Chapter 7
+25 BONUS
Damian opened his mouth, but it took a long time before he managed to say something. His tone was dry, devoid of emotion.
He seemed to be trying to comfort himself, and perhaps convince Ethan.
“She…she’ll come back. She’s not a child anymore. She won’t get lost.”
Ethan’s eyes reddened, the mist of grief hardening into hatred. He suddenly grabbed Damian by the collar, his trembling
hands straining as his veins popped.
“It was Leo! I checked the flight records. They left together! The day after you took Vivian to Sanctum Peak!”
Ethan’s voice trembled even more; his grip tightened until Damian could barely breathe.
“Do you get it? She left with Leo! Don’t you know who Leo is, and why he’s joining that closed–door training?”
Damian was gasping for air, but couldn’t even bother to struggle. After the wave of fear and despair, he was left utterly lost.
How could he not know what Leo was up to?
That advanced Healer retreat… The list of names had passed through the Pack’s Elders‘ Council and through Damian himself
as Alpha.
Leo’s name was on that list.
And that training… It officially started just a few days after Seraphina left. It was clear where Leo had gone to. Damian staggered to his feet and stumbled for the door.
“I’ll go find her. I’ll bring her home… Tomorrow is Blood Oath Day. She has never missed a single festival.”
Ethan’s expression twisted in pain, his roar full of desperation.
“Why did you have to listen to Vivian? Why must you go to Sanctum Peak? We were supposed to go to Moonlight Forest after the Mating Ceremony! Seraphina had even prepared the tent and sleeping bags! If we had… If we had just gone there… Maybe then, Seraphina wouldn’t have left…”
However, Damian didn’t answer Ethan.
He had reached the bedroom door when Ethan’s anguished interrogation stopped him.
“Stop your act already! How long has it been since you really looked at Seraphina, Damian?!”
Damian froze.
His movements slowed to a crawl. After a while, he turned back, looking blankly at Ethan. “What about you? Aren’t you supposed to protect her, Beta? Did you ever check on her?”
Ethan’s anger and grief seemed to solidify in this moment. He slowly crouched down, covering his face with his hands, his
shoulders shaking fiercely,
