Denderick’s POV
I stormed into my pack house, angrily flinging my coat aside. The heavy door slammed shut behind me, echoing through the grand hall. My blood boiled with anger at the outcome of the Council of Alphas meeting.
Those fools! Instead of making their investigations, they’d rather blame me for something I had no hand in.
I paced back and forth, trying to calm the rage simmering inside me. How could they be so blind? So easily swayed by Logan’s accusations? He was the real threat, the one who wanted to see me fall.
My Beta, Liam, appeared at the entrance of the hall. I watched as he stopped short at the sight of me, frowning. “Alpha, what happened?”
I shot him a dark look. “Those idiotic Alphas on the Council!”
“Alpha,” Liam said quietly, “there’s something you need to know.”
I looked up in annoyance. “What is it?”
He hesitated, then continued, “There have been rumors in the market about the missing women. People are scared. They’re saying it’s you.”
I chuckled darkly. “I see. Logan’s poison is spreading already.”
Liam stepped forward. “What does that mean? What happened during the meeting?”
“Those old men on the Council believe I’m behind the disappearance of pregnant women.” I spat. “They’re convinced it’s all part of my desperate attempt to find her. My breeder.”
Liam shook his head. “It’s what everyone has been saying in the pack as well. What are we going to do?”
I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly. “We need to find her, Liam. We need to find her before the deadline. If we don’t, Logan will take everything.”
Liam nodded. “I’ll double the search efforts. We’ll find her.”
I clenched my fists, trying to contain my frustration. “We have to. Failure is not an option.”
I turned and walked toward my office, and Liam followed behind me. The walls of the pack house felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me with the weight of impending doom. I couldn’t let Logan win. I wouldn’t let him take what was mine.
As I entered my office, I caught sight of a map pinned to the wall, dotted with markers indicating the search areas. We had been thorough, but obviously not thorough enough. I needed to think outside the box, to consider places we hadn’t searched yet.
“Liam,” I called out. “Get me the latest reports. I want to know every detail, every lead, no matter how insignificant it might seem.”
He nodded. “I still believe Lady Aria is in Alpha Logan’s custody.”
“He’s probably holding her under duress, that bastard!” I snarled.
Liam’s eyes were filled with determination. “We will, Alpha. We won’t rest until we do.”
I nodded, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the rage. “Good. We don’t have much time. If she manages to deliver that child in Alpha Logan’s custody, he can claim he is the father, just to keep his territory. It’s Logan; I know what he is capable of doing.”
Liam’s gaze met mine, and he gave me a small bow. “I will do what has to be done, Alpha.”
I watched my beta leave the study, feeling dread and anger settle in my chest. This was going to be harder than I’d expected.
*******
Liam returned a few days later. I was waiting for him in the foyer, pacing the length of it. Together, we turned in the direction of my study, and we walked without sharing a word. Soon we got to the double oak doors of the study, and Liam helped me open them up.
I walked in and quickly crossed to the other side of the room, stopping behind the desk and collapsing into my chair with a huge sigh.
Liam joined me at the desk, sitting on the chair that faced me and staring into my eyes with concern. “Are you sure you’re fine, Alpha?” he asked. “I mean, it’s neen a disturbing couple of days….”
“I am fine, Liam.” I snapped.
Liam stared at me for a few seconds, then shrugged. “If you say so, Alpha.”
“Right.” I muttered. “There are a few things I would like you to do for me.”
“What is that, Alpha?” he asked me.
“Alright. I am sure you have given the army troops the necessary instructions, right?”
“That I have, Alpha.” He nodded.
“Good.” I replied. “Very good. Anytime soon, we might have to go into battle.”
Liam leaned forward in excitement. “Alpha, there’s something else. I’ve noticed the bulk of missing pregnant women are coming from Alpha Logan’s pack. I believe Alpha Logan is behind this.”
I felt a spark of interest. I already had an inkling that Alpha Logan had some hand in everything that was happening in that moment. It was obvious; from the fingers he kept pointing in my direction, to the obvious enmity between us. It was so shocking that the Council of Alphas could not see what I saw as clear as day.
“I had a guess that he was involved,” I murmured, then urged my beta. “Go on.”
Liam continued, “One of our scouts sighted some nocturnal activity going on around the border of Alpha Logan’s pack. Horses and people moving back and forth, and so on. This happened last month during the full moon. I believe he made it so to avoid any suspicion on his part.”
I stroked my chin in thought. “And what is he hiding anyway?”
“One of the pregnant women was captured. She mentioned being taken by someone who matched descriptions of Logan’s men.” Liam said.
I leaned back in my chair, contemplating this new information. “Logan… of course. This makes sense. He’s trying to weaken me, make me look like the villain.”
Liam nodded. “Exactly, Alpha. If we can prove this, we can turn the Council against him.”
A slow, cold smile spread across my face. “Then that’s what we’ll do. Gather more evidence, Liam. I want every detail, every possible lead. If Logan is behind this, we’ll expose him.”
“Alright, Alpha. But one more thing.” Liam added.
“What?”
His eyes grew dark as he delivered the bombshell. “The captured pregnant woman is in the pack as we speak.”