Marcus’ POV
I walked out of his office with Ryan following behind. We marched straight to where Sarah had been tied, to break the news to her that we finally found Stephanie.
Immediately, we entered into the place, I sensed that something was wrong. Some of the sentinels were standing in a circle, and it wasn’t looking just ordinary.
“What’s going on here?” I asked.
“We found her unconscious, lying in the ground.” One of the Sentinels replied.
I took the first few seconds trying to make sense of what had just happened. How on earth did Sarah untie herself and how did she end up on the ground unconscious?
I stepped forward, pushing past the sentinels to see Sarah lying motionless on the ground. My mind raced as I knelt beside her. She was still breathing, but barely. How had this happened?
There was no way Sarah could have broken lose from the ropes which were used to tie her. Something about her lying unconscious in the ground, wasn’t just adding up and I needed answers.
“Who was guarding her?” I growled, my voice cold and dangerous. The sentinels exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent.
They needed no one to tell them that I was already boiling with anger. Sarah was to remain my prisoner until Stephanie is brought to me. But now, seeing how everything had turned out, I couldn’t help but wonder if that will ever happen.
“Who was guarding her?” I snapped, rising to my feet, fury building inside me.
“That would be Caleb, Alpha,” one of the sentinels spoke up, his voice trembling. “But he… he’s missing.”
Missing? My fists clenched at my sides. This was no accident. Sarah had help, and someone within my ranks had betrayed me. Caleb was either a coward or a traitor-either way, he’d pay for this.
“Find Caleb,” I ordered, my tone sharp. “I want him alive.”
Ryan stepped closer, his face grim. “Something is definitely not right here,” he sighed. Could she have found a way to contact Stephanie or Reyna?”
I glanced down at Sarah’s unconscious form. “That’s not possible. I made sure to keep away anything that could be her means of breaking free or reaching out to anyone outside the pack.”
“We can’t really tell, Alpha,” Ryan said. “Sarah is not an ordinary werewolf and we both know that. She could have pulled this stunt without anyone’s help.”
“I doubt that, Ryan,” I bit my lower lips. “No matter how strong Sarah might be, she couldn’t have been able to pull this stunt without help. I’m confident someone helped her, and that one is none other than Caleb. We must find him!”
“If you say so, Alpha,” Ryan finally concurred.
I turned to the nearest sentinel. “Take her to the healer. Make sure she’s stable. I want her awake as soon as possible. We need answers.”
The sentinel nodded and hurried to carry out the order. As they took Sarah away, I couldn’t help but have the feeling that Sarah had not pulled up the stunt by herself. And for Caleb, it’s just a matter of time before my other sentinels find him.
Ryan stood by my side, silent but watchful. He knew me well enough to keep his distance when I was like this, but I could sense his unease. He had a right to be worried. This was more than a setback-it was a sign that things were unraveling.
As I watched Sarah being carried away, I felt a wave of frustration settle over me. Everything was falling apart quicker than I could control. The timing was too convenient-Stephanie, Reyna, and now this with Sarah and Caleb.
Ryan remained at my side, and I could sense his concern. He was loyal, but even loyalty could only stretch so far when things began spiraling. I needed to show strength, now more than ever.
“Send a team to track Caleb. I don’t care how far he thinks he can run, I want him found. Alive,” I commanded, knowing that his disappearance was too suspicious to be a coincidence.
Ryan nodded. “I’ll take care of it myself, Alpha. We can’t afford any more surprises.”
I appreciated his initiative. Ryan understood the importance of swift action. But as much as I trusted him, I also knew that trust was something that could be easily broken. Caleb had already shown that betrayal was possible, even within our ranks.
As Ryan left to handle the search, I walked outside to clear my head. The wind whipped across the estate, but it did little to calm the storm inside me. Sally’s discovery of Stephanie and Reyna should have been a turning point, yet now I found myself more unsure of my next move than ever.
I couldn’t shake the thought that perhaps this wasn’t just a case of betrayal, but something deeper. Maybe Sarah had found a way to connect with Stephanie or Reyna despite the measures I’d taken. Or perhaps there was a force-someone-manipulating things from the shadows, moving pieces in ways I couldn’t yet see.
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Sarah’s POV
Immediately the sentinels took me out, I knew it was my chance to get away. I opened my eyes, and quickly knocked out the two men who had carried me out.
I seized one of them and placed a dagger on his throat. I had been planning my escape for long and now that it was almost within reach, I knew I had to give it all it took.
“Stand down, or he dies,” I threatened, pulling the helpless fellow with me.
The other sentinels froze, their hands lifted above their heads. I made sure we were far from other members of the pack before pulling that stunt.
I could see the fear in their eyes, seeing how everything had changed all of a sudden. I thought tightened my grip on the dagger, pressing it just hard enough against the sentinel’s throat to make him wince.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” I warned. “I’ve had enough of being your prisoner!”
“You’ll never make it out in one piece,” I heard someone say from behind me.
I turned around, and it was Sally.