Kaelan scanned his soldiers, his voice low but firm as he began issuing his orders. “Search every neighboring pack,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Speak to their Alphas, but keep this mission discreet. No one outside this circle is to know what you’re looking for. Find her—find Mira.”
The soldiers bowed in unison, a murmured “Yes, Alpha” echoing among them before they dispersed. Their movements were swift, purposeful, their determination matching the urgency in Kaelan’s voice. He watched them fade into the trees, his jaw tightening as doubt clawed at the edges of his mind.
Kaelan ran a hand through his dark hair, his mind spinning with questions he couldn’t answer. What if she refuses to return? he thought grimly. What if the damage I’ve done can’t be undone?
Mira’s face, haunted and filled with betrayal, flashed in his memory. His wolf stirred restlessly within him, an aching reminder of the bond he had allowed to fray. The bond now pulled at him relentlessly, urging him to make things right. Yet the uncertainty loomed large, a shadow he couldn’t escape.
The sound of light laughter broke through his thoughts, jolting him back to the present. He turned sharply, his instincts bristling as he saw Liana approaching. She moved with practiced grace, her bright smile illuminating her face. Beside her was his mother, her own expression glowing with an unusual exuberance.
“Kaelan,” his mother called, her voice carrying a note of joy that felt almost foreign in the tension of recent days. “We have the most wonderful news.”
Kaelan raised a brow, his body instinctively stiffening at the overly cheerful display. He couldn’t shake the sense of unease that accompanied it. “What news?” he asked cautiously, his tone measured.
His mother reached out, her delicate fingers resting lightly on his arm. Her touch was warm, her voice trembling with excitement as she spoke. “You’re going to have an heir, Kaelan,” she said, her words deliberate and filled with meaning. “All thanks to the moon goddess.”
Kaelan’s blood ran cold, the weight of her announcement pressing down on him like a boulder. He blinked, his expression unreadable as he turned his gaze to Liana. Her face was radiant, a self-satisfied smile curling her lips. She looked at him with an air of triumph, a glint in her eye that only deepened the unease in his gut.
“I’m… going to have an heir?” Kaelan repeated, his voice careful, controlled. Every word felt like stepping onto unstable ground.
“Yes!” his mother exclaimed, her happiness radiating from her like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. “Liana is carrying your child. Isn’t this wonderful news?”
Kaelan’s chest tightened, his thoughts spinning out of control. He stared at Liana, his sharp gaze searching her face for any sign of deception. His wolf growled faintly within him, its unease mirroring his own.
Liana placed a hand gently on her stomach, her smile softening as she tilted her head. “It’s true, Kaelan,” she said sweetly, her tone filled with what she clearly thought was sincerity. “The moon goddess has blessed us with this gift.”
I will find Mira, he thought. And perhaps, with her, I’ll find the answers I need.