Nina, unable to help herself, hugs me goodbye, and I don’t want to let her go. I want to hold her forever.
Reluctantly, I let her go and watch as she skips out the front door of the packhouse.
I find Josie, Flint, and Zak to hang out with them.
'I can't believe it's my first shift tonight!' Zak exclaims with much enthusiasm.
'You must be thrilled. I still have to wait another year,' Flint mumbles with a hint of envy.
'At least you don't have to wait two years like me,' Josie pouts, emphasizing her own anticipation.
Leaning on Zak's shoulder, I interject with a question, 'Zak, are you okay if I invite my friend Pipsqueak to attend the ceremony?'
'Sure, although I don't know who that is,' he responds casually.
'Of course, you do. Everyone knows her,' I frown, met with confusion from Zak, Flint, and Josie. Undeterred, I pull out my phone and text Pipsqueak, extending an invitation to Zak's wolf ceremony.
Her response comes with sheer excitement, 'I'd love to go! I've never been to one of the pack's wolf ceremonies before.'
Wolf ceremonies are held for the high ranks. Zak being the son of a beta means he will become my beta for our pack once I’m Alpha.
Zak, Flint and I hit the pack’s gym for a few hours before returning home. I enter my bathroom and have a shower. It takes me a while to finally choose which shirt to wear with my black trousers. I decide on the plain white shirt and leave the top two buttons undone.
It’s time for the ceremony. I find myself pacing the hallway, glancing out the window, hoping to glimpse Nina. Pipsqueak is running late, and there's still no sign of Nina.
Flint enters the house and approaches me. 'Our parents are waiting for you. The banquet has already started,' he informs me.
'Nina hasn't returned home yet,' I tell him, concerned.
'Maybe she's in the moon hall already?' Flint suggests.
Nodding, I follow him toward the ceremony, the atmosphere alive with the presence of high-ranking pack members from our pack and others. My eyes scan the crowd, searching for Nina's familiar figure, but I can't see her anywhere.
Taking my seat beside my father, Ryker, my parents notice I'm worried. 'Mum, Dad, have you seen Nina?'
'Not since around lunchtime,' my father replies.
'No, sorry, I've been here, busy helping prepare for the ceremony all day,' my mother adds.
I turn to Seth and Mia, hoping for some insight. 'Have you seen Nina?'
They shake their heads. 'No, sorry, we haven't seen May either,' Seth says apologetically.
Leon and Amelia join us at the table, and I can't help but ask, 'Is Nina on her way?'
They exchange a morbid look. 'No, we thought Nina was here with you already?' Amelia says.
I frown. 'I saw Nina after lunch, and she said she was going out to meet with Moss to discuss things with him, and then she would be here for the ceremony.'
'Maybe they are busy making out?' May jokes as she approaches and sits beside her mother, Amelia.
May is met with disapproving looks. 'What, I'm serious. They were pretty friendly when I saw them at the park earlier today,' May defends herself.
'What do you mean?' I ask her.
'They were sitting at the park bench talking, and Moss had his arm over the back of the seat where Nina sat beside him. I didn't stop to chat, though. I figured Nina would accuse me of spying on her, and she still hasn't been talking to me, anyway,' May explains, her frown deepening.
'She must still be with Moss then. We will give her a little more time until we send out warriors to search for her,' Leon decides, but he has a troubled appearance.
We have finished eating, and we have all become increasingly worried.
Zak takes his spot under the moon's light and begins his shift. Bones snap, and fur grows swiftly. His shift is much quicker and smoother than mine. He now stands proud in his wolf form, howls, and races outside for his first run through the woods. Some of the guests shift and follow him.
Minutes later, Pippa finally enters the hall, hunched over, panting and struggling for breath. Concern grips me, and I rush to her side, catching her before she collapses. Leon, sensing something is wrong, follows closely behind.
'Nina. Gone. Taken. Tried to help her. Got here as soon as I could,' Pippa gasps out each word between breaths.
A myriad of gasps ripples through the hall.
'What?' Leon and I respond in unison.
'Did you say Nina's been kidnapped?' Leon asks for affirmation.
Pippa, pushing her glasses up towards her eyes, nods solemnly. 'Yes, Moss took her,' she asserts.
The colour drains from Leon's face, a potent mix of anger and fear across his features.
Zak returns from his exhilarating run, his wolf form glowing with energy. Sniffing the air and wagging his tail in contentment. However, a sudden jolt between Zak and Pipsqueak. Her eyes widen, and she starts to smell the air with a peculiar intensity. Turning toward Zak, her disbelief is evident.
In an instant, Zak shifts into his human form, sprinting towards Pipsqueak. He lifts her off the ground, holding her tightly against his naked chest. Pipsqueak's glasses fall from her face, landing on the ground below. You could almost see a shiver in the air as they both exclaim, 'Mate!'
My eyes dart from Zak’s to Pipsqueaks. 'Zak, I need to speak with Pipsqueak urgently,' I assert.
'Mine!' Zak snarls, unwilling to release his newfound mate.
'Pipsqueak?' Josie interjects. 'That's Pippa, you idiot,' she corrects me, giving me an incredulous look.
'Whatever,' I dismiss her correction. 'We don't have time for name games. Moss has kidnapped Nina, and we need to know which way he has taken her,' I urgently blurt out.
Pipsqueak manages to break free from Zak's hold long enough to speak. 'S-south,' she stammers, providing critical information about Nina's possible location.
As Zak showers Pipsqueak affectionately, kissing her face and neck repeatedly, Josie retrieves Pipsqueak's fallen glasses, passing them to her. 'Congratulations, Zak and Pippa,' she smiles. 'You two are mates!' Josie announces, turning to face me with a frown. 'I'll tell Mum and Dad that Moss has taken Nina,' she adds.
I nod in acknowledgment, and Leon and I hastily exit the ceremony hall. Outside, we briefly brief each other on the situation.
'You can't shift into your wolf, Magnus. I suggest we go south by car. Otherwise, you won't be able to keep up,' Leon suggests.
Reluctantly agreeing, I nod, and we sprint towards the waiting cars. In the meantime, Seth initiates a mind link with the pack warriors, instructing them to head south and begin tracking Nina.