Chapter Sixty-Three: His

"It's been six fucking hours, Neal!" I shouted, my anger and fear shaking my whole body. "I need to find her!" 

Neal glared at me as he leaned against the cement wall. His knuckles were white as they dug into his biceps. We did this song and dance an hour ago when Darius first gave us ten potential locations Chad could be at. Darius claims he wasn't in the inner circle yet, so his knowledge was limited. 

"Alpha, I've sent teams out and reached out to our contacts at places where we don't have full access. As soon as I know anything concrete, you will know." Neal's tone tells me his temper is just barely below the surface. I ran my fingers through my hair, tugging the roots, and growled. I threw open the door just as Hugo pulled a playing Darius out of the bucket full of water. Darius gasped for air like a fish out of water. I signaled Hugo, who slammed Darius onto the chair before me. The man slumped into the metal seat; his eyes barely saw me as he bounced in and out of consciousness. I gave his cheek a few slaps to focus his mind. 

"Hello again, Darius." I smiled like a Cheshire Cat. 

Darius whimpered, "Alpha, Please! All I know are the places I helped set up to hide Chad." 

I gripped his throat, letting the black inferno of Nyx's power fuel my strength. I felt the man's esophagus begin to collapse under my grip. 

*Ollie!*

My head snapped toward the sound, and I released Darius. Neal's face contorted in confusion, and I felt Hugo shift into battle mode. My actions looked odd, but I swear I heard her. I stared at the door like it suddenly contained all the answers. Nyx's power sparked and licked at my mind, urging me to take action. I didn't wait; I threw open the door and followed the heat current as it flowed around me. My chest ached, and I could sense Nyx's desperation. 

*I need you, Ollie!*

I felt the words instead of hearing them like they appeared in my mind as a thought but in Nyx's voice. I took off at a sprint, chasing the heat trail—through the corridor, up flights of stairs, running past numerous employees, and bursting through my office doors. I spotted Aurora with a paper in her hand. Black flames singed the edges of my vision, narrowing on the paper. 

*Finn isn't doing well…. I might not make it… Ollie… *

I ripped the paper from Aurora, barely registering the panic in her eyes. I read the list of property names. Each one was a safe house Darius set up. Nothing stuck out as I read it slowly this time. What was Nyx trying to tell me? 

"Come on, baby, where are you." I pleaded. I read the list outlaid and am hoping for a sign. When everything remained silent, I slammed the paper on my desk, growling in frustration. I began to pace the room; by now, I had the list fucking memorized. Each warehouse name became a repetitive chant in my mind. Nyx had to be in one of these. That was the only explanation for why her power drew me to this paper. But which one would Chad take her to? 

"Alpha?" Aurora's voice sounded weak, "I don't think Finn is okay. I …" She whimpered then composed herself. "I feel off." 

"Not now," I growled and ignored the hurt in my sister's eyes. I couldn't lose focus now. I began the list out loud, "Cunningham Institute? Foxglove property? Callum's estates? Warehouse B? The old Sanitorium?" 

I felt Nyx's power burning through my gut. It was less than a minute, but the intensity of that power called to the darkness left in my core. I doubled over, clutching at my stomach as pain sliced through me. My knees hit the hardwood floor of my office. 

*Ollie!*

I could faintly feel the words. I was frantic, and this sudden surge of power wasn't helping. 

"Alpha?" Aurora said quietly, crouched beside me as her hand gently touched my shoulder. 

"She's frustrated." I gasped, feeling the flicker of hope that Nyx was alive and fighting those fuckers. With the amount of power pushing toward me, there was no way she was dead. "Nyx!" 

*Oll—*

"Alpha?" My sister's concerned voice distracted me, letting the words slip away. Her head bounced between me and the doorway and back again. 

"Shut the fuck up, Rory!" I focused again on only the words, Nyx, and the powerful heat that connected us. The overwhelming power Nyx projected blocked everything else out. 

*Sanitarium! Ollie! Sanitarium! *

Icy cold poured down my body, and my connection snapped. The inferno of Nye's dark power was gone instantly, and I shivered uncontrollably. Neal appeared like a magician, throwing a warm wool blanket around my shoulders. "Fuck, Alpha! I've never seen you shiver before. What the fuck happened?" 

I grabbed his collar, pulling him close so I could ground myself to reality. "The Old Sanitorium. Finn and Nye are fading, so we need to go now!" 

With those words, my pack sprung into action, and Aurora wrapped her arm around me, rubbing her hand up and down my arms and back to try to heat me up. I looked at her, and she said, "I'm sorry. I needed to focus." 

Rory gave me a weak, watery smile, "It's okay, Alpha.”