Chapter 37
**Adam’s POV**
The ghost of Roman’s scent lingers in Dark Claw’s pack house, though since sneaking onto their land we have not seen another soul. They clearly have the numbers to make them confident enough to believe they can take out a pack as strong as ours but the entire pack seems abandoned. I know Roman was here though, at least briefly before they moved him to a different hideout.
The Alpha, Beta, head warrior and I snuck into Dark Claw almost two hours ago and have left no stone unturned. Every shack, home and building on the property has been searched and no one. We split up and did a perimeter check of the woodlands surrounding Dark Claw, till we finally made our way to the pack house.
“Guys! I found someone!” We all rush down to a dingy cement basement to see Jiang kneeling pale and wide eyed over a body on the cold ground. My heart skips a beat and I rush over till I can identify who it is. I see a head of short brown hair, and a face that was beaten so badly you can barely discern its owner. Clenching my fists through the fear I step closer and catch onto the familiar scent, however it's not citrus and bergamot. Relief floods through when I realise that it's not Roman lying dead, but also despair knowing that I won't find him here.
“Its James” Ezra grounds out, seething at the fact that he has lost another one of his warriors. James looks to have been beaten, burned and cut before he succumbed to his injuries. Greta must be devastated unless she too has been killed by these beasts. Sitting atop his chest is a polaroid picture that seizes the air in my lungs.
Roman is unconscious, a silver collar around his throat while a small pale hand holds his head up by his hair. Blood sits dried and cracking against his forehead after dropping down from a wound tucked under his beautiful brown curls. He looks lifeless but I can still feel his soul connected to mine so I have to hold onto the hope that I can still get him back.
Snatching the picture out of my hand Alpha Romeo looks at it and lets out a ground shaking growl before shifting into his absolutely massive greying wolf. The photo falls to the ground along with the shreds of the Alpha’s clothes, Jiang takes this opportunity to get a proper look at it. A soft gasp of shock escapes him. I'm assuming upon seeing the condition of the child he helped raise, he tucks the photo into his pocket and turns to me.
“No one else is here, we've searched the entire property. Ezra and Jiang drive James back home so we can give him a proper funeral, The Alpha and I will run back in our wolf form” I say before joining the Alpha and shifting to stand beside him on four paws. Ezra and Jiang slide one of James’s limp arms over each of their shoulders as they carry his body out.
Us two wolves do one last run around the pack land, searching for any clue but as expected come up with nothing before we give up and return home feeling utterly defeated. I need him back, I feel empty and incomplete without my little mate by my side.
While we were staying at Red Dawn, the pack had a small talent show for the pack’s pups. Roman and I went together for a night out, it was a low exertion activity while he healed from his surgery.
One of the last acts for the night was a maybe thirteen year old wolf with mousy blonde hair plucking at the strings of a poorly tuned guitar. The boy was in need of a tutor but you could see that regardless of his skill he truly enjoyed playing. The pup was losing himself in the music with a smile on his face while his parents let out encouraging calls from the audience, turning to roman though he had tiny tears beginning to take form in his eyes. “Little mate, are you in pain? Should I call for Dr. Pearce?”
“Not in pain, just imagining you as a kid playing guitar like him. Do you love it like that? Did your parents take you to shows and cheer you on?” turning to me as he asked the question I was a little surprised by his curiosity. The memories of my own childhood flashed in my mind.
My parents were both great warriors, My father being the head warrior before Ezra took over the position. I was always expected to follow in their footsteps, so I spent much of my upbringing learning how to kill, how to defend and how to die for this pack.
After our relationship crumbled though I needed an outlet for everything that I was feeling, something to keep me busy. Luca has always had his art, Althea had cooking and dancing but all I ever did was train to make my parents proud. I needed something of my very own, so when the school band was hosting tryouts, I tried and found the very thing I had been looking for. “I guess I do love it like that, I never got a chance to play for you though did I?”
“No you didn't, life kinda got in the way. When we get home though, do you promise to show me?”
“Of course, I will play for you every night if that would make you happy” I promised him and I plan on keeping it, when I get my mate home I will serenade him with a million ballads just to make him smile.