I sucked a deep breath and murmured a thank you to her before leaving.
We walked back to the pack house in silence, the tension and fear bubbling inside us. Gravel crunched under our boots, the wind tugged at our clothes, but no one spoke. We were each lost in our thoughts- each of us looking so worried.
By the time we reached the pack house, the halls were quiet, most of the pack either out on searches or resting from the night’s chaos. Our footsteps echoed down the corridor as we made our way upstairs.
We all entered my room.
Levi kicked a chair across the room the moment the door closed behind us. It slammed into the wall with a loud crack. “I hate this. Just waiting around like this- it’s driving me insane.”
“I know,” I said quietly, crossing to the window. I pulled the curtains aside and looked out into the woods, half-hoping I’d see her running toward us. “But we’re doing what we can.”
“Are we?” Louis asked. “We’ve called allies. Sent out patrols. Spoken to the seer. What else is left?”
My jaw tightened.
“There’s one person we haven’t reached out to,” I said, turning from the window.
They both looked at me.
“Uncle.”
Their eyes widened slightly.
“Our father’s younger brother,” I said. “We haven’t contacted him. He has connections in America. A whole damn pack under his command. Resources we don’t.”
Louis exhaled slowly. “He always said to reach out if we ever needed him.”
Levi crossed his arms. “We never have.”
“Well, we do now.”
Without waiting for their response, I closed my eyes and focused, reaching through the pack bond. It took a moment-the distance between us made the link faint, thinner than usual-but eventually, I found the flicker of his presence.
“Uncle,” I mind-linked, my voice firm despite the knot in my stomach. “It’s Lennox. I’m sorry to contact you like this… but we need your help.”
There was a pause-then his voice came through, deep and alert.
“Lennox? Is everything alright?”
“No.” My throat tightened. “Our mate… she’s missing. Taken from pack territory. We’ve searched everywhere, used every/connection we have. But we’re running out of time.”
A long silence.
“You have a mate?” he finally asked, sounding genuinely surprised. It was then I remembered we didn’t even invite him to our wedding.
“And she’s missing?”
“Yes. And we need help. Whoever took her might have crossed borders. Could be in your territory-or at least using it to hide.”
His tone shifted instantly, solidifying with authority. “You should have told me sooner. Send me her picture. I’ll activate my scouts immediately. We’ll start a search across the States. I have people from coast to coast.”
Relief bloomed in my chest, momentarily dulling the ache.
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll send it now.”
“Do it fast. And Lennox-We’ll find her. I promise you that.”
I opened my eyes, blinking away the burning sensation behind them. My brothers looked at me with questions.
“He’s in,” I said. “Told us to send her photo. He’s mobilizing his scouts across America.”
Levi finally sat down, his hands dragging over his face. “Good. That’s something. That’s finally something.”
Louis crossed to my desk and pulled open the drawer.
“I’ll get her picture.”
Olivia’s POV
It was 6 PM, and I could already feel my body reacting strangely. A sudden wave of heat washed over me. Discomfort prickled beneath my skin, and my nipples were already painfully hard. I swallowed hard as I curled into the bed, my heart pounding. I could feel it… my heat was coming. Soon, I’d lose control-and heaven help me, I didn’t know if I’d survive it.
The door creaked open. Terrified, I looked up to see who it was, and a rush of relief hit me when I saw the maids step inside. They gave me a polite smile I couldn’t return before they walked over.
“We’re here to dress you and take you to the Alpha,” the older one said.
I swallowed again, my throat dry.
Slowly, I shook my head and began backing up on the bed until my back hit the wall. “No… I-I don’t wan’ to see him.”
1/10
The younger maid frowned, her hands holding a red dress that made my stomach twist. “You have to,” she said softly, almost apologetically. “He said you must be brought to him before the moon rises.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. I could already feel the ache starting in my lower belly, the warmth spreading through my core like wildfire. The room felt too hot, my skin overly sensitive. Goddess… it was happening faster than I thought.
“I’m not going,” I whispered, shaking my head again, this time more firmly. “Tell him I said no.”
The older maid sighed. “We don’t have a choice. He gave strict orders. And if you don’t come with us willingly… the guards outside will make you.”
Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was tired. Tired of being powerless. Tired of being dragged around like I was nothing.
“I’ll scream,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’ll fight.”
“You can try,” the older maid said, almost sadly. “But that heat coming on… it’s going to get worse. Yo
2/10 won’t even be able to resist him. And he knows that.”
They stepped closer.
I slapped their hands away. “Don’t touch me!”
The younger maid flinched, then dropped her gaze.
“Fine,” I snapped. “I’ll go. But I’ll dress myself.”
They both looked surprised, then nodded.
I grabbed the dress from her hand. Even touching it felt like betrayal to the triplets, like silently agreeing to be a sacrifice. Turning my back to them, I slipped it on with shaking fingers. My body was on fire, my limbs. trembling, and I could barely get the fabric over my skin.
I didn’t check the mirror.
I didn’t care how I looked.
All I knew was that I was going into heat… and I might have to sleep with a stranger. And my mates weren’t here to stop it.
The older maid looked me over as I adjusted the thin strap over my shoulder. Her eyes swept over my shaking form. “You look like you’re being led to be sacrificed,” she muttered.
I scoffed bitterly. “That’s exactly what this is. I don’t even know who this man is. What if he hurts me? What if…” My voice cracked. “What if he kills me in bed?”
“Nothing like that will happen,” she cut in firmly, sounding certain. “The Alpha won’t harm you.”
My lips trembled. “You say that like you’re sure.”
“We are,” the younger maid added. “He’s not cruel. And besides… we heard you were sold.”
I frowned.
“You should feel lucky,” the younger one continued. “He treats his people well. Be glad he’s the one who bought you. Trust me.”
“Lucky?” I echoed, shaking my head. “Lucky to be bought like cattle? Lucky to be offered up during my heat to a stranger?”
4/10
They didn’t answer.
I frowned and gently rubbed my fingers over the choker wrapped around my neck. “He seems… mature.”
The older maid’s lips twitched into something close to a smile. “He is. He just turned thirty-five last month.”
My eyes widened. “Thirty-five?”
They both nodded.
It seems I was right when I guessed his age.
“He’s… seventeen years older than me,” I whispered. Goddess. It hasn’t even been three months since I turned eighteen. “Damn… he doesn’t look it. He looks…”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.