Zane~
The soft light of my desk lamp bathed my study with warmth as I leaned back on my chair, my fingers absent-mindedly tapping away against the wooden armrest. The events of the day had left my mind restless. Natalie's lies and the scent she carried gnawed at me like a persistent itch. There were too many unanswered questions and I hated the uncertainty of it all.
A gentle knock on the door broke my thoughts.
"Come in," I called out, already knowing who it was.
Nora stepped inside, her presence was as calming as always. She closed the door behind her, and the faint sound of her soft slippers padded against the floor as she approached my desk with a soft smile on her face.
Nora wasn't my mother by blood but she might as well have been. She had been by my side since I was a child, raising me like her own child with care and firmness in equal measures.
"You've been in here for hours," she said, her voice laced with gentle concern as she placed a hot cup of coffee in front of me. "You didn't come down for dinner."
"Thank you. But I'm not hungry," I replied sharply, my eyes focused on the papers in front of me.
Nora didn't accept dismissiveness, especially not from me. She pulled out a chair and sat across from me, folding her hands neatly on the desk. Her piercing gaze forced me to look up.
"This is about the girl, isn't it?" she asked.
I exhaled sharply, leaning forward and resting my elbows on the desk. "I don't trust her, Nora. She reeks of an Alpha scent but she denies knowing him. And then there's Alexander…"
Her brows furrowed. "What about Alexander?"
My jaw tightened as I thought of my little boy. "He shifted to his human form when I went to pick him up; just to plead on her behalf. Do you understand what that means, Nora? He's never done that before. He never shifts even when we tried forcing him to. But for her? He didn't even hesitate."
Nora's eyes widened in shock. "He… shifted? For her?"
I nodded. "He's too attached to her, Nora, and I don't like it. She's hiding something. A stranger carrying an Alpha's scent, denying his existence, yet fighting desperately for another man who isn't even related to her. It doesn't add up."
"Zane," Nora said softly, her tone taking on a maternal warmth. "Maybe she's hiding the truth for personal reasons. That doesn't make her a bad person. Perhaps there's more to her story than you're willing to see."
I shook my head. "I hate liars, Nora. You know that. Until I'm certain she means no harm, I can't let her go. I can't risk Alexander's safety—or mine."
Nora sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "What if you're wrong, Zane? What if you're being paranoid and end up hurting an innocent child?"
Her words struck a chord, but I pushed the doubt aside. "I can't afford to be wrong. Not when it comes to Alexander. Go check on him for me, will you? Let me know if he's calmed down."
She hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but eventually nodded and left the room.
The silence returned, but it didn't last long. A knock at the door drew my attention.
"Come in," I called out.
Abel stepped inside, his expression stoic as always. I wasted no time.
"What did you find out about the scent?" I asked.
Abel closed the door behind him and stood at attention. "I went to the scent registry library. It's confirmed—the scent belongs to Alpha Darius Blackthorn of the Silverfang Pack."
My head tilted at the name. "Darius Blackthorn… What do we know about him?"
Abel's jaw tightened. "He's known to be ruthless. After the last royal visit to his pack, the king ordered a secret investigation into him and his pack's activities. There's a lot of speculation, but nothing concrete has been revealed to the public."
I frowned, leaning back in my chair. "Is Natalie his mate?"
Abel shook his head. "No. According to the records, Darius already has a mate—Luna Gabriella Blackthorn. They're fated mates."
That didn't make any sense. "Then how does Natalie come into the picture?"
Abel hesitated before continuing. "That's the confusing part. There's no record of a Natalie connected to Darius—except for one. The only Natalie in the registry is the daughter of Darius's former Beta, Evan Cross."
I narrowed my eyes. "Former Beta?"
"Yes," Abel said grimly. "The Beta was executed five years ago by Darius for treason. His entire family and another family were executed that day as well. The Natalie in the registry is listed as deceased."
The room seemed to grow colder as I processed his words. If the only Natalie tied to Darius was dead, then who was the girl locked up in my guest room? And how did she come about carrying his scent?
"This doesn't add up," I muttered, more to myself than to Abel. "There's something we're missing."
Abel nodded. This was a puzzle I couldn't solve. How had a mere human gotten intertwined with the Alpha's essence? Red growled uneasily, sensing there was more at play here than met the eye. The confusion clawed at me, refusing to subside, until I made a decision.
"Abel," I said, my voice firm but tinged with the frustration boiling within, "go tell Roland to bring Natalie to my office immediately. I need answers."
Abel nodded and turned to leave, but the door swung open before he could exit. Nora stepped in, her face sagged with worry. Her eyes held mine, and I could sense the urgency in her.
"Zane," she started, hesitating briefly before continuing, "Alexander is refusing to eat. He's been crying through the mind link, asking for…" she paused, her lips pressing together as if she couldn't believe her own words. "He's asking for mommy Natalie."
The words made me choke. "What?" I barked, leaning forward in disbelief.
"Yes," Nora confirmed, her voice softer now, "he keeps calling her mommy. He's inconsolable. Should I let him see her? Maybe it'll calm him down?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache already forming. My thoughts were a mess. Alexander is calling her mommy? When did this happen? It didn't make sense. None of this did.
Zane, this attachment isn't normal. Whatever bond he's formed with her, it's deep." Nora said, her voice strained.
I ran a hand through my hair, the situation making me more confused. "This just makes it worse, Nora. If she's manipulating him—"
"Or maybe she's not," Nora interjected firmly. "Maybe there's a reason Alexander feels so strongly about her. Don't dismiss his instincts, Zane. He's a child, but he's still a wolf."
I sighed heavily, my resolve wavering for the first time. "Fine. I'll speak to her. But until I know the truth, I can't let my guard down."
Nora nodded, though her worry didn't fade. "Be careful, Zane. Don't let your paranoia and the need for control blind you to the truth."
As she left the room, I slumped back into my chair, exhaling heavily. My thoughts churned.
What if Darius had marked that girl against her will? Someone who wasn't his mate—neither fated nor chosen? Was such a thing even possible? I'd never heard of it, but nothing about this situation fit the rules of what I knew about mates and bonds.
I rubbed my temples, Natalie. What secrets are you hiding?
Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, Abel burst back into the office, Roland trailing behind him. Their expressions were grim, panic radiating off them in waves.
"She's gone," Abel blurted out, his voice strained.
I froze, my gaze snapping to him. "What do you mean she's gone?"
Roland stepped forward, his face pale. "She's not in the room anymore. We… we think she escaped."
The words didn't compute at first. Then, like a storm breaking over calm waters, the realization hit me. I shot to my feet, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"How?!" I roared, my voice shaking the room. "How does a little human girl escape a mansion guarded by trained wolves?" Red snarled, his fury and disbelief coursing through me, too much to contain.
Roland winced under my glare. "I—I don't know, Alpha. She was there one moment, and the next… she was gone."
I slammed my fists onto the desk, the wood groaning under the pressure. My mind raced. Natalie had seemed naive, almost childlike in her mannerisms, especially when she gawked at the city's skyscrapers from the helicopter window. At the time, I'd assumed she was faking it.
But now… what if she wasn't faking?
If Natalie truly was innocent, then she had no idea how to survive in a place like this. The city was vast, teeming with dangers she wouldn't recognize. The thought of her wandering alone, vulnerable and confused, unsettled me in a way I couldn't explain.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think clearly. "Abel, Roland," I said, my voice low but commanding, "round up the men. Search every homeless shelter, every street corner, every dark alley. Send some to the hospital Garrick is in—she might try to find him."
They nodded quickly, their movements rushed as they turned to leave.
"Don't come back until you've found her," I added, my tone final.
As the door slammed shut behind them, I sank back into my chair, my thoughts spiraling. Natalie, where are you? And why do you feel like a mystery I'm desperate to solve?
I stared at the empty room, the silence too much to bare. Somewhere out there, Natalie was alone, and the nagging feeling in my gut told me that I couldn't afford to let her disappear for good.