I don't waste a moment. I jump out of bed and swiftly corner Vanessa against the wall, my hand closing around her delicate throat. 'Don't you ever call my mate weak again! Do you hear me?' I snarl, my eyes burning with fury.
'Ry, Ryker, you're hurting me,' Vanessa pleads, her voice strained, tears welling in her eyes. My grip tightens, but not to the point of causing harm.
Relenting, I release my grip, allowing Vanessa to drop to the floor. She clutches her neck, her teary gaze locked on mine. 'Get out now!' With an adamant tone, I shout.
Still visibly shaken, Vanessa quickly rises to her feet and hurries out of the room.
Descending the grand staircase, I encounter Seth. His expression is weighed down with worry. 'Alpha Ryker,' he begins with a respectful nod, 'we've deployed five search parties to find Astrid while you rested, but we've unearthed no trace of her. We'll persist until she's located, Alpha,' he informs me resolutely, displaying his utmost dedication to the pack.
Nodding in acknowledgment, I make my way to the dining table. 'Seth,' I say with urgency, 'tell Alice to be quick with the food. I need to continue searching for Astrid.'
Seth nods briskly and hurries off to relay my request to Alice.
Within moments, Alice emerges from the bustling kitchen, her face a mask of frustration and concern. She carries a plate of food, which she unceremoniously places in front of me. Her voice is tinged with a mother's worry as she speaks. 'Alpha Ryker, I'm deeply displeased with your treatment of my daughter. She's done nothing wrong. Why can't you simply accept her as your chosen mate? At least she won't run away!' Her frustration simmers beneath her words, revealing the tension between us.
My eyes flash with anger as I fix Alice with a steely gaze. 'Alice,' I retort sharply, 'I suggest you return to the kitchen because my wolf is in no mood today to tolerate anyone's nonsense. And I also suggest you come to terms with the fact that Vanessa will never be my mate.' My words are delivered with a forceful finality, leaving no room for debate.
Alice meets my glare with one of her own, a mixture of defiance and concern. Without another word, she turns on her heel and storms back into the kitchen, leaving me alone at the dining table. I proceed to finish my meal. My thoughts are consumed by the relentless determination to find Astrid, bring her back safely, and be by my side again.
'Alpha Ryker!' I hear a voice calling and see one of my most trusted warriors, Leon, racing towards me. His expression appears hopeful.
'Leon,' I greet him with a nod. 'What news do you bring?'
Leon takes a moment to catch his breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly from the urgency of his message. 'Alpha Ryker, we have good and bad news,' he begins. 'We've picked up Astrid's scent in the city. It's faint, but there's no doubt it's hers. The bad news is that we haven't found her yet. However, with this new lead, we're hopeful we'll have your mate and our Luna back home safe and sound as soon as possible.'
The mention of the city sends a shiver down my spine. I can't help but wonder what Astrid might be doing all the way there. To the best of my knowledge, she doesn't have any acquaintances in the city, and the thought of her being alone and vulnerable in an unfamiliar place gnaws at my insides.
'Excellent work, Leon,' I reply with heartfelt gratitude. 'I'll join you in the city immediately to continue the search. Take me to where you picked up her scent.'
Leon nods in agreement, his eyes reflecting determination. 'I'll arrange for Seth to drive us there. While it might be quicker to get there in wolf form, we can't exactly look for her, roaming the streets in our shifted forms,' he points out.
I acknowledge his words, and without wasting a moment, I mind-link Seth to arrange for the car.
During the car ride to the city, my thoughts are consumed by the hope of finding Astrid and holding her in my arms once more. I yearn to inhale her sweet scent, feel the electric sparks between us, and taste the softness of her lips. Each passing second intensifies my longing to be reunited with her.
Upon our arrival in the city, we make the difficult decision to split up in our search for Astrid. Her vague scent makes it clear that we won't be able to follow it with any degree of precision. Despite this setback, we are determined to scour the city and maintain a vigilant lookout, hoping to catch even the slightest glimpse of her or a stronger trail of her scent.
I rely on our pack's mind-link communication to relay instructions to Leon and Seth. Astrid might have found employment in one of the city's shops, and it seems worthwhile to explore this avenue. We enter numerous stores, each step fueling a growing sense of hope and anxiety. With every moment that passes, my heart pounds more forcefully, yet there is no sign of her, and her scent remains subtle.
As nightfall draws near, Seth contacts me through our mind link, expressing his intent to stay in the city overnight and continue the search. Leon proposes he drive me back to the pack house for much-needed rest and a meal. I can resume the search in the morning, and Seth can return to rest.
The drive back to the pack house feels particularly arduous, as disappointment hangs heavily over me. By the time I arrive home, the night has already descended. Alice greets me as she opens the front door.
'Alpha Ryker, I wish to extend my sincerest apologies for my behaviour this morning,' Alice says, her voice trembling with genuine remorse. 'I overstepped my bounds, and I truly hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me.'
A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I acknowledge her apology. 'You are forgiven, Alice,' I respond, 'on the condition that you accept Astrid as your Luna.'
Alice takes a moment to reflect on my terms. Her expression shows hesitation. Finally, she nods and offers a forced smile. 'Of course, Alpha,' she says, 'I understand the importance of this. I've gone the extra mile and prepared a special dinner for you tonight.' She gestures toward the dining table inside.
Taking my seat at the table, I note that everyone else has already finished their meals and departed. As I savour the dinner prepared by Alice, a profound weariness begins to settle in, my eyelids feel heavy, and a sudden sleepiness overwhelms me.