Where the broken howl

Chapter Sixteen

Lucian

It had been seven weeks since he had lost sight of her. Seven weeks of gnawing ache, of restless nights, and of tracking movements he couldn’t yet act upon. Each day weighed heavier than the last, the memory of the cliffs, the faint pulse of her Lycan beneath her skin, and the sparks of their bond haunting him relentlessly. She was alive, he knew that. But alone, trapped, and at the mercy of a pack that would crush her without hesitation.

Lucian stood at the edge of the forest, scanning the valley below. His warriors waited behind him, alert, muscles coiled, eyes sharp. But the moment had come for him to share what he had kept close to his chest until now. He motioned for his beta, Kaelen, to step forward.

Kaelen approached cautiously, reading the tension in Lucian’s posture. “What is it, Alpha?”

Lucian’s jaw tightened. “I found her. My mate.”

The words hung in the air like a blade. Kaelen’s eyes widened, shock and a tinge of awe crossing his face. For a moment, no one spoke, not even the forest. Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver.

“She’s alive,” Lucian continued, voice hard, unyielding. “But she’s being held by another pack. Mistreated, abused. And she’s far from safe. Every day she remains there, her strength, her Lycan, and her life are at risk.”

Kaelen swallowed, his jaw tightening. “And you’re going to—”

“Bring her back,” Lucian interrupted. “We move now. We plan, we act, and we get her before anyone realizes what’s coming. Every detail matters. Timing, stealth, precision.”

Gamma Taris stepped forward, expression guarded. “Alpha, you know this isn’t simple. That pack is strong. Their Alpha is—”

“I know,” Lucian said sharply. “We’ll make them think we’re dealing with rogue wolves. We’ll use scouts, cover our approach. No one knows we’re coming. No one.”

Kaelen’s brow furrowed. “And the risk to her? If they realize someone’s coming, it could make things worse.”

Lucian’s eyes softened, a flicker of the anger beneath tempered by concern. “We’ll send someone she trusts, a spy to shadow her. Not to act, just to make sure she knows help is coming. She might resist—it’s dangerous—but she’ll understand when the time is right. Survival first. Everything else after.”

Taris tilted his head. “And if she refuses? If she doesn’t listen?”

“Then she will have to trust me anyway,” Lucian said firmly. “It’s not about permission. It’s about keeping her alive. She’ll understand eventually. And if she doesn’t…” His jaw set hard. “We adapt. We adjust. That’s how we survive.”

Lucian crouched, scanning the valley below. “We split into three teams. Team One monitors their patrols and rotations. Team Two maps exits and blind spots. Team Three moves closest, ready to extract her when we locate her. Communication is silent, gestures and mind-link only. No mistakes.”

Kaelen nodded, tension evident in his posture. “And the scout to follow her?”

“I have someone in mind,” Lucian replied. “They will shadow her, unseen. Subtle. Let her know help is coming without panic. She’ll resist, try to hide, but it’s too dangerous for her to act alone.”

Taris’ lips pressed into a thin line. “Alpha, she’s delicate right now. Her body, her mind—they’ve been pushed to the limit. We can’t risk her realizing we’re near before the strike.”

Lucian’s gaze sharpened, burning with resolve. “Which is why every detail must be perfect. We move only when the moment is right. She senses us through the bond. The tether is faint, but it’s enough. And if she hesitates… we wait, and we adapt. We don’t fail.”

Kaelen exhaled slowly. “Understood. Ready to move on your signal.”

Lucian rose, shoulders squared. The ache of seven weeks apart pressed against his chest, but the certainty of action steeled him. Waiting had been unbearable; now was the time to act. To strike. To bring her back.

He turned his gaze toward the valley that held her, bruised, broken, and silenced by fear. He could feel her pulse, faint beneath her skin, and it steeled him further. Every muscle in his body tightened with purpose.

“This is it,” he muttered. “Time to bring her home.”