Chapter 49
Casper's POV
I slammed open Elowen's room door and scanned the empty space for the third fucking time. My heart pounded against my ribs like it wanted to break free.
"She isn't here!" I shouted at Cassian, my voice bouncing off the walls of her empty suite. "I've checked this goddamn room three times!"
I kicked the trash can, sending it crashing into the wall. Elowen's vanilla-honey scent still hung in the air, but it was faint. Hours old. My wolf paced inside me, clawing at my insides with panic.
Cassian stood at the doorway, his normally impassive face showing real worry. "We've already checked the kitchen, Luna's suite, and Cindy's room."
"I know!" I snapped, running my fingers through my hair. "We've looked through the whole fucking Pack House."
I closed my eyes and tried again through our mind link.
"Elowen, answer me. Now."
Nothing. No warm response, no sweet voice. Just a terrifying emptiness where she should be. My stomach twisted into a hard knot, and cold fear flooded my veins.
"Still nothing," I opened my eyes and looked at Cassian. "You?"
He shook his head, his ice-blue eyes hardening. "I can't reach her. Either her barriers are up, or..." He didn't finish, but we both thought of worse possibilities.
Luna Ella rushed into the room, concern etched on her face. "You still haven't found her?"
"No." My answer was short, fighting to control my anger. This wasn't Luna's fault.
"I don't understand," she frowned. "The last time I saw her, she seemed fine. She said she was just going out for a bit and would be back soon."
"Out? Where?" I demanded, more aggressive than I intended.
Luna shook her head. "She didn't say. I assumed she told you boys."
I glanced at Cassian, who was staring at his phone. Rage bubbled up in me.
"Will you put your fucking phone down!" I growled at him.
Cassian looked up, his gaze ice cold. "I'm checking security cameras, asshole. And tracking her phone location."
My anger deflated slightly. "And?"
"Got it." He turned the screen to show me. A red dot blinked on the map. "Her phone's at Drake's apartment complex right now."
My blood boiled instantly. "That son of a bitch."
"Let's go." Cassian was already moving toward the door, his voice low and dangerous.
I grabbed my car keys and followed him. "If he touched one hair on her head, I'll kill him."
"Get in line," Cassian said coldly. "I'm first."
We raced down the hallway and out to my black Porsche. I slid into the driver's seat and hit the gas before Cassian had barely closed his door. The engine roared as the tires screamed against the pavement, leaving black marks.
"Maybe she just went to get something from him," Cassian said, but his voice was tight. "Or confront him. She's stubborn."
"Drake wouldn't just let her walk in and out," I said through gritted teeth, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Not after knowing we marked her."
"I know." Cassian's voice was like ice. "Drive faster."
I floored it, and the car shot forward like an arrow. I kept trying to reach Elowen, each failure making my fear grow stronger.
"WHERE. ARE. YOU?" I shouted into our mind link, but only cold silence answered me.
"Still nothing," I said, jaw clenched. "I've never seen a mind link completely cut off like this."
"It's not normal," Cassian said, eyes fixed on the passing scenery. "Unless..."
"Unless someone gave her suppressants," I finished for him, feeling a chill crawl up my spine. "Fucking Drake."
"You remember exactly where his apartment is?" Cassian asked, his voice shaking for the first time.
"Of course I do." I snapped. "I remember every place that bastard lives."
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up outside Drake's apartment building. I shut off the engine and took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I needed to stay focused for Elowen.
"When we find her," I said, "I'm breaking every bone in Drake's body."
"Keep it together, Casper," Cassian warned, but his eyes had already turned a dangerous ice blue. "Elowen first."
We rushed into the building and straight to Drake's apartment. At the door, I stopped. Elowen's vanilla-honey scent hung in the air, but mixed with the bitter tang of pain and fear. My heart nearly stopped.
"She's in there," I growled, my wolf almost taking over. "I can smell her fear."
We stood silently for a second, listening. Faint crying and water sounds came from inside. I felt every muscle in my body tense, ready to tear apart anyone who had hurt Elowen.
Cassian and I exchanged a look. I knew my eyes had turned completely gold, while his blue eyes looked like a frozen lake. We didn't need words to agree.
Cassian took a step back, then kicked hard at the door lock. It burst open, wood splinters flying everywhere.
We rushed into the apartment, scanning the dimly lit living room. Drake emerged from the bedroom doorway, wearing only loose pajama pants, a mocking smile on his face. The whole room reeked of his disgusting sulfur smell, mixed with sex and cum. My stomach turned.
"I figured you'd come," Drake drawled, leaning against the wall. "But honestly, I didn't expect you so soon."
"Where is Elowen?" I growled, advancing toward him.
Drake shrugged, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Taking a shower. We just... reconnected."
The edges of my vision turned red. "You're fucking lying."
"Am I?" Drake smiled provocatively. "Then what do you smell?"
Cassian grabbed my arm, stopping me from lunging at Drake. "I can't smell her arousal," he said through our mind link. "If she had fucked him, like he is suggesting: we would smell it!"
He was right. I took a deep breath, sorting through the scents. No arousal from Elowen, just fear, pain, and tears so strong it choked me. The scent trail led toward the bathroom.
"Bathroom," I muttered to Cassian, then roared at Drake, "Move!"
Drake tried to block us, but Cassian shoved him against the wall as I rushed to the bathroom door.
I crashed it open, and my heart nearly stopped.
Elowen lay naked and curled up on the floor beside the bathtub, trembling violently, crying in pain. Her lips were swollen, her eyes red and puffy, her cheeks soaked with tears. The sight tore through me like nothing ever had.
I immediately took off my jacket while Cassian pulled off his shirt. We hurriedly covered her. I knelt beside her, gently touching her cheek.
"We're here now, babe," I said softly, my voice ragged with emotion. "We've got you."
Elowen looked up at me, her amber eyes filled with tears and shame. I'd never seen her so vulnerable, and it shredded my heart.
Cassian stroked her hair with trembling fingers, his usually cold mask completely shattered. "It's okay, it's okay."
"Take me home," Elowen whispered, her voice broken. "Please."
"I will, babe," I promised, then turned to Cassian. "You stay here with her."
Cassian nodded, carefully wrapping Elowen in my jacket and his shirt. I stood up and walked out of the bathroom, rage burning inside me.
Drake was leaning against the living room wall, still wearing that damn smile. "She came to me willingly, you know."
I didn't respond. I walked straight up to him and punched him hard in the jaw, feeling the satisfying crack of bone against my knuckles.
"Son of a bitch!" I roared, my pine and smoke scent turning sharp and overpowering as it battled Drake's sulfur stench. "Fuck you!"
Drake fell to the floor, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. Real fear flashed in his eyes before quickly turning into a sinister threat. "You'll pay for this, Thornwood."
I bent down and grabbed his throat, my voice low and dangerous. "If you ever come near her again, I will tear your throat out with my teeth. That's not a threat, it's a promise."
I released him and went back to the bathroom, where Cassian had Elowen wrapped up securely and was whispering reassurances.
"Cassian, take care of her," I said, my voice hoarse with anger. "I'm going to teach him a lesson."
I turned to face Drake, ready to make him pay for hurting Elowen. No one hurt my mate. No one.