Chapter 63 Hate This Feeling

Chapter 63 Hate This Feeling
{Warren POV}

I looked at the file Jane had placed on my table and scribbled my signature in the space required, before closing it and opening another.

I had been trying all day to focus on what I was doing, but it felt like the more I tried, the more difficult it got. The pain of not seeing Diana, and the fact that I didn't know if she was safe where she was, or if she was dead, was driving me crazy.

I shook my head at the thought before scribbling my signature on the next page. I closed the file and rested my back against the chair. I needed to stop thinking like this and just wait for the warriors to return with news of what they had found.

The sound of the door opening got my attention, and I looked up to see who it was. When I saw my mother step inside, a low sigh left my lips because I already knew why she was here.

"Alpha Warren," she said in a soft voice, even though it carried the seriousness of what she was about to say. "What is going on? I saw Layla crying last night on the balcony, and when I asked her what happened, she said you tried to hurt her."

"That is not what happened, mother," I said, looking back at the files on my desk as I pulled my chair closer. "I lost control over my wolf. Layla was the cause. She threatened my worker, and now that worker is missing."

"Your worker?" my mother repeated, her voice rising slightly. "Is the life of that worker more precious than that of your mate, that you would do something like that?"

My wolf twirled inside of me in response to her questions, growling at the word mate when it came to Layla.

"It was a mistake," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "I'm going to talk to her."

"You better do that," my mother said with a sigh. "She is your Luna, and she should come before anyone else."

"Okay, mother," I said. Looking at her once more, I noticed she looked worried, and I wondered if Layla's drama was still what was bothering her. "I am going to talk to her, mother. You shouldn't stress yourself about it."

"I know you will do that," she said calmly, turning around to leave the study.

Before she could walk through the doorway, I spoke up. "Is there something else bothering you?"

She didn't say a word for a while, nor did she turn back to look my way.

"Did something happen? Why are you so worried?" I asked again when she didn't reply.

"No, Warren," she replied, turning back to face me slowly. "I just got a bad sense yesterday. Someone in the pack is using a dark spell. I suspect it might be an intruder in the pack."

"An intruder?" I muttered, lost in thought.

It had been a long time since an intruder had invaded my pack. The last time they did, they had come with the intention to kill my father.

"Don't worry, mother," I said, my jaw tightening. "I'll find whoever is using that dark spell, and they will be gotten rid of from the pack."

She nodded with a small smile. "Okay, Warren. Let me leave you to your work."

When my mother left the study, I sat there for a moment thinking about what she had said. A dark spell inside my territory was something I couldn't ignore. I picked up my phone from the desk and dialed Jane's number.

"Alpha," she answered on the first ring.

"Look into everyone in the pack," I ordered, my voice dropping low. "My mother suspects that someone might be using a dark spell in the pack. Check the perimeter and search for any strange magic."

"I will look into it immediately, sir," she replied.

"Good. Let me know the moment you find anything," I said, ending the call and tossing the phone onto the desk.

I stared at the black screen, lost in my thoughts again. No matter how much pack business I tried to handle, my mind kept drifting right back to Diana. I grabbed my phone once more and dialed Cora's number, pressing it to my ear as my chest tightened.

"Warren?" Cora asked, her voice sounding tired.

"Have you gotten any news about Diana yet?" I asked, holding my breath.

"No, sir," Cora said softly. "Nothing at all. Nobody has seen her."

"Alright," I said, ending the call before she could say anything else.

A sharp ache hit my heart, so strong that I had to place a hand over my chest. Sitting here behind a desk wasn't working. As an Alpha, I had sharper senses than any of my warriors. If Diana was out there in the woods near the border, I would definitely be able to pick up her scent if I got close enough.

I stood up from my study, grabbed my keys, and walked out of the house. I got into my car, started the engine, and drove off fast down the road toward the edge of the woods.

When I reached the line where the trees started, I parked the car on the side of the road and stepped out. I hesitated for a brief second, looking into the thick trees before stepping into the forest.

I walked deeper into the woods, keeping my eyes on the ground and pushing my senses to the limit, sniffing the cool air for any trace of Diana's faint scent.

After a while of looking around, my eyes caught a dark red mark on the grass. I stepped closer and realized it was fresh blood. My heart beat faster against my ribs.

Could this be Diana's blood? Was she close by?

I took another quick step forward to check the ground, but before my foot could touch down, a cold, hard voice shouted out from the shadows.

"Stop right where you are!"

I froze instantly, snapping my head up toward the sound. A tall man stepped out from behind a thick tree, his dark eyes cold and void of any emotion as he stared at me.

"Aiden," I muttered, my hands clenching into fists as my wolf growled deep in my throat.

Aiden looked down at the trap set in the leaves near my feet, a small, cruel smirk touching his lips. "It wouldn't be bad if I got an Alpha caught in my trap."

My eyes flashed with sudden anger as I stared back at him. "What the hell are you doing on my border?"