Chapter 5
1118 Words
Nathan's POV
When I found out there was a party for Elena's birthday, and I wasn't invited, it bothered me more than it should have.
I told myself it was nothing, but I knew better.
But why would she push me away after I defended her?
Ragnar nudged at me insistently, restless and demanding. He wanted to be near her.
So I went.
I stayed outside the bar because I wasn't sure she'd be happy to see me. But at least I could watch from a distance.
Then I saw him, my half-brother, Ryan, emerging from the bar's side entrance with a satisfied smile on his face. He didn't notice me as he disappeared into the night.
What was he doing here?
I pushed the thought aside and entered the bar.
The music was loud, the air thick with celebration, but as I scanned the room, she was nowhere to be found.
Then I heard a scream.
I ran recklessly toward the sound, and the second I pushed the door open, my blood boiled.
Two drunk men had cornered her.
My vision went Red as I struck the first man with enough force that he crashed into the wall. The second lunged at me, and I slammed to the floor without mercy.
Then I turned to see her wide, tearful eyes. Her cheeks were also flushed from alcohol and fear.
“Are you okay?” I’d asked, unable to help myself as I brushed a strand of hair from her face. Her scent was doing something to me… when she suddenly tiptoed and kissed me.
I held her immediately and kissed her passionately….It felt so right until she pulled away.
“I... I didn’t mean to,” she whispered. “It was a mistake.”
A mistake?
That word sliced through my chest. Ragnar roared in pain. Our mate didn’t want us… It wasn’t enough that we couldn’t sense her wolf, and now this...
I swallowed my hurt and just walked away before she could see how much it destroyed me.
***
The next day, she wasn’t at school.
At first, I thought she was avoiding me again. But as the hours passed and no one saw her, something didn’t feel right.
I found her best friend in the library. “Have you seen Elena?” I asked.
Sophia looked up from her notes. “No. She hasn’t answered her messages either.”
My stomach tightened, and I couldn’t focus for the rest of the day.
As I left the library, I caught sight of Lisa sneaking around the eastern wing, whispering into her phone. I stayed in the shadows and listened.
“Yes, I told Luna Victoria,” she whispered. “She deserved to know that Elena kissed him, and of course, she lost it.”
My jaw clenched.
“Yeah, Luna Victoria said she had some rogues take her last night. Don’t worry, no one saw… and by the time they are done with her, she will be a shadow of herself.”
I moved before I could think, “Where is she?” I snarled, grabbing Lisa’s arm.
She shrieked. “Nathan…”
“Where is Elena?”
“I…, I don’t know. I only informed your mom about the kiss. That’s all!” she begged, trembling in my grip.
“Pray that nothing happens to her,” I snarled, “because if anything happens to her....”
I released her and stormed home.
My mother, Luna Victoria, was sitting in the garden, calm as ever, sipping tea. When she saw me, her expression didn’t change.
“Where is she?” I demanded.
“Excuse me?” she raised her eyebrow.
“Don’t play dumb. You had her taken.”
Victoria sighed, “Oh, that,” she murmured before setting her teacup down. “She’s a threat to your future, Nathan. She tried seducing you, and I decided to protect you, so where’s my thank you?”
“You’re unbelievable, Mom! To protect me, you would kidnap someone else’s child?”
She rolled her eyes. “She is just a weak, wolfless orphan that no one cares about. She is a flea that can be easily crushed,” she said, easily snapping her fingers.
Anger surged through me as Ragnar itched to confront my mother. But it would be disastrous if she found out that the girl in question is my mate.
I shook my head, “Where is she? Where have you kept her?” I yelled, clenching my fists.
My mother’s eyes narrowed. “You’re becoming unnecessarily emotional. Nathan, is there something you-”
“I swear, if you don’t tell me where she is,” I cut her off, “I will leave this pack and abandon my birthright.”
Her eyes widened in shock, as her lips parted slightly, but I wasn’t done. “… and Ryan will become Alpha.”
The color drained from her face. There was a long pause before she gave a slow, bitter smile.
“Fine. She’s at Odaka’s warehouse outside the southern woods.
I didn’t waste time. I grabbed Owen, and we raced to the place in our wolves. We shifted back when we arrived, but the first thing we noticed was that the place was quiet.
Then the stench of blood hit us instantly.
I kicked the door open, my stance battle-ready with my wolf close to the surface.
"Nathan…" Owen's voice called out as we moved deeper into the warehouse. "There's so much blood."
My heart hammered against my ribs as I scanned the c*****e.
Three dead bodies, broken chains, and her torn blouse on the floor, stained with blood.
I picked it up with trembling hands, and her scent hit me immediately.
I collapsed to the ground as Ragnar howled inside me, a sound of pure agony tore through my very soul.
We'd lost our mate.
Through my grief, I brought the blouse closer to my face, and Ragnar suddenly went still.
The scent. It was hers, yes, but the blood…
The blood wasn't hers.
Did she fight back?
Still lost in thought, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I almost ignored it, but something made me pull it out.
I stared at the screen, my breath caught in my throat.
Elena: Hey Nathan, I'm really sorry about last night. I shouldn't have kissed you.
My hands trembled as I read the text again. And again.
I looked around the warehouse again. At the c*****e. At the claw marks ripped across the rogues' throats. At the sheer brutality of it all.
And then back at the innocent text on my screen.
How did she...
This doesn't make sense.
What really happened here?
- Writer
