THE SAVAGE ALPHAS AND THEIR LUNA THIEF

CHAPTER 3: OUR LITTLE THEIF

HARRY

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Never in a million years, did I think I would come face to face with Verena or was that a lookalike? She looked different - emaciated and smaller. She also didn't look like she recognised us.

Through our bond, I felt my brothers shaken to the core, and that's saying something considering our youngest, Bax, was never one to be fazed. Still, I couldn't think about that now, so I slipped back into Alpha mode, and sent my authority down the bond to reassure them.

“Did you just see what I saw?” Duke turned to us.

“Yes.” I said, “but we can't focus on that now. The amulet is gone and that's a very serious issue. We need to go after her and ask questions later.”

“But-” Duke pressed.

“Later, Duke.”

I had already given orders to my men to lock down the estate and search every perimeter. Leaving the room and pulling up the video feed, I was able to see how Verena's lookalike got in and disabled our security system.

I checked other footage of how she entered our estate in the first place and for the life of me, none of the security cameras picked up anything. This girl was not just good but dangerous. I spent millions making this place an impenetrable fortress and a girl smelling like honey and butter was able to get in so easily?

Right under our noses?

Then I remembered how she flipped me off with her middle fingers before falling out the window. She was so cocky, so sassy, so…sexy.

HARRISON SALVATORE! FOCUS!

I heaved a deep breath and ran a hand through my hair. Later on, I joined in the search, and after hours, long after the sun had risen, we came up with nothing. Not even a trace. It's like she disappeared the same way she came, and I am tempted to think someone sold us out.

“That's impossible.” Duke said, folding his arms defensively while sitting at the kitchen table. It was his job to vet our security team, and I understand that my statement may have been insulting, but still.

“It doesn't mean one of them couldn't be bought. We all know who we're dealing with.”

“You think Dominic is the one who sent her?” Bax finally spoke up.

I sighed and scratched my head. Dominic Tarrent was our worst enemy, and we had been fighting against him for the longest time. “Well, he's been after that amulet for years.” I said, “It makes perfect sense for him to send her.”

“Could he also be responsible for the Alpha King's assassination?” Duke asked. “They said he was killed by a girl.”

“But why her and how?” Bax asked, absentmindedly rolling a switch knife through his fingers. “Verena has been dead for a long while now. How is she still alive?...I can't wrap my mind around it!”

“Me neither.” I replied, I could tell from our bond that he was genuinely frustrated.

“She might just be a lookalike?” Duke nodded to himself and to us.

“That makes sense.” Bax replied. “But coming for that amulet is too much of a crazy coincidence.”

I watched my brothers talk back and forth about her. They seemed to have forgotten the part where she smelt like the sweetest thing on earth, making my wolf yearn for her.

Or was it just me?

Shaking my head, I decided to keep that thought on a back burner. “Guys, we have bigger fish to fry. The King is dead, and we need to find who killed him. We also need to find that amulet. It can't get into the wrong hands.”

“I wished I had put a tracker on that thing.” Duke muttered to himself. He was the kind to obsess over the smallest mistake and assume all the blame. I got closer and patted his shoulder.

“We'll get her and that amulet back. Bax, what's your report?” I turned to him.

“An APB is out all across the country. I also put a bounty on her head for whoever brings her in alive and unhurt.” There was a way he said those words that would make any ordinary man run for the hills. Bax might be the quietest of us all but he was also the deadliest.

“Good. Duke, I want you to go through that footage again. If someone sold us out, it might be the key to finding her.”

Duke nodded. “And what about the murderer case? We have to deal with that, too.”

“I'll take on the case. In fact, I am expecting a picture from the Royal Guard along with her file. Once I have it, I'll know where to start.”

“What about our girls?” Bax asked, and I froze.

Shit! Our girls - which meant our niece, Mira, and our mate, Sica - had been locked in a safe room ever since the incident occurred and haven't been allowed to come out yet.

I picked out my walkie-talkie and gave orders to their guards to have them released but to inform them that we were not to be disturbed. Mira would bite my head off at leaving her in for so long, and I really wasn't in the mood to put up with her tantrums.

I made a cup of coffee for all of us while we delved into work. To an outsider, we were an efficient machine but only I know how fractured we were and now with the amulet missing and a lookalike in the wind, I had the feeling this matter would destroy us if I don't take care of us.

●●●

We were already having brunch in our office when the picture of the girl who killed the king came in. I stood up and went to the fax machine, and when I saw her face, my heart dropped. The more I stared at her profile, the angrier I became.

Whether that's Verena or not, it's obvious that this girl was deadly and she was beginning to get on my nerves.

Walking back to the table, my brothers were already alert to the switch in my mood.

“Is everything okay?” Duke asked, and I slammed the picture down on their tabel. The boys drew closer to look at it and their faces fell.

“Well, I'll be damned.” Duke said, staring at the drawing with haunted blue eyes. “Our little thief is also a killer.”