Chapter 84

Soren

I watch from the front porch of the Duke's home as cars speed out of the forest and make their way into the clearing, barreling towards the Duke’s home. My arms remain crossed over my chest, impatience flooding throughout the entirety of my body. I raise an eyebrow and watch as the car skid across the damp grass beneath their tires, almost spinning out of control.

Moments later, once all of the cars have settled, and the soldiers began to pour out, I watch as my Beta in the Duke exit the vehicles. They make a beeline for the for the porch that I stand on, my eyes trained on them in their nervous statures as they begin to climb the stairs.

“It took you long enough,” I speak to them as soon as they reach the top steps. “We have lost a lot of precious time and I would like to get started as soon as possible.”

“Yes, my Alpha King,” my Beta bows his head to me as the Duke pushes past him, quickly approaching my side.

“Are there any updates that you would like to give me?” I ask in a low tone, not really in the mood to entertain their frivolous words, always trying to get straight to the point instead of stepping around the matter at hand.

“I have sent my men out to search the woods,” the Duke begins, “they have yet to find something, but we are optimistic that we will find the tire tracks that Bianca used to get away.”

“And how can you be so certain that she drove away instead of running? How can you be so sure that these woods — that you claim to be so dense that cars can't get through — are holding the answers that you need? You should be looking for footprints, not tire trucks, Duke,” I let my anger get the best of me in the moment.

Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Time is of the most importance and sitting here looking for tire tracks is wasting everybody's time, especially Celia’s.

The Duke looks up at me and simply nods in response. I do not know why, but this only angers me more. I suck in a slow and deep breath, trying to calm my wild and erratic emotions down but it is of no use.

I do not even excuse myself as I disappear back inside. I ignore all of the soldiers who bow their heads at me and head straight up the stairs, making my way to Celia and I shared bedroom in the Duke's home. As soon as I get inside, I slammed the door behind me, finally letting go of all of the anger and resentment that has built up inside of my body in the past twelve hours.

Before I can even think, I begin to destroy the room. My hands attach themselves to multiple items, such as the bedsheets and pillows, ripping them away from the bed and throwing them across the room. I am pretty sure that my nails ripped apart, one of the pillows, feathers now, floating in the air amidst the madness.

I grabbed the framed portrait off of the wall and slam it onto the ground. Glass shatters in covers the entirety of the floor, the light reflecting off of the tiny pieces as I make my way across the room, grabbing the curtains and yanking them down.

I am unable to contain my anger. All I can do now is sit in ride the wave as my body completely destroys the room.

Minutes pass by and I begin to feel calm. I sit down on the floor, my back pressed against the door of the room. My eyes are closed and my breathing is deep and heavy, unable to catch my breath as my lungs burn from the lack of oxygen.

I open my eyes and stare at the destruction that I have caused. Glass litters the floor, feathers resting in the empty spaces in between, the curtains no longer hiding the bright sun that hangs way up in the sky. The sheets of the bed have been ripped apart and they lie in their own piles across the room.

I cannot send Celia anymore. I cannot smell the sweet scent of honeysuckle, nor can I sense the storm wind. She has officially left me, the trail that she has left behind no longer prominent in the surrounding area.

I slowly stand despite beginning to lose hope. I open up the door and exit the room, walking back down the stairs to where my beta and the Duke stand, conversing with one another as the world moves around them.

Have I failed you, Celia? Have I proven to be one of the worst fated mates the world has ever seen?

Celia deserves better. I will find her and save her, but will tell her all of the weight that is on my chest, the regret and remorse that I feel for allowing her to be so easily taken from my grasp. I have failed her.

They sense me as I approach. They slowly turn and look up at me, slightly, bowing their heads as a small formal greeting, but I wave them away, unable to handle any of the expected manners that is required of me.

“What are our options for appeasing Bianca?” I ask.

My question takes them back. The Duke glances towards the beta before looking back at me, clearing his throat.

“Well, nothing looks too good in your favor. I have spoken to the Lycan king and unfortunately, he is prepared to deny any involvement with plans you may have in case it goes wrong,” the Duke says.

“What do you mean in case it goes wrong?” I asked, needing that further clarification.

“The Lycan king is willing to help in only one case in one case only. He is willing to help if you bring back both Bianca and Celia alive. He will only deny if both are killed or one of them are just killed,” the Duke reiterates.

“Oh,” I hum, slowly nodding my head as I digest the information he has given to me. “so he does not wish to help us at all?”

“It appears so, Alpha King,” the Duke swallows, the lump in his throat and nods his head at me. “You have the support of my family as well as a few others. They are not happy with their King’s decision and are willing to help as best as they can.”

“I appreciate it, my Lord, thank you,” I nod my head at him and turn away, staring outside of the mansion’s large and grand windows.

My mind wanders back to Celia. I think that it is cruel that her own blood, the people who have been searching for her for the past 20 years, could so easily deny her safety or any kind of help that will bring her home. I suppose, though, that they're loyalty can only be extended so far.

They are Lycans, after all.

Celia does not deserve them. She deserves a pack who will stop at nothing to bring her back home even if it is the last thing that they will do.