Chapter 79

Lucas’s POV

How had I not realized she was gone?

The question echoes in my mind as I search for Nora. She was the last one to see Harper, or at least I think she was. No one else has seen Harper or spoken with her since she was sent to her cell.

Nora was tasked with delivering Harper’s meals, since they are close. I thought it would comfort Harper and that it would help keep others’ attention off her.

Maybe it worked too well, because now, all I know is that she has been gone for two days. So many thoughts of her running through the forest without protection flit through my mind, and it sends me into anther spiral of worry.

Is she out there somewhere in pain?

Did a rogue attack her while she was running away?

Is she in danger right now?

My chest tightens at the thought, and my wolf rumbles within, scratching at the barrier between us. He wants out, but if I let him run, there’s no telling what he’ll do.

“Alpha Lucas!”

Nora runs straight toward me, skidding to a halt when she finally reaches me.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“I found you.”

She blinks up at me then waves her hands, “I need your help… I mean, Harper needs help!”

I don’t mean to, but I grab Nora by the shoulders and shake her, “What happened?”

“She sent me a message that she’s in trouble,” she says, pulling her phone out and flipping it around. “SEE?!” The message she shows me merely says S.O.S.

“How do you know she’s truly in trouble?” I ask, itching to shift and find my mate.

“This morning, Harper said she was going to visit her old clinic to see if there was anything suspicious going on,” Nora explains. “She told me she would let me know if she found anything, but all she said was S.O.S., and when I tried to call her phone, it went straight to voicemail.”

I grit my teeth and apparently my hands because Nora whimpers and pulls away as I ask, “Where is she?”

“In the human quarters, in the south sector. Her old clinic was closest to the border, so it’s kind of in the middle of nowhe— hey!”

I shift, letting my wolf free. The moment my paws are on the ground, I take off toward the west, where the human land is.

“The clinic is only a few miles away from the boarder! She has my car, too!” I hear Nora scream from behind me. I let out a bark, so she’ll know I heard her, and push myself to run faster. I was wrong before, to hurt Harper the way I did, but I won’t let her get hurt by someone else now.

I’ll help her and find evidence that she didn’t commit any crimes. Then, I’ll beg her to forgive me because I definitely lost my mind when I accused her of helping Logan.

Evidence be damned, I know Harper. She would never hurt anyone or anything by illegally trafficking wolf souls. I was just blinded by my anger and the doubt I felt, which I shouldn’t have allowed to take over my common sense.

I don’t bother to let anyone know I’ve left the territory because I don’t have time. Mason and Brandon would feel the shift in territory power, and they’ll react accordingly so I can focus all my energy on saving my mate.

My wolf easily takes over, leading me west and using his instinct to guide our direction. I can feel every wolf, forest creature, and human that I run past, but I don’t pay them any attention. I focus all my energy on running and searching for Harper’s scent.

“The border is just ahead,” my wolf tells me, and not even five minutes later, I pass through. A ripple of energy ripples through me, and then I feel a strange emptiness fall over me that tells me I’ve passed into the human land.

As I run, I catch a hint of a familiar scent. My wolf changes trajectory to head toward Harper’s scent, and the further we run, the more her scent grows.

Another familiar smell begins to mix with Harper’s sweeter and softer natural scent, and the metallic tang twists my stomach.

“Blood,” my wolf growls tensely.

When I see the clinic in the distance, I pick up the pace. It’s far enough from the border that there aren’t many businesses around, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t humans. I ignore the gasps from several people in the parking lot, dodge cars that screech to a halt near me, and turn down an alley that smells like blood and rotten food.

It doesn’t take me long to find the blood on the ground.

“Harper’s blood.”

I bare my teeth, lift my head, and look around for any sign of my woman. The alley is small, but at the other end, I notice it’s not closed off. It’s not an alley, but a path between two buildings.

“We can’t let her live, and you know it!” A female voice hisses quietly. “She’ll tell her pack, and they’ll inform the council.”

“They’ll execute us as traitors to the Goddess,” a male voice responds. My ears twitch, picking up on the hushed voices easily. I creep closer, not wanting to give away my presence.

“Just take the phone, and I’ll deal with dumping the body somewhere,” the male speaks again. Then, a thud sounds, like something was dropped on the ground.

The sharp, tangy scent of blood grows, and my wolf pushes me forward. I move before I realize it, following the voices and Harper’s scent, darting down the pathway, and turning the corner. Down the lane, a cliché white van idles.

“What the—”

A man and a woman stand behind the van, staring at me. All they see is a large wolf staring them down, and all I see is Harper’s body on the ground. Her eyes are closed, blood pools beneath her, and she’s not moving.

The sight sets off every bit of rage and fear in me.

“She isn’t moving,” my wolf mutters quietly.

“Who are you?!” The man demands, stepping closer to Harper’s body. I growl, mentally warning him not to step on her as he turns to me. If he steps on her, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold myself back.

I can smell of a wolf on him and on the woman, letting me know they’re both werewolves and that they know I’m an Alpha.

“Get out of here. This isn’t any of your business,” the man orders, pointing behind me. His foot bumps Harper’s arm, and a threatening snarl falls from me. They both go still. The way they stand over her body, like they’re ready to toss her in the trash, sends me and my wolf off the deep end.

Then, I remember the thud, and I realize that sound was Harper’s body hitting the ground. My vision turns red.

They killed my mate.

Murdered her without any reason other than saving their own skins, and it would be the end of both of them.