Marco's POV
The scent of blood filled the air.
I stormed through the castle halls, my warriors at my heels, my heart pounding with a rage I hadn't felt in centuries. The battle was over we had won. The last rogue had fallen, and yet something felt wrong.
A deep unease clawed at my chest, a whisper of something missing.
Then I scented it Matilda.
Fear. Terror. And then. nothing.
I ran.
When I reached the safe room, the door was wide open.
Bodies littered the floor Lena, Elera, Ana, my warriors all unconscious, their breathing shallow. My heart slammed against my ribs as my gaze swept the room, searching
But she wasn't there.
A deep growl ripped from my throat, my claws extending as fury and fear surged through me. No. This couldn't be happening.
"Matilda?" I stepped forward, shaking Elera's shoulder. She groaned but didn't wake. Damn it!
Then I saw it.
A scent that didn't belong.
Kade.
A savage snarl tore from my lips, the sound vibrating through the walls. My vision blurred with rage, my wolf pushing forward with an unbearable need to kill.
He had taken her.
My mate. My pregnant mate.
I gripped the doorframe so hard it cracked beneath my fingers. Every muscle in my body screamed for blood.
"Kade," I growled, my voice nothing but a deadly promise.
I would find him.
I would tear him apart.
And I would bring Matilda back no matter the cost.
"Darius!" I roared, my voice shaking the very walls.
My Beta's head snapped up from where he knelt beside Lena, his mate still unconscious. His eyes burned with worry, but he knew he felt my rage.
He stood instantly. "Yes, Alpha?"
I clenched my fists, my claws digging into my palms as I forced the words out. "Track. Kade."
Darius's jaw tightened, his own fury flashing across his face. He gave one last glance at Lena, brushing his fingers over her cheek before nodding sharply.
"Yes, Alpha."
He turned on his heel, already shifting as he sprinted out of the room. The moment his paws hit the ground, the castle trembled from the sheer force of my rage.
Kade had stolen my mate.
My pregnant mate.
And there would be no mercy.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
Darius returned, his expression grim. His chest heaved from running, his claws still extended.
I already knew what he was going to say.
"There's nothing," he growled, frustration clear in his tone. "No scent, no tracks, no trace of where he took her."
I exhaled sharply, my fists clenching. Damn it!
Kade had planned this. He had waited for the right moment, struck when I wasn't here when I couldn't protect her.
A sharp pain twisted in my chest.
Matilda.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to think. Where would Kade take her? He was a rogue, but not a mindless one. He was calculating. He wouldn't have risked an attack if he didn't have a place to hide.
I forced my breathing to slow, pushing past the rage. My connection to Matilda our bond was still there, but faint, like a whisper in the dark. She was alive. But.weak.
And afraid.
The thought made my wolf howl in fury.
I turned to Darius. "Send scouts to every rogue hideout we know. I don't care how long it takes find something."
"Yes, Alpha," he said without hesitation, immediately shifting and running to carry out my command.
But that wasn't enough.
I needed something more.
I had to find another way to track her.
I turned to the warriors who had gathered, their eyes filled with rage and determination. My voice was like a growl, sharp and commanding.
"Ready yourselves."
Silence fell, the weight of my words sinking in.
"No one rests," I snarled. "Not until your Luna is found."
A chorus of growls and nods followed. My warriors stood straighter, their muscles tensed, ready for battle. The air was thick with fury, with purpose.
I looked at Darius, who had already begun issuing orders. "We search every rogue den, every hidden passage, every inch of this land. Kade thinks he can take what's mine and disappear? He's wrong."
Fire burned in my chest, in my blood.
I would rip apart every forest, every mountain, every damn kingdom if I had to.
Matilda was mine.
And I was coming for her.
Days passed. Nothing.
We searched every rogue hideout, questioned every captive, and ran through every possible lead. Still no sign of Matilda.
I was restless. My wolf paced within me, snarling, demanding to hunt, to kill. The bond between Matilda and me was faint, like a whisper just out of reach. I knew she was alive but that wasn't enough.
She needed me.
I contacted every Alpha in the region, demanding information, but none had seen or heard anything about Kade's whereabouts. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.
Darius stood beside me, his face grim. "Alpha, we're running out of leads."i clenched my fists, my claws threatening to break through my skin. "There has to be something."
Darius hesitated before speaking. "There is. one more option."
I turned to him sharply. "What?"
He exhaled. "The witches."
A growl rumbled in my chest. I hated dealing with them. Their magic was unpredictable, and their loyalty was never guaranteed. But if they could find Matilda…
"Summon them," I said without hesitation. "I don't care what it takes. We will find my mate."
Darius nodded and left to make the arrangements.
My wolf howled inside me, restless, angry.
Kade had stolen my mate. My pregnant mate.
And no force in this world would stop me from getting her back.