Chapter 48 48
Aurélie POV
“Your mate?” I asked through the mind-link.
“Yes. I can smell her,” Fabrice replied. “Her scent is here in the house. It’s new.”
“What does it smell like?” I drew in a slow breath, but all I caught was Damien’s familiar scent sweet, dark leather.
“Lemon drizzle cake…”
“Lemon drizzle cake?” I laughed silently through the link.
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “Something lemony, with a hint of sugar.” I felt his embarrassment even before his voice warmed with it.
Shouldn’t I feel jealous? Yet I didn’t not even a flicker. Not like the visceral, volcanic jealousy that had erupted when Geneviève touched Damien’s shoulder. Back then, my wolf had screamed for blood, for bone, for the chance to twist her wrist until it snapped.
That wasn’t fear of losing Damien.
That was hatred pure and undeniable. My wolf mistaking disgust and loathing for jealousy.
“Each of my allied Alphas has been informed,” Damien announced as he entered the room, followed by Lucas and Theo. “They’ll report any unusual activity immediately.”
The interruption severed my link with Fabrice.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, studying my face.
“Nothing,” I said evenly. “Do you have someone new here?”
“Only Florence. She’s on loan from the Saint Wolf pack helping Denise around the Alpha house.”
“The Saint Wolf pack?” I rose to my feet, stunned. I’d been certain Alpha Quentin had cut all ties with Bloodnight. I’d made sure of it. So why send assistance now?
“You stole some of their people,” Geneviève cut in as she entered, rolling her eyes. “It’s the least they could do.”
My blood heated the moment her heels clicked across the floor.
“Do you want to meet her?” I asked Fabrice through the mind-link.
“No,” he answered immediately. “Not now.”
“Then it’s time to leave.” I stood, extending my hand to Delphine. “We’ll head back to our pack. If you hear anything, you notify us immediately.”
“You’re leaving?” Damien stepped toward us. “I can help. Let me help…” His voice dropped at the end.
“Damien, if she wants to go, let her,” Geneviève scoffed, draping herself against the edge of his desk. “Why should we waste our resources on the enemy’s lost boy?”
She was vile.
“He isn’t lost,” Fabrice snarled. “He was stolen.”
“Whatever.” She waved a dismissive hand, as if Dominique’s life were a trivial detail.
“Stay one night,” Damien said firmly. “If anything comes in overnight, you’ll know instantly. If not, you won’t hear until morning and by then, it could be too late to act.”
I hesitated. I never imagined I’d return to this place let alone sleep here again.
Fabrice shrugged, leaving the decision in my hands.
“You can use your old rooms,” Damien added. They still have” His jaw tightened, a deep breath catching in his chest. “You can share them. The three of you.”
“I don’t know…”
“I’ll have clothes brought up for Delphine.”
The ground beneath my feet felt unstable, memories clawing their way to the surface.
“Very well,” I finally said. “One night.”
“Geneviève,” Damien ordered, “tell Denise and Florence to prepare the room.”
Her glare followed me as she left. Speaking to servants was clearly beneath her.
Sleep never came. It couldn’t not without Dominique near me.
Delphine slept beside me. Fabrice insisted on continuing the search after settling her, taking the floor once he finished. Miss Lambert and the warriors were housed in spare pack homes, and I sent word back to Darkvale explaining our overnight stay.
At some point, I rose and went downstairs, needing to know if Fabrice had found anything new.
I found him slumped over the kitchen table, asleep beside his laptop. It was nearly 3 a.m. He’d pushed himself too far again.
“Fabrice?” I murmured, brushing his arm.
“Mmm?” he groaned.
“Go to bed.”
A floorboard creaked behind me.
I spun to find a young woman in the doorway.
“I’m sorry, Alpha I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she said softly.
Florence.
“You haven’t,” I said, trying again to wake Fabrice, gently moving hair from his temple.
A low growl warned from behind me.
My hands lifted instantly in peace. “I meant no harm.”
“Have you spoken to him?” I asked her.
“No.” Her cheeks flushed as she looked down. “I’ve been avoiding him.”
“Yet you couldn’t sleep,” I said gently. She hovered in the house at night, aching for a glimpse of him.
“I can make you some hot milk,” she offered.
I accepted. Comfort felt distant these days. I hadn’t eaten properly since Dominique was taken surviving on instinct alone.
Fabrice refused to move, so I let him sleep and turned to shut the laptop.
A new email had arrived at 2:39 a.m.
Unread.
I opened it.
Come alone.
An address followed.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs.
I discreetly pulled out my phone and photographed the screen.
This could be where Dominique was.
I had to go.
I crept upstairs, lifted Delphine carefully from the bed, and carried her down. Florence watched silently as I settled Delphine across two chairs, her legs resting on Fabrice’s lap. He would wake, see her, know she was safe.
She was safe with him.
“Florence,” I whispered, “when Fabrice wakes, tell him I went to the address in the email. I’ll contact him as soon as I know more.”
“Alpha…” Her head shook. “This isn’t wise.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said gently. “Tell him not to let Delphine out of his sight.”
She followed me into the hall. “You can’t go alone.”
“Someone gave an address it could be my son. If we both go, Delphine is alone. I can’t let that happen.” Tears burned. “Please.”
Her eyes widened in fear. “As soon as he wakes… I’ll have to tell him. And the Alpha.”
I was already heading for the door.