Xander’s POV
The night was unnaturally quiet. No crickets chirping. No rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. It was as though the world was holding its breath, waiting for the first crack in the silence to shatter the stillness. My chest felt tight, an invisible weight pressing down with relentless force. I couldn’t explain it.. this gnawing unease clawing at the edges of my sanity.
Then, it hit me. A searing pain ripped through my chest, and I staggered against the nearest wall, gasping for air. Cain, my wolf, howled in agony within me. “Mate…” he rasped, his voice heavy with desperation. The bond between Alison and me wasn’t just flickering… it was fading, dimming into an ominous void.
“Xander?” Caitlyn’s voice snapped me out of my haze. She was draped across the couch in my office, looking concerned, her fingers twirling a strand of her perfectly styled hair. “You’ve been pacing for an hour. What’s gotten into you?”
I ignored her, my jaw tightening. Every fiber of my being screamed that something was wrong. Alison was in danger.. no, worse. She was slipping away from me.
Caitlyn rose, sauntering over with that sultry smirk she thought could sway me. “If it’s about her again…” Her tone turned icy, her jealousy barely concealed. “Why can’t you just focus on us?”
“Us?” I barked, the word tasting like ash on my tongue. “There is no ‘us,’ Caitlyn! And for once, stay out of my business!” My voice boomed through the room, echoing off the walls. Her eyes widened, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flash of fear before she quickly masked it with indignation.
“Fine,” she snapped, her voice brittle. “But don’t come crawling back to me when… ”
“Get out,” I growled, cutting her off. Cain was scratching at the edges of my control, his rage feeding into mine. “Now.”
Caitlyn stormed out, slamming the door behind her, but I barely noticed. My focus was elsewhere… on Alison, on the bond growing weaker by the second.
“We have to find her,” Cain urged. “Now, before it’s too late.”
I didn’t waste a moment. I summoned Luke and a few warriors, my voice sharp with urgency as I explained the situation. They didn’t question me; my tone made it clear there was no time for doubt or hesitation.
Cain was restless as I climbed into the SUV, his instincts guiding me. “Drive,” I ordered the warrior behind the wheel. “Follow my lead.”
As we sped through the forest-lined roads, the bond grew stronger, tugging at me like an invisible thread. Then we saw it… a car parked haphazardly on the shoulder. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, motionless.
Luke pulled over, his face grim as he approached the vehicle. “Dead,” he called out after a moment of inspection.
My stomach churned. This wasn’t random. Someone had planned this, and I had a gut-wrenching feeling that Alison had been their target.
“This is it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “She’s close.”
Cain surged forward, his heightened senses leading me deeper into the woods. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, but beneath it, faint and fading, was her scent… honeysuckle and wildflowers.
“Alison!” I called, my voice breaking the silence. Panic bubbled in my chest as I pushed through the undergrowth, branches clawing at my arms. “Alison, where are you?”
Then I saw her.
She was crumpled on the forest floor, her body eerily still. Her pale skin glowed faintly in the moonlight, her lips tinged with blue. For a moment, I froze, terror gripping me like a vice.
“No,” I whispered, dropping to my knees beside her. “Alison!”
Her pulse was weak, her breaths shallow. I lowered myself towards her to get a good glimpse, I could see bubble foam coming out of her mouth, she looked like she had been poisoned, its toxic tendrils attacking her from within.
“Don’t you dare give up on me, Ally,” I murmured, my voice breaking. My hands trembled as I lifted her into my arms, cradling her as though she were the most fragile thing in the world.
Luke appeared at my side, his face a mask of controlled fury. “What do we do, Alpha?”
“Stay behind with a few men, Search the area,” I ordered, my voice cold and hard. “Find whoever did this. Leave no stones unturned.”
Luke nodded and disappeared into the shadows with the other warriors. But I didn’t care about revenge… not right now. All that mattered was her.
As I carried her back to the car, her head lolled against my chest. She was so light, so fragile, and it made my heart ache in ways I didn’t think possible.
“You’re going to be okay,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. “You have to be.”
The drive back to the castle was a blur. Every second felt like an eternity, the bond flickering like a dying flame. Cain was beside himself, his howls of anguish echoing in my mind.
When we finally arrived, I didn’t wait for the car to come to a full stop. I commanded the driver to stop burst out, carrying her through the grand doors as though my life depended on it.
“Xander?” My mother’s voice rang out, sharp and concerned. She descended the staircase, her eyes widening at the sight of Alison in my arms. “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I said through gritted teeth. “But I’m going to find out.”
“Let me help,” she insisted, reaching for Alison.
“No!” The word exploded from me before I could stop it. My mother froze, taken aback by the ferocity in my tone. “She’s staying with me.”
“Mum,” I said, softening my voice but not my resolve. “I’ll handle this. Just… give me space.”
She hesitated, clearly torn, but eventually stepped back. “At least let me call the pack physician… ”
“I’ll handle it,” I repeated, my tone leaving no room for argument.
I carried Alison up the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I reached my room, I laid her gently on the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She looked so peaceful, so vulnerable, and it broke me.
“I swear,” I murmured, my voice low and raw. “Whoever did this will pay.”
Cain growled in agreement, his fury simmering just beneath the surface.
For a moment, I just sat there, watching her, my hand resting on hers. She was my mate, my other half, and I couldn’t lose her, not now, not ever.
The room was silent, save for the sound of her labored breaths. I didn’t move, didn’t dare leave her side. My mother knocked softly on the door, but I didn’t answer. She called my name, but I didn’t care.
Alison needed me, and I wasn’t going to let her go. Not tonight. Not ever.