KADE'S POV
The sound of boots echoes through the courtyard as my scouts return. I can tell from their faces that the news isn't good.
"Report," I command, trying to keep my voice steady.
Captain Harris steps forward, his expression grim. "Your Highness, we've searched every village within a fifty-mile radius. We followed every lead, questioned every witness."
"And?" I ask, though I already know the answer.
"We couldn't find Lady Ivy, sir. It's like she vanished into thin air."
The words hit me like a physical blow. My wolf snarls inside my chest, rage building with each passing second.
"What do you mean you couldn't find her?" I demand. "People don't just disappear!"
"Your Highness," another scout speaks up nervously. "We found traces of her scent near the eastern border, but then it just... stopped."
"Stopped how?"
"Like something masked it, sir. Or like she was taken away by someone who knew how to hide tracks."
My hands clench into fists. The thought of Ivy being taken, being hurt, makes my vision go red.
"We did find this, though," Captain Harris says, pulling out a torn piece of fabric. "It was caught on a tree branch about twenty miles east of here."
I take the fabric and examine it. It's from Ivy's dress. The one she was wearing when she disappeared three days ago.
"This is all you found?" I ask, my voice dangerously low.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'm sorry, but—"
I don't let him finish. The rage explodes out of me like a dam bursting. I grab the nearest chair and smash it against the stone wall with all my strength.
The wooden chair shatters into pieces, and the crash echoes through the courtyard. Several of the scouts jump back, fear flashing in their eyes.
"Not good enough!" I roar. "My mate is out there somewhere, and all you bring me is a piece of cloth?"
"Your Highness," Captain Harris says carefully, "we searched everywhere we could think of. If she's being held by someone who knows what they're doing—"
"Then we find out who and we make them pay."
I pace back and forth, my wolf demanding action. Every minute that passes is another minute Ivy could be suffering.
"Gather everyone," I order. "All the soldiers, all the guards, everyone who can hold a weapon."
"Sir?"
"Now!" I shout.
Within minutes, the courtyard is filled with men. Soldiers, guards, servants who can fight, even some of the stable boys. They all look at me expectantly.
"Men," I begin, my voice carrying across the crowd. "Lady Ivy has been taken."
Murmurs ripple through the group. These men have all seen what Ivy means to me. They've seen her heal their wounds, treat them with kindness.
"We don't know who took her or where they've gone," I continue. "But we're going to find out. And we're going to bring her home."
"Yes, Your Highness!" several voices call out.
"This means war," I say bluntly. "Because whoever has her isn't going to give her back easily. Are you prepared for that?"
"Yes, sir!" they respond in unison.
"Good. Because we leave at first light tomorrow."
I point to different groups of men. "You twenty, start preparing weapons. Swords, bows, whatever we'll need for a long campaign."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"You fifteen, gather supplies. Food, water, medical supplies, everything we'll need to survive in the field."
"Right away, sir!"
"The rest of you, start training. Combat drills, formation practice, everything. We don't know what we're walking into, but we're going to be ready."
The courtyard erupts into activity. Men rush in different directions, following my orders. The sound of steel being sharpened fills the air.
I walk among them, supervising their preparations. My wolf is still agitated, but having a plan helps. At least we're doing something.
"Marcus, make sure those bows are properly strung," I call out to one of the weapon preparers.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Derek, how many men can we field?"
"About two hundred, sir. Maybe more if we call in favors from the neighboring estates."
"Do it. Send messengers immediately."
I watch as my men work with determination. They know this isn't just about duty. This is personal.
"Your Highness," one of the younger soldiers approaches me. "What if we can't find her?"
"We will find her," I say firmly. "Failure isn't an option."
"Yes, sir."
I'm checking the supply preparations when a castle guard approaches me. He looks nervous, like he doesn't want to deliver whatever message he's carrying.
"Your Highness," he says hesitantly.
"What is it?"
"The King requests that you stop all military preparations immediately."
I stop walking and turn to face him. "Excuse me?"
"He wants you to call off the search and dismiss the men, sir."
My wolf snarls. "And why would I do that?"
"He says you're acting rashly, Your Highness. That this could start a war we're not prepared for."
"Let me get this straight," I say, my voice getting dangerously quiet. "My father wants me to abandon my mate?"
"He says there are diplomatic channels to explore first, sir."
The rage builds in my chest again. "Diplomatic channels? While Ivy could be tortured or killed?"
"I'm just delivering the message, Your Highness."
I look around at my men, all working hard to help me find Ivy. Then I look back at the guard.
"Go back to my father," I say. "Tell him that Ivy is the most important thing in my life. Tell him that I will tear this kingdom apart stone by stone before I abandon her."
"Your Highness, I don't think—"
"Tell him exactly what I said."
The guard nods reluctantly and turns to leave. But before he can take more than a few steps, a loud voice booms across the courtyard.
"Kade, how dare you?!"
I turn around to see Father striding toward me, his face red with anger. Every soldier in the courtyard stops what they're doing and stares.