Alexander’s POV
My world had been torn apart, unraveling like threads slipping through my fingers. The absence of Sophia was a void that gnawed at my insides, an ache that refused to be ignored. Anger roared within me, a fiery tempest that threatened to consume everything in its path. My voice was a command, an eruption of pent-up frustration that reverberated through the shadow city.
“Lock down the city,” I ordered, my words laced with an intensity that mirrored the storm within. “No one gets in or out until we find her.”
The chaos that ensued was a reflection of my own turmoil. The city, once a bastion of order, had descended into anarchy as my orders were carried out. I paced, my mind racing, my heart pounding, as I tried to make sense of it all. Sophia had vanished, stolen away from me, and the fury of that loss was a fire that consumed reason.
“Cousin, I’m sorry about that.”
Emilia’s presence was a flicker in the corner of my vision, her casual demeanor a sharp contrast to the turmoil that raged within me. “They’re gone,” she said, her words slicing through the chaos. “Tyler and Jake. They must have left the city already.”
I shot her an angry glance, my frustration boiling over. “And you let them go?!”
Emilia’s eyes met mine, unflinching in the face of my anger. “They had silver bullets. I couldn’t defeat them.”
Her tone was light, and I couldn’t sense any remorse from her.
The words were a searing reminder of my own limitations. Silver, the bane of our existence, the weapon that could pierce our defenses and shatter the facade of invincibility we held. My fists clenched, the weight of my anger shifting, my gaze boring into Emilia’s unyielding one.
“You brought them here,” I spat, each word a lash of my fury. “You’re the reason we’re in this mess.”
Emilia’s expression remained unchanged, her defiance mirroring my own. “They were going to take Sophia. I intervened. What did you expect me to do?”
“Come on, cousin,” she continued, “it’s not as serious as you think. They are friends of Sophia’s, they won’t harm-”
“Enough,” I interrupted her, “you’ve never realized the trouble your reckless actions could cause for others.”
The room crackled with tension, our words a reflection of our conflicting perspectives. My hands trembled, the overwhelming sense of loss and anger churning within me. It’s just those two werewolf hunters that I particularly dislike being around Sophia. They used to be her roommates and her closest friends. Now I realize how possessive I’ve become of Sophia, especially after she became my Luna.
But anger wasn’t enough, it wouldn’t bring her back. My voice was a command, my words carrying the weight of my resolve. “Leave.”
Emilia’s gaze locked onto mine, her eyes flashing with a spark of rebellion. “What?”
“Leave my palace,” I said, my voice cold and unyielding. “And don’t think for a second that your actions have gone unnoticed.”
Her defiant facade wavered, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “You can’t blame me for everything.”
My laugh was bitter, a hollow sound that echoed in the silence of the room. “I can and I will. You brought them back here, into our city, and now you’ve set off a storm that we might not be able to control.”
Emilia’s lips thinned, her expression one of begrudging acceptance. “Fine. But what about the restriction?”
My anger flared anew, my patience worn thin. “Three months,” I declared, my voice icy. “You won’t leave the palace grounds for three months. Consider it a lesson in responsibility.”
Emilia’s protest was a mere whisper, her shoulders slumping as the weight of my words settled upon her. “You can’t do this.”
I met her gaze, unyielding in the face of her rebellion. “I can and I will. The rules of our clan are not to be taken lightly, Emilia.”
Her gaze dropped to the ground, her defiance giving way to resignation. The room was heavy with the weight of our confrontation, the clash of wills that had left its mark. And as I turned away, my heart heavy with the burden of loss and anger, I couldn’t shake off the haunting sense that the storm I had set into motion was far from over.
“Ethan,” I said, my voice cutting through the tension that lingered in the room. “Prepare.”
Ethan’s gaze met mine, understanding passing between us without the need for further words. He knew what needed to be done, even as my heart pulsed with an urgency I couldn’t ignore.
“I’m going after her,” I declared, my tone resolute. “I won’t let them take her away from me.”
Ethan’s expression turned troubled, his features etched with a mixture of concern and hesitation. He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice measured. “There’s something you should know. An incident occurred in the human world just now.”
My brows furrowed, my frustration momentarily overshadowed by the gravity of his words. “What happened?”
Ethan’s gaze held mine, the weight of his revelation settling over me like a heavy shroud. “A werewolf attacked humans,” he said, his voice grim. “Five deaths, twelve injuries. Panic has spread.”
The words were a blow, a stark reminder of the chaos that loomed over both our worlds. My anger, my determination to reclaim what was mine-it was all eclipsed by the harsh reality of what had transpired. The werewolf hunter organization would be stirred into action, seeking retaliation for this act. The fragile peace we had fought for, the coexistence we had striven towards-it was all unraveling.
Ethan’s voice was cautious, a reflection of the complexity of the situation. “If you confront the two werewolf hunters now, it could escalate things further. The organization’s eyes are on us, and any action we take will be closely scrutinized.”
I stared at him, the turmoil within me mirrored by the furrowed lines on his forehead. My fingers clenched, the instinct to act, to reclaim what was mine, warring with the practicality of the situation. But I was Alexander Williams, a position of authority that demanded responsibility and foresight. I couldn’t let my anger blind me to the consequences of my actions.
“I understand your concern,” I said, my voice edged with frustration. “But this situation… it’s more than it seems.”
Ethan regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and caution. “What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath, the gravity of my words settling over me. “Our werewolves wouldn’t attack humans without cause. This is a conspiracy, a plan to incite chaos between our worlds.”
Ethan’s eyes widened, his understanding mirroring my own. “The Rogues.”