Chapter 31 Derek Returns
It had been a grueling journey. The captured rogue, the one they hoped would provide answers, had been nothing but trouble. Derek had taken him to a secluded hideout, deep in the woods where there was no communication, ensuring their presence stayed off the grid. But it hadn’t gone as expected. Days passed with the rogue taunting them, refusing to reveal any information, as if he was more fearful of his own master than he was of Derek himself.
Inside the dimly lit room, Derek stood across from the rogue, his gaze cold and unforgiving. His Beta, Alex, watched from the corner, arms crossed and tense, as Derek leaned in, his voice low and menacing.
“You’re only making this harder on yourself,” he said in a cold voice.
“Who sent you.”
The rogue sneered. “You can tear me apart, but you won’t get anything from me.”
Derek stepped closer. “Do you think I’ll hesitate to force the answers from you?”
The rogue’s mouth twisted into a defiant smirk. “I don’t care. There are still others out there waiting to strike. And your precious Luna…” He paused, savoring the tension in Derek’s eyes. “Well, you might want to keep her closer.”
Derek’s patience snapped, and his fist shot forward, connecting with the rogue’s face. Blood smeared his knuckles, and the rogue spat out more, laughing at him. Derek straightened, disgusted, and signaled to Alex with a curt nod.
“I’m done with him,” he said coldly. “End it.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Alex’s tone was resolute as he approached the rogue.
Frustrated, Derek stormed out of the room, the rogue’s ominous words echoing in his mind. Whoever was pulling the strings had real power, enough to keep their followers silent under any threat. And now, with days lost and no valuable information gained, Derek had no choice but to return to Ella, uneasy and exhausted.
Derek’s body ached from days of tireless pursuit. His clothes were travel-worn, his face shadowed with exhaustion, and his eyes dark from lack of sleep. But beneath it all was an eager anticipation, a drive to see her safe and close.
Derek strode into the hospital, a mixture of relief and impatience surging through him. He was eager to see Ella after days away on an important mission. He’d missed her more than he’d like to admit, the thought of her lingering in his mind through the long hours and relentless pursuit. He had made a promise to protect her, especially after seeing her life threatened twice already, and he couldn’t rest until he was sure she was safe.
As he approached the hallway leading to Ella’s ward, a strange unease settled over him. The silence felt wrong, too heavy, and Leo, his wolf, stirred anxiously inside him. With each step, his instincts screamed at him to move faster. He reached out through the mind link, trying to contact his soldiers, but received nothing back—just an unsettling silence.
As he rounded the corner, he finally spotted them: Jake and Greg, two of his best, slumped outside Ella’s door, seemingly asleep. Dread pooled in his stomach as he moved closer, the sight of the half-empty coffee cups in their hands triggering alarm. He crouched down, shaking them, but they were unresponsive, breathing slowly as if under some kind of spell.
Heart racing, Derek shoved open the door to Ella’s ward. The bed was empty, the sheets rumpled. For a moment, he just stood there, the shock freezing him in place, every fear he’d suppressed on his journey rushing to the surface.
He took a few unsteady steps back, his breath coming in sharp bursts, a rage building so strongly within him that it shook his core. His Beta, Alex, appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening at the sight of the empty bed.
“Alpha…” Alex said cautiously, sensing the storm building within Derek. “I just found two of our soldiers in bad condition down the hall, near the exit.”
Derek pushed past him, his mind already spinning with questions and accusations. Outside the ward, his gaze fell once more on Jake and Greg, who remained unconscious, and he clenched his fists.
“Find out exactly what happened here. I want every detail,” he ordered, his voice cold and lethal.
“Yes, Alpha,” Alex responded, bowing before moving quickly to obey.
Following his instincts, Derek traced his steps down the hall, where two more of his soldiers lay wounded. The hallway bore signs of a struggle, with scuff marks and splatters of blood streaking the floor. He crouched down, inhaling deeply, catching the unmistakable scent that sent a surge of fury through him: vampires.
The marks on his soldiers’ necks confirmed his suspicion. Vampires had been here, likely a small but efficient force, moving quickly to strike. He examined the area, noting how fresh the scent was. The attack hadn’t been long ago, and he’d narrowly missed it.
His chest tightened as he struggled to contain his anger. The thought of Ella in the hands of their enemy was a searing wound, an unbearable pain that fueled his rage. He quickly activated the mind link, reaching out to Alex and a handful of others.
“They haven’t gone far. Track their scent and bring her back, no matter what it takes. The wounded soldiers need immediate attention. Get them to the pack's hospital.”
“Understood, Alpha. We’re on it,” Alex responded, already moving into action.
As his warriors sprang into action, Derek followed the faint trail of the vampires himself. The scent led him through the hospital grounds and toward the edge of the woods, but then, abruptly, it vanished. It was as though they had disappeared into thin air.
Standing at the edge of the forest, the night air cold against his skin, Derek could no longer contain the overwhelming emotions tearing through him. He tilted his head back, his entire body tensed as a powerful, guttural growl escaped him, echoing through the trees. It was a sound of pure, unfiltered rage and despair, a promise of vengeance.
“I’m coming for you, Ella. I swear it,” he whispered fiercely, his voice low and resolute.
The night around him was thick with silence, but his wolf’s determination surged within him, giving him strength. He would tear apart every vampire who had dared to lay a hand on her, and he would leave no stone unturned until she was back safely by his side.
Derek’s fists clenched as he mentally steeled himself for the task ahead, a fierce resolution settling over him. He knew that this would not be the end, that he would not rest until every last vampire was dealt with. The war had only just begun, and he would ensure that his enemies would regret ever crossing him.