Chapter 9
_Kael’s POV_ I stood in the middle of the Nightshade Pack’s training field, my eyes scanning the trees like I expected her to walk out from the woods at any second. But she didn’t. She hadn’t in two days. Lisa was gone. And no one knew where she went. I clenched my fists, the cool morning wind whipping through my hair as a guard approached me from behind. “No sign of her,” he said grimly. “We’ve searched the east and west borders twice. Tracked her scent north, but it fades near the forest.” I turned toward him slowly. “The forest?” The guard nodded. “Yeah. It’s like she disappeared into thin air.” I ground my teeth. “That doesn’t make sense. No one can just vanish.” “She didn’t take her phone,” he added. “It’s still in her room.” My jaw tightened. She hadn’t even taken her phone. That meant she didn’t plan to leave for long… or she left in a rush. Either way, something wasn’t right. “She wouldn’t just run off,” I muttered. “Her parents think she did,” he said. “They say she was emotional after what happened. Maybe she needed space.” I scoffed. “Space? She was a member of this pack. She was safe here and she had a roof above her head. I just rejected her. She was—” I stopped myself. I couldn’t say it out loud. Not the real reason she left. I had rejected her. Me. Her mate. The words I had thrown at her—cold, cruel, final—played in my mind on repeat. “You’re nothing to me.” “I choose Roxanne.” I felt sick just thinking about it. But I had to stick to it. That was the decision I made. That was the right choice… wasn’t it? “Maybe she’ll come back soon,” the guard offered. I didn’t answer. Because I wasn’t sure I wanted her to come back. Or maybe… I wanted her to, but I didn’t deserve it. I turned away from him and walked toward the pack house. My father, Alpha Alexis, was waiting for me in his office. So were Lisa’s parents. As I stepped into the room, I noticed the heavy silence right away. My father stood behind his desk, arms crossed. My mother sat beside him. There was a tense expression on her face. Lisa’s mother looked pale and worried. Her eyes were red like she had been crying. Her father, Beta Gregory, had his arms folded, trying to appear calm. “We were just discussing Lisa,” my father said. I nodded stiffly. “Anything new?” Gregory sighed. “We believe she ran away. It’s the only explanation.” “She wouldn’t just run off,” I said again, my voice sharper this time. “She’s not like that.” Her mother wiped her eyes. “She was hurt. She’s always been sensitive. And after… after what happened at the ceremony—” Her voice broke. I looked away. “She’ll come back,” Gregory said, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “She probably just needs a day or two.” “Unless the rogues got her,” I said before I could stop myself. The room went silent. Her mother gasped softly. My father shot me a warning look. “That’s not helpful,” he muttered under his breath. I ran a hand through my hair. “Sorry. I just… I don’t like not knowing where she is.” My wolf, Valric, stirred in my mind. We need to find her. No, I snapped back. She’s not ours anymore. She’s hurting. She’s alone. We rejected her, remember? She’s not our problem. Valric growled, low and angry. I pushed him down, trying to silence the storm building inside me. There was a knock at the door. Roxanne stepped in, her lips curved in a soft smile. “Am I interrupting?” Her eyes flicked to Lisa’s parents, then back to me. “No,” my mother said gently. “We were just finishing up.” Roxanne crossed the room and slipped her arm through mine. “Good. Because I wanted to talk about the engagement.” My stomach turned. Now? She chose now? “I was thinking we shouldn’t wait too long,” she said sweetly. “A month from now would be perfect, don’t you think?” I stared at her. “A month?” “Yes! That gives us enough time for invitations, decorations, the dress… and the elders said it’s a good time. Auspicious, they called it.” My father nodded. “It is a good time. The sooner we solidify the bond between our families, the better.” “I agree,” Gregory added. “We need some good news right now.” Roxanne beamed. “See? Everyone’s excited.” Everyone but me. Valric snarled in my mind. Don’t do it. Shut up, I snapped. She’s not the one. Lisa is gone. She’s not dead. She’s not coming back either. We should look for her. We need her. She’s our mate! I gritted my teeth. Roxanne leaned closer. “Kael? Is that okay with you?” All eyes turned to me. I felt trapped. I didn’t want this. Not like this. But everyone looked so happy. So sure. “Yes,” I said finally. “One month.” My mother smiled. Roxanne squealed and hugged me tightly. Valric howled in rage inside my mind. I ignored him. Later that night, I sat alone in my room, staring at the wall. The lights were dim. The fireplace was low. And I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Lisa. Where was she now? Was she safe? Was she warm? Was she still thinking about me? I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. My hands were clenched tightly. Valric was pacing restlessly. You made a mistake. It’s done. Fix it. I can’t. You don’t love Roxanne. That doesn’t matter. It matters to me! I slammed my fist into the wall. The sound echoed through the room. My heart pounded in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Why did it feel like I was dying? Why did it feel like… like something inside me had broken? There was a soft knock at the door. I didn’t answer. Roxanne stepped in anyway. “Kael?” I didn’t turn around. She crossed the room and sat beside me. “You’ve been quiet all evening.” “I’m tired.” She rested her hand on my arm. “You’re still thinking about her, aren’t you?” I stiffened. “No.” “Don’t lie to me,” she said softly. I looked at her then. She wasn’t smiling. She looked… sad. And maybe even a little angry. “She’s gone,” Roxanne said. “Why are you still holding on to her?” “I’m not.” “She rejected this pack. She ran away. You said it yourself.” “I didn’t say that.” “She’s not coming back, Kael. You know that.” I looked down. “Maybe.” “I’m your future,” she whispered, leaning close. “Not her.” Her fingers slid over mine. I didn’t pull away, but I didn’t hold on either. “She’s not your mate anymore.” I didn’t answer. She leaned in, her lips brushing my cheek. “We’ll be happy. You’ll see.” I closed my eyes. I wanted to believe her. But Valric’s voice rang louder than ever. She’s not the one we need. Lisa is. And I couldn’t deny it anymore. No matter how much I tried. No matter how hard I pushed it down. I had rejected Lisa. But my heart… and my wolf… hadn’t. And that truth was starting to tear me apart.
