chapter 94 Elena Went Missing
Dorian’s POV
"Trust requires honesty, Sera," I replied, stepping closer. "So I'll ask directly: where exactly did you learn to prepare these compounds? Because according to Jax, only Shadow pack healers should possess this knowledge."
Her eyes darted around the room.
Just as Seraphina opened her mouth to respond, alarms began blaring throughout the command center. The sharp, urgent sound cut through our conversation like a blade.
A scout burst through the door. "Massive vampire assault! They're moving toward our main strongholds in coordinated formation!"
I strode to the tactical displays, assessing the incoming reports. Personal questions would have to wait.
"All non-combat personnel to evacuation zones immediately!" I commanded. "Medical staff to emergency stations! Combat units to defensive positions!"
I turned to Seraphina. "Take Elena to the underground shelter immediately. Clara and Owen will be arriving shortly, and they'll need your protection during the evacuation."
Seraphina nodded and hurried from the command center, leaving me to focus entirely on the immediate threat. Whatever secrets she might be hiding would have to wait.
--
Lyra's POV
The space was cramped and poorly ventilated, filled with the anxious chatter of pack families who had been evacuated from their homes with little warning.
I was helping organize medical supplies in one of the smaller chambers when Seraphina arrived with Clara, Owen, and Elena.
"Nightfall," Seraphina said curtly, barely acknowledging my presence as she guided Elena to a corner where other children were huddled with their caregivers. "I trust you can maintain some semblance of order in this chaos."
Clara looked around the crowded shelter with obvious concern. "How many people are we expecting to house here?"
"Several hundred, possibly more if the outer territories need to evacuate," I replied, then addressed Seraphina directly. "The Luna quarters are in the eastern section. More private, better ventilation."
"Thank you," Owen said warmly.
The shelter housed families from multiple allied packs, creating a complex social hierarchy even in these emergency conditions. Various Lunas had claimed the best spaces, their children clustered around them while lower-ranking families made do with whatever corners remained available.
Elena's usual quiet demeanor had given way to visible agitation. She kept looking around the crowded space with growing anxiety, her small hands clutching at Seraphina's coat.
"Elena, stop pulling," Seraphina said sharply. "We're safe here. There's nothing to worry about."
But Elena wasn't listening. Instead, she was making urgent gestures toward the exit, tears beginning to form in her amber eyes.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Clara asked gently, crouching down to Elena's level.
Elena pointed toward the shelter entrance, then made a hugging motion with her arms, her distress becoming more obvious with each passing moment.
"She left something behind," I realized, watching her gestures. "Something important to her."
"Mr. Wolf," Elena said to me, her voice small and frightened. "Need Mr. Wolf."
"It's just a stuffed animal," Seraphina said dismissively. "She'll have to do without it."
But Elena's distress was escalating rapidly. She began crying in earnest, the sound echoing through the concrete corridors and adding to the general atmosphere of tension in the shelter.
"Elena, enough," Seraphina snapped. "This is not the time for tantrums about toys."
The harsh tone only made Elena cry harder, her small body shaking with sobs.
"Hey, little wolf," I said softly, kneeling beside Elena and speaking in the gentle tone. "Can you tell me about Mr. Wolf? What does he look like?"
Elena turned to me with tear-streaked cheeks. She held up her hands about a foot apart, indicating size, then touched her hair to show the toy's silver-white color.
"He's your special friend," I said understandingly. "No wonder you miss him."
"Nightfall," Seraphina interrupted coldly, "instead of encouraging this disruption, perhaps you could focus on maintaining order in this facility. That is, after all, what you're being paid for."
The dismissive tone was clearly intended to put me in my place, but before I could respond, she continued with obvious authority.
"In fact, I think it would be beneficial for everyone if you took on some additional responsibilities. The Luna quarters need proper service, and the children require constant supervision." She gestured toward the assembled pack families. "You can start by assisting with all their needs."
The humiliation was deliberate and public, designed to establish her dominance while putting me firmly in a subservient role. Around us, other shelter occupants pretended not to notice the tension, but I could feel their curious glances.
For the next two hours, I found myself essentially serving as a general assistant, fetching water for various Lunas, cleaning up after children, and even, mortifyingly, holding a portable urinal while a pack leader's young son relieved himself because the shelter's bathroom facilities were overwhelmed.
Elena had quieted somewhat, but she remained visibly distressed, frequently looking toward the exit and making soft whimpering sounds that broke my heart.
"That child needs proper discipline," one of the visiting Lunas commented to Seraphina. "All this crying over a toy is unseemly for someone of her bloodline."
"She's just tired," Clara said defensively, but her concern was obvious as she watched Elena grow increasingly withdrawn.
It was nearly midnight when one of the shelter supervisors approached our group with obvious urgency.
"Mrs. Crimson-Blackthorne," he said to Seraphina, "we've conducted our evening headcount. One of the children in your group is missing."
Seraphina's face went white. "Missing? That's impossible."
"We've searched the main areas, but we can't locate Elena Blackthorne anywhere in the facility."
The news sent a wave of panic through the Luna quarters. Clara stood immediately, her face etched with worry.
"When was she last seen?" Owen demanded.
"Approximately thirty minutes ago, during the dinner distribution."
I felt my stomach drop. Elena had been quiet during dinner, barely eating, but I'd assumed she was simply tired from the stress of evacuation.
"We need to search immediately," I said, already moving toward the exit.
"The shelter is sealed," the supervisor said. "She can't have left the facility."
But as we began a systematic search of the underground complex, checking every room and corridor, a terrible possibility began to form in my mind. Elena was small enough to fit through spaces that adults might not consider viable exits.
I was checking one of the maintenance areas when I heard Clara cry out from behind the shelter.
"Here! She's here!"
I ran toward the sound and found Elena collapsed behind one of the ventilation units, her small body frighteningly still. Her usually pale skin was covered in bright red welts, and her lips had taken on a disturbing purple hue.
"She's not breathing properly," I said, immediately dropping to my knees beside her. "We need to get her to the medical bay immediately."
But even as I spoke, I could see that Elena's condition was deteriorating rapidly. Whatever had happened to her during her time alone, it was serious enough to be life-threatening.