Chapter 26

Several warriors, also in a state of changing shifts, slowly appeared, their heads lowered in fear. They had never seen an angry Alpha before. When the wolf is angry, nothing can extinguish his anger except time or a mate. Unfortunately, their Luna wasn't there due to the warriors' negligence. That was the trigger for Stefan's anger on the wolf side of Sean tonight.

Search for your Luna, to the ends of the earth if necessary,'Stefan's words were still controlled by his emotions and growled occasionally.

Okay Alpha,"The warriors immediately set out to search, followed by Stefan's mournful howl for the second time. This time Stefan's howl was much longer and deeper. This sad howl managed to disturb the silver wolf who happened to hear it. With his speed, the silver wolf was able to reach Alphanya, who was looking sadly at the full moon.

Alpha Stefan. Is there a problem?'asked the silver wolf.

Lalita, go.

'How did Luna go, Alpha?'

'Help me look for her,' Stefan said with a stifled growl, not wanting to answer Betanya's question because his emotions were still exploding.

Good Alpha,' the silver wolf bowed respectfully.

Stefan jumped and reached the other side of the river, then ran, followed by Storm, Betanya's silver wolf. They headed west to where Lalita's last tracks had been found.

****

Lalita sat on the bed, holding her dizzy head. His body felt so weak and powerless. When he remembered the previous incident, he remembered that it was the effect of the drug that was injected into Erik. The room he was in now was exactly like the room he had woken up in earlier.

With a slight limp, Lalita got out of bed and approached the glass wall of the room. The sun was already showing its reddish glow. Lalita wondered how long she'd been asleep. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a waiter coming with food.

"Miss, you should eat first. Miss hasn't eaten since this morning," said the waiter carrying a tray of food.

"I am not hungry," Lalita turned away.

"But the master will be angry if he knows that you don't eat."

"Tell me about what?"Erik enters the room in his oversized, shiny dress.

"It's good that you're here," Lalita lifted her chin proudly.

Erik looked straight at Lalita as he motioned for the waiter to come out with the food. The maid placed the tray on the table and left, closing the door behind her. It was only after the maid had left that Erik began to speak.

"Why not eat?"

"None of your business," Lalita replied curtly, which even provoked a devilish grin from the vampire prince.

"I don't like rebellious prisoners," Erik walked closer to Lalita until he was pinned against a wall, then held his hand against the wall right next to Lalita's face.

"I am not your prisoner," Erik chuckled slightly.

"Refuse to be my prisoner and then become my pet."

Furious, Lalita tried to push Erik away, but the vampire didn't move at all and even moved closer to Lalita, "I don't like skinny pets, so you better eat."

Erik held Lalita's hand, which almost rewarded him with a punch, then brought his lips close to Lalita's ear and whispered, "There will come a time when I will suck your blood dry. So remember that," Lalita tried to rebel, but her situation didn't allow it.

"Just sit here until I get back, darling," Erik threw Lalita onto the bed, then quickly stepped out and locked the door.

"Open the door!" yelled Lalita as she continued to pound on the door. Erik cast a spell over the entire room, right into Lalita's cage, so that Lalita couldn't escape.

"So this is the place you gave the werewolf girl, isn't it too much?"

Erik turned to prepare to teach the character who had just criticized him a lesson, but failed because he knew exactly who that character was.

"What does that have to do with you, Soren?"

"Aren't you afraid when your werewolf girl has a dangerous mate for vampires?"Your masters...""What are you talking about, they're just a pack of wet dogs. A fire formation attack is more than enough to defeat them," Erik boasted, displaying the haughty attitude that only noble vampires possessed.

"What if..."

"Soren," Erik glared at his best friend.

"He's just my pet, when I get bored I will definitely throw him away, believe me."

"Let's have a drink, it's been a long time since we had a drink together. I'd like a glass of wine infused with the Wizard's blood from the Illegal Blood Center."

"But I'm going to find out about it anyway," Soren insisted.

"Up to you," Erik said as he put on his black robe and walked towards the hall.

"How about the drinking?"

"I've lost my appetite," Erik looked at Soren with flashing red eyes that radiated malice, a sign that his mood had changed.

****

"Please open.... Open the door."

Lalita slumped to the floor and leaned against the door. Clear grains glided smoothly across her white cheeks. Her ability, her magic can't be used. Even telepathy doesn't work. Now she is just a prisoner, lucky enough to be in a real room. Unlike most of the prisoners of the Vampire Nation, who are locked up in cold and dark cellars.

Seconds turn into minutes. Minutes became hours and hours became days. Day after day passed, and it didn't feel like nearly two weeks had passed. Lalita is still locked in a luxurious room, surrounded by blood-sucking creatures as servants and soldiers to keep her from escaping.

The days that have passed have been so dark, without color. Every now and then Erik comes to just play with him with an attitude and tone of voice that is more annoying than disgusting or threatening. Then Lalita was alone, hugging her knees as she watched the alternate movements of the moon and sun.

Small sobs could be heard from behind the door. It is undeniable that Lalita is starting to miss her friends, her parents and even Sean. What do you think the cold Alpha is doing? Is she struggling to find herself or is she still busy with paper and pen? Is she that insignificant?

Throw those thoughts away,' Rione, who knows what's in his human mind, thinks.

What if it's true?

The mating bond is very strong, no one can break it. A werewolf can't stand to be away from its mate for long.'

How can you be so sure?

'Because I feel it.'

'You mean?'

'Yes, I feel Stefan's fear, my mate. Right now he is restless. I'm sure he's looking for us.'

Lalita was silent. Rione trusted his mate so much, why didn't he? Lalita leaned back on the bed and gazed at the moon through the glass wall. The night air was piercing as she sat barefoot on the cold tiles. Hugging her knees, Lalita stared up at the pitch-black sky, lit only by the faint moonlight.

Sean, on the other hand, sat leaning against the wall of the room, gazing at the moon through the open window. His face looks tired with disheveled hair, but still has a strong jawline.

Your howling hurts my nerves, you idiot,' Sean grumbled as he felt his nerve endings buzzing with pain again.

You are an idiot, how could you make our mate leave us,' Stefan roared louder than before.

Damn you.

Sean looked back at the moon with empty eyes. He regretted neglecting Lalita. Snapping at her and not even believing her just because she was jealous of Sky, Beta and her best friend who didn't know anything. Maybe the girl had opened her heart. From his dark gray eyes came a smile that could not be described in words.

"Where are you now, my queen?"

Both looked at the same moon at the same time. From a distance, each one sees how the other is. Under the same sky where they take shelter. On the same earth they stand. But now destiny is testing them both. Testing hidden feelings and love that has not been revealed.