Chapter 63
The noise in the Alpha house was loud that morning—pack members moving around, warriors training, people gossiping. Sebastian sat at the long table, barely touching his food. His mind had been noisy since the ceremony, but he forced himself to keep a straight face.
Brittany walked around the table with a bright smile, touching her stomach every few minutes. She liked the attention. She liked the whispers.
“Future Luna.”
“Future mother of the Alpha’s heir.”
Sebastian didn’t care to listen.
He stared at the table, trying to push away the heavy feeling in his chest. He forced himself to act normal. It was easier than thinking about everything he lost.
Until the door flew open.
Damien rushed in, face pale, breath heavy. “Alpha—”
Sebastian looked up sharply. “What is it?”
Damien hesitated. “It’s… it’s Rhianna.”
Brittany froze beside the table, her smile fading.
Sebastian stood so fast the chair scraped the floor. “What about her?”
Damien swallowed. “She’s missing.”
Everything in the room went silent.
“What?” Sebastian asked again, his voice low and dark.
Damien stepped forward. “Hardin came back to Alden’s house and found her gone. There were signs of a fight outside. We think someone took her.”
Sebastian’s whole world narrowed.
His hearing faded.
His breath stopped.
His body went cold.
“Taken?” he whispered.
“Yes,” Damien said. “Hardin is out searching right now.”
Sebastian’s hands curled into fists. “Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?”
Damien lowered his head. “We just got the message.”
Brittany finally moved, rolling her eyes. “Is this really necessary? Sebastian, she’s not your responsibility anymore.”
Sebastian didn’t even look at her. His eyes were locked on Damien. “Where did they take her?”
Damien shook his head. “We don’t know yet.”
Sebastian’s jaw clenched so tightly it trembled. “Someone took her while she was weak. While she could barely walk.” His voice deepened. “Whoever did this will pay.”
Brittany stepped closer, touching his arm with a forced smile. “Sebastian… look at the bright side.”
He turned slowly, eyes narrowed. “Bright side?”
“Yes,” Brittany said, shrugging. “She’s gone. The problem is gone. You don’t need to feel guilty anymore. You can focus on me. On the baby. On your title.”
Sebastian stared at her like she’d just slapped him.
“What did you just say?” he asked quietly.
Brittany blinked. “I’m just saying the truth. Rhianna disappearing is the best thing that could happen. She was dragging you down. Making you look weak. This is good—”
Sebastian slammed his hand on the table.
Everyone jumped.
“Don’t ever say her disappearance is a good thing.” His voice shook with anger. “Rhianna is my—”
He stopped himself.
Not his Luna anymore.
Not his mate by choice.
Not his responsibility.
But she was still… something. Something he couldn’t erase. Something he couldn’t replace even with a ceremony, a baby, or the council’s approval.
Brittany crossed her arms. “Sebastian, you knew she was weak. She wouldn’t have made a good Luna anyway. You should be relieved.”
Sebastian stepped closer, his eyes dark and sharp. “If anything happens to her, I will not forgive myself.”
“And what about me?” Brittany snapped back.
He shook his head. “This isn’t about you.”
Brittany’s face twisted with anger. “You better forget her, Sebastian. Because she’s not coming back.”
Sebastian glared at her. “We’ll see.”
Then he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Brittany shaking with anger.
Damien followed him.
“Sebastian—”
“Get every tracker,” Sebastian ordered. “Every warrior. No one rests until she’s found.”
Damien nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
But Sebastian’s heart was racing.
His mind was spinning.
Rhianna… gone.
Taken.
Alone.
His chest felt like it was closing up.
“I should have protected her,” he whispered to himself.
And for the first time since the ceremony…
He felt fear.
Real fear.
BACK AT THE BLACK NIGHT CASTLE
The castle was calm in the afternoon light, but Rhianna wasn’t.
She sat on the large bed, knees pulled to her chest, hands shaking again. She had been trying to drink the warm tea the healer gave her, but the cup kept trembling.
Lyra sat beside her. “You’re safe now. Nothing will happen to you.”
Rhianna nodded weakly. “I know… but… something inside me feels wrong.”
The queen stepped into the room. “How are you feeling, child?”
Rhianna pressed a hand to her chest. “My heart… it’s beating too fast.”
The healer came in behind her. “Do you remember anything yet?”
Rhianna shook her head quickly, almost panicked. “No. Nothing. Every time I try to think… everything hurts.”
Kairo entered the room silently. “Maybe she shouldn’t force it.”
But the moment Rhianna saw him enter, something inside her snapped.
She flinched away—even though he hadn’t moved toward her.
Her breathing quickened.
Her hands started shaking harder.
The room began to blur.
Lyra gasped. “Mother—she’s having a panic attack!”
The queen rushed forward. “Rhianna, look at me. Breathe. Slowly.”
Rhianna tried, but she felt like she was choking on her own breath. She curled forward, hands gripping her head.
“I don’t know where I am,” she whispered.
“I don’t know who I am.”
“I don’t know what happened to me.”
“Why don’t I remember anything?”
Lyra held her shoulders gently. “It’s okay. We’re here. You’re not alone.”
Rhianna sobbed softly as panic took over her whole body. Her wolf—the small faint piece left of it—whimpered inside her mind.
“I feel… like someone is coming,” she whispered in fear. “Someone… angry… someone… looking for me…”
Kairo stepped closer. “Who?”
Rhianna shook her head. “I don’t know… I don’t know… I don’t know!”
Her chest tightened again, and she gasped like she couldn’t get air.
The queen lifted her chin gently. “Rhianna, breathe with me. In… and out.”
The healer placed a calming herb under her nose. “Smell this.”
Slowly, slowly, Rhianna’s breathing eased.
Her body relaxed.
Her shaking stopped.
The tears dried on her cheeks.
Lyra stroked her hair. “You’re safe. Whatever you escaped from… it can’t reach you here.”
Rhianna whispered, “Then why am I so scared?”
Kairo looked at her for a long moment.
“Because someone hurt you before you came here,” he said quietly. “And your body remembers even when your mind doesn’t.”
Rhianna closed her eyes, tears slipping out again.
“I don’t want to remember,” she whispered.
The queen held her hand. “Then you don’t have to. Not yet. You just have to heal.”
Rhianna leaned into Lyra, exhausted and empty.
And far, far away in another territory…
Sebastian was already searching.
Hardin was running through forests.
Tia was crying because she knew something terrible happened.