Chapter 2

Nikolas's POV.

As I pounded the pavement on my night run, my thoughts were consumed by Amira. Her unexpected appearance had ignited a fire and rush of hatred in me, and I pushed myself to run even harder. When I finally returned home, I was out of breath but exhilarated. I took a quick shower, hoping to wash away the lingering scent of sweat, and headed to the dining room to go have dinner with my parents as they usually wait.

“Where’s Amira?” Father looked over at the vacant seat next to mine. Since young, we had been assigned our seats and my parents' attempt at making us get along better was by placing her next to me. Even after I became king we still hadn’t changed the seating layout- yet.

“I don’t think she’ll come to dinner,” I murmured, bringing the wine glass to my lips as I smirked. I must’ve gotten her good if she skipped dinner.

My mother frowned at first then just sighed and lifted her fingers toward one of our staff members, “Bree? Could you fix a plate and bring it to her room then?”

“Of course, Your Highness.” Bree nodded and ran along.

We ate quietly at first, I saw my father and mother stealing glances at each other, a serious look on their faces. They needed to tell me something, I knew that looked all too well. Dad cleared his throat and made eye contact with me.

“I’m thinking of taking your mother to go visit your sister as she couldn’t come down anymore,” Dad picked up his knife and fork and slowly cut his steak.

“I see, when do you plan on leaving?” I knew they must miss my sister, the moment she met her mate she moved away with him and became his Luna.

“I was thinking we’d leave tomorrow night. It’s a last-minute plan,” Dad explained. I could tell by the look on his face that he was a little hesitant to leave. It’s been three years since I took over yet I could tell he had some doubts about it as if he wasn’t the one who pushed me to become king early.

“I know how to run the kingdom, you wouldn’t have to worry about it,” I said in an annoyed tone, stabbing a piece of the steak with my fork.

“It’s not the kingdom I have issues with, it’s your behavior towards Amira, son,” his tone matched mine. Before I could even say anything Bree came rushing back with the tray of food untouched.

“Your Highness, Amira isn’t in her room or the balcony or library,” Bree said worriedly and out of breath.

“What?!” My mother threw her napkin on the table and was walking away already.

My father's panicked voice echoed through the grand dining room as he frantically called Amira's name again and again, each call seemingly more urgent than the last. I rolled my eyes, certain that this was just another one of her melodramatic stunts to get attention. But as I watched the rest of my family and the staff run around in a frenzy, searching for her, a sinking feeling crept into my stomach. Something wasn't right. She would’ve at least picked up his several phone calls.

I tried to eat my dinner, but every bite felt like lead in my stomach. My parents’ frantic calls continued to ring out through the halls, and soon the entire castle was in chaos as everyone searched for Amira. I couldn't take it anymore. I decided to go help and saw my father standing by the front door, arguing with the guards.

“Is everything ok?” I assumed she must’ve gone on the roof somewhere. I knew she’d often sneak out and go there, it was probably peaceful there and somewhere she thinks I don’t know of. I however have watched her on the roof many times, watching as she went on with her peaceful life and filled my heart with hatred.

“No, Nikolas, these guards are telling me they haven’t seen Amira since this morning,” Dad pointed to the guards who held their position at the front entrance, I could tell the guards were all worried and scared and it wasn’t for Amira, it was for their lives, they feared to get the blame in all of this.

One guard said, panting as he ran to us, “Your Highness, last I saw Miss Amira she had been with King Nikolas.”

“Nikolas, what did you do this time?” Dad raised his voice and narrowed his eyes at me. I looked over at the guard, he was near the gate. I remember because he was staring at Amira and me when we fell down. Damn snitch.

“She hasn’t returned?” It just dawned upon me, I was the last person to see her, I had always had an issue with her, and the last time we spoke I told her to get out of my sight. Whatever happened tonight, I will get the blame for it. In fact, I think I already carry the blame.

“No, Your Highness, after she spoke to you king, she left through the back gate and hadn’t returned,” the guard explained, trembling in his voice.

“You let her go out alone?” I asked annoyedly, running my fingers through my hair. Going out alone was one thing, into the forest was another.

“Well-” the guard stuttered.

“Nikolas, I swear to the moon goddess if something happens to-” Dad attempted to pull me closer to him when that failed he instead came closer to me, staring me in the eyes as he was about to finish his threat.

“I’ll find her, Father. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to bring your precious Amira back home,” I pushed past him and tapped the guard’s shoulder to walk with me. I never understood why he cared so much about Amira. Life was perfect until one day he brought her into the castle and told us to treat her with the same respect we had for each other, that she was like family, but I swore since the day she came into our castle she had brought nothing but bad luck- at least to me. I wanted her gone since day one, yet here I am running to look for her.

“Tell me where you last saw her,” I ordered the guard. He nodded and started to walk faster, leading me through the pebbled path.

I followed the guard. I sighed when he stopped at the back gate, from now on I’d make sure to put guards on the outside as well. I stared at the forest, her sugary-amber scent was faint but I could track it into the depths of the forest, but there was no Amira.

Amira couldn’t be lost, could she? She’s supposed to know this place like the back of her hand, I knew she was here often too. I hadn’t told her or anyone about the number of times I’d seen her sneak here. I never said anything because at the end of the day, she always found her way home. Tonight wasn’t supposed to be any different.

“King Nikolas, you might want to see this.” One of my guards lifted his hand. I rushed to him and looked down at the mud.

“Rogue’s footprints,” I muttered, their terrible scent powering over the faint scent of Amira. I saw four sets of big footprints and one smaller that was dragged away, no doubt that that was Amira’s. “Fuck.”

“Track them down, now!” I pointed to the first two guards close to me.

“You go back and have the beta contact pack Moon claw, the rogues went up their side of the border,” I then turned to the younger one behind me. He nodded and slowly began to walk away as if Amira wasn’t in possible danger. “What are you still doing here?!” I asked loudly, my voice roaring through the quiet night. He began to run, almost stumbling over as he shouted his apology.

“There’s no trace of blood so she should still be alive,” I assured myself.

When we arrived at the border the scent was neutralized, they finally masked their scents but it was too late now. I was sure they hid here, any other pack would’ve surely caught them by now.

“King Nikolas, I’ve had my people search for possible places the rogues may be hiding, here’s a map,” Alpha Caine pulled out a map, resting it on a rock. Good, he was prepared for this. When I looked at his map I noticed how large pieces of his territory were unattended. He marked five circles as potential places.

“That’s five places, all apart, is this how you run your pack?” I turned to him. Alpha Caine should’ve had fear in his eyes but instead, it was defeat and exhaustion. Like this had been something for years.

“King Nikolas, our population has been declining… We can’t cover everywhere and protect our people,” he explained and just then it hit me. I received their letter three years ago when I just took over. They sought our help but at the time I just became king and focused on other things. I assumed another person in the council would take care of Moon Claw. I was wrong and now it came to bite me in the ass.

“How many do you have to spare?” I changed the subject.

Caine scratched the back of his neck then said, “Two groups of three.”

I stared at the man in disbelief for a moment then just sighed. This was my fault, I should’ve looked after my neighboring packs better. “That’s not enough. There were four rogues, send those two groups as one to this location,” I pointed to the location closest to the border.

I only came here with six men of my own and whilst I knew more were coming I still didn’t want to wait. I wasn’t sure who these rogues were or what they wanted with Amira and that worried me. I sent my men to one location and went to another by myself.