JC POV
I couldn't move. I didn't know how long I had been sitting under the tree, cradling Haylie in my arms. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as I stared at her face, now devoid of the warmth and color that once brought her to life.
Her rosy lips, which had always been so vibrant, were now a pale, icy blue. Her cheeks, once flushed with an adorable pink hue, were starkly white, drained of life. Even her fiery red hair, so full of vitality, seemed to have dulled, the brightness fading to a lifeless hue.
My heart clenched as rage and grief tangled within me. Melody would pay for what she'd done to Haylie. The sister I once trusted, the person I thought I knew, would never have done something so unforgivable.
The woman I loved—the only one I would ever love—had been taken from me. And now, she was gone.
I rose from the ground where I had been sitting, my legs trembling beneath me. I carefully scooped Haylie's heavy, lifeless body into my arms, the stiffness of death settling into her frame. The finality of it struck me like a blow, but I refused to accept it.
I might be desperate, even crazy, but I wasn't giving up on her. No matter the cost, I would find a way to bring her back.
There was only one person I could turn to. My oldest friend lived deep in the mountains, a member of one of the original wolf clans. His family still believed in the Moon Goddess and her ancient powers.
I looked down at Haylie, her face pale against my chest, and held her closer.
"I will bring you back, Haylie," I whispered, my voice raw with determination. "That's a promise."
I walked through the dense forest, my steps hurried yet cautious. If I moved quickly, I could reach the mountains before nightfall—with Haylie in my arms. Each step I took echoed faintly through the woods, the crunch of sticks and leaves beneath my feet blending with the distant chirping of birds.
The faint scent of death began to cling to Haylie's lifeless body. It had been hours since she passed, but I refused to give up. I had made her a promise, and I intended to keep it, no matter the cost.
The forest was eerily quiet, the earthy aroma of pine trees heavy in the air. I pressed forward, my focus sharp, until something stopped me dead in my tracks.
Standing just ahead was a young woman, maybe seventeen, with long, wavy brown hair cascading down her shoulders. Her brown eyes locked onto me, wide with a mix of fear and curiosity.
I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on Haylie's lifeless form. I thought I was alone in this unfamiliar forest. Panic shot through me, and I held Haylie closer, her weight a somber reminder of my mission.
The girl's gaze shifted to Haylie, her expression transforming to one of shock. Her lips parted as she whispered, "Haylie?"
Her voice struck me like a blow, and in that moment, I realized she wasn't just any stranger. She must have known Haylie. If that was true, then I was close—closer to the town than of Haylie house. I instant knew where I was then.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling as she stepped closer. "And why do you have Haylie?"
I froze, my mind racing. Her sharp, accusing tone pierced through me, but I forced myself to remain calm.
"I'm a friend of hers," I said, my voice steady though my heart pounded. "I'm trying to help Haylie."
The young woman's gaze remained fixed on Haylie, her steps slow and deliberate as she advanced toward me. Each step she took heightened my anxiety, a knot tightening in my stomach.
"Why do you have Haylie? Why isn't she moving?" she demanded, her voice sharp and trembling. "Is she… sleeping?"
Something in my gut screamed that I needed to run. This situation didn't feel right, and I couldn't transform—not while I was holding Haylie.
The way she questioned me, the intensity in her voice, sent a chill through me. I couldn't shake the feeling that she was reaching out to her pack, alerting them to my presence.
I took a deep breath and spoke, my voice clear and firm. "Look, I know a way to bring Haylie back to life. You have to trust me." I hoped those words would stop her from calling her pack—or whoever else might be listening to her silent pleas.
Her eyes widened, her lips parting as tears filled them. "You mean Haylie is…?" she whispered, her voice breaking. Tears began streaming down her face, silent but heavy with grief.
I held Haylie closer, the weight of her limp body pressing against my chest as I swallowed hard. "She drowned," I said, my voice cracking with the admission. "My sister… My sister did this to her."
The young woman's trembling hand moved to her quivering lips, a quiet sob escaping as she stared at Haylie. It was clear they were close, that Haylie meant everything to her.
"I'm sorry," I said gently, though urgency sharpened my tone. "But I need to take her. I know someone who can bring her soul back to her body."
Her sorrow was palpable, but I couldn't linger. My heightened senses picked up the scent of other wolves approaching—fast. My gaze darted beyond her to a massive black wolf in the distance, its powerful stride marking it as the Alpha. They were closing in.
If I didn't leave now, I'd be trapped. Danger loomed, and I couldn't risk Haylie—or myself.
Without another word, I turned, clutching Haylie tightly against me. Channeling my wolf strength, I sprinted into the forest, each stride carrying me farther from the wolves that chased us. The air rushed past, and my focus narrowed. I had to save her, no matter what.
Mathew POV
I sat in my office, staring at the map spread across my desk. Endless possibilities stretched before me, none of them making sense. Where could Melody have taken Haylie? My frustration was mounting, and I felt utterly clueless.
If Olivia were here, she wouldn't stop. She'd search for her daughter day and night, relentless in her determination. And Kayson—despite his betrayal—came to mind. Behind that betrayal was the best wolf I'd ever known. A warrior. A tracker. If only he hadn't turned his back on me and took the woman I love and make her pregnant. Dam that bastard.
I let out a heavy sigh, gripping my thick hair in frustration as I leaned my head down. Hopelessness clawed at my chest, but doing nothing wasn't an option. I had to act. My son wanted to go after Haylie himself, but he needed to heal first. He wasn't ready for this.
Closing my eyes, I tried to gather my thoughts. My mind was a storm, but the chaos broke as a pack member's voice intruded through the mind link.
"I hope this is important," I replied sharply, not in the mood for small talk. Steel, my wolf, had withdrawn from everything, mirroring my own despair.
To my surprise, the voice wasn't just any pack member—it was Claudine. "Alpha Matthew, you have to come quickly! I've found Haylie," she said, her voice urgent.
I shot up from my chair, adrenaline surging. "Where are you, Claudine? What's your location?" I demanded through the link.
Her response came swiftly, though panic laced her tone. "I'm near the waterfall in the forest. But you have to hurry—Haylie isn't moving!"
Fear gripped me, but I forced myself to stay focused. "Hold on, I'm on my way," I assured her.
Turning my attention inward, I reached for my wolf. "Steel, it's time to wake up," I urged him.
I rushed to the door, throwing it open, only to find my wife, Cleo, standing in the doorway. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her expression a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"Going somewhere?" she asked, her tone sharp.
I didn't have time for explanations. Ignoring her question, I opened a connection to my guards through the mind link. "Meet me at the forest by the waterfall. We've found Haylie," I ordered, my voice firm and commanding.
My gaze shot back to my wife, Cleo, who was still waiting for an answer.
"I have to go. I'll see you later," I said sharply, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before turning and sprinting toward the forest. I needed to reach Claudine.
Opening the mind link again, I asked, "Claudine, is Haylie okay?"
As I ran, I felt the familiar surge of energy as I began to shift into my wolf form. Pain ripped through my body, every bone breaking and reshaping with an audible crack. The sound of shifting filled the air as my form contorted, and in seconds, Steel emerged—a massive black wolf, ready to run.
We bolted toward the waterfall, toward Claudine's location. But her voice broke through the mind link again, this time shaking with fear.
"Someone's holding her," she said. "But... she's dead, Alpha Matthew. She's not moving. Haylie is gone "
Her words hit me like a blow. My heart froze, and Steel skidded to a stop as the pack guards flanked me on either side.
"She's dead." The words echoed in my mind like a cruel, endless record. How could this be possible?
My thoughts turned to my son, Liam. I couldn't let him see this, he just lost her and it would kill him if he found out that she was death. How am I going to break the news to him?
but even if Haylie was gone, I had to bring her home.
Through the mind link, I addressed my guards. "Claudine reports that a man is holding Olivia's daughter, Haylie. But she... she's gone. Our mission is to retrieve Haylie and bring her home to the town so she can be at peace."
The guards nodded silently, their determination evident, and took off toward the waterfall.
For a brief moment, I remained still, trying to gather my thoughts. Memories flooded back to that night in the hospital when Haylie was just a five-year-old girl. I'd promised her, promised Olivia, that I would protect her. And now, I'd failed.
Steel's voice rumbled in my mind, breaking through my despair. "We have to find her, Matthew. For Olivia. So her daughter can at least have peace."
I took a deep breath. "You're right. Let's go," I said, my heart heavy.
With renewed determination, Steel surged forward. The dry sticks and leaves cracked beneath his powerful paws as we raced toward Claudine's location.
As we approached, I spotted Claudine standing with her back to me, staring ahead. My heart pounded as I drew closer, and then I saw him—a young man holding Haylie in his arms.
The sight shattered me. Haylie lay lifeless, unmoving, in his grasp. It was like reliving the day Olivia died, the same hollow, gut-wrenching pain ripping through me. My heart raced with urgency and grief.
The young man turned as he noticed us, his eyes wide with fear. Without a word, he spun around and started to run.
Steel let out a furious snarl, and we pushed forward, unleashing our Alpha speed. I had to catch him. I had to get Haylie.