone has blocked her from being seen."
Anger rushed through so fast I felt dizzy.
"You're a seer," I snapped. "You're supposed to see everything."
She didn't flinch. She just looked at with tired eyes.
"This is not a normal hiding spell," she said. "This was built with intention. With emotion. With obsession."
That word made my wolf snarl.
"So that's it?" I demanded. "You tell my mate is gone and there's nothing we can do?"
"There is sothing," she replied.
I stilled. "Then say it."
She turned fully toward .
"You are her mate," she said slowly. "Your bond with her is older and stronger than any ward placed by another man."
My heart started pounding harder.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"I cannot see her," the seer continued. "But you might be able to feel her. Through the bond."
Peter stepped closer. "Is that safe?"
The seer hesitated.
"It will not be easy," she admitted. "The bond is raw. She is afraid. If I open that door, he will feel everything she feels. Pain. Fear. Confusion."
I didn't hesitate for even a second.
"Do it," I said.
Peter grabbed my arm. "Nathan—"
"She's alone," I cut in sharply. "And soone took her. I don't care what it costs."
The seer nodded slowly. "Sit."
I dropped into the chair without thinking.
She stepped in front of and placed two fingers against my forehead.
"Clear your mind," she instructed. "Do not fight what you see."
She began to chant.
The air around thickened. The room felt smaller. Heavier. Like the walls were closing in.
Then—
Everything dropped away.
I wasn't in the room anymore.
I was sowhere else.
At first, I saw nothing but darkness.
Then shapes ford.
Stone walls.
Dim light.
A narrow room.
My heart jumped painfully.
I knew this wasn't imagination.
This was real.
Then I saw her.
Hailee.
She was sitting on the edge of a bed, her back straight, her hands clenched tightly together in her lap. She looked pale. Smaller sohow. Like the strength had been drained out of her.
"Hailee," I whispered.
I rushed toward her.
But before I could reach her—soone stepped between us.
I stopped short.
Frederick. He stood there calmly, like this was his space. Like he belonged there.
Rage exploded through .
"You," I growled. "So it is you."
Fredrick looked at without surprise. Without fear.
"Yes," he said simply. "It is."
My hands clenched into fists. "Where is she? What have you done to her?"
He didn't answer right away. He glanced over his shoulder—at Hailee.
"She is safe," he said quietly. "Safer than she's ever been."
I laughed bitterly. "You drugged her. You chained her. You kidnapped her. You call that safe?"
He finally looked back at , his eyes hard.
"She belongs to ," he said. "She always has."
Sothing inside snapped.
I lunged at him.
My hands passed straight through his body.
Like smoke.
"No!" I roared, trying again.
Nothing.
I wasn't really there.
This was only a vision.
Fredrick stepped closer, his face inches from mine.
"You should never have left her alone," he said calmly. "That was your mistake."
The room began to blur.
"No," I snarled. "You don't get to keep her."
His voice followed as everything fell apart.
"You're too late."
I gasped violently and slamd back into my body.
Air rushed into my lungs like I had been underwater.
I fell forward onto my hands, breathing hard, my chest burning.
"Nathan!" Peter was at my side instantly. "What did you see?"
I lifted my head slowly, my hands shaking.
"It's Fredrick," I said hoarsely. "He took her."
The room went silent.
Peter's jaw tightened. "Are you sure?"
"I saw him," I growled. "I felt him. He blocked the magic. He planned this."
My wolf snarled inside , restless and furious.
"We need to find him," I said. "Now."
Peter nodded once. "I know soone who might help."
Hope flickered weakly in my chest.
"Who?" I asked.
"Soone who's kept tabs on Fredrick for years," Peter replied. "Soone who knows where he disappears to when he doesn't want to be found."
"Where are you going?" I demanded as he turned.
"I'll be back," he said. "Don't move."
He left the room.
And suddenly, I was alone.
I paced.
My wolf paced with .
Every second without her felt wrong. Empty. Like a piece of my soul had been ripped out.
Fredrick.
Quiet. Always watching.
I should have noticed.
I should have seen the way his eyes followed her. The way he always positioned himself close. The way he waited.
Minutes stretched.
Then footsteps.
Peter rushed back in, his face pale but determined.
"I know where they are," Peter said.
I turned to him so fast my neck hurt. "Where."
"A house," he replied. "About two hours' drive from here. Old. Hidden. Off the main roads."
My wolf surged forward instantly.
"Then we go," I said. "Now."
Peter didn't argue.
Within minutes, the mansion was alive with movent. Warriors poured into the yard. Engines roared to life. Doors slamd. Orders were shouted. No one asked questions. They could see it on my face.
This was not a rescue mission.
This was war.
I got into the front car with Peter. The door shut, and the engine growled beneath us.
The mont the car started moving, my wolf went wild.
He paced inside , slamming against my ribs, snarling, clawing, restless and furious.
"She's scared," my wolf growled. "She's afraid. She's hurting."
"I know," I whispered, gripping the seat so hard my knuckles turned white.
Every mile felt too slow.
The road stretched endlessly ahead of us, dark trees lining both sides like silent witnesses. The sky had turned a dull gray, heavy with clouds. Even the world felt tense.
"She's close," I muttered suddenly.
Peter glanced at . "You feel her?"
"Yes," I said through clenched teeth. "Faint. Weak. But she's there."
My wolf howled softly inside , a sound full of pain and longing.
"She's waiting," he said. "She thinks we won't co."
"That bastard," I growled. "He thinks he's hidden her from ."
The car sped up.
The closer we got, the worse it felt.
My chest tightened. My breathing grew shallow. Sothing was wrong.
Very wrong.
"Slow down," I said suddenly.
Peter frowned. "Why?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But sothing feels off."
The driver slowed slightly as we turned onto a narrow dirt road. The trees grew thicker here, blocking out most of the light. The house ca into view slowly—large, old, stone-built, sitting far too quietly in the middle of nowhere.
No lights.
No movent.
My heart slamd against my ribs.
"This is it," Peter said quietly.
The cars stopped.
Doors opened.
Warriors stepped out, weapons ready, senses sharp.
I got out of the car—and froze.
My wolf went silent.
Right in front of the house…
Bodies.
Dead bodies.
They were scattered across the yard and near the entrance. So lay face down in the dirt. Others were slumped against trees. Blood stained the ground, dark and drying.
My stomach dropped.
"No…" I whispered.
I walked forward slowly, my legs heavy.
One of the warriors knelt and checked a body. He looked up at , grim.
"They're dead, Alpha."
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