Chapter 137 Chapter 137

Chapter 137 Chapter 137
THE BOND

ETHAN’S POV

My heart sank instantly as realization dawned on me. Tiana is gone. But how? When? Where did she go?

I stood in the middle of the empty guest room, staring at the spot on the couch where she had been lying just minutes ago.

The emerald gown we had given her was crumpled on the floor. And the air still carried her scent, jasmine, red earth, and the faint trace of her arousal.

My wolf howled in my chest, clawing to get out, demanding for blood.

Memories surged through my mind instantly, and I bite my lip in regret.

A few months ago, I'd despised her when the mate bond pulled at me, I had pushed her away.

I told myself it was for the good of the family. I told myself I couldn’t claim my father’s new wife’s daughter. I told myself I was being noble.

But the truth was simple.

I was scared.

Scared of how strongly the bond called to me. Scared of what it would mean for our pack.

Scared of losing control.

And because of that fear, I had left her vulnerable. I had left her open to being taken by filthy rogues.

I could perceived their horrible scent all around the room.

They're here. And from the look of things, they're behind her disappearance.

“I should have protected her better,” I muttered with a hoarse voice. “From the beginning. I should have accepted the bond instead of running from it.”

Ezekiel placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “We all share the blame, brother. But standing here won’t bring her back.”

I turned to look at him. I didn't need anyone to tell me Ezekiel had the same thought. Tiana was taken away by rogues, their scent was everywhere.

I turned and found Ezra clenching his fist in anger, while his eyes glowed with barely-contained fury.

“We hunt!" He yelled, and turned his gaze to us. "Now.”

Without a second thought, we moved as one, storming out of the room and into the corridors.

My wolf was already pushing forward, sharpening my senses. I could smell her trail, faint but present, mixed with the stench of rogue wolves.

Every few seconds, a wave of Tiana’s emotions slammed into me through the faint mate bond. I could sense her fear, her burning pain, and worst of all… unwanted arousal.

She was fighting it. I could feel her disgust, and terror.

But something was forcing her body to respond to those monsters. The thought made my vision bleed red.

We were halfway down the eastern corridor when Seraphina appeared, walking toward us with hurried steps.

She looked very concerned, but something about her scents made my wolf snarl.

“Ethan! Ezekiel! Ezra!” she called, sounding breathless.

"What’s going on? You guys just ran out of the room. Do you know where Tiana is? I'm scared for my friend."

I stopped abruptly, and turned to her, while my instincts screamed at me to ignore her and keep moving.

Seraphina had been acting strange all night, overly friendly, overly concerned. What if she has a hand this?

“Where is she?” I demanded, stepping forward aggressively.

“What do you know?”

Seraphina blinked, feigning innocence. “I don’t know what you mean. I was just—”

“Cut the act,” I growled, my voice dropping into a near-feral tone.

“You were the last one with her. You gave us that letter. You’ve been hovering around her all night. If you had anything to do with this—”

“Ethan,” Ezra warned, but I ignored him.

At the same time, Seraphina widened her eyes and blurted. “You think I would hurt Tiana? I’m her friend, Ethan! I’ve been trying to help her all evening!”

I pressed my lips tightly together, and shook my head violently.

My wolf didn’t believe her, and the mate bond’s pull toward Tiana was growing stronger, feeding me flashes of her fear, her pain, and the sickening feeling of rough hands on her body.

It made me want to tear Seraphina apart just for standing in our way.

Before I could press her further, another wave hit me.

Tiana’s terror flooded my mind instantly, raw, and suffocating.

I felt the movement of unwanted hands on her breasts, her thighs, and her core. I also felt her silent scream for us.

A savage growl tore from my throat. My claws extended, fur rippling along my arms as my wolf surged forward, demanding control.

“She’s in pain,” I snarled. “They’re touching her. We have to go now!”

Ezekiel and Ezra didn’t hesitate. Their eyes flashed gold as their wolves rose to the surface.

We shifted almost simultaneously, our bones cracking, fur sprouting, massive black wolves tearing out of our clothes.

Tiana’s trail burned bright in my nose, mixed with the foul stench of six rogues.

I led the charge, with my wolf completely feral, driven by the mate bond’s desperate echoes.

We raced through the palace corridors and out into the night, our paws pounding against the earth.

Every flash of Tiana’s fear fueled my rage. Every unwanted touch I felt through the bond made me want to rip the rogues apart limb by limb.

Seraphina’s suspicious behavior lingered in the back of my mind, but right now, only one thing mattered.

Finding Tiana.

Saving her.

And destroying whoever had dared to touch her and take her away from us.