CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE

[Noah's POV].

Noah stopped his car right in front of the pack's hall before dismounting. His face was rigid, and his joints tense as he walked to Isaac, who was waiting for him in front of the building. His Beta's face held anger, and a small bandage was adorned on his forehead as a tell-tale of what had transpired during his journey into the unclaimed rogue territory.

His heart swelled with pride at the quick, steadfast work he had accomplished despite being gone for just a day. He had infiltrated the rogue territory to find out who Oliver, the leader of the largest rogue herd, had let build a warehouse deep in the unclaimed land. Noah had also informed him about his involvement in Ruby's disappearance, and Isaac had readily suggested he'd look into it—claiming it may be a trap to get him to leave the pack spontaneously after an attack.

"Noah," Isaac said as he took his hand in a manly handshake.

"You look like shit," Noah said as they began walking into the hall.

His eyes moved once more over Isaac's frame. Tiny bruises were on his face, and he knew that it must have taken a lot for Isaac to be hurt the way he was.

"You should have seen the other guys. They were heavily armed with silver weapons branded by our mines, Noah. And it seems they were expecting you and not me."

"Excuse me?"

A soft feminine voice interrupted their conversation. Noah turned to find a woman. She was petite with auburn hair and a grim expression. Recognition sparked inside him as he stared at her, but he couldn't pinpoint where he had seen her.

The woman lowered her head in respect before glancing at him with sad, teary eyes. "My name is Sonia, and I work for you, Alpha."

Noah nodded impatiently. He remembered her. She was the woman who he had seen with Ruby a few times. The same woman Ruby and Hestia were last with before the accident.

"I appreciate you stopping by, but I cannot talk right now."

Noah said in a dismissive tone before walking into the hall with Isaac in tow. He needed to know the full details of Isaac's trip. He needed to know if the lead they had was fruitful or a dead-end. His wolf howled inside him—he hoped it was the former for his peace of mind. The futile effort he had been making to find her made him angrier by the minute.

"Please, I understand that you are busy, but I just wanted to ask if-"

Noah pushed the heavy conference hall doors open, irritated by the woman's voice. The Elders waited inside—just as he had instructed. Isaac snarled by his side with his eyes pinned on Victor, and that was all it took for Noah to know what he had discovered.

"Alpha," Victor was always the first to speak up. "I thought you had gone into the rogue territory in investigation."

"The warehouse in the rogue territory is his, Noah," Isaac informed through their mind link. "He had been stealing from the pack—building up a personal stack of our resources and supplying the rogues with information on how to infiltrate and loot."

Noah snarled at his betrayal. Among all his Elders, he was the first to join the pack. Although he was never contented with what he achieved, Noah accepted his dissatisfied trait as wanting to make the pack better and better.

Disgust flowed through Noah like a tidal wave. His wolf sneered as it bared its canine, pacing around in outrage in his mind—wanting to have a big piece of the traitor.

"How do you know about my journey to the rogue land, Victor? If you don't mind me asking, were you aware of something planned for me?" Noah raised his brows and fisted his hand.

"We are your Elders, and it is our duty to be kept informed about the happenings of the pack?" Victor answered with his head high.

"Then I suppose you only look after the best for the pack, yes?"

"I care about the pack's safety as I care about my life, hence why I was worried about your planned journey to meet Oliver without proper deliberation."

Pure rage coursed through his veins at the man's immaculate lie. "Then I suppose you know nothing about the warehouse deep in the rogue territory."

Noah spotted the look of shock cross Victor's expression before he could mask it. "Alpha, that is a grave accusation!"

The defensiveness radiating from him almost made Noah choke on his desire to pummel him to a quick death. "I'm not accusing anyone. It was a yes-or-no question. One that seems to trigger you to flare in self-justification."

"Noah," Hestia stepped forward from somewhere in the room. "I will not stand by and let you accuse my father of something so grievous."

A growl escaped his throat at her presence. As much as she portrayed herself as a saint who tried to help Ruby, he still couldn't forgive her for all she had done to his mate.

"You!"

The soft voice from Sonia, who had followed him into the hall, resonated. Noah had forgotten entirely about her; he didn't realize she was still there. He turned to find her glaring at the woman who stood beside Victor.

Smugness radiated from Hestia as she tipped her head up and narrowed her eyes at Sonia. Noah watched a look of confusion cross her eyes before they widened in realization.

"S-Sonia, right?" Hestia asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't give me that crap," Sonia bellowed, her voice croaked with hitches. "Ruby is missing, and I know you have something to do with it!"

"Sonia!" Hestia yelled, stepping forward. Noah could feel the pitiful waves of authority she was trying to radiate. "You watch the way you speak to me. I will not condone the disrespect."

"What are the odds that after you meet Ruby and try to get her trust, she goes missing?" Sonia retorted, standing her ground.

Hestia turned to Noah, desperation dripping from every word. "Noah. Will you just stand there and let her accuse me of such things? You know I would never hurt Ruby."

Noah flinched away before she could touch him. A look of hurt crossed her eyes, but he wasn't one to fall for her games. His wolf seethed inside as he watched fear cross her eyes when Sonia motioned to speak again.

"Bullshit! All you've ever done was insult and hurt her, and you thought a simple apology would make her trust you?" Sonia turned to Noah. "Alpha, I was with Ruby at the mall. I may have been the last to see her, but I had to leave urgently. Since then, I have tried calling her, but she isn't answering. I called Linda, and she told me about the accident and how Ruby wasn't found. I think it's my fault—if only I didn't leave her alone that day."

Noah fisted his hand as he tried to keep his growing annoyance at bay. "We already know about your little meet-up with Ruby and Hestia at the mall."

Sonia's face contorted into one of pure horror. "Hestia?"

All eyes moved to Hestia. Her wide eyes darted around in fright. It landed on her father briefly as if asking for help, but Victor stared ahead, not sparing her a look.

"The three of you went out to have fun and catch up, right?" Noah asked. His voice was menacingly low, but they remained on Hestia's shivering form.

"I would never go out with that woman," Sonia spat, pointing at Hestia. "It was just Ruby and I. By the goddess, who told you otherwise?"

Noah let out a growl as his body shook with profound hate. He watched Hestia gulp before taking a step back.

"You can't possibly believe what this woman is spewing, Noah. She is nobody."

Noah felt his wolf radiate so much dominance into the room he almost felt lightheaded. How stupid had he been! Foolish enough to be misled by the same people who had taken his mate. His blood boiled as he realized the accident was also a part of their plan. They had hurt his Ruby and taken her away.

"Noah, please, you'll have to believe me," Hestia whined, taking cautious steps towards him. "I-I only wish the best for Ruby,"

"Where is she?"

That was all he said to make everyone in the room feel the gravity of the wrath he would unleash on the trembling woman before him. His rage exploded in his mind like a tornado of destruction oozing out of the open wound Ruby's absence had inflicted on his self-control. His tone held finality—meaning he wanted nothing but the truth.

"Noah, I—" Hestia turned to her father and then back to him. "Noah, please, it was the only way."

"If you care about your pitiful life, you will tell him what he needs to know."

Noah heard Isaac say, but his eyes remained on Hestia.

"Noah, I swear it wasn't my idea. My father said Ruby going away was the only way you would love me!"

"Hestia! You little—" Victor bellowed, his eyes filled with rage for his daughter.

But she ignored her father. Fear rolled off her in waves as Hestia fell to her knees and clutched onto Noah's leg. Her grip suffocated like a leech, and her loud sobs were the only sound in the room.

"Noah, please! For once, choose me. I-I will be a good mate. I will do whatever you ask. Please forget Ruby. She's back where she belongs."

Blinded by rage, Noah grabbed her by her hair and lifted her. Her yelps filled the room as she struggled in his grip. How delusional was she to think he was one to fall for tears? He had seen tears so much in his life, even from grown men. He had seen the love of his life cry, and he couldn't imagine how much she had cried, hoping he'd come get her.

"You gave my mate to Aiden!" Noah bellowed.

He should have known that his brother still had more plans to get Ruby. But the betrayal of his pack members angered him the more.

"Noah, unhand my child this instant! Victor bellowed, rushing to ease off Noah's hand.

Noah heard his wolf sneer as his claws extended. He threw Hestia to the side, disgusted by the feel of her hand on him. He watched Victor approach, his stance set to attack, but Noah was ready. In one clean swipe, his claw dragged along Victor's face. His wolf relished the feel of his nails digging into the man's flesh. He wanted to end the life of the man who had gone behind his back to harm the well-being of Greyhound. He wanted to punish the people who thought it was wise to take his mate away from him.

"You dare raise your hand at me after all you have done!" Noah roared as he stalked towards Victor.

The man's eyes grew wide as his hands shielded his torn face. Noah stared in awe at his work. He intended on doing so much more damage to both the father and daughter.

"Noah."

He turned toward the voice to see Linda. Hate and anger also bloomed in her eyes, but beneath was sadness.

"Do not waste your energy on him. You have to get Ruby."

Noah growled as his eyes moved to Victor—who was a bleeding mess on the floor, and then to Hestia, who cowered at the far corner with her eyes low in submission.

As much as he wanted to finish them off once and for all, he needed to get Ruby.

"By the time I return, I do not want to see your treacherous faces again."

It took all his willpower and the thought of what Ruby was going through to force his wolf down before he turned towards the door. His steps grew hurried and then into jogs. He sensed Isaac following quickly behind him. He could hear him talking through his phone, but his mind was set on one destination.

"I'm coming, my love," Noah muttered as he jumped into his car, pressing hard on the gas paddle as he began his journey to the place he had vowed not to visit since he was chased away.