Chapter 75 CHAPTER 75
Alpha Reed stood at the center of Ethan’s study, shoulders squared, jaw clenched, eyes burning with a mix of worry and barely restrained fury. He was a tall man - broad-chested and weathered by time, though far from old. The lines in his face came not from age, but from a lifetime of responsibility. Reed was the kind of alpha every kingdom wished to have: steady, self-sufficient, grounded in nature, and loyal to a fault.
His pack, Red Valley, lived deep near the mountain forests - far from city noise, modern luxuries, and technological influence. They hunted their own food, grew their own crops, trained their warriors by hand, and relied on instinct rather than machines. Reed preferred it that way, and so did his people. They rarely needed assistance from the crown. In fact, Reed visited the palace only once a year - usually to pay respects, deliver a seasonal offering, or purchase simple necessities from the capital markets.
Never like this.
Never with fear in his eyes.
Never with urgency in his voice.
And certainly never with a request for help.
Liam had seen Reed face down rogue wolves twice his size without flinching. He had seen him walk through storms, stand his ground before elders, and settle disputes with a calm authority that commanded respect without effort. But today… Reed looked shaken.
Ethan sensed it immediately.
He stepped closer, posture straightening in quiet concern. “Alpha Reed,” he began gently, “tell us what happened. What brought you here so urgently?”
Reed inhaled a long, sharp breath. “Something has happened to my pack,” he said. His voice was low, steady - but the tightness beneath it was unmistakable. “Something I cannot explain. Something none of us have ever seen.”
Liam and Ethan exchanged a quick glance before Liam asked, “Is it an attack? Rogue wolves? Humans? Another pack?”
Reed shook his head. “No. It was no one we recognized. No pack. No wolves. No humans.” His gaze darkened. “What came for us was not natural.”
A cold silence filled the room.
Reed continued, “It happened three nights ago. The forest around our valley was quiet - too quiet. My night patrol reported no scents, no movement, nothing out of place. Then… something hit us.”
“Hit you how?” Ethan asked.
“It wasn’t claws or teeth,” Reed said, shaking his head. “It was… a force. A wave of something - dark energy, cold as ice. It swept through the entire valley. Every warrior on patrol felt it at once. Their strength vanished. Their knees buckled. They collapsed onto the ground like they’d been drugged.”
Liam straightened. “Spell work.”
Reed nodded once. “That’s what I fear. Even the elders - wolves who’ve lived decades without ever being brought to their knees - were struck helpless. And while we were incapacitated, we saw figures in the shadows. Tall shapes. Moving fast. They took six of our young men.”
Ethan inhaled sharply. “Six?”
Reed’s jaw tightened. “Six of my strongest. All between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six. They disappeared into the forest as quickly as they came. When the spell lifted, we tried tracking them. Their scents stopped abruptly at the riverbed. It was like they vanished into thin air.”
Liam felt the blood drain from his face.
The exact age range.
The same number pattern.
The same disappearance phenomenon.
Reed must have caught the change in their expressions because he narrowed his eyes. “You two know something,” he said. “You’re hiding something from me.”
Ethan did not look away. “Not hiding. But we have been investigating something similar. We believe we may know who took your young men.”
Reed stepped forward, voice rising. “Then tell me. Tell me their names and I will take warriors from Red Valley and retrieve my boys myself.”
Liam lifted a hand. “It’s not that simple. You cannot storm in. You won’t find them - not yet.”
Reed’s fury sharpened. “Why? Because you believe they’re dead?”
“No,” Liam said. “Because the ones who took them have hidden themselves. They’re witches.”
Reed blinked once, his expression turning stony. “Witches…?”
“Yes,” Liam said. “We’ve been tracking a pattern. There have been disappearances in the human realm - young men in the same age range. They vanish from parties with supernatural themes. Police can’t find them. Bodies don’t appear. Trails go cold.” He paused. “It matches what happened to your pack.”
Reed looked between them, absorbing the gravity of the situation. “So this is no isolated attack.”
“No,” Ethan said. “This is planned. Coordinated. And far bigger than just Silverpine or Mooncrest.”
Reed exhaled slowly, the weight settling on his shoulders like a stone. “If witches are taking my warriors… then tell me how to find them.”
Liam stepped forward. “We have one suspect. Sarah of Silverpine. She is tied to a witch collective - one responsible for the spell that nearly killed Silverpine’s future Alpha wolf. But we cannot bring her in. If she senses danger, she will self-destruct, and we lose the only thread connecting us to the witches.”
Reed’s nostrils flared in anger. “You’re telling me to do nothing?”
“No,” Ethan said firmly. “We’re telling you that this must be handled carefully. We will track them. We will retrieve your men. But if we push too soon, we lose our lead.”
Reed stood silent for a moment, breathing deeply through his nose. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer. Tired. “Those boys… their parents trust me. They trust me to keep them safe. I failed them.”
“You did not fail them,” Ethan said, stepping closer. “No alpha could withstand magic like that. And you came here because you refuse to let them stay lost. That is not failure. That is leadership.”
Reed swallowed hard. “Do you truly believe we can get them back?”
Ethan nodded. “Yes. Because we’re not treating this as just your fight. It’s a threat to the entire kingdom. Liam will coordinate investigations with the guards. I’ll send additional warriors to protect Red Valley.”
A flicker of relief crossed Reed’s face, though shadowed with grief. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I trust your judgment. And your resolve.”
Ethan offered a faint smile. “We’ll update you as soon as we have something.”
Reed nodded, then added quietly, “I heard… I heard your sister returned.” His eyes warmed faintly. “I didn’t get the chance to greet the princess the day she arrived. But I am glad for your family. Truly.”
Ethan’s expression softened. “Thank you, Reed.”
“When things calm,” Reed continued, “I will return formally. With a gift of honor. It’s long overdue.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Ethan said. “You’re welcome anytime. Please stay a few days in the kingdom. Rest before you go back – you might even end up meeting the princess during your stay.”
Reed bowed his head respectfully. “Then I’ll stay in the kingdom for a day or two. Freshen up. Rest. And then go back to my pack.” He turned to Liam. “And I welcome the warriors you send. My people will accept the king’s help with gratitude.”
Liam nodded. “I’ll arrange everything today.”
Reed took a final deep breath, then stepped backward toward the door. “Thank you - both of you. I pray the goddess guides us.”
When the door closed behind him, silence wrapped around the study.
Ethan sank slowly into his chair.
Liam remained standing, staring at the wooden door, jaw clenched in quiet fury.
After a long moment, Ethan whispered, “It’s beginning.”
And Liam could only nod.
The shadows were spreading.
And somewhere in those shadows….
six young warriors waited to be found.