Chapter 69

Sebastian’s POV

“Where are you going to go?” Arnold asked as Sebastian stormed out of the courtroom.

Everyone was beginning to disperse from the courtroom to resume their duties for the days. He knew Magnolia wasn’t happy about the delay in the trial, but he didn’t care. He needed to buy himself some time so he could prove Hannah was innocent and convict the ones who were really guilty.

As he walked through the foyer, toward the front door of the palace, Arnold appeared closely behind him with his new mate, Hannah’s friend, Raya, trailing behind. She looked nervous and terrified of everything that was going on around her.

He didn’t blame her. He almost felt guilty that she was thrown into such trouble.

He paused at the front door to turn back to Arnold so he could answer his question.

“I need to find Liam,” Sebastian told him. “You and Raya need to stay here. I told the guards to allow visitors. I don’t want Hannah to be alone for long. You saw how she looked…”

Raya grimaced as Sebastian brought up Hannah’s appearance, but she said nothing.

“What about you?” Arnold asked. “You don’t have any leads.”

“That might be so, but I guarantee that Hannah’s father knows something about Liam’s disappearance,” Sebastian explained.

Raya looked surprised by his words; this was probably all news to her. He wondered how much of her life Hannah shared with Raya.

“Let me come with you, your majesty,” Arnold insisted. “I can help…”

“No,” Sebastian said firmly. “You need to stay here with your mate.”

Arnold glanced over at Raya who was eyeing him carefully with worry in her eyes; she’s been through so much this past week. She shouldn’t be left alone either. Arnold knew this and he wasn’t going to argue with Sebastian about it. But Sebastian knew he also cared for the kingdom and wanted to help however he could.

“You would be doing me a huge favor if you looked after Hannah,” Sebastian told him, lowering his tone. “I don’t trust anyone here besides you. Understand?”

“Yes, your majesty,” Arnold said with a bow of his head. “I won’t let you down.”

Sebastian nodded his thanks to him before leaving the palace. It didn’t take him long to get to Alpha Steven’s house. He was only a pack away and in Sebastian’s wolf form, he got there within minutes. Sebastian didn’t bother knocking as he got to Steven’s house. Steven looked shocked to see Sebastian standing in his living room.

It’s been a while since they encountered one another; the last time Sebastian stood before Alpha Steven was when he was saying terrible things to Hannah in the palace, and he was kicked from the palace grounds.

From the scent of the home, it didn’t seem like anyone else was home. He wondered where Naomi and Amy had gone off to and why Steven was alone in their home.

“Your majesty?” Steven said, his eyes wide and worried; his breathing had gotten heavy as he took an unsteady step away from Sebastian. “What can I do for you?” He was trying to remain confident and strong, but his weakness was evident in his features.

He knew one thing for sure though; he didn’t smell Liam’s scent anywhere in the home.

“Liam is missing,” Sebastian said in a low growl.

Steven’s eyes widened even more; he was surprised by the news.

“And you think I have something to do with it?” Steven asked. “I didn’t kidnap him.”

“I’m thinking you know where he is though,” Sebastian hissed.

Steven looked taken aback, but Sebastian knew it wasn’t genuine.

“No,” Steven said firmly. “I don’t. I’m sure Hannah doesn’t believe me though. Did she send you here?”

“You don’t speak of my luna,” Sebastian growled. Steven flinched at his words but said nothing in response. “I’m going to search your home.”

Steven didn’t protest. He allowed Sebastian to roam through his home until he reached Hannah and Liam’s old room. It was basically empty because Hannah took everything when she moved to the palace. Not that she had much of anything, to begin with.

There was a small box on the bed across the room. The box didn’t contain much of anything, a couple of old drawings and some notes. But a picture, in particular, stuck out to him.

He picked up the picture and saw that it was Hannah, Liam, and their mother. Hannah and Liam were so young. They were in swimming suits; Sebastian recognized the riverbed they were sitting at. It was the river that bordered the rogue town. He knew they lived life as rogue wolves when Alpha Steven rejected them at birth for being Omegas.

Hannah looked a lot like her mother; except it was clear that her mother held so much sadness from just looking at her eyes.

Turning the photo over there was writing on it; it didn’t look like either Hannah or Liam’s handwriting. It must have been their mother’s handwriting. It read: Our little paradise.

…

Hannah’s POV

“Hannah!” I heard Raya rushing toward me; she grabbed onto the cell bars and peered at me with misty eyes. “Please tell me you’re okay.”

Her voice quivered as she spoke; I felt awful she was witnessing all of this.

“Raya…” I breathed; Arnold was beside her as well and he also looked at me with a worried expression. “I’m glad you stuck by his side,” I told her gently.

She glanced at him almost nervously before looking back at me.

“It’s a weird feeling,” she whispered. “Having a mate. Everything that has happened, I’m having trouble trusting anyone. But my wolf is drawn to him. She trusts him and I trust her…”

“You can trust him, Raya,” I said, trying my best to give her a reassuring smile.

She returned the smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“You look awful…” she whispered hoarsely.

“It looks worse than it feels,” I lied. She didn’t look like she bought it.

“Who did this to you?” Arnold asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

“It doesn’t matter…” I muttered. “Nothing matters until we find my brother.”

“I didn’t even know you had a brother,” Raya breathed. “I assumed you had a family, but I didn’t really think much of them. Sebastian is going to investigate your father; do you really think he would kidnap your brother?”

I haven’t told Raya much about my life; I tried to keep it a secret, but it seems everything is unfolding. She was my friend; I shouldn’t be keeping these things from her.

“I’m sorry for not telling you,” I told her. “My father is an Alpha of a different pack. He’s not a good man. He rejected my mother for giving birth to my brother and me… a couple of omegas.”

She gasped; her eyes were wide and alert.

“I had no idea,” she breathed. “Where’s your mother?”

“She passed away when I was young. Liam was born with a disability that is slowly taking from his life. My mother spent most of her time trying to heal him and help him. But since her passing, all he’s had was me. My father uses Liam to get me to do his bidding. Liam has been in a hospital for the last few months. My father doesn’t like that I’m keeping him from his son, and I wouldn’t put it past him to take Liam away…” my voice choked as I said those last words.

She was silent for a long while, trying to process what I had just said.

“That’s heavy,” she said.

I nodded once.

“Raya, you shouldn’t be here. I’m sorry for dragging you here and getting you mixed in with everything,” I told her sadly. I glanced over at Arnold. “You should take her back to Bluemoon; she shouldn’t be here.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut in before he had the chance.

“I can’t go back,” she said quickly; tears filling her eyes as she took a step away from me. “That man is still there, and I can’t go back…”

She was in a panic as she thought about her attack the other day. I felt like such an idiot; how could I have forgotten something tragic happened to her at Bluemoon? That was the reason she was here. To get away from there and that scarred man.

“I’m so sorry…” I said to her quickly. “I…”

“No, you’ve had a lot going on. It’s okay,” she said in a breath.

I wanted to say more but then I remembered the note that Liam had left. My heart tugged painfully as I grabbed the note off the floor of the cell.

“You said you know where Sebastian is?” I asked; they both nodded. “I need you to take this note to him. I think it can help him find Liam.”