Chapter 39 39
Aurélie POV
“Daddy!”
Delphine launches herself toward Fabrice, her small arms flinging wide. He looks disheveled dirty, tense, clearly having come straight from the field.
“Hello, Princess,” he says, forcing a smile as he catches her. “I need to have a quick word with Mummy and Théo. Can you go and play upstairs for me?”
“No.”
The refusal is instinctive, fierce.
“She stays close,” I say immediately. “Miss Lambert?” I call.
Miss Lambert hurries toward us at once. “Alpha?”
“Could you take Delphine for a few minutes?” I ask gently. “I won’t be long. You’ll need”
“The warriors are still here,” she interrupts with a disapproving huff. “They’ve decided to raid the kitchen.”
She tuts as she lifts Delphine from Fabrice’s arms and escorts her inside, just as Théo and the other Head Warriors stride through the front door.
“I’ll make some more refreshments!” Miss Lambert calls over her shoulder as we head back into my office.
The door shuts behind us.
“Did you find anything, Fabrice?” I ask desperately as I drop into my chair, no longer caring how strained my voice sounds.
“I found two dead police officers hidden in the nearby woods,” he says gravely. “Whoever did this killed them for their vehicle. My guess is they attempted to pull the SUV over, but our men refused.”
“Did you report the bodies?” Théo asks, already jotting notes alongside the others.
“I did anonymously. It can’t be traced back to us. But there’s more.” Fabrice’s jaw tightens. “They were stripped of their uniforms.”
“So they used both the vehicle and the uniforms to impersonate police,” I say sharply. “To force the car to stop.” My hands curl into fists. “Why go to such lengths?”
“What a mess,” Théo mutters.
“I found remnants of their clothing,” Fabrice continues. “Judging by the state of it poorly kept I’d say rogues.”
“Why would rogues take a future Alpha?” I challenge. “They have no quarrel with us.”
It’s true. I’d always allowed rogues to resettle within Darkvale, provided they adhered to our laws. Several had found chosen mates, integrated fully, and built lives within our pack.
“Alpha,” Théo says carefully, “if they’re hired soldiers criminals for pay then the real question is who hired them.”
“Contact all our allied packs,” I order without hesitation. “But do not raise the alarm about Dominique. I don’t want reckless heroes charging in and complicating this.”
They all look to me, listening intently.
“Tell them two of our men were attacked on human land. Evidence points to rogue involvement.”
I can already feel the ache spreading through my body the desperate need to hold Delphine, to hold Dominique.
“You have one hour,” I continue. “Then we meet back here. We work through the night. Use this time to freshen up. I’ll make sure food and drinks are brought in continuously.”
“I’ll ask Émilie to come help Miss Lambert,” Théo offers.
“Are you sure?” I look at him sharply. “She’s pregnant.”
“She’ll want to be here,” he replies. “Roland can keep Delphine occupied.”
I nod. “Yes. That’s a good idea.”
The Head Warriors file out, and Fabrice closes the door once Théo is the last to leave.
The moment we’re alone, I turn on him, my voice dropping into a snarl. “Do you think it’s him?”
“There’s no evidence,” Fabrice says calmly. “This could be another pack entirely”
“What other pack would care if I challenged his alliance?” I snap. “It has to be him, Fabrice. He would be that ruthless.”
The edges of my control begin to fray. My wolf hammers against me relentlessly, demanding I go. Demanding I find our son. My throat burns raw from screaming, from forgetting even to drink water.
“I need to go out,” I say hoarsely. “I’ll shift and search through the night”
“No, Aurélie.” His voice is firm. “It’s not safe.”
“Dominique is out there,” I scream, my hands clenching painfully. “Alone. And scared!”
He grabs my wrists, holding them fast before pulling me against him.
“They won’t hurt him,” he says fiercely. “They need him alive. We will find him. We will bring him back.”
I break then my screams tearing free, muffled against his chest as my fists pound uselessly into him.
He doesn’t stop me.
He just holds me.
Always my shield. Always my anchor.
“I promise,” he murmurs into my hair. “We’ll find him.”
By the time night fully settles, we’ve abandoned the office. The operation has expanded into the kitchen. Maps now cover the walls, pinned and layered over one another. Laptops sit on every free surface, glowing screens filling the room with cold, relentless light.
And we work.