"She's not here, and you damn well know it!" Arthur's voice rang out, sharp and furious, as he faced Archer, Artemis, and Selene.
Archer's golden eyes burned with barely contained rage. "You're lying," he growled, stepping forward, his towering frame casting a shadow over Arthur. "Where is she?"
Arthur crossed his arms, his lips curling into a smug smirk. "You've been here twice now, Archer. Do you see her anywhere? Or are you just here to throw your weight around because you're too incompetent to keep her safe?"
Archer lunged forward, his hands balling into fists, but Selene quickly placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Control yourself," she warned, her voice calm yet commanding.
Arthur's smirk widened. "Listen to your aunt, boy. You wouldn't want to cause a scene."
Artemis stepped forward, his voice low but dangerous. "If you've hurt her, Arthur….if I find even a scratch on her…."
"You'll what?" Arthur interrupted, his tone mocking. "You don't scare me, Artemis. None of you do."
As the tension reached its breaking point, Malcolm stepped out from behind his father, a cruel grin on his face. "Big talk for men who can't even keep track of one woman," he sneered.
Archer's gaze snapped to Malcolm, his wolf snarling within him. "Watch your mouth," he warned.
"Or what?" Malcolm shot back, stepping closer. "You're nothing but a joke, Archer. A king in name only. You can't even protect your so-called Luna."
Before anyone could react, Archer lunged. His hand wrapped around Malcolm's throat as he lifted him off the ground with ease. Malcolm's eyes widened in shock as Archer slammed him against a nearby tree, the force of the impact shaking the branches.
"Archer!" Selene shouted, rushing forward.
"Where is she?" Archer snarled, his grip tightening. "What did you do to her?"
Malcolm clawed at Archer's hand, choking out, "I… I don't know!"
"Archer, let him go!" Selene commanded, her voice cutting through his rage.
Reluctantly, Archer released Malcolm, letting him fall to the ground in a heap. Malcolm gasped for air, glaring up at Archer with hatred in his eyes.
"You're out of control," Arthur said coldly, stepping between them. "Get out of my house. Haelyn isn't here, and even if she were, you'd be the last person I'd hand her over to."
Rowena stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "He's telling the truth," she said, her piercing gaze sweeping over the room. "Haelyn is no longer here."
Archer's head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing. "What?"
"She's gone," Rowena repeated. "I can feel it. She's not in this house anymore."
Archer clenched his fists, his body trembling with barely restrained fury. "If I find out you're lying…."
"Enough," Selene interrupted sharply. "We're leaving. Now."
The tension in the air was palpable as Archer, Artemis, Selene, and Rowena returned to the pack house. Archer's expression was dark, his wolf pacing restlessly within him.
The moment they entered the grand hall, Ravi and Xander approached, their faces grim.
"Alpha," Ravi began, his tone urgent, "we've had a visitor while you were gone."
Archer's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
Xander stepped forward, holding out a sealed envelope. "Alpha Cerius's beta. He left this message for you."
Archer snatched the envelope, tearing it open. His eyes scanned the contents, his jaw tightening as he read the note.
"What does it say?" Artemis asked, stepping closer.
Archer's voice was low and tense as he read aloud. "Haelyn is safe. She's with Alpha Cerius at his mansion."
"What?" Artemis said sharply, his fists clenching.
Before anyone could respond, Archer's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his eyes narrowing as he saw the caller ID.
"It's him," he said shortly before answering. "Cerius."
"Archer," came the smooth, steady voice of Alpha Cerius on the other end.
"Where is she?" Archer demanded, his voice sharp.
"She's with me," Cerius replied evenly. "And she's safe. That's all you need to know for now."
"Safe?" Artemis interjected, his voice loud enough for Cerius to hear. "You had no right to take her!"
"I didn't take her," Cerius said calmly. "She came here of her own will—or rather, with Marlyil's help."
"Send her back," Archer growled. "Now."
Cerius's voice grew colder. "She's made it clear she doesn't want to return to you. At least not right now."
Archer's grip on the phone tightened, his knuckles turning white. "You can't keep her there."
"I'm not keeping her," Cerius replied. "She's staying because she feels safer here than she does with you."
Artemis stepped closer to the phone. "At least let us see her," he said, his voice tinged with desperation. "We just need to know she's okay."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Cerius finally spoke. "I'll allow it. But only if you promise not to pressure her into leaving. She's recovering, and I won't let you disrupt that."
"We won't," Selene said firmly, taking the phone from Archer. "We just need to see her, to make sure she's truly safe."
"Fine," Cerius said after another pause. "Come tomorrow. But remember—if she says no, you leave."
The call ended, and Archer's hand dropped to his side. His jaw was clenched, his body tense as his wolf growled in frustration.
"She's safe," Selene said softly, placing a hand on Archer's shoulder.
"For now," Archer replied, his voice low. "But this isn't over."
The room fell silent, the weight of the situation settling over them like a storm cloud. Archer's eyes burned with determination as he turned to Artemis.
"We're getting her back," he said firmly.
Artemis nodded, his expression just as resolute. "No matter what it takes."
Haelyn's room was quiet, the soft light filtering through the heavy curtains casting a warm glow on her pale features. Marlyil sat beside her bed, her tall, muscular figure radiating strength and protection. Her bright blue eyes softened as she adjusted Haelyn's blanket, but the fierceness in her gaze never wavered.
The door opened, and Archer, Artemis, Selene, Rowena, Xander, and Ravi entered, their presence filling the room like an approaching storm. Marlyil stood immediately, her towering figure drawing everyone's attention.
"Haelyn," Archer said softly as his eyes locked on her. He stepped forward, but Haelyn recoiled, backing away into the headboard.
"Don't," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Artemis clenched his fists at his sides, his shoulders sagging helplessly. "Haelyn… please."
Archer's jaw tightened as he tried to keep his voice steady. "Let's go home."
Haelyn shook her head, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I have no home," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm a kin of those that were bound to wander, aimlessly, not sit around a campfire." She looked at them, her lips trembling as she forced a sad smile.
"Please, Haelyn," Artemis said, his voice filled with desperation.
She turned her gaze to him, her voice rising with anger. "All of you! All you've ever done is hurt me, try to make decisions for me, force me into things I never wanted!"
She threw the blanket off her and swung her legs off the bed, standing shakily but with determination. She moved to the corner of the room where Marlyil stood, placing herself under her protective gaze.
Archer took a step closer, his hands outstretched in a rare display of vulnerability. "Let's go home. I promise I'll fix this," he said, though the impatience in his tone betrayed his fraying composure.
"No," Haelyn said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Haelyn's gaze bore into Archer as she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "Do you even understand what you've done to me? You… you're so desperate to prove you own me that you told me to kill my own child!"
Archer's face twisted with frustration and guilt, his wolf snarling inside him. "You belong to me!" he roared, his voice filling the room. "What part of that don't you understand?"
He stepped closer, but Marlyil immediately moved to block him, her fierce blue eyes blazing with a warning. "Back off," she said, her voice low and commanding.
Archer growled, his wolf surfacing as his pride pushed him to assert dominance. Marlyil's lips curled back in a snarl, her stance shifting slightly as though preparing for a fight.
"Enough," came a deep, commanding voice.
The tension in the room snapped like a taut string as Alpha Cerius entered, his presence overwhelming. His dark eyes swept over the scene, taking in Archer's aggression and Marlyil's protective stance.
"Archer," Cerius said calmly but firmly.
Archer immediately stepped back, his shoulders stiff as he avoided Cerius's gaze. The fear in his eyes wasn't the same fear he held for Aunt Selene—it was deeper, rooted in something unspoken.
Cerius moved to stand beside Marlyil and Haelyn, his expression calm but unyielding. "I warned you," he said quietly. "If Haelyn doesn't want to leave, you will respect her decision."
"But…" Archer began, his voice rising.
"No," Cerius interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're not in control here. She has made her choice."
Artemis stepped forward, his voice soft but desperate. "Please, Alpha Cerius. Let us at least talk to her…."
"You've talked enough," Cerius said sharply. His eyes softened slightly as they flickered to Haelyn. "She needs time to heal. You've had your chance. Now, leave her in peace."
Selene, sensing the brewing conflict, stepped between Archer and Cerius. "Enough," she said, her tone as sharp as steel. She grabbed Archer's arm and pulled him back. "You've done enough damage already. Let's go."
Archer glared at her but didn't resist, his body rigid with frustration. Artemis looked at Haelyn, his shoulders slumping in defeat as Selene guided him toward the door.
Rowena lingered for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning Haelyn's pale face. "How are you feeling?" she asked gently.
"I'm fine," Haelyn replied, her voice soft but steady.
Rowena nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Take care of yourself," she said before following the others out.
The door closed behind them, leaving the room quiet once more. Haelyn exhaled shakily, her body trembling as she leaned against the wall.
Marlyil placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, her blue eyes softening. "You're safe," she said quietly.
Haelyn nodded, though her mind was spinning with questions. She glanced at Cerius, who stood silently near the window, his gaze fixed on the forest beyond.
"Who are you?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you helping me?"
Cerius didn't turn to face her, his expression unreadable. "Rest, Haelyn," he said simply. "The answers will come in time."
Haelyn's gaze shifted to Marlyil, searching for answers, but the older woman simply gave her a small, reassuring smile.
As silence settled over the room, Haelyn's thoughts swirled with confusion and curiosity. There was something about Cerius….something familiar yet distant. And the way Archer had backed down in his presence… it left her with even more questions.
She clenched her fists, determination filling her chest. I'll find out the truth. No matter what it takes.