The warrior search party found no trace of Karen anywhere.
For two months, Kai sent them back to keep searching. They turned up with nothing. Kai subjected them to even harsher training as a punishment for their incompetence.
Seriously how hard was it to find one girl?!
“My alpha, we found the maid who aided her escape.” Kai got the news as he was inspecting the warriors trainings.
The guard who had brought him this information was the one who was in charge of guarding Karen. There had been a lot of mysterious circumstances which Karen disappeared under, Kai suspected that she was aided by someone.
“Send her to the throne room for a hearing.” Kai replied to the guard.
“Yes my alpha.”
Kai saw to the last of the training and headed to the throne room. The traitorous maid was forced to kneel, her hands tied in front of her.
Kai assumed his position on his throne, his eyes glaring coldly at her.
“Where is she?” He asked the maid
“I don’t know.” She replied. “I didn’t tell her where to go, I only helped her.”
“You are aware of the punishment for treason aren’t you?” Kai asked. He wondered why this maid didn’t have any fear at all. She met his eyes defiantly, a small smile on her lips.
“Death, yes I am aware.” She replied
“And you did what you did knowing fully well you will be punished?”
“Yes. She didn’t do anything wrong. If only you could ….”
“Be quiet.”
She smiled. “It’s okay. I know you won’t want to hear what I have to say. It’s fine.” She pushed a sharp object into her stomach.
Kai watched, expressionless as she bled out on the floors. In the back of his mind he remembered assigning Karen to clean the entire throne room till the tiles shone.
“Take it away.” Kai said to the guard. He got up from the throne and walked down the step, carefully stepping over the dead body. “That wasn’t helpful at all.”
The guard bowed and moved to drag the body out.
Kai wondered where the hell Nicolas was. For the past few weeks he had noticed Nicolas getting a lot more scarce. Not just that his behavior had also changed towards him.
Kai returned to his suite. After a long shower he summoned Nicolas. He had work to do, with the expansion of his business into the human world. The legal documents had been sent back and he needed to go through them. He could do it alone, but he needed Nicolas.
It took his beta ten minutes to answer.
“You called?” Nicolas said as he ushered himself into the suite without an invite.
Kai was getting sick of his weird behavior.
“Took your time I see.” He said bitterly.
“I had to make sure I won’t walk in on you having sex.”
Kai found it weird. “Why will I call you while I’m having sex?”
Nicolas shrugged. Kai noticed he seems closed off and on the defensive.
“We have work to do.” Kai said snappily.
“Fine.” Nicolas replied. “I have an early night though. So I’ll be leaving early.”
Kai raised a brow. “That’s a first. What? You have a date or something?”
Nicolas looked at him sharply. “Why do you care?” He snapped.
“Have you been avoiding me?” He asked the question. “Because I don’t understand why you’re acting like a bitch.”
“Acting like a…. oh my goodness I cannot believe you!”
Kai didn’t want to fight Nicolas. But it was becoming increasingly annoying with his biting attitude that was getting worse by the day.
“I’m not avoiding you.” Nicolas said at last, his voice calmer. “Can we please just get to work?”
“I’m asking the questions here.” Kai said in a commanding tone.
Nicolas glared at him briefly. “So that’s why you called me here?”
“Bingo.”
“Fine. Go on.”
“I’ve noticed a few changed in you, Nicolas. Ever since the blood moon …” Kai didn’t miss how Nicolas tensed and became defensive.
“What about it?”
“The one that stood out to me the most was you protecting Verena back then in the dining room. Or was I imagining it?”
“You were angry.” Nicolas spoke after a few seconds. “You weren’t in a right headspace and you were transferring your aggression to everybody. As your beta, I’m supposed to…”
“What, keep me in check?” Kai cut him off.
Nicolas sighed. “I’m tired. Is this about Karen?”
Kai’s eyes hardened. “What about that slave?”
“Do you really think she did it?”
“I don’t think. I saw it. What is there to talk about? She may have escaped now but when I find her I will kill her myself.”
“What if she’s innocent? She said she didn’t do it. Don’t you believe her?”
Kai glared at him. “First you’re protecting Verena. Now Karen. What is wrong with you?!”
“I’m fine!” Nicolas exclaimed. “If you don’t need me, I can go now.”
“Get out.” Kai spat in anger.
Nicolas turned and left without another word.
Once outside he sighed heavily. He didn’t want to fight with Kai. Their bond was too precious for that. But at the same time he couldn’t take it. Knowing that Kai and Verena could be together literally at anytime, it broke Nicolas heart.
He tried to do his best by avoiding Kai and Verena all together. He thought he could get away with it but he had underestimate how much Kai noticed everything.
Just like he questioned him today about the time he protected Verena. Nicolas couldn’t tell him that he couldn’t bear the thought of seeing his mate hit by another. He couldn’t bear to see them both together, knowing that he should be the one with Verena.
It wasn’t long before that pain turned into anger. Anger directed at Kai. Anger directed at Verena. And to crown it all, anger directed at himself.
So he walked away and returned to his room, his safe place for a while now. He didn’t feel anymore safe.
***
The next days that followed were different.
Kai grew colder and colder. Nicolas noticed this, being the person who knew him the most. This time it was worse than a bad mood, it was just pure indifference.
He still continued to be the alpha the pack looked up to, but his spark of kindness and mercy was gone. He imposed stricter rules on the servants. He continued to drill the warriors mercilessly, never having forgiven them for the slip up they committed.
There was still no sign of Karen.
But this time Nicolas knew she must be gone. There was no way they would find her now. Nicolas wished Kai would let it go, it seemed like an obsession that was eating him up.