Chapter 53 53

Chapter 53 53
Nadia had arrived at Moonlit Pack long before the funeral rites began.

Dressed in a black hoodie that concealed most of her features, she remained tucked away in the shadows beside the packhouse, silently observing the wolves gathering one after another.

A heavy blanket of grief hung over the territory.

Every member of the pack wore black, their heads bowed as mournful chants drifted through the air. The scent of burning incense mixed with damp earth while candles flickered around a large portrait of their fallen Alpha.

Nadia folded her arms and a faint crease formed between her brows.

‘They're mourning a man who isn't even dead.’

Unfortunately...

They didn't know that.

And that made her job infinitely harder.

If the entire pack believed Alpha Connor was dead, getting the answers she came for would be like searching for a single pawprint in a storm.

"...Shouldn't Alpha Connor's younger brother, Reese, be handling all of this now?"

Nadia's ears perked.

She casually drifted closer to the group of wolves speaking in hushed voices.

"Exactly," another man muttered. "But no one's seen him since."

"And Beta Jensen has disappeared too."

"What in the Moon Goddess's name is happening?"

"If both of them are gone..." one of them swallowed nervously. "Who's supposed to lead Moonlit Pack now?"

Nadia cleared her throat before stepping into their circle with a sympathetic expression.

"You're right," she said with a weary sigh. "We're all grieving without knowing what tomorrow will bring. How could something like this happen to our pack?"

The wolves nodded immediately, grateful someone shared their concern.

One of them leaned in, lowering his voice.

"I heard Alpha Lucian Draven is responsible."

Nadia's heart skipped.

She forced herself not to react.

"...The Alpha of Nightfall Pack?"

The men nodded grimly.

"They say one of his people came here to threaten Alpha Connor."

"And here's the strange part," another added. "The very night Alpha Connor died... his twin brother disappeared."

"I bet Nightfall captured him."

"It wouldn't surprise me."

"So what do we do now?"

An older wolf sighed heavily.

"The elders have taken control for now. They're investigating everything."

His expression darkened.

"If Alpha Lucian truly had a hand in this… he'll answer to every pack on this continent."

Nadia quietly excused herself before anyone could notice the storm brewing behind her eyes.

She walked a short distance away, her thoughts racing.

‘Connor's twin vanished the same night Connor disappeared...

That isn't a coincidence.

She paced beneath a large oak tree, tapping her foot against the roots.

‘I'm missing something. Something important.’

The pieces refused to fit together.

A frustrated groan escaped her.

"Seriously..."

She tilted her head toward the darkening sky.

"Maybe they sent the wrong person."

She rubbed her forehead.

"I punch problems. I don't solve mysteries."

"Miss?"

Nadia froze.

She turned to find two women looking at her with worried expressions.

One of them offered a gentle smile.

"Are you alright?"

Nadia blinked.

Realizing she'd nearly exposed herself, she quickly rubbed at the corners of her eyes until they looked slightly red.

"O-Of course."

Her voice trembled just enough.

"It's just..."

She sniffled dramatically.

"Our Alpha..."

Her shoulders shook as if holding back sobs.

"I still can't believe he's gone. What will become of Moonlit Pack now? Who's going to protect us?"

The women immediately softened.

"Oh..."

One reached out, but Nadia suddenly covered her face and broke into loud sobs.

"I-I'm sorry!"

Before they could comfort her, she spun around and ran.

The women watched her disappear through the trees.

"Poor thing..."

"She must've really admired Alpha Connor."

The moment Nadia was safely out of sight...

The tears vanished.

She stopped beside a massive pine tree and released a long, exhausted sigh.

"...That felt illegal."

Leaning against the trunk, she absentmindedly glanced toward the back of the packhouse.

Movement caught her eye.

A tall young man emerged from the shadows.

Like her, he wore a black hoodie that concealed most of his face.

His head remained lowered and his movements were cautious.

He wasn't heading back toward the mourners.

He was leaving.

Nadia narrowed her eyes.

‘Interesting…’

Without making a sound, she slipped after him.

The sun had nearly disappeared beneath the horizon.

Inside the forest, darkness settled much faster, thick branches weaving together overhead until barely any light reached the ground.

Fortunately, darkness had never bothered her.

She followed him from tree to tree, careful not to snap a twig.

The distance between them remained steady.

Then, he disappeared.

Nadia stopped.

Her eyes narrowed.

"...Where?"

She slowly turned in a circle.

Nothing.

No footsteps.

No scent.

No movement.

The forest had gone unnaturally quiet.

‘Did I lose him?’

Or...

‘Did he lose me?’

A voice suddenly drifted from directly behind her.

"Looking for someone?"

Every muscle in her body tensed.

She immediately spun around and white cloud exploded into her face.

"Hck…!"

Nadia stumbled backward, coughing violently as the strange powder filled her lungs.

Her vision blurred instantly.

The trees began to sway.

"What..."

She blinked repeatedly, trying to focus.

A blurry figure stood a few feet away.

In his hand was a compact device resembling a handgun, its barrel still releasing thin strands of white mist.

"No..."

Nadia grabbed the nearest tree to steady herself.

Her knees buckled.

"...No..."

She clenched her teeth.

"The Alpha..."

"...is going to be so… disappointed."

The world tilted sideways.

The last thing she heard was the crunch of approaching footsteps.

Then darkness swallowed everything.

And Nadia collapsed face-first onto the forest floor.