Seventy Five
*Rafe*
The moment we stepped out of the room, I was greeted by a sea of faces, my people gathered in the courtyard, waiting for me. Men, women, children – all looking to me for guidance, for reassurance in the midst of this devastating attack. Pride swelled in my chest, momentarily overshadowing the fear and anger that had taken root. They were here for me, loyal to the end.
I stood before them, allowing my gaze to sweep over the crowd. “My friends,” I began, my voice carrying across the hushed gathering. “Today, we have suffered a grievous blow. An enemy who is unknown at the moment, has struck at the very heart of our kingdom, shattering the peace and security we hold so dear.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, expressions of fear and anger mirroring my own. I held up a hand, and silence fell once more.
“I come to you now not just as your Alpha, but as a man humbled by your unwavering loyalty, your courage in the face of this adversity. And I make you this solemn vow – I will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice. I will not rest until every last one of our people, captured or injured, is returned safely to us. This, I swear on my life.”
A roar erupted from the crowd, a swell of support that encouraged my resolve. They believed in me, trusted in me to lead them through this darkness. I would not let them down.
As the cheers began to subside, a figure pushed through the throng, hurrying toward me. Addy, Freya’s closest friend. The look on her face made my heart clench with dread.
“Addy, are you alright?” I asked, grasping her shoulders as she reached me. Tears shimmered in her eyes, her face pale and drawn.
“No, I’m not,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Rafe, it’s Freya. I saw… I saw a man take her, just after the blast. He carried her away.”
The world tilted, a roaring filling my ears. No. Not Freya. Not my Freya. Rage, white-hot and blinding, surged through my veins. Someone had dared to lay hands on her, to rip her away from me. They would pay. By God, they would pay with their life.
“Did you see who it was?” I demanded, my grip tightening on Addy’s shoulders. “Did you recognize him?”
She shook her head, a sob escaping her lips. “No, it all happened so fast. But Rafe… we have to find her. We have to save her.”
“We will,” I vowed, the promise etched in stone. “I won’t stop until she’s safe. Until she’s back with me, where she belongs.”
I pulled Addy into a fierce embrace, offering what little comfort I could. Over her shoulder, I met Connor’s gaze, saw the same grim determination reflected there. We had our mission. We had our purpose.
And may the gods have mercy on anyone who stood in our way.
As Addy’s sobs quieted, a new voice cut through the air. “She’s not missing, you know. She’s exactly where she wants to be.”
I turned to see Kelly walking towards us, a smug smile playing across her lips. Freya’s stepsister had always been a thorn in my side, her jealousy of Freya’s beauty and kindness an ugly, twisted thing.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I growled, in no mood for her games.
Kelly tossed her hair, her eyes glinting with malice. “Freya’s not kidnapped, you highness. She’s with Daniel. Her boyfriend. The love of her life.”
The words hit like a physical blow, stealing the breath from my lungs. Daniel. Even if Kelly was right, he could be her childhood friend or something. But love of her life? Boyfriend? The idea was preposterous. Wasn’t it?
Doubt crept in, insidious and unwelcome. I shook my head, refusing to let Kelly’s poison take root. “You’re lying,” I said flatly. “Freya would never leave without telling me. Without telling any of us.”
Kelly laughed, the sound grating on my nerves. “Oh, your highnes… So blind. So naive. You really thought she was yours, didn’t you? That she’d fallen for your charms?” She leaned in, her voice a mocking whisper. “She’s been sneaking off to see Daniel for months. Lying to you. Betraying you. And now they’ve run off together, leaving you behind like the naive alpha you are.”
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to wrap my hands around Kelly’s throat and squeeze until the malicious gleam left her eyes. But even as anger surged, the seeds of uncertainty took hold. What if she was telling the truth? What if Freya had chosen another over me?
No. I couldn’t let myself be swayed. Not now. Not when Freya needed me. I turned to Connor, my resolve hardening. “We’re going after her. Now. Just you and me.”
Connor nodded, his face grim. “I’ll gather supplies and meet you at the edge of town in ten minutes.”
As he strode off, I felt a flare of pain in my side, the wound from the poisoned bullet throbbing in protest. I gritted my teeth, pushing the discomfort aside. There was no time for weakness, no room for doubt.
Freya was out there, and I would find her. No matter the cost. No matter the truth that awaited me.
me.
Kelly’s mocking laughter echoed in my ears as I turned and stalked away, my heart a battleground of rage and fear, love and betrayal. The hunt was on, and I prayed to the gods that I wouldn’t be too late.
As Connor and I stepped out into the war-torn streets, a wave of devastation crashed over me. The once vibrant town lay in ruins, the cobblestones slick with blood and debris. Lifeless bodies littered the ground, their vacant eyes staring up at a smoke-stained sky. The air hung heavy with the stench of death and the acrid tang of explosives.
I stumbled forward, my heart constricting with each step. These were my people, innocent lives snuffed out in a senseless act of violence. The weight of responsibility pressed down on my shoulders, the burden of leadership never more apparent than in this moment of tragedy.
Connor’s hand gripped my shoulder, his touch a silent offering of support. “This isn’t your fault, Rafe,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “You couldn’t have known this would happen.”
My eyes stung with unshed tears as we picked our way through the devastation. The pain in my side pulsed with every movement, a constant reminder of my own vulnerability. But I pushed forward, driven by the need to find Freya and the desire to bring justice to those responsible for this atrocity.
A feeble cry pierced the eerie silence, and I whirled around to see two little girls huddled against a crumbling wall. Their faces were streaked with soot and tears, their clothes tattered and singed. As I drew closer, I saw the extent of their injuries-angry red burns marring their delicate skin.
“Please,” one of them whimpered, her eyes wide and pleading. “Help us.”
I didn’t care who they were. I just knew I needed to help them.
****