Adriano's POV
I was standing in front of Linzy's house. Romond let me in through the gate when I spoke to him earlier. I'm planning on giving her a surprise e visit. She is like my little sister because we grew up together and Mama and Papa sort of took her in. Even though her parents are still alive and well, she stayed over at the packhouse most nights because Mama insisted. Her parents and mine are close friends so we grew up being close.
She started training with me since the age of 5 when our wolf instincts are just starting to kick in. Papa trained us in combat and Mama helped us study in Business, History, Accounting, Maths and Languages. We are a few of the best-taught wolves in the pack and that is why I chose Linzy to be my Beta.
Linzy might be a girl but don't underestimate her small figure. She might be a little sweetheart in appearance and personality, but she wouldn't think twice about whooping someone's ass. She is the best female fighter in the pack and I respect her deeply for that. That is why, as Beta, Linzy is also my eyes and ears here in Los Angles and around the outside border of my packgrounds.
I give her some space to do as she pleases because I don't want to force her into the Beta position yet. She is currently studying to become a full-on businesswoman and an accountant to help me with pack duties as soon as she is done.
While I'm lost in thought, Ramond has already opened the door and is waiting for me to enter. I give him a warm smile as I enter the house.
"Good morning, Ramond. How have you been? It's been a while since I visited."
"Good morning, sir. Yes, it has indeed been a long time. Why the sudden appearance? Are you here to surprise Miss Linzy?"
"Indeed I am. I'm actually on the lookout for someone and I suspect that Linzy could help me with it. She knows almost everyone here and she'll know when someone knew to enter into the city."
"I see, but sir..."
"Yes, Ramond? Is there anything wrong?"
"No, not really, or maybe yes, sir."
"Well, tell me then. I'm all ears."
I see Ramond stretch is strength to tell me what he's about to say. It seems to be an important topic. I wonder what could have shaken him so?
"Miss Linzy brought a girl 5 days ago. She had long brown hair and Icy Blue eyes."
I run cold. Linzy actually found her. I didn't ask her to, but the fact that she brought her into her home must mean they have bonded and Linzy trusted her enough to let her into the house.
"But..."
"But what?"
"The girl went missing last night. We found the clothes that she wore near the edge of the forest and no trace of her. Miss Linzy is in a terrible state right now because she has no idea what happened or where she went. Miss Linzy has taken her into her care and they became like sisters yesterday."
I stood there, shocked at his words. Have Alpha Wenn's trackers tracked her here and took her back? Did she feel unsafe here or did she run away once more leaving Linzy in despair? The possibilities are endless and only Linzy will be able to tell me what happened to her.
I grab Ramond by the shoulders and look him dead in his eyes.
"Where is Linzy now?"
"She is upstairs in her room. She hasn't come down for 5 days."
"I'm going to see what I can do to help."
Ramond nods his head and leads me to Linzy's room where I thank him and he leaves me there. I listen in on her breathing and heart rate. They're not erratic, it's actually steady. I take a deep breath in and knock on her door.
"Come in."
I open the door and I see Linzy sitting on the ground looking at a pile of neatly folded clothes lying in front of her. She doesn't even look up at me.
"Hey, Liz."
"Hey, Adriano."
OK, now I know she is definitely deep in thought and very sad.
"What are you looking at?"
"It's my new sister's clothes. We bought it 5 days ago. We went shopping and that night...that night someone took her."
She says the last part with clenched teeth. I don't know if she's keeping herself from crying or trying to contain her anger.
"What do you mean someone took her?"
"I found her in the forest. It was nearly daybreak and I saw her shift from her wolf form into a human. I took her into my care, but I guess her wolf was hungry 5 nights prior because the clothes were neatly folded at the tree where I found them. I followed her footprints into the forest but after a few miles, I found other footprints as well following her. I continued to track her until it came to a stop at the foot of the mountain where the other wolves circle her. There was a lot of blood and I could see she was the one struggling."
Linzy looks up at me, tears filling her eyes.
"They took her, Adriano. And I couldn't protect her. I feel weak and useless."
I went over to Linzy and embraced her. She gladly accepts my hug and we just sit there. After a few minutes I break loose, take her by the shoulders and look her in the eyes.
"Linzy, I promise you. We'll find her."
"How? I don't even know who took her."
"I do."
Linzy looks shocked when I said this and her face instantly becomes serious.
"Who?"
"The Mordisco de Plata Pack."
Linzy looks at me. Shock evident in her face. She pushes me away and stands up walking circles in the room with her hands in her hair. After a few seconds, she looks back at me.
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOUR DAD'S OLD FRIEND IS BEHIND THIS!"
"Yes. It seems like I am."
"How do you know this?"
"I was the one who ordered him to find her and bring her back because she escaped from the party last night."
"And what has Nadira got to do with you?"
Nadira...such a nice name.
Not now Nox.
You have to admit it suits her very well.
NOX!
Nox snickers and then remains silent. Ever since he found his mate he's been a lovestruck puppy and an overprotective beast.
"She..," I couldn't dare tell Linzy about it even though I trusted her with everything, but maybe now is not the best time, "She's been their slave ever since she was 3. I wanted him to find her and bring her to my pack if he allowed it."
Linzy looks at me sceptically before she realises what I just said.
"They, WHAT?!"
"Yes, she's been held as a slave, Linzy."
I could see her blood boiling and maybe her vain on her neck is about to explode. Linzy walks towards me and looks me in my eyes before grabbing my hand and pulls me out of the room towards the front door.
"What are you doing?"
"You came with your car right? We're going to Mordisco de Plata Pack to find Nadira. No way in hell is I letting my sister suffer one more day with those horrid wolves."
This is what I like about Linzy. She is fearless and cares about those close to her. A small smile creeps up onto my lip and as soon as we're at the car, we get in. Linzy seats herself at the back and I go over to the driver's side and ask my driver to keep Ramond company while we go.
As soon as we are in the car and the car is started, I look over at Linzy and signal her to come to sit at the front. She climbs over from the back to the front and looks at me.
"Well, what are you waiting for? GO!"
"Yes, ma'am."
I turn the car and continue my drive back to Mordisco de Plata Pack. It's going to take a few hours to get there. I look ahead into the road, my face void of emotion.
I'm coming for you, Nadira. I'm coming.
••••♠••••
It was around 2 p.m. when a call came through from Alpha Wenn. Linzy gave me a side glance and I answered him.
"Alpha Wenn."
"Alpha Adriano. Sorry to disturb you."
"No, please. What do you need?"
"I'm calling on behalf of an event that will take place at our pack this afternoon. I have hoped that you could be able to make it?"
I look at Linzy who's already looking at me with the same concerned expression that's on my face.
"Alright, I'll see if I'll be able to make it."
"Thank you, Alpha. The event will be starting at around 5 p.m. It doesn't matter if you're a tad late. I know how long the journey is from your pack to mine."
"I see. Thank you."
"Alright. I'll be seeing you then."
"Yes."
"Goodbye."
With that, the other end of the line dies signalling that he put down the phone. I put my phone down and grab the steering wheel harder bulging my arms with the pressure I'm putting on them. Linzy notices this.
"You know something else and you didn't think of telling me. What is it? Does it involve Nadira?"
I look at Linzy and sigh.
"I might have heard Alpha Wenn talking about her being 'the offering' this year. I couldn't quite take his words seriously because no one has done it for decades. But, he says that there'll be an event at 5 this afternoon and it's been 5 days since Nadira was taken so I'm afraid...he wasn't lying."
Linzy looks at me, I couldn't quite tell the emotion she was feeling now, but it looked like a mixture of fear, disappointment, anger and sadness.
She removes her eyes from me and continues to look at the road. I've never seen her like this before. Not even when she lost her sister to her illness 7 years ago.
After a few minutes, I couldn't bear the suffocating tension in the car.
"Say something, Liz. Anything."
"I think you know what I want right now," she looks up at me with tear-filled eyes. I feel pained looking at her seeing her like this. "I want you to save her. I wasn't able to save my sister, but at least give me the chance to save Dira."
A lone tear rolls down her face, "I don't want to lose another one. So please, Adriano, just save her."
I look at her. I really want to give her a hug and tell her nothing is going to happen to Dira. I didn't manage to say anything. I just gave her a slight nod.
"You'd better buckle up then."
As the words leave my mouth, I step on the gas and speed up. I'm not going to lose this time. Not for me or for Liz's sake. I'm going to save her.
••••♠••••
As we arrive at Mordisco de Plata Pack, a sharp pain moves into my body almost sending me tumbling as I climbed out of the car. Then I heard the most excruciating cry of pain and another wave of pain hits my body. Nox is inside of me screaming for release.
They're torturing her.
Liz is quick to my side, concern evident on her face.
"Adriano!"
"Liz, I'm fine. Just stay behind me. They're torturing her."
Liz's face transforms into anger and she seems ready to kill. If she does, I won't hold her back.
I start running into the direction where I hear her cries come from. It grows weaker and weaker the closer I get until I come into a clearing where I almost fall to my knees in horror.
Nadira is hanged up by her arms just far enough from the ground to still be eye level. Elil is standing in front of her cutting her with a silver knife every time he's dipped it into a bucket filled with a liquid. I couldn't take the sight anymore from how they're harming our mate and Nox couldn't take it anymore, so I cave into him.
He gave a life-threatening roar in which most of the people start to run away after he sent Alpha Wenn into the ground and grabbed Elil by the neck holding him up from the ground practically choking him.
"YOU DARE TO TOUCH WHAT IS MINE?!"
Elil looks bewildered and fear is written all over his face. I drop him to the ground and look around to find Liz already fighting against the other warriors.
I look back at Elil, grab him by his shirt and send him into a few other warriors knocking them out. I look at where my mate is hanging lifelessly and reality quickly comes back.
Nox retreats and I untie Nadira grabbing her as she falls. She's still breathing but she won't be alive for long if she doesn't find treatment immediately. I carry her bridal style as I hurry back to the car. I look back to see Liz still fighting. I mind-link her to come to the car as soon as she can.
I put Dira into the car on the backseat as Liz shows up. She looks horrified when she sees Dira.
"Liz, get it! We need to get her to a hospital ASAP."
She nods and gets in the back with Dira and holds her while I speed with the car away from the Mordisco de Plata Pack.
"She's not healing, Adriano!"
"It's the wolfsbane. The knife she was cut with was dipped in very rare wolfsbane."
Liz doesn't say anything and I hear a little sniff a few seconds later.
"She's going to die, isn't she?"
"Not if I can help it."
I press hard on the gas sending the car flying at full speed. You're not going to die, Dira. Not tonight and not ever. That is my promise to you.
Please, just hang on. Just hang on.