His Missing Luna

CHAPTER 67

MALACHAI

THE CRAVERS

My eyes follow the hooded figure in the video as they work, digging at the exact spot where Rakiel had fallen. This person knew there were cameras around and came prepared. A black mask covers their face, and they ensure they don’t look up into the camera even once.

“He or she isn’t looking up,” Rakiel growls low, her fingers curling tightly into fists, her knuckles turning white.

We continue watching as the figure places a light flat sheet of wood over the ditch and covers it with dead leaves and sand. The person looks around and faces the camera for a second.

Gary pauses the video and zooms in on the face, but we can’t make out the color of their eyes. The distance between the camera and the person is too far, and it’s dark.

I pull back from the video, clenching my jaw in frustration, anger and fear. Engor rages inside me, both of us feeling the sting of failure again. There has to be something we’re missing. “Did you scent the place? Every creature has a scent.”

“It was masked,” Gary replies, frustration evident in his voice.

Rakiel drops her head on the table, groaning. “First the attack, and now this.”

I feel her frustration and fear flowing through our bond in sharp bursts, bringing back painful memories. The atmosphere in the room is thick with tension and the faint hum of machinery. I try to soothe her through the bond. “Calm down, my love.”

“I am trying,” her soft reply echoes in our bond, laced with a mixture of fear and determination.

“There’s something else we found at the site,” Gary mentions. “We found two foot trails. One went back into the forest, disappearing at the nearest riverbank.”

“And the other?” I ask, my heartbeat suddenly picking up, hoping for a clue.

“This is where it gets interesting,” his eyes look hesitantly at us. “The other continued until it got to where we assembled for the pack run.”

“So the person joined us after doing the deed?” Rakiel asks, her voice a mix of anger and disbelief.

“I believe so,” Gary replies. “We checked for clothes and found none.”

“Did you notice anyone join us after we had all gathered?”

“No,” he affirms, shaking his head.

Rakiel sighs heavily, her shoulders sagging with the weight of her thoughts. “I want to go back to bed.”

“Thanks, Gary,” I nod and help Rakiel up. The door to the tech room opens as we approach, and we walk out to the bows of the warriors. The minute we are outside, our link buzzes with thoughts.

“Do you think it’s her?” Rakiel is the first to speak, her voice tinged with suspicion.

“I wouldn’t put it past your sister,” I say, knowing Rissi can go to any length to remove her sister from my side. “She joined the gathering late. I hope for her sake she is not the one,” I truly hope so. Rissi is about to see what length I would go to punish anyone who dared to harm my mate.

Rakiel’s low growl reverberates through our link. “I hope she’s the one. I can finally have a reason to banish her.”

“First, we have to catch her.”

“And get her to confess. Rissi will never admit to her crimes unless we have hard evidence against her,” Rakiel knows her sister too well. Without evidenceagainst her, Rissi will continue wreaking havoc.

The next morning, pack members come to pay a visit to their Luna. News of what happened spread and everyone wanted to see how she fared. Everyone apart from Rissi and her friend, Maya.

Again, I have that suspicious feeling about Melanie's absence just like last night at the gathering. But, I put it aside. She and Rissi are as thick as thieves. It shouldn’t surprise me.

We attend to them in the throne room and I get to witness again the immense love, respect and support my mate receives from the pack. Right from the first day I introduced her as my mate and Luna, they accepted her.

My mood is totally spoiled when I see the line of men, filing into the room, decked in red from head to toe - the Cravers. My eyes glare hard at the group of magicians. Their presence a dark cloud over the place.

“Alpha King, Luna Queen,” they bow before us, sweeping their long red gowns away from their feet.

“Good morning,” Rakiel and I reply, our voices cold and formal.

“How are you feeling, Luna?” their leader, Singor, asks with a fake smile that barely hides his disdain.

“Like any queen would feel after escaping death,” Rakiel replies curtly, her eyes narrowing at him.

“We hope the culprit will be caught soon. Such a person must be punished by death for daring to do such an act on the Queen of the Silvercrest wolves,” Singor speaks with feigned concern, his eyes glinting with hidden malice.

“Why are you here?” I ask in a bored tone, crossing my arms. “My Luna and I have important things to discuss.”

“We apologize for taking your time. We only came to see the Luna and pay our respects to her,” another member says, his voice smooth but insincere.

“And also to ask why there are two strangers in our midst?” Singor inquires with a haughty look, his gaze sharp and probing.

Bloody magician, always putting their noses where they are not wanted.

“They are my guests, and I won’t be questioned about my decisions,” I say, my tone firm and unyielding. If there’s one thing I hate about these people, it’s their audacity to question my actions.

“We know you’re the king, we are only just wondering at seeing the new faces,” Singor says. “Please, accept our apologies if we sounded too forward.”

“Is that all?” I ask, my patience wearing thin. Their presence makes my skin crawl with disgust.

“The young alpha hasn’t found his mate…” Singor begins, his tone dripping with condescension.

Rakiel rises to her feet, her presence commanding and fierce. “I don’t see how that is of any importance to the Cravers.”

“It’s important to us, my queen, because the young alpha should be thinking of having pups. Without a mate…” Singor continues, undeterred.

“Enough,” I stop him in a soft tone, surprising even myself with how controlled it sounds. I know it’s soft because I am trying to hold back my anger at these fools. My eyes are already changing color as Engor rises to the surface. “Do not make me say it again. Leave,” my tone is softer than before, a dangerous edge to it.

“But…” Singor starts again, his arrogance knowing no bounds.

“I said enough!” my growl bounces hard against the walls of the throne room, the vibrations humming all over the place. I jump to my feet, my chest rising and falling in anger. “I warn you never to speak of my heir regarding his mate. He will find his mate when he finds her and won’t choose one.”

They are planning to do the exact thing they did to me years ago to Midriel. They can try, and I will tear them apart, limb by limb, damning their magical powers to hell.