Lucien’s POV
The smell of blood assaulted me long before I came to the pack house—Lena’s blood, mingled with fear and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. I lept from the saddle while my horse was still in motion, running before I had even reached the ground.
"Report!" I snapped at the first guard I met.
“They took her, m’lord,” he panted as blood ran from a cut across his forehead. "Came out of nowhere. Marcus got up to try to stop them, but—"
"Where is Marcus?"
"Dead, sir. Along with three others."
The words were like actual punches to my body. Marcus had served my pack loyally for ten years. He had died trying to save my mate, and I hadn’t even been here beside him.
My wolf screamed with fury at the trespass on our territory, and I followed the scent to the gardens. But wh
