Nicklaus’s POV
I gently guided her back up, insisting, “You can’t leave like this, my love. You’ve been asleep for five days and haven’t eaten properly. Let me prepare your meal.”
I stormed out of the room in frustration, pondering what could have caused Gabby’s strange behavior. Lethal’s voice resonated in my mind, offering reassurance and advice. I tried to focus and consider that if I could still mind link with Martins, he must be alive and there might be a reason behind his absence.
“Are you sure the Black Moon Pack isn’t behind this? What if it’s a trap?” I questioned, still haunted by suspicions.
“Martins is resilient, and you’ll find him. Once you do, we can return home unscathed. Don’t let your mind be manipulated by the Black Moon Pack’s tactics,” Lethal replied, reminding me of Martins’ strength and urging me to remain steadfast.
The scent of my mate reached me, signaling her presence nearby. Her aura had a soothing effect on me, easing my worries. The Luna, whether directly or indirectly, played a vital role in an Alpha’s life.
With breakfast prepared, I entered the dining room where my mate sat, her troubled expression still evident. After our conversation, I hoped that seeing Estella would help alleviate her concerns.
“I want to feed you,” I expressed, determined to care for her.
She initially resisted, but I persisted, insisting on feeding her as a gesture of love and care. She relented and allowed me to feed her, and the act seemed to brighten her mood.
As I fed her, she choked on a bite of food. I quickly fetched water, and she thanked me after taking a sip. Seeking to make amends, I apologized for raising my voice earlier and assured her that I would properly attend to our daughter tonight.
“I’m not angry, and I’ll go see our daughter now,” she responded. Before she left, I decided it was best to inform her about the situation with Martins before she found out from someone else.
“There’s something I need to discuss with you, though it’s not the most important right now,” I informed her, and she kissed my cheek before departing.
Once she was gone, I trailed her discreetly. I wanted to ensure she didn’t inadvertently hurt herself again, as she had done when she first woke up.
Listening in on their conversation from a distance, I couldn’t help but smile at the interaction between Gabby and Estella. Seeing them both happy gave me a sense of relief.
Feeling assured that Gabby was in a better state, I decided it was time for me to leave. I headed to the woods and received a report from the werewolves I had sent to search for Martins.
“Alpha Nicklaus, we found some of the Beta’s belongings,” one of them reported, handing over the items they had discovered. It was evident that Martins had been attacked on his way here.
“What else did you find?” I inquired.
“We found blood, not only the enemy’s but also Martins’. It smells like it’s tainted with wolfsbane.”
The mention of wolfsbane caught my attention, raising concerns about Martins’ safety and well-being.
“Yes, and we lost track of it. I don’t believe the enemies are lingering around the site of the attack.”
“Have you explored alternative routes?” I questioned, anger and concern mingling as I held onto the napkin that belonged to Martins. It pained me deeply that my beta was hurt due to the wolfsbane, and I wasn’t there to aid him.
“We did, but found nothing significant aside from some rogues residing in a nearby small town.”
“Rogues… Are you certain that the enemies haven’t disguised themselves among these rogues? Return to the area and conduct a thorough search, but be cautious,” I instructed, my urgency clear. They acknowledged my orders and departed. Transforming into my wolf form, my anger fueled my determination as I scoured various locations. I knew I might return home late, but the priority was finding my missing beta.
Despite my efforts, my mind link to Martins remained silent, frustrating me further. I reached the spot where the trail of blood ended, leaving me faced with numerous divergent paths.
Taking a moment to meditate, I realized that Martins’ scent was strong where I stood but vanished beyond that point. It was as if someone had purposefully masked his scent to impede any tracking attempts. The realization dawned that I needed a witch’s assistance to break through this obstruction.
“Once the witch aids us in locating Martins and rescuing him, we’ll depart for good, right?”
“Yes, that’s the plan,” I affirmed. My resolve was unwavering finding Martins was paramount, and once he was safe, we would finally leave this place for good.