Kael’s POV
I’d searched everywhere. Every corner of ridian Territory. Every street. Every alley. Every hole-in-the-wall dive that might hide a desperate woman.
Nothing.
Aria had vanished like smoke.
*She’s gone,* Fenrir whimpered in my mind. *Our mate is gone.*
I didn’t need him to remind . The hollow ache in my chest did that just fine.
I pulled up to "Moonlit Velvet" for the fourth ti this week. The neon sign flickered against the dark sky. Mocking . Taunting with mories of silver eyes and moonflower scent.
The manager looked terrified when he saw push through the doors.
"Mr. Blood Crown." He scrambled out from behind the bar. "I already told you everything I know—"
"Tell again."
"She quit." His hands were shaking. "Three days ago. Didn’t give notice. Just called and said she wasn’t coming back. That’s all I know. I swear."
"Did she say where she was going?"
"No, sir. She didn’t say anything. Just that she was done."
I grabbed the front of his shirt. Hauled him closer.
"Think harder."
"I—I really don’t know!" His voice cracked. "Please! She never talked about her personal life. She just worked and went ho. That’s it!"
I released him. He stumbled back. Crashed into a table.
Pathetic.
This whole situation was pathetic.
I walked out without another word.
The night air was cold. Sharp. It cut through my jacket like a blade.
Where was she?
I’d checked her family’s place. That was a nightmare I didn’t want to repeat. Moira had tried to offer her other daughters. Serena had practically thrown herself at . Lyra had watched with jealous eyes.
None of them knew where Aria had gone.
I’d even checked the hospital. Discreetly. Through back channels. But the records were sealed. Doctor-patient confidentiality, they said.
Useless. All of it was useless.
*Why can’t I find her scent?* Fenrir was pacing in my mind. Restless. Frantic. *It’s like she doesn’t exist anymore. Like she was never here.*
That was the worst part.
Her scent was gone.
Not faded. Not distant. Gone.
Usually, I could track her anywhere. That moonflower fragrance was burned into my brain. Into my very soul.
But now? Nothing. It was like trying to catch fog with bare hands.
How was that possible?
I drove without direction. Through the empty streets. Past the closed shops. Past the places where normal wolves lived normal lives.
None of it mattered.
Only she mattered.
And I couldn’t find her.
The irony wasn’t lost on . I’d pushed her away. Told her to disappear. And now that she actually had... I was falling apart.
What a joke.
What a pathetic, cosmic joke.
My phone buzzed.
I ignored it.
It buzzed again. And again.
Finally, I glanced at the screen.
Rebecca.
Of course.
*Where are you? I miss you. Co see ?*
I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.
I didn’t want to see Rebecca. Didn’t want to see anyone. Didn’t want to do anything except find Aria and drag her back where she belonged.
---
The Blood Crown estate felt like a prison when I finally returned.
The servants avoided . Smart. I wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
I headed straight for my room. Needed to shower. Needed to think. Needed to figure out my next move.
But before I could reach the stairs—
"Kael! There you are!"
That voice. High. Bright. Grating.
I turned.
Rebecca stood in the foyer. She was dressed impeccably, as always. Red silk dress. Perfect makeup. Golden hair cascading over her shoulders.
She looked beautiful.
I felt nothing.
"I’ve been calling you all night." She walked toward . Her heels clicked against the marble. "Where have you been?"
"Out."
"Out where?"
None of your business.
But I didn’t say that. Just stared at her with empty eyes.
Rebecca’s smile faltered. Then returned. Brighter than before.
"You look terrible." She reached up. Touched my cheek. "When was the last ti you slept? Or ate?"
I couldn’t rember. Didn’t care.
"I’m fine."
Rebecca let out a laugh. Sharp. Almost gleeful.
"Oh my god." She pressed her hand against her chest. Dramatic. "You’re running around like a madman. For her."
"What do you want, Rebecca?"
"I want to help." Her smile was too sweet. Too satisfied. "I heard through the grapevine that your little pet has disappeared. Poof! Just like that. Gone without a trace."
Sothing ugly twisted in my chest.
"How do you know that?"
"I have my sources." She waved her hand dismissively. "So she’s really disappeared, hasn’t she?" Rebecca’s voice dropped. Mock sympathy. "Can’t find her anywhere? Poor Kael. You must be so worried."
I stared at her.
Watched the satisfaction dancing in her green eyes.
She was enjoying this.
"You should have seen this coming, honestly." Rebecca shrugged. Casual. Like we were discussing the weather. "Shadow Moon won. They’re all the sa. Cheap. Fickle. They spread their legs for whoever offers the most."
My hands clenched.
"She’s gone, Kael. Accept it. She ran away because that’s what her kind does. They’re cowards. Users. Parasites who feed off real wolves and then disappear when things get hard."
My jaw was clenched so tight my teeth ached.
But she wasn’t finished.
"You know what the funny thing is?" Rebecca tilted her head. That predatory gleam in her eyes. "I’m not even surprised. I told you from the beginning. Shadow Moon won are worthless. They’re born to serve and submit. And when they can’t do even that properly—" she snapped her fingers "—they vanish."
Sothing inside cracked.
"Are you done?"
"Almost." Rebecca smiled. Wide and triumphant. "I just want you to rember this mont. When you finally realize I was right all along. About her. About everything."
She moved closer. Her body pressed against mine. Her arms wrapped around my neck.
"Forget about her." Rebecca’s voice turned soft. Coaxing. "She’s not worth your ti. She never was."
Her fingers played with the hair at the nape of my neck.
"We belong together, Kael. You and . We always have."
I stared at the wall behind her. Saw nothing.
"I know things have been... complicated lately." She pressed a kiss to my jaw. "But we can work through it. We always do."
"We don’t have to figure everything out right now." Rebecca’s voice was soothing. Reasonable. "If you’re not ready to get married, we can wait. There’s no rush. We have all the ti in the world."
Rebecca kissed my cheek. Soft. Possessive.
"Forget about the Shadow Moon girl. Forget about all of it. Focus on what matters." Her lips curved against my skin. "Us. Our future. Our destiny."
I stood there. Frozen. Hollow.
Let her hold like I was hers.
"I hate your father, you know." Rebecca’s voice dropped. Conspiratorial. "The way he treats you. The way he controls everything. It makes sick. I just want you to beco the real Alpha soon."
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