Chapter 44

Chapter 44
  Matteo:
   My whole body trembles with rage. How? 
  That means they left right before we got here. 
  How the hell could they even have pulled something like this?
   I’m seconds away from opening a mindlink to Damon and the warriors when I suddenly hear him behind me.
   “Oh my god! I fúcking knew they weren’t in this pack!”
   I turn to face him. “They’re not. I’m gonna kill that boy.”
   “Well,” he says, a smirk in his tone, “he tried to attack the warriors and run, but he’s dead now.”
   “Good. I wish I’d ripped his throat out myself.” My jaw tightens, as I shift uncomfortably. “Look, we need to head back to the pack. We don’t have time, and I know for sure they’re not safe.”
   “Yes, Alp-" He stops mid-sentence, his nose twitching as he sniffs the air.
   I frown. “What is it?”
   “I…” He sniffs again, then steps forward slowly. “I can smell something… delicious.”
   He keeps walking, each step more determined, until he stops in front of a door.
   My lips part, ready to demand what the hell he thinks he’s doing, but before I can get a word out, he shoves the door open and rushes inside.
   A few seconds pass. 
  Then- 
   “You’re my mate? Wait… what the actual hell?”
   That makes my head snap up. Damon… found his mate?
   I don’t hesitate. I push through the doorway, and the first thing my eyes land on makes my heart jolt.
   “Huh? What the hell?” The words tumble out as my gaze locks on her.
   She’s crouched on the floor. Hair tangled and wild. Wrists and ankles bound tight.
   Miranda.
   The woman who was supposed to be my chosen mate… the woman I thought was dead.
   So she wasn’t?
   I knew Dylan was up to something shady. He had her locked up all this while.
   “So… you’re not dead, hm?” I take a step closer, my eyes locked on her.
   Before I know it, tears begin to  spill down her cheeks. 
  Her voice breaks. “I… I’m s-sorry, Matt—”
   “Don’t you fúcking call me that!” I snap, my voice echoing off the walls.
   “I’m sorry,” she whispers again. “I… I didn’t mean to fake my death. I swear, I didn’t. Dylan made me do it. He’d threatened me. He also said he’d actually kill me if I didn’t.  And now, he’s been hurting me ever since I left you. I just… I had to. Pl-”
   “Shut the hell up.” My whole body burns with rage. “Shut your fúcking mouth, Miranda. I don’t care if you die or not. You’re not my problem.”
   “P-please…” She inches toward me, even with her wrists and ankles bound. “Please don’t leave me here. Dy..Dylan sold me to Mario. He uses women as… toys. He’s coming for me tomorrow. Please, take me with you. I..d be your slave, if you want. Just.. please..”
   “Take you with me?” I scoff, my lips curling into something cold. “You must be out of your damn mind. Like I said, you’re not my fùcking problem. I don’t care if you live… or if you die for real this time in Mario’s hands.”
   I turn to Damon. “Let’s go. We’re fúcking wasting time.”
   I start to walk away—only to realize I don’t hear his footsteps behind me.
   Grinding my teeth, I whip around. Damon’s still standing there. Oh no. 
  Don’t tell me he’s actually moved by the pathetic lie she just spewed.
   “Damon?” My voice is sharp. “Why are you still standing there? Let’s go.”
   “Let’s have mercy on her… we both know what Mario’s like. He’s—”
   “Wait.” I I narrow my eyes. “You are..Oh, my god. You’re not thinking about accepting her just because she’s your mate, are you?”
   “No,” he says flatly.
   I can’t believe this. I seriously can’t believe this.
  He only shakes his head as though I’m the one being unreasonable. “Come on, man. She looks pale, and might die any second. Just let’s-"
   “Fine. Suit yourself!” I cut him off, my voice like steel. “And thanks for wasting my time. If I find out anything happens to Anika, I swear I’ll kill both you and Miranda.”
   Before he can get another word in, I let Lyl, my wolf, take over. My bones shift, fur bursting across my skin, and then I’m gone. Racing out before anyone can stop me.
   One thing I love about Lyl is his speed—he’s like lightning cutting through the night.
   I race toward the Moon Crest’s borders, the world blurring past me, and stop only long enough to bark orders to the guards: bring whatever or whoever was captured back to the pack.
   And honestly? I’m not even exaggerating when I say the prisoners looked relieved to be captured. They were practically eager to leave their pack behind.
   My mind spins in a dozen directions as I push Lyl harder—faster and faster—until the familiar scent of my own borders fills my nose.
   That’s when the sight hits me. Bodies scattered across the dirt, blood pooling beneath them, the coppery stench thick in the air.
   But they’re not mine.
   My warriors are still standing, breathing hard.
   “Liam?” I call, striding toward the head warrior. He looks up and nods grimly.
   “Welcome back, Alpha. Dylan and a few other high-ranking alphas attacked,” he reports. “Luckily for us, We managed to take down several warriors and three of the alphas. But…”
  “But what?”
  “Dylan and two others slipped away and escaped into the pack.”
   “What? Why the hell didn’t you follow them?”
   “We did,” Liam says quickly. “We couldn’t find them anywhere.”
   Dylan… and two other alphas.
   I know that bastàrd. I know exactly what he’s after.
   I narrow my eyes at him. “Was Hunter one of the alphas who escaped?”
   “No… I don’t think he was even part of the attack. That’s why we were able to take down most of their warriors..they weren’t strong.”
   My chest tightens. “What about Anika? She’s still at the hospital, right?”
   Only then does he shift uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck.
   “I… think so.”
   He thinks so??!
   I don’t wait for him to say another word before letting Lyl take over again. In seconds, I’m back in my wolf form, tearing across the ground toward the hospital.
   That’s when I spot Brian pacing frantically outside.
   “Brian! Where’s Anika?” I demand the second I shift back.
   He turns toward me, guilt all over his face. “I’m sorry, Alpha… she’s gone.”
   “What?” My heart plummets.
   Oh, my god. That fucking bàstard—Dylan took her!
   I shove past him and storm into the hospital.
   But at the far end of the corridor, I freeze. Dylan is lying sprawled on the floor. 
  I rush closer, and the coppery smell hits me before the sight does—he’s not breathing, a dark pool of blood spreading beneath him.
   Beside him, two other bodies. Nikolas and George.
   These stupid bàstards… I can’t believe they teamed up with Dylan to attack me.
   But then my chest tightens. Wait. Anika is still gone.
   And if these bàstards are really dead… then who the hell took her?