The Betrayed Luna's Three Alpha Mates

4. FINDING HER

BRANDON

I sat alone in my car with the engine humming idly, while I was feeling very restless and frustrated. Despite my best efforts to concentrate on my duties as Alpha Prince, my thoughts kept returning to her, my mate.

The memory of that incredible night we shared was etched into every fiber of my being, and as weird as it was, I missed her with an intensity that was both maddening and exhilarating.

Bryan, my wolf, and I had not stopped thinking about her since the night we saw her, and the only thing on my mind was finding her, no matter how slim the chances were.

My blood began to boil all over again whenever I remembered how we had met, and the thought that she could be in such a situation again while I was not with her to protect her made me feel like I was going insane with rage and heartache.

The worst part was that I did not even get her real name. She had mentioned a name, but that had obviously been a lie, and I regretted not pushing for her real name instead of letting it go.

The one thing I was certain of was her age. I remembered clearly that we did not find out we were mates until the clock struck midnight, and knowing that could only have happened if she had turned twenty-one at the time, I easily guessed her age and realized she might not be familiar with how mating works.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I thought about my next move. There had to be some way to track her down.

The image of her auburn hair and the fiery red strands that I loved combing through haunted me, and the memory of her bright hazel eyes, which made her appear innocent and enchanting, added to my longing for her. I couldn't simply let her slip through my fingers.

After making up my mind, I started the engine and drove back to the bar where we had first met.

It was a popular spot that was very much frequented by werewolves from every region of the city. If there was any clue at all that could lead me to her, this was the only place I could find it.

As I pushed open the door, I was greeted by the familiar dimness of the bar. When I first walked in, most of the customers did not seem to notice my presence, but as I got closer, they seemed to notice my strong scent, and, unsurprisingly, they could not stop staring at me.

I approached the bar, ignoring the stares, and asked the first bartender I saw if she happened to be on duty the night I met my mate. She replied that she wasn't, but pointed me in the direction of the next bartender, who she said was working that night.

"What can I do for you, sir?" the bartender asked, bowing his head slightly to show respect.

"I'm looking for someone. She was here two nights ago." I began, not hiding my impatience.

"Can you describe who you’re looking for? I can’t assure you that I’ll know who it is you’re talking about since we get a lot of customers here, but I’ll do my best to recall anything I can."

"Early twenties, slim figure, auburn hair, and bright hazel eyes. Does anyone come to mind?" I asked.

He appears deep in thought for a while before responding. "I believe I served someone who fits that description, sir."

"Do you have a name for me?" I questioned, pushing a few dollar bills on the table to jog his memory.

"Unfortunately, sir, I can't help you with that,” he replied. "But I overheard her talking to her friends that night, and she mentioned something about a family with the last name, Lancaster. That's all I know."

I couldn’t be certain that his intel would lead me to her, but I didn’t mind turning the city upside down in search of anyone with that last name.

After leaving the bar, I stepped back into my car, thinking of where to start my search.

I knew every nook and cranny of this city as the Alpha Prince, and there was no pack I could not find, no matter how far and insignificant, and I was willing to travel to the ends of the Earth to find my mate.

After thinking for a while, I dialed my right-hand man, Torres. His voice answered after just a few rings, with a tone of readiness in his response. "Prince Brandon, how may I assist you?"

"Torres," I said, my words clipped and focused, "I need you to find out everything you can about the Lancaster family and which pack they belong to."

There was a brief pause on the other end as Torres processed my request. "Understood, Your Highness. I'll get on it right away."

I hung up and clenched my jaw, my thoughts racing as I sped down the empty streets. Torres would come through, I had no doubt.

Torres' phone call came through minutes later. His voice was steady, and I knew he had something for me.

"According to my sources, Prince Brandon, the Lancaster family is associated with the Blue Moon Pack, located up north. They are a small pack residing after the Big Forest," he explained, much to my delight.

Without hesitation, I thanked Torres and disconnected the call. The Blue Moon Pack

I knew exactly where I needed to go, and with no time to waste, I headed up north, determined to find her no matter what.

****

DENISE

I'd been crying alone in my room for hours, making sure not to step foot outside my room to avoid running into anyone.

The sky had turned slightly dark, and the night was growing quiet, with only the sound of the wind giving me a bit of peace, and I wanted nothing more than for sleep to wash over me.

My eyes were puffy and heavy, which made it difficult for me to get some sleep, and just as I was starting to finally fall asleep, the door to my room burst open, jolting me out of my sleepiness.

Unfortunately, it was Sage who barged in, her face twisted with anger. "What do you think you’re doing, Denise?" she snapped.

"How dare you think you can get any sleep right now? I asked you to do my laundry hours ago, and here you are, all cozy in bed like some princess who needs her beauty sleep. Are you out of your mind?" She hissed, the disdain in her eyes evident.

I blinked at her, irritated by her audacity. How dare she invade my personal space and try to order me around like I was her servant? I rubbed my temples, trying to gather enough strength before responding.

"Listen, Sage," I said, my voice tired. "I get that you’re determined to get on my nerves, but I’m in no mood to deal with your shenanigans right now, and I'm exhausted. I've had a tough day, and I just want to get some rest. So please, get out of my room," I said, trying to keep my calm.

She scoffed, her lips curling into a sneer. "Tough day? You think you're the only one with problems, Denise? I’m having problems too, you i***t. Do you think it’s easy to prepare for a wedding and for a new role as Luna?" She replied, obviously trying to mock me.

"You can go ahead and deal with your problems while I deal with mine, Sage. Just please do it outside my room," I demanded.

"I don't care about your problems or your excuses, you b***h! You're here to serve me, and you will do whatever I say without questions," she responded insistently.

My annoyance grew. She needed to understand that I wasn't her personal maid just because she was now the alpha's daughter and the pack’s innocent princess.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure.

"I'm not your servant, Sage, and I’m not here to serve you," I replied, my voice steady. "I might have lost my title as a princess, but that doesn't make me your personal servant. Now, get out of my room!"

Sage's eyes narrowed, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "You will do as I say," she hissed, taking a step closer to me.

"In this house, in this pack, I'm the one in charge, and you'll obey me because you’re a nobody now. Is that understood?" she demanded, earning an eye roll from me.

"If you’re done trying to make yourself feel important, get out!" I responded, lying back down to get some sleep.

Annoyed that I didn’t pay her any mind, Sage lunged forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of bed. I stumbled, my legs weak from exhaustion, but I refused to let her get the better of me.

I wrenched my arm free from her grasp, my voice rising in anger.

"Let go of me, Sage!" I shouted, trying to get her away from me.

But Sage didn’t bulge, and the next thing I knew, she slapped me across the face, the sharp sound echoing in the room.

Pain shot through my cheek, and I almost couldn’t believe it. I raised my hand to touch the stinging mark, my blood boiling at Sage’s audacity.

"You will regret that," I said, my voice low and furious.

"No, Denise. You’re the one who’ll regret ever thinking you were better than me," she sneered.

"Servants!" she called out, her tone cold and commanding. "Drag this good-for-nothing w***e out of this house immediately," she ordered, much to my shock.

"What do you think you’re doing?" I demanded.

"Kicking you out like the dog you are," she answered.

I heard the shuffling of feet outside my door, and my heart sank. I was outnumbered, surrounded by my servants, now Sage’s, who would do her bidding without question.

Panic gripped me as I realized what was happening. I fought back with all my strength, pushing Sage away from me. But she was relentless, and with the help of the servants, they overpowered me.

"No! Stop!" I pleaded, my voice desperate.

Despite my cries, they dragged me toward the door. I grasped at anything I could, trying to find something to hold on to. But there was nothing, and I was being pulled further away from the only place I had ever called home.