Damon pulled to a stop at the edge of the forest and quickly shifted back to human form. The hundreds of wolves behind him followed his actions, their thunderous paws ceasing to trample upon the grassy ground.
“Where is my mate?!” The booming voice of Damon surged through the crowd and then shook the mighty forest, frightening animals to the point where they hid as fast as lightening while birds took off into the skies. If mere words were as ruffling as that, then imagine how terrifying it was for the person it was directed at.
Jason, who was waiting by the front door, dropped to his knees and lowered his head in shame as soon as the words shook his eardrums. “I still-” he hesitated for a second when Damon took his first threatening step towards him. “I still h-haven’t found her.”
Jason knew very well that this was no simple matter and he knew that he’d be given no simple punishment either…. even if it wouldn’t be death, it’d still be dreadful. But it was his mistake for letting his guard down. He should’ve protected his Luna at all costs… yet he allowed himself to fall victim to Katie’s tricks. He deserved whatever was coming to him.
“I’ve searched all the surrounding areas…” He continued to explain, “but I still having found any trace of her scent. And it’s been over half an hour. They’re probably far gone.”
At that, Damon’s veins started to spasm as he strided forward, his arms flexing dangerously as his anger multiplied threefold. “Far gone? I told you to keep track of her every movement! How the fuck did you let them take her while you’re still untouched!?”
“I’m sorry, Alpha!” He could tell that Damon was close enough to do his worst and that made a series of apologies split from his lips. “Forgive me, Alpha.” As he stared downwards, his eyes caught sight of Damon’s shadow reflecting on the ground. From it, he could tell that Damon had raised his claws and soon, it’d probably hit.
“I didn’t think that she’d spike the juice!” The speed of his words were faster than ever due to desperation. If Damon wasn’t listening keenly then he probably wouldn’t have heard him properly. “Sarah wanted me to give her a chance, but I still should’ve been more careful.” As soon as he finished his words untouched, he took the risk of cautiously looking up at him. And when he saw that he had dropped his hand, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Her?” Damon asked.
“Katie. She’s colluding with the rogues.” He informed, finally straightening himself up. “I also smelled the scent of a human before I blacked out. He’s most likely a hunter. It’s too soon to say they are working together, but Hunters are the only source she’d be able to acquire a drug capable of affecting werewolves.”
Curses sprewed from Damon’s mouth at the revelation and he balled his fist until his nails pierced through his palm. This time around, there’d be no mercy! This time around, she’d die by his hands!
“Alpha, I got info on the rouges from the hunters.” Gilbert’s voice popped into his mind again. “And it doesn’t sound good.”
Damon gestured with his hand for Jason to get up before he turned away from him and focused on his conversation with Gilbert. “What did you find out?”
“They have reinforcements coming in from all directions…. including hunters, and they’ve also been invading as many packs as they can on their way. I’ve already gathered the remaining wolves and we’ll be arriving at your residence within a few minutes. However, their army might still be a little more than ours considering that Hunters are working with them as well, so even if you find wherever they’re hiding, I suggest not leaving until we arrive. We don’t know what we’ll be diving into.”
Damon ran a hand through his hair and harshly gripped the messy strands, almost pulling them from his scalp. “How much?” He gritted out.
“We don’t have the exact numbers.”
“If everyone’s unharmed, hurry up and get here. I want to move out as soon as I find any leads.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Jason?” Damon called out to him and Jason quickly moved to the spot beside him. “Split them up and search the whole perimeter. We need to find her as soon as possible.”
“On it!” Jason took off towards the army of wolves while Damon took it upon himself to start his own individual search. No matter what it took, he’d find her. Then, he’d rip out the hearts of whoever dared to touch her!
An hour into the search when even Jason was certain that they’d never find her, Damon was still on the hunt. He was both desperate and determined. He’d find her… no matter what it took.
“Alpha!” A female she-wolf ran towards him at lightening speed, her chest heaving as she panted. She stopped a few feet away from him with one hand on her knees and the other holding a nearby tree. Damon paused his search, turned his almost lifeless eyes to her and scowled. He was pretty sure that she had nothing relevant to tell him, just like the other wolves who had constantly came to him with foolish assumptions and nothing of help. Up to now, his irritation had built high enough for him to smash her face in if she dared to tell him anything he didn’t want to hear.
“What?”
“I’ve found a trail of blood!” She informed a little too enthusiastically. “We think it belongs to the Luna!”
His eyes instantly widened. Blood. Blood. Blood. If it belonged to Sarah then that would mean that she was hurt, or probably even d… Damon shook his head to rid himself of such a heart-wrenching thought. They wouldn’t dare to hurt her. They wouldn’t. They definitely wouldn’t.
But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, a part of him was almost sure that it was hers… even when there was no evidence of it. He needed to find her… fast.
He clenched his tightening chest with his hands and moved to take off, but Jason’s saddened voice made him pause. “We aren’t certain it belongs to Sarah.” He told him, “It could be Katie’s.”
“And what if it isn’t? Should I just stay put until maxim comes to confirm it?!”
Jason sighed. “Then we should atleast wait until Gilbert gets here with the others. He sa–”
Damon shook his head in an instant. “No, we’ll follow the trail now. She could be–” he gulped in dread, his frantic eyes searching the woods uneasily. “–in danger as we speak. Hurry up and gather the others!”
… Without another word, he shifted on spot and sped off into the distance, following the lead of the she-wolf.