Chapter 105

Nathan POV

Claire and I rushed into the house, dodging groups of people fighting, Bloodclaw enforcers and Royal and Alpha bodyguards all locked in a vicious, deadly battle.

As an Alpha, my instincts told me to join that battle, help my people defeat their enemies.

But deeper instincts pushed me through the fighting, up into the house.

A father’s instincts.

We burst into the house, and began searching downstairs room by room. We found each one empty, except for servants running this way and that, some carrying what looked like expensive items.

Obviously they expected the fighting to spill into the house, and were trying to hide the most precious items.

I grabbed a terrified servant when I could, demanding to know where my son was.

But none of them answered, every single one of them denying any knowledge of Andy.

And every single one of them was lying.

Finally, after searching every single room downstairs, I grabbed a servant, determined to get an answer.

We weren’t going to waste the same amount of time on every level of the house. Not when our son’s life was at stake.

“You,” I said, snatching at one as a small group ran by. “You’re going to tell me where my son is.

“Or you’re going to die.”

She stared up at me. Then, clearly convinced by the murderous look in my eyes, she pointed a shaking hand up the main staircase.

“Th-third floor,” she stammered. “They have him in one of the small servant bedrooms at the back of the house.”

I exchanged looks with Claire, then released the servant. Together, we pounded up first one set of stairs and then another, until we were at the third floor.

The hallways were smaller up here, and the furnishings were spare. This was clearly where the servants lived.

We ran toward the back of the house, opening every door we came to. We were met by nothing but empty bedrooms.

Until, finally, we found success.

Or rather, a kind of success.

A woman sat in an armchair in the last bedroom, eyeing us calmly as we burst in.

She was well dressed, with jewels in her rings and earrings.

Clearly not a servant.

And from the description Beta Garrett gave us, I decided it was safe to assume that this was Martha. The old Bloodclaw Alpha’s sister.

And Sabrina’s mother.

With a growl I charged forward, grabbing her by the throat and dragging her to her feet.

“Where is he?” I shouted, shaking her back and forth. “Where is my son?!”

“You’re too late,” she said calmly, despite how tightly my hand was squeezed around her throat, robbing her of air.

She had to gasp to answer, but otherwise seemed unbothered.

“Sabrina is long gone,” she wheezed. “She left with that stupid, whining son of yours hours ago.”

Her face was turning red, but she managed to grin. It was a disturbing combination.

“No doubt they’ve made it to Bloodclaw territory by now. And you’ll never see them again.”

Just then Beta Evan burst in. “Sir! We’ve captured Alpha Soren, and subdued his men.

“The house is ours.”

He pulled someone else in the room, followed by Beta Garrett on the other side.

That someone turned out to be none other than Soren himself. His hands were tied behind his back, and his face was covered in bloody cuts and bruises.

And yet, despite his injuries, and the very real possibility that his life might end in this room, he remained as calm as his aunt. He stood with his shoulders back and his head held high, meeting my gaze evenly.

“Alpha Nathan,” he said. “What a surprise to see you here. What brings you to our humble estate?”

I let go of Martha and stalked over to Soren, getting in his face. “Don’t play stupid, Soren. You know why we’re here.

“Now you’re going to get us into your pack, and take us to Sabrina.”

I stood toe to toe with him.

“Or I’ll rip you apart, limb from limb, with my own bare hands.”

Soren chuckled, then spit blood onto the floor.

“Is that what she told you? That Sabrina was already all the way back in Bloodclaw territory?”

With a glance at his aunt, who stood massaging her throat, he looked back at me.

“It’s a lie.” He grinned. “And lucky for you, I’m willing to negotiate for the truth.”

I raised my eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

“Release me and my enforcers. I’ll agree to go back to Bloodclaw immediately, of course. And in return…I’ll tell you where Sabrina is.”

Martha, suddenly enraged, charged at her nephew, claws out. “Traitor! I’ll kill you!”

Beta Evan stopped her, stepping in front of her and shoving her backwards. She stumbled, landing back in the armchair with a thump.

Soren rolled his eyes. “Oh please, Martha. As if you and your darling Sabrina weren’t already actively plotting my downfall.

“I know where your true loyalty lies, dear Aunt. And it isn’t with me.”

He turned back to face me. “Are we agreed?”

I stared at him for a long moment, trying to decide if there was any other option here.

Ideally one that would allow me to simply kill him and then move on.

But there wasn’t.

Marthat was clearly going to protect Sabrina no matter what. I couldn’t trust any information she might give me.

Soren, despite being one of the most slippery individuals I had ever met, was our only hope at finding our son.

Finally I nodded to Beta Garrett. “Untie him.”

They released his wrists, and he rubbed them for a moment.

Then he smiled.

“You’re much closer than Martha would lead you to believe. Sabrina was in this very room when you and your forces so rudely attacked.

“If she’s no longer in the house, then she ran out into the woods. Which means she’s on foot. So if you leave now, you can easily catch her before she makes it to some form of transport.”

His smile widened.

“Tell her I said hello, won’t you?”

Claire and I exchanged looks. I saw my own frustration mirrored in her eyes.

She’d been right here!

We were so close!

I told Beta Evan to make sure Soren and his enforcers were escorted out of the Royal territory, Claire quickly adding that Martha should be included in the group being exiled out of the kingdom.

Martha’s scream of surprise and frustration as we left the room was very gratifying.

But there was very little time for celebration.

We still had to find our son.

And even though Sabrina was closer than we’d thought, I knew she could still be dangerous.

If she felt cornered, she would kill Andy without a second thought.

We ran out the back door, heading off into the woods.

Then we paused just inside the tree line, so I could smell the air.

“Can you smell them?” Claire asked. “Your tracking skills are the best I’ve ever heard of. Please, Nathan, tell me you can find them.”

I prowled the edge of the woods, taking in deep breaths of air.

Then I shook my head.

“Almost. Their scents are there. I just need to…”

I shifted, the air around me shivering in the moonlight as my body flexed and changed.

Within a moment my giant sleek black wolf stood in front of Claire, relieved to finally be set free.

All it had wanted all night was to chase, hunt, and attack.

And now it was going to get the chance.

Raising my snout, I pulled in huge sniffs of the air.

And then, with a deep sound of triumph rumbling in my throat, I found the scents I was looking for.

And I ran off into the woods.