**Ethan’s POV
Finding Rosalie was like chasing a moving target. Every ti I felt I was close to her and the baby, she would change locations, and then it felt like she had slipped through my fingers again, and I would have to trail her and move again.
However, this ti, I felt like I was finally getting close enough to her that I was going to catch up to her.
She couldn’t feel the way I could feel her, the way I could feel my baby, anyway.
We arrived in the village of Rustic early one morning after a long night of traveling. I felt that the baby was nearby. His presence was so strong, I could physically feel the tug of my child on , and I was eager to have a look around to see if I could put all of this behind us once and for all.
Visions of a happy reunion danced before my eyes, even though I realized Rosalie might not be pleased to see initially. I would find a way to make her understand that I was there to take her and the baby under my umbrella of safety and make sure that nothing could happen to them.
Not only did I love them and want to be with them, but I also needed to ensure that nothing could ever happen to them.
Rustic was a small village. I let Richard and the rest of the n get settled before I went about going to search for Rosalie. I knew she wasn’t right here in this small town, but I could still feel that the baby was pulling to an area nearby, and my reconnaissance had told that there were several cottages in the woods not too far away.
Perhaps she was staying in one of those hidden hos?
“Alpha, there’s an inn in town. Most travelers would stay there,” Richard reported.
My stomach was twisted up so tight, I thought I might be sick. I had done a good job of hiding it all day, but I knew what I needed to do to relieve the pain and discomfort.
I needed to find them.
“Richard,” I said, just as the sun was beginning to dip beneath the horizon, “I’m going to check the periter. Will you keep an eye on the situation here in the village and let know via the mind-link if anything changes?”
“Of course, sir, but....” Richard stopped speaking, but his eyebrows were nearly touching, he was so concerned.
“What is it?” I asked him, not sure I wanted to hear anything he had to say.
“It’s only... you clearly don’t feel well. Why don’t you stay here and rest? You’ve had a couple of very stressful days.” He gestured toward the ho we’d commandeered as our headquarters. This would be the first ti in weeks we’d actually sleep in a house instead of a vehicle or a tent.
I shook my head. He had no way of knowing that the only way I could ever get any rest was to finally find Rosalie and my child. “I’ll be back soon enough, Richard. Just take care of the situation here, understand?”
He nodded. “Yes, sir. I understand.”
That was all I needed to say, and then I headed out, following the pull within as it tugged along as if a cord within was being yanked by invisible hands, and I had no choice but to march along in a specific direction, my feet moving of their own accord.
I’d seen enough in the war and in the rest of my life not to fear a single beast or man. However, running through the trees in the dark, I was afraid.
I was terrified that she might be gone before I got there, or she might find a way to dissuade from taking her back with .
Though... I couldn’t picture myself leaving this place without that baby in my arms and Rosalie at my side.
A small cabin ca into view in front of , and I got the distinct feeling that my child was in there. The tension inside of was so riveting, I felt like my entire body was being wrenched from inside of . I paused outside to catch my breath and try to figure out what to say to her.
How was I going to make sure she didn’t just slam the door in my face and run away?
It had been over a month since I had to leave Rosalie. Every day and night, I forced myself to focus on what I could do and to bring an end to this war. Everything I’d done was for this mont, so that I could unite with my family again.
Yet here I was, less than a hundred yards from her. I could almost sll her sweet scent. I slowed down and quieted my footfalls.
As I was moving closer, step by step, staring at the cabin I was certain contained the very individuals I’d been searching for, a frantic mindlink ssage from Richard entered my mind. ‘Alpha! We’ve just received an urgent ssage from King Jas and Beta Talon!’
‘Richard, hold on, I only need fifteen minutes. I’ll be right back.’ I tried not to let my irritation co through.
My family was right in front of ; nothing could stop . Everything else could wait.
I was just about to disconnect from the mindlink before I heard his voice raise and his tone filled with panic, ‘Alpha, the capital is under attack. King Jas, the queen, everyone is in danger!’
‘What?’ For a second, I found myself not able to comprehend the news.
‘The capital is under attack by Kal, Alpha! We don’t know how, but the capital is in danger.’
I hadn’t heard Richard sound this panicked before.
My mouth fell open as I finally grasped what Richard was saying.
How was that possible?! We’d pushed the enemy so far, and we were almost winning the war. How the h*ll did they get to the capital?!
F*ck!
Rosalie was so close, right there in front of . I just needed a little more ti....
‘Alpha? Where are you?’
F*ck, f*ck, f*ck!
I’d co this far, and I was so close to my family, I couldn’t possibly turn around right now!
‘I’m in the woods,’ I told Richard. ‘Get everyone ready.’
My voice might sound calm, but my thoughts would not be more chaotic. I wanted to rush over and grab the two people who were most important to and never let them go again.
However, how could I possibly take them with to the capital, knowing how dangerous that could be?
With a war unfolding in the capital, and everything in chaos, taking Rosalie and the baby there wouldn’t be fair.
It wouldn’t be right.
If King Kal were to get his hands on my child, he might do the unthinkable just to get back to .
And Rosalie was clearly in danger with so of the people who were at the capital before the invasion, so taking her there now would put her in an more unsafe position.
I couldn’t let my own selfish needs, the desire to be with them again right that mont, put them in more danger than was necessary.
At that mont, I felt a shift again.
Whether she was fleeing again or had just gone out the back of the cabin to go for a walk, I could tell that Rosalie and the baby were getting further away from .
Things were changing again, and not for the better.
I wasn’t going to be able to stand here much longer and contemplate the situation. I needed to make a decision. I needed to act.
“D*mn it,” I muttered under my breath. What choice did I have other than dropping everything and going back to the capital right away?
My love and my heart was here, but I also had a full city of people who were waiting for my rescue. I couldn’t leave them there to die– kind as Rosalie was, she would never allow to be that irresponsible.
‘Alpha, we’re all back in the truck waiting for you. As soon as you are back, we can leave.’
‘Good. I’ll be back in the village in a few minutes.’
With a heavy heart, I reluctantly turned and headed back toward Rustic, wishing I would’ve had more ti.
I was so close! Rosalie and the baby were within my grasp, but once again, I just missed them.
If only I would’ve had a few more minutes, I would’ve been able to at least talk to her and let her know that everything Soren had told her about was a lie.
However, I knew I couldn’t do that.
I couldn’t bring myself to face her and give her hope, and then turn around imdiately and leave her behind again. If I did that, and I were her, I would never believe a single word from again.
Rosalie had managed to escape again, but I knew in my heart I would find her and my baby once more. I had to trust in the Moon Goddess and fate that we would be together again soday.
I just needed a better opportunity to reunite with her. She deserved my full attention for the rest of my life. If I couldn’t give that to her right now, I had no choice but to wait.
Just like I had no choice but to hurry back to the capital to protect the king and all of the other innocent lives that were at stake.
I picked up speed as I hurried back to where Richard was waiting for .
“Any details?” I needed to know what the direct threat was and what I could do to stop it. As hard as it would be, I had to get my mind off of Rosalie and the baby and focus on the ergency at the capital.
Richard shook his head, “Not much.”
I was surprised that we only had such little detail about the situation. We had no idea what we would return to.
Watching the trees fly past us outside of the car window, I concentrated for a mont and sorted through the threads.
‘Alpha...” Richard was as shocked as , “do you think the battles we’ve been winning at the frontline were just an act?”
“No, I was there. Those were not fake. Richard, contact Samuel and have him and his n et us at the north gate of the capital.”
“Yes, Alpha! What about the frontline?”
“Adler can handle that. I doubt that they were able to move all their troops from the west coast frontline to the capital without us noticing it.”
“You an you think the besiege at the capital is only a bluff?” Richard followed my analysis.
“Richard, they ca across the ocean to our land. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for them, especially now that we cut off their supplies.”
“Then I don’t understand....”
I sneered, “They are more eager to end this war than we are!”
Richard’s eyes lit up with excitent, “Alpha, do you think this is their last attempt? Once we secure the capital, we will win the war?”
I didn’t answer him.
I hoped so, however, I had a feeling that things were not going to go as well as I expected.
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