Chapter 16


    ‘Alpha, you look tired.


    May I suggest you rest for the night?’ Alice says. I nod, making my way to my room. Everything in my


    room sways. I grab onto the armchair and sit down. Kicking my shoes off, I wait for the swaying to stop.


    My door creaks open.


    ‘Is someone there?’ I ask, squinting at the figure I can barely make out.


    ‘It’s me! She says.


    ‘Astrid? Is that you?’ | ask and try to stand, but my bnce is off. I feel a hand gently press against my


    chest.


    ‘Sit down, Ryker. I’m here now. I’ll take care of you, she whispers. She straddles herself on myp.


    ‘Astrid, you came back.’


    ‘Of course, I did, she whispers as she slowly unbuttons my shirt.


    ‘Why did you leave? Where did you go?’ | ask.


    All that matters is that I’m here with you.’


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    One hand caresses my bare chest, while her other unfastens my belt. Her lips brush across mine.


    ‘Ryker,’ she whispers lustfully, cing my hands on either side of her thighs.


    ‘Astrid, I whisper.


    ‘I want you to mark me, Ryker, she whispers.


    Everything spins and sways, and I’m in an absolute stupor. All I can think of is making love to her.


    I’m going to mark you first, she whispers seductively in my ear. Her teeth protrude and scrape the skin


    on my neck. I feel the pressure as she is about to puncture my neck. But, wait. Astrid can’t shift yet.


    She can’t mark me yet. Where’s our usual heat? Sparks? I quickly push the person off of me.


    ‘Alpha! What’s wrong?’ She asks.


    ‘Vanessa?’ | ask, squinting to adjust my sight.


    ‘No, it’s Astrid,’ she says.


    I try to stand.


    ‘Vanessa! Astrid hasn’t had her first shift yet. She can’t mark me even if she wanted to!’ | yell in anger


    and fall to the ground.


    ‘What have you done to me?’ I yell.


    ‘Ryker, please! Astrid is noting back. I’m doing you and the pack a favour!’ She yells. I try to mind-


    link Leon and Kane, but I can’t connect.


    ‘Did you poison me?’ | ask.


    ‘Not exactly, she says. I try to crawl towards my door. But, unfortunately, I’m about to lose


    consciousness and fall into darkness before getting to it.


    ‘He is too heavy, mum. We can’t even roll him, Vanessa says. I squint, letting my eyes adjust. I haven’t


    moved from my spot on the floor.


    My head is pounding, and nausea creeps over me. I mind-link Leon and Kane for help. I’m still groggy


    but can see clearer.


    ‘Quick, do it now, Vanessa!’ Alice yells, shoving Vanessa toward me.


    Vanessa straddles me and bares her fangs over my neck. I want to push her off, but Alice hits me


    across the head with a heavy object. Her fangs caress my nape when Leon and Kane barge in and pull


    her off me.


    ‘Alpha! Are you okay?’ Kane asks.


    ‘They drugged me! Vanessa almost marked me,’ I yell, angered.


    ‘You have waited too long for your Luna. Vanessa would be a more fitting Luna than that wretched little


    bitch Astrid!’ Alice yells.


    Standing, I lean against the wall for support.


    ‘Bring Alice to me now!’ I snap. Leon has Alice’s arms behind her back and pushes her toward me. I


    grip her neck tightly with my hand


    ‘What did you do to Astrid? Where is she?’ I yell. Alice struggles to breathe but forces a smile at my


    words. I squeeze her neck tighter.


    ‘I will kill you right now if you do not tell me!’ I warn.


    She struggles for breath and gives a slight nod. I release my grip-enough for her to speak.


    ‘The morning she disappeared, she came into the kitchen for something to eat. No one else was up


    yet. I told Astrid to save herself the heartbreak of the elders choosing Vanessa over her and to leave


    and that if she refused to leave, I would kill her anyway before her first shift.’


    My wolf growls ferociously in her face. I’m struggling to control my wolf. As much as I want to see Alice


    dead, killing Alice won’t bring Astrid back. I throw her across the room.


    ‘Kane! Leon! Take them both to the cells, where they will stay!’ I yell. I sit back in the armchair.


    Leon and Kane return a short whileter with a jug of water and a ss. They ce them on the table


    next to me.


    ‘Alice must have drugged my food. I felt dizzy after eating it. I couldn’t even stand up straight. Vanessa


    pretended to be


    Astrid, and she seduced me. She wanted to mark me,’ | exin. Leon and Kane look at each other with


    worry.


    “Alpha, rest in bed today until it wears off, Kane says.


    ‘No, we need to find Astrid! Have any of you heard from Seth?’ | ask.


    ‘No. We’ll go into the city. We’ll take over from him. You won’t be much help, Alpha, in your condition,


    Leon says.


    Sculling tworge sses of water, I stand.


    I’m fine,’ I say, only to fall back into the armchair.


    ‘Come on, Alpha, Leon says, grabbing one arm and Kane the other, lifting me over to my bed.


    ‘Rest Alpha. We’ll mind-link you the moment we hear anything or find her. I’ll have Hayley and Mia


    check on you throughout the day. Mind-link them if you need anything, Kane says. They leave, and not


    long after that, I’m asleep.


    I wake that afternoon and mind-link them. ‘Any progress?” ask. ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, Alpha,


    but we haven’t been able to mind-link Seth or find him. He has gone awol, Kane links.


    Attempting to mind-link Seth myself, nothing happens. Something must have happened to him, he


    wouldn’t just disappear. He would have mind-linked us. I link Kane and Leon. Keep searching for them


    both, keep trying to mind-link


    Seth. I will be in the city soon. And yes, I’m feeling much better, so I will be of use.


    We spent all night searching for Astrid and Seth. I don’t understand. Astrid has vanished without a


    trace, and now Seth? What if someone is involved in their disappearance? Who? There are only two


    nights until Astrid shifts. I need to find her now.


    Returning home, I want to feel as close to Astrid as possible. So, I go into her room and look around.


    Her scent is overpowering on the couch.


    Wanting to be close to Astrid, I lie on the couch, and a few thoughts cross my mind. Astrid has been


    sleeping here instead of in her bed. It smells like vani and cookies. It exins why her bed looks as


    fresh as the day she got here. So why wouldn’t she sleep in the bed?


    Drifting off to sleep on the couch, I dream of Astrid. I kiss her lips and look into her beautiful green


    eyes.


    ‘Astrid, my mate. I have been blessed the Moon Goddess chose us to be together, I say.


    ‘Ryker, I want to be by your side forever,’ she whispers, looking into my eyes. Then, before we can kiss,


    she disappears from my arms. ‘Astrid! Wait! Come back! Astrid!’ I sit upright on the couch and look


    around the quiet room.


    It was just a dream. I stare at the floor, finding a business


    card. Zenith Creations. We were near that building yesterday! Why would Astrid be at Zenith


    Creations? How does she even know Alpha Zenith? That pack has always been bad news! | mind-link


    Kane and Leon. ‘Get the car ready. I think I know where Astrid is!’ I put the card in my pocket. Walking


    outside, get in the car.


    ‘Where are we going?’ Kane asks.


    ‘Zenith Creations, I say. Kane and Leon give each other a look.


    ‘What has Alpha Zenith got to do with Astrid?’ Kane asks.


    ‘We’re about to find out, I reply.