A day later, we returned to our pack’s fortress.
The travel was swift and quick, especially when Zarion held my hand throughout the journey.
“Just put our briefcases there,” Zarion commanded Beta Achilles. He was grinning from ear to ear when he glanced at the mark on my neck. “Congratulations, Alpha Zarion and Luna Cassidy.”
“Uhm, thank you?” I chuckled shyly, quickly covering the mark with my ponytail. Alpha Zarion’s hand snaked around my waist and kissed the top of my forehead. “Thank you, Beta. My wife’s kind of tired,” he winked. I smiled. “Please let her rest.”
Beta Achilles nodded and gestured with his hand toward the castle's rooms. “And you?” my brows furrowed as I looked at Zarion, “Where are you going?”
“I have to attend something important.”
“Something important?” My voice was laced with concern. “Is it urgent?”
He nodded. “Yes. It’s for the sake of the pack. Our pack.”
“But we just arrived—”
“I’m going to be okay, Cassidy. Relax.”
“Be careful on your way,” I told him, worry resonating my words. He just smiled and kissed me on my still-wet lips. I was both stunned and warmed by his display of affection in front of everyone. With peering eyes everywhere, we’ll become a gossip in less than an hour.
I’ve been here for months in the Volatile Hounds Pack. Yet, it’s like I just arrived yesterday. All so new to me, so fresh.
“Of course,” Alpha Zarion said before patting Achilles's back.
“Be careful on your way!” I shouted one last time, secretly touching the mark on my neck while hiding my grin.
***
I spent the entire afternoon resting; I was still tired from last night's celebrations as well as me and Zarion’s past-dawn merry-making on our bed.
“Luna Cassidy!” Someone abruptly shattered my peaceful sleep. I groggily got up from the bed and opened the door.
“What is it?” I asked, my eyes struggling to open fully.
I saw Gamma Jemenei with a troubled expression.
“Jemenei,” I inhaled, attempting to get his attention. “What is it you want to say?”
“It’s about the captive Rogues, Luna…” he said, taking a step backward when I took one forward. He was visibly shaking in fear.
“What about Hestia and Analiesse?”
“They managed to escape from their prison. We just found out—”
I cut him off by pushing past him and making my way to the basement without batting an eye. My heart is racing, my pulse so rapid that I thought my head would explode. I hastily put on my winter coat and saw the guards assembling near the cells.
My heels clicked ominously on the stone floor as I hurried toward the source of the commotion. The cold, metallic walls of the underground prison seemed to close in on me. The dungeons suffocated me with their oppressive weight. My heart raced as my eyes locked onto the empty space where my captives had once been.
The feeling of anger, hot and fierce, surged through each of my fiber, igniting every nerve of my being. How could this have happened? How could someone just vanish from a locked cell?
Someone is responsible for their escape. They can’t just disappear into thin air and leave this place without a trace.
I stepped forward, my fingers trembling as they reached out to touch the broken chain that dangled uselessly from the wall. The once solid hold that rendered them helpless now lay scattered on the floor like the shattered remnants of my carefully constructed plans. And the lock, the symbol of my control, lay discarded and useless, as if mocking my futile attempts to maintain order in this chaos.
A bitter taste rose in my mouth, a mixture of frustration and anger. It was as if my world had been upended, the very foundation of my patience rocked by this inexplicable turn of events. I had taken every precaution, double-checked every detail, and yet here I stood, faced with undeniable evidence of my failure.
Does my wedding yesterday have something to do with this? With the absence of the Alpha and Luna in a pack…it leaves our fortress vulnerable to attacks.
The guards stood tense, their expressions a mix of frustration and concern. I scanned the area, my mind racing. Hestia and Aneliesse were two dangerous Rogues we had managed to capture. They were cunning, resourceful, and clearly not to be underestimated.
“What happened?” I demanded, my voice cutting through the tension.
One of the guards stepped forward, his gaze avoiding mine. “Luna Cassidy, we believe they had help from within. The locks weren't tampered with. It's as if someone... unlocked their cells from the inside.”
My stomach twisted into knots. I’m fucked.
Traitors within our own pack? The idea was almost too difficult to fathom. And accept, considering I’ve cherished the wolves here too much that it hurts to know that such thing is possible.
I clenched my fists, fighting back the surge of anger and fear threatening to consume me. I couldn't allow panic to take hold. “We need to find them,” I said firmly, my gut hardening. “Search the pack lands, leave no stone unturned. I want them back before nightfall.”
The guards nodded, some exchanging grim looks. As they dispersed to carry out their orders, I took a deep breath and steeled myself. My heels clicked on the floor, the sound echoing down the dimly lit corridor as I turn my face to Gamma Jemenei.
“You... Gamma Jemenei,” I exhaled, my voice firm as I pointed my finger directly at him. Zarion is nowhere so I have to take this matter on my own hands. He straightened up promptly, his posture shifting from casual to attentive as he saluted me. “Yes, Luna Cassidy?”
I held his gaze for a moment, making sure he understood the gravity of the situation. The weight of our mission hung in the air like a dense fog. “Go with me. I think I know where they are hiding right now.”
Before I could finish my sentence, he interjected, his tone laced with concern, “But… Alpha Zarion wouldn’t like the idea if you go there alone—”
I snorted in exasperation, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “Are you deaf? I’m not alone! That’s why I asked you to be with me.” The urgency of our mission was pushing my patience to its limits. We couldn't afford to waste any more time.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat, and then he nodded, a determined glint in his eyes.
I let out a sigh, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. At least he was on board even if he seemed apprehensive. Time was of the essence, and I wasn't about to let fear or doubt hinder our progress.
“Let’s move faster!” I barked, my voice like a whip cracking through the air. Jemenei's movements became more focused, a sense of urgency finally settling in. He began to gather the things I had requested: guns loaded with silver bullets that gleamed under the moonlight, cylindrical vials containing Hestia’s precious blood, and various other tools of the trade that were essential for our mission.
As he handed me the items one by one, I took a moment to inspect each with a critical eye. The guns were well-maintained, a testament to Jemenei's skills and dedication. The vials of blood, carefully sealed, held a promise of power that could turn the tide in our favor. We were well-prepared, as well as anyone could be in a situation like this.
I fastened the vials to my belt, the glass clicking softly as they brushed against one another. With the guns in hand, I secured them in their holsters, my movements swift and practiced.
“Let’s find these bitches, shall we?” Gamma Jemenei only mirrored my grinning expression.
“Lead the way, Luna,” he cooed.