CHAPTER 79. NO MORE SECRETS
RYDER
48 hours passed and I was released from confinement. There was no solid evidence to attach me to the crimes and Tiffany took care of providing me with an alibi. So they had to let me go.
On my way home, I was restless. The war was yesterday, but according to Tiffany, the war didn't happen. She wasn't sure why, but all she knew was that Red Moon Pack's warriors didn't show up. Something wasn't right and I was itchy to find out what it was. But more than that, I was in a hurry to get back home to Hara and my unborn child.
“How's Hara doing?” I asked Tiff, she was right beside me in the car. Her gaze lifted from the phone she held, and she was hesitant in giving me a reply.
”Uh, she's fine,“ Her reply was not convincing at all. It got me edgy.
“Tiff, is something wrong? You seem agitated, and you've been avoiding my gaze. What's wrong?”
“Nothing, Ryder. And please, don't ask me any more questions. I don't have an answer to them,” She whined, forcing her gaze back to her phone
What does she mean by that? What happened? Why is she being secretive? Does it have to do with Hara?
You know, ever since I was told the war didn't take place, I've been having this thought that Hara had something to do with it. My worst fear was that she already returned to them, but then again, I entrusted her to my warlords. They wouldn't let her leave. They gave me their word. Still, I was restless. I can only be chill when I see with my own eyes that she's still in the palace and that she's okay.
It was a two hour ride before we arrived at the palace. The air was chilly and quiet. I rushed out of the car into the building.
“Where the heck are you guys?!“ I mind-linked my warlords, as I ran the hallway down to Hara's room. I needed to make sure she was okay.
They didn't give me a reply, it felt like they were avoiding me or something.
I threw the door to Hara's room open and was greeted by emptiness, “Hara?!” I yelled repeatedly, but there was no sign of her anywhere.
I shut the door and headed to the meeting room. I kicked the door open and the guys were seated in there. They quickly got to their feet, scared and backing away from me.
“Where's Hara?” I asked, even though it was clear they had bad news for me. Tiffany had acted weird when I asked her about Hara earlier. They all seem to wanna hide whatever it was from me, but that was impossible.
“Ryder, we're glad you're back,“ Darius said, trying to switch topics. His fake glee was refusing.
”Don't fucking dare. Tell me where Hara is,“ I snapped,
“Ryder, take it easy, please. Nothing happened to her. None that we've heard of. She just…vanished,“ Jay said, he whispered the ending part and they all bowed their heads.
”Vanished?” I repeated, “What do you mean?”
Fred gave me a detail of everything that happened since I was away. Hara had been in her room, and the last person she spoke to was Giveon. After that, she vanished. No one had a clue about where she went. And the next day, the Red Moon Pack didn't come for the fight. They suspect Hara returned to them.
“You guys are bloody nit-wits!” I exploded, kicking down their seats, “What part of 'never let her out of your sights' did you not understand?!“
”Ryder, we were doing just that. But after she spoke with your Father that night, her moods changed…”
“Hara talked with my Father?” It was no surprise he was the reason behind her disappearance. He must have said something to her. Father just doesn't listen.
”I think she went down through her balcony. We combed the whole street but we couldn't find her. We're sorry, man. We didn't know she was gonna do that…” Given sighed.
“None of you is allowed to leave this palace today. Do you hear me? You'll sit here and pray to whatever deity you hold dear in your heart that I find her. Because if I don't, I'll have your heads on the stakes. Pray!“ I issued my warning on a cold, bloody platter.
Father got some explaining to do. I hurried to his study to go find him. He has to tell me every bit of what he said to Hara that might have prompted her into leaving. How could he not mind his business and quit taunting Hara?
He wasn't in his study nor was he in his room. I found him in the general hall in a meeting with the elders. The five elders that went to the old temples to inquire from the moon goddess why we were having the storm. No one told me they were back.
”Your Highness,” they bowed to me as I interrupted their meeting, ”It's good you're back,”
”Same here. How was your trip?”
“It was splendid. We have the best news for you,“ They declared excitedly.
I caught a glimpse of Father and he looked very much displeased. If they had good news, why did he look like he was gonna explode from anger?
”Sure, what is it?” I was eager to hear what the outcome of their journey was. Was the Moon goddess really against my bond to Hara? Do I have to elope with her, since I can't be with her in my pack? Is this goodbye to my duties as an Alpha?
”Just like we were telling your Father, Hara is indeed your fated mate!“ The oldest of them declared.
“What did you just say?” I turned to them, needing to know if it was just my wishful thinking or if I did hear them correctly. I was gawking at them right now.
”Hara is your mate, your Highness. The Moon Goddess has her blessings on your union,“
“Wait, I don't understand,” it sounded too good to be true, I had to know they were for real and not pulling my legs, ”Are you being serious right now? She's indeed my fated mate? You're sure?“
”Yes, Your Highness,“
My heart was gonna rip into shreds from happiness. Fuck, Hara is my mate! I knew it all along. I wasn't obsessing over another man's mate, she was mine. She's always been mine. I knew it! Oh God, I fucking knew it!
”Then why did the storm happen?” I remembered to ask. Father had said it was because of my inauspicious attraction to Hara. But now, if she's really my mate, then why the storm?
“Hara's zodiac falls under the Lunas of the rain. And according to our ancient times, no Luna of the rain refuses to accept her mate after their first meeting. After the day you met her in our pack, and she failed to accept the bond, the storm came upon us as a punishment. And the only way to stop the storm was if she…”
”If she accepts the bond as my mate,“ I completed, as it all made perfect sense now. It was right after she ran out of my office that the first drop of rain hit the ground. All because she left the bond unaccepted. The whole chaos the storm brought was a bit of her fault, Hara's gonna freak out when she hears this. More than that, she's gonna feel guilty.
This was a happy ending for me and Hara, but what do I do now that she's missing? How do I get my happy ending when she's nowhere to be found? I need to find her, to complete my happiness, and convince her to accept the mate bond to put an end to the storm.
I looked up at Father and his gaze was on me, “What did you do to my mate?!“ I mind-linked him. It felt good referring to her as my mate with this much boldness. I've always known she was indeed my mate. And right now, I'm glad I didn't let the naysayers convince me otherwise. Heaven knows I'm gonna make Roland pay for deceiving us all.
“Nothing, we only talked and she disappeared. She's not in Red Moon Pack either. I already asked Zed, but he said she came to him the night before the war and convinced him to call off the war. That was the last time he saw her. She was on her way back here, she's supposed to be back here, but I think something happened to her,“ Father explained through the mind-link.
“I don't wanna know what you two talked about, but I hope you had nothing to do with her disappearance. I just hope your hands are clean, for your good, Father,“ I mind linked him back and rushed out of the hall.
I headed out of the palace and into the streets. I searched all corners of my pack for her and tried picking up her scent anywhere but I didn't. It seemed Hara vanished, just like before.
What might have happened to her and our child? I was terrified for my child, the last time she vanished like this, she lost her baby to it. I'll go crazy if anything happens to this child.
There was no sign of Roland either, he had already checked out of the hotel since the night Hara disappeared. Something was fishy, but I couldn't place a finger on it. Both of them had disappeared without a trace. Hara couldn't have abandoned me and fled with Roland. She might not have been madly in love with me, but she wouldn't leave me this way either. She would have said something, she would have said her goodbyes. I'm sure she's in danger, I don't wanna be pessimistic but I feel my mate is in grave danger.
I stayed out on the streets till sunset, I was exhausted and broken, but I had to be sure Jason didn't escape the pack house and kidnap her again. I got to the pack house and hurried into the secret room.
Jason was still on the bed, and his eyes were still shut as they'd always been. God, what do I do now? This feels like a dead-end. Where do I look now? I can't just raid Red Moon Pack in search of her. They're gonna think I'm trying to start up another war. So what do I do?
Just then, I felt Jason's hand twitch, it was too sudden that it startled me. I looked at him and his lashes were twitching. He was snapping out from his sedation.
I checked for the injection and was gonna inject him again but he held my hand. He was muttering some words, but I could barely hear him.
“What are you saying, man?” I asked, leaning closer to him.
”Da- Darius…” He said in a faint tone, ”It was Darius. He's a rogue ally.“
Say what?!