The Lady's Missing

The Lady's Missing
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Vaelora's POV

“Varek?” Aerila called, and my eyes widened as I remembered where I had heard the voice before. It was no wonder it felt familiar.

He's an Alpha?

“I won't ask where you're going because your business is of no concern to me. However…” He pressed the sword tighter against my neck and leaned closer. “I won't hesitate to kill you if you bring harm to us.”

I gulped nervously. “I assure you that your worries will not come to pass. I only want her out of this place before…”

The sword withdrew from my neck and I heard it slide back into its sheath. I did not move, waiting to see what he would do next.

Would he drag me back to the cell?

My eyes moved to Aerila, who was staring at Varek with her hand clutching her stomach.

I hope he takes pity on her. At least for the baby.

“Leave and never return to this Pack,” he commanded. “Take this as your punishment. I will inform my brothers that you successfully escaped but were badly injured.”

“T thank you,” Aerila muttered, her lips trembling.

“Do not thank me. This is only a deal between us and the baby you're carrying. My brother is too blind to see that you are still pregnant. Her scent completely covered yours, which made it impossible…” he said calmly, and I shifted my gaze to the blood on Aerila.

I guess it worked. I had intentionally covered her with my blood to seal off her scent and the baby's. Completely hiding my scent, the fake pack doctor had thought it was hers.

Which made him believe she had lost the baby.

I glanced at her face. I had even given her a pill to stop her pulse for one minute before the examination.

“Get through the door before they get here,” Alpha Varek announced before falling silent.

I waited anxiously, but nothing more came from him.

“He's gone,” Aerila whispered. I quickly moved and grabbed the door's knob, pulling it open. A whistling sound filled my ears, followed by a cold breeze.

I squeezed my nostrils against the dust and ran back to her. “It's going to hurt a little,” I warned as I scooped her into my arms and ran out of the place, locking the exit behind me.

I heard voices behind me. “They already escaped before I got here. I'll inform my brothers.”

Gritting my teeth, I ran as far away as possible. A few steps later, we were outside the Pack walls. I glanced around and noticed it was quiet, with only a few pedestrians moving about.

“Do you know why he did that?” I asked, standing in the middle of nowhere while carrying an injured woman. People threw strange glances at me, and when I met their gaze, they quickly looked away.

“I don't,” she answered weakly. “But I know he would not hesitate to harm me if I were to return to the Pack.”

“So you do not have anywhere to go. What about your uncle? He would gladly take you in.”

“No!” she screamed, squeezing my sleeve, and I looked down at her. “Not him. Not him! He would kill me, saying I have failed again! This was the only chance he gave me, and I ruined it!”

I bent down gently, placing her on the floor. “Breathe.”

Her eyes widened as she breathed heavily. I tapped her back while holding her hands.

“That witch…” Her lips trembled violently. “She caused this. I saw her. I saw her, Vaelora!”

“Who?” I asked, staring down at her worriedly.

She looked at me, her eyes shaking. “Margaret. She was in my room. One of the guards took something out from the same spot where she had thrown something. She is the person behind this. But why? Uncle gave me a chance…”

“Ssh, it's fine. Let's get you out of here first. There is no telling the Alphas will not send guards to find us,” I said.

She nodded and gently closed her eyes. I stared down at her and prepared to stand up. However, my heart throbbed heavily as though something gripped it, and I felt blood rush into my mouth.

My hand quickly grabbed the handkerchief from my pocket and I covered my mouth. My vision blurred slightly, and I shook my head frantically.

Thankfully, Aerila was unconscious. I placed the handkerchief back in my pocket and carried her while walking toward an inn.

I have talked too much.

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Three Hours Later

After successfully booking a room in a rural area far away from the Pack and hiring two people to watch over Lady Aerila, I began walking back to the Pack.

A ship will be here in an hour. I have enough time to return and bring her away from here.

I passed through security and made my way to Elder Ryder's home.

“The guards are more than last night,” I noted. It did not take long before I reached his home. A male servant led me to the living room, and I saw her, Margaret, having tea with Elder Ryder.

They seemed to be in discussion, and from the smile on her face, she was enjoying it.

Such a pretentious being.

“Vaelora?” Elder Ryder's gaze fell on me as I walked fully inside. My eyes remained fixed on Margaret.

“You sought an audience, which you never did before,” he mentioned. “Do you have new information about Aerila? Is she opening up to you?” he asked.

“No,” I said.

“To which question?” he asked.

Right at that moment, voices sounded from outside and soon footsteps closed in on us.

Did they find out about my whereabouts?

“Elder Ryder! The Lady is missing!” someone thundered.

Margaret's eyes widened instantly, the teacup shaking in her hand. She gently placed it on the table and rested her hands on her lap.

“What do you mean by missing?” he asked slowly.

“Elder Ryder, the Lady was imprisoned and tortured by Alpha Nyxion. We sent two guards to inform you about it, but you never gave a definite reply. Your mistress sent us away. A pack doctor also confirmed she lost the baby.”

“What?!” he thundered, and Margaret flinched, her hands trembling.

“Margaret.” He slowly turned to her. “Are the words that spew out of their mouths true?”

She lifted her head to meet his gaze and held herself gracefully. “It is false. They speak nothing but lies.”

Elder Ryder stared intensely at her before breaking contact and walking upstairs. Margaret's eyes softened instantly, her body trembling slightly as she breathed deeply in and out.

She wrapped her palms tightly on her lap and turned her head to face me. I saw the anger and disgust in them.

At that moment, hurried footsteps came from the stairs, and I turned toward them. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw Elder Ryder walking down with a katana in his right hand.

He stormed toward Margaret, and for an unknown reason, she rose from her chair, causing it to fall. She moved away from him, her eyes locked on the sword.

Elder Ryder stopped between her and me. He unsheathed the sword and threw the cover aside.

“For the last time, is what they say false?”

“I… I do not know,” Margaret said, her lips trembling.

“You!” he thundered, facing me, and I flinched. “Speak, for your words might either save you or have you killed. Who do you think is behind it?”

My hands clenched tightly as I stared at him. “The culprit has my scent on them. They were given something after the examination.”

Author's Note:

Thank you
Carrie McCormack and Kenya Love for always reading and commenting. I always look forward to your replies whenever a chapter is published. I hope my novel is something you always look forward to just as I always wait for your comments.