Chapter 275 SEARCHING FOR HIS MISSING BOND
Percival
A growl slipped from my throat, rumbling low and involuntary. The tension between the two was starting to get to me, like an itch I couldn’t scratch. It was too early in the morning for this kind of drama.
Jack was lucky Maxim respected Dahlia. If it weren’t for that, things might’ve taken a nasty turn already. Maxim didn’t exactly wait around to ask questions before getting physical.
"That’s enough," I said, my voice steady and firm as I sat back in my chair. The room instantly quieted, the weight of my Alpha authority settling over the table. "We’ve got more important things to discuss—like Tatiana’s escape."
Just as the last of the tension fizzled out, the dining hall doors swung open, and in walked Gaspar, wearing a grin so wide it looked like it hurt. He plopped down next to Maxim, his usual swagger more pronounced today. The mate mark on his neck was still fresh, about a week old now.
He hadn’t wasted any time bonding with Annabel. Not that it mattered to me anymore—she wasn’t much of a mother to me these days anyway.
Maxim looked up from his plate as Gaspar settled in beside him, that signature smirk creeping back onto his face. "Where’s the old ball and chain?" Maxim asked, amusement gleaming in his eyes.
Gaspar shot a quick glance my way, looking for some kind of approval. I just shrugged like it didn’t matter, and he grinned, flashing his teeth in that smug way of his. His eyes gleamed as he leaned back in his chair. "She’s a bit… busy right now." He winked at Maxim, clearly pleased with himself.
I raised a hand, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Can I just enjoy my breakfast? Please." A familiar scowl settled over my face, deep and unforgiving.
Trying to steer the conversation back on track, I tilted my head toward Jack. "So, Tatiana. You were the one who found out, right? Nixx noticed the bond on her skin was starting to fade, and you figured something was up?" I kept my tone steady—casual but with enough weight to make it clear I wasn’t messing around. I needed these wolves to take me seriously, now more than ever.
Tatiana’s escape had been sitting on the back burner for a while. The night she broke out was chaotic—right in the middle of the challenges—and frankly, I hadn’t put much thought into it since. It wasn’t at the top of my list. She was gone, and that was someone else’s problem. I didn’t lock her in that cabin—my dad did.
But now Nixx was starting to lose it, and that was a problem. With Mirabelle carrying his pup, his wolf had gone full protective mode—just like mine had once been, though not this early in the game. It seemed like Nixx got hit with a double dose of fatherly instincts. Firstborn son perks, I guess. But losing his bond with Tatiana was driving him wild, and that was dangerous. I’d seen it before, with Gaspar. I wasn’t about to let things spiral like that again.
Jack wiped his mouth with a napkin, his sage-green eyes locking onto mine. "The door got ripped right off the hinges. From the outside," he said.
My scowl deepened. "Why?"
He let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I asked around. Mirabelle talked to her a few times." His gaze drifted down the table to where Mirabelle sat, still picking at her food. "Apparently, earlier that day, Mirabelle filled Edeline in about everything going on with Tatiana. And Edeline freaked. She bolted before I could ask her anything else. I think she told Conor what was happening, and he decided to go after Tatiana and bring her back."
The mention of Edeline’s name sent a shiver down my spine, one I couldn’t quite shake.
Edeline.
The Crescent Pack’s Luna… my mate. The one who had been out of the loop lately, spending way too much time with the enemy for my liking. Something about it didn’t sit right with me. Had she talked about me at all when she met with Mirabelle? Did she even care anymore?
Clearing my throat, I tried to refocus, but an unexpected wave of anger surged through me. My wolf stirred restlessly, his emotions flickering between frustration and rage, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. He let out a low growl in the back of my mind, making it crystal clear what he wanted.
He was searching for his missing bond.
Same here...
But I wasn’t going after her. She left me. And right now, my pack needed me more than ever. I wasn’t about to chase her down like some lovesick pup. If Mirabelle got Edeline’s number, that was fine, but I wasn’t going to use it. No. If Edeline came back, it’d be on my terms. I’d make sure the next time she set foot on this land, she’d see the new me—the Alpha I was meant to be.
I made a mental note to tell the pack: anyone who talks to Edeline? No word that I’m Alpha now. I wanted her surprised when she returned. And there would be a next time. I’d make sure of it.
Shrugging off the tension, I said, "Honestly, Tatiana being gone isn’t my problem. But Nixx is losing it without her, so we need a plan to fix that." My voice was low, deliberate—enough to draw attention. Gaspar and Maxim shared amused looks across the table, their smirks practically identical.
I raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Gaspar leaned forward, his grin turning sharp. "That Alpha, Conor. I owe him something, you know?" He rested his elbows on the table, rubbing his hands together like he was savoring the thought. "Never did get even with him for how he treated my sister… his mate. Maxim can’t touch him since they’re related, but you?" He smirked. "You could."
I gave him a flat look, raising my brow higher. "Oh, man. No. No wars unless we have to." I shook my head, making my stance clear. Jack gave me a quick nod—he was completely on board with that.
Gaspar groaned, slouching back in his chair like a kid denied dessert. "You’re no fun."
Maxim chuckled, clearly enjoying Gaspar’s disappointment.
I just rolled my eyes. "If we’re going to deal with Conor, we’ll do it smart. Not like that."
The tension around the table started to ease, but the feeling gnawed at me, lingering in the pit of my stomach. Tatiana’s escape might not have been my problem at first, but it was quickly becoming one. If Conor was involved, things could get messy—and fast.
And as for Edeline… well, that was a whole other problem. One I’d handle soon enough.
Maxim raised his eyebrows, a sly look on his face. "Conor’s got your buddy, kid."
Jack let out a low rumble, frustration etched across his face. His brows furrowed, jaw clenched tight. "My daughter made her own choice. Just leave her out of it."
I glanced at him, feeling a little off. She’s still my buddy, I thought to myself, though it felt weird to admit it.
Maxim sneered at Jack, mirroring my own thoughts, like he was reading my mind. "She’s also this pack’s Luna, Jack. At least one of your kids got it right!" His smirk deepened, eyes gleaming with that familiar teasing edge. "Bet your wolf’s just dying to brag about his daughter being a Luna!"
Jack mulled it over for a second, lips pressing into a tight line. Then he shook his head, exasperated. "Nah. I just want her to be happy." He shot me a glance, his expression flat and unimpressed.
I kicked back in my chair, letting out a long sigh. Yeah, it’s gonna be one of those days.
…
After breakfast, Maxim, Jack, and I headed to my office to go over some pack matters. We’d had a full meeting with the council a few days ago, laying out new rules. Maxim helped draft most of them, though I made a few tweaks here and there—just to put my own stamp on things.
One of the rules we kept? No sex between unmated wolves. It wasn’t just about keeping things orderly—it helped avoid accidental pregnancies and kept wolves focused on finding their true mates.
Another rule: if a wolf challenged someone for their title, they’d get two options—either fight it out or submit. No more forced submission like when my dad ran things. In Maxim’s pack, everything was dealt with head-on. And if it were up to me? I’d always go for the fight. But so far, no one had been stupid enough to challenge me.
We also kicked off a new warrior training program. From now on, all the women in the pack would train—no exceptions. Two years minimum, just so they could protect themselves after shifting. If they wanted to become warriors for real, they could stay on and keep training. The council was cool with that part, though a few wolves still grumbled about the whole "kill-or-submit" option during challenges. Not that I cared. That rule wasn’t up for debate.
I won’t lie, I was nervous about all these changes. But I could feel the respect growing—wolves were finally starting to see I wasn’t just doing something with the pack; I was leading it.
After we wrapped up the meeting with Jack and Maxim, it was time to hit the training field.
…
I still met Gaspar every day for training. No more sneaking around like before—now everyone knew what I was up to. The cool breeze hit my bare skin as I peeled off my shirt and tossed it to the ground. The chilly air didn’t bother me anymore. My wolf was ready.
Gaspar strolled over, his usual good mood in full swing. "Hey, man!" he called out, laughing as he jogged to my side.
I gave him a half-smirk. "What’s up with that whole Alpha X thing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as we dropped to the ground to warm up.
Gaspar tried—and failed—to hold back a grin. His dark eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh yeah, Maxim’s totally serious. He already called his ally packs, giving them the full scoop about the infamous ‘Alpha X’ running the show at Praimfaya Moon."
I rolled my eyes and laughed, shaking my head. "Awesome."
In a weird way, it kinda was awesome. Edeline was going to think it was hilarious, too. When we were pups, she used to spell my name with an "X" instead of a "Z." Every time I’d correct her, she’d turn bright red and mumble some embarrassed apology.
That memory stuck with me, like a warm flicker in the back of my mind.
I zoned out a bit as I worked through my push-ups, letting my gaze drift over the training field. We’d brought in two more generals to help manage the influx of new recruits. There were wolves everywhere—men and women training side by side, figuring out where they belonged. The generals were checking everyone’s strengths, sorting them into groups.
I caught a few curious glances from the wolves as they worked out. Their eyes lingered on me, and I could feel their silent questions hanging in the air. What’s the new Alpha like? What’s his next move?
My wolf didn’t like being watched—hell, I wasn’t a fan of it either. It made me feel cornered, like I couldn’t move without someone analyzing my every step. But I reminded myself that projecting confidence meant dealing with curious stares. It came with the territory. I’m Alpha now.
One wolf stood out among the crowd, hitting a punching bag off to the side. His fists pounded into the worn fabric, bare knuckles slamming into the bag with relentless force. There was no hesitation, no wasted movement—just raw power and focus.
I squinted, trying to make out who it was.
And then it hit me.
My dad.
"Hey, when did William finally show himself?" I glanced over at Gaspar, who was casually cranking out his 40th push-up without even breaking a sweat.
"Yesterday," he said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, like he knew something I didn’t.
I shifted my gaze to Dad across the field. He was going all out on the punching bag, throwing his fists like it was personal—like every swing was aimed at himself, at the past. Frustration rippled off him, clear as day.
He looked better now. Healthier. But still on the outskirts, just like I told him. I had him staying in my old cabin by the lake, away from the rest of the pack. It felt right, giving him a taste of the isolation he used to force on others. He did the same to me—pushed me to reject my mate, locked Edeline away from the pack. Now it’s his turn to be shut out.