The Opal Wolf

Chapter Eighteen

**Andrews POV**

It has been a long five days without my mate. Leaving her was the hardest thing I had to do, since we had spent the past almost two months by the other's side, only separating to do our duties for the pack. Visiting another Alpha to escort his warriors during a time of battle was one of my duties as well, but we only had a couple of days left to wrap this up and I would soon be able to hold my mate again. I missed her dearly. These last five days have helped me to reflect on our relationship at length though, and I knew after this battle was over, it was time to ask her the all-important question. I had picked the perfect ring already, taking an hour to myself from the Alpha meeting to pick it out. It was a two-carat tear drop diamond with a rose gold band, the best ring for the best Luna.

Just then, the weirdest feeling washes over me. It feels as though my link with Selene has been severed without fully being severed, almost if she has blocked me from her mind. Something is off and it doesn't sit well with me, anxiety and dread pounding in my head, screaming Danger! Mate is in danger! Just then, a slight fire licks through my veins, my solid clue that something is definitely wrong. I'd know that burn any were and that I am feeling it like this tells me that someone has poisoned Selene with wolfsbane. Rage flows through me at the audacity of this traitor and a deep set feeling sits in the pit of my stomach, telling me who it just might be.

It has to be him. Shane growls in my head. Who the f*ck else would have the guts to mess with her?!

I agree Shane. You saw how he looked at her when he first met her, he wants her!

But she is OURS!! He roars. We have to find her!

We will. Just then, The alpha of the Green Crystal pack bursts into my room, a wide look of fear plastered all over his face and panic deep in his eyes.

"Alpha Briggs." He begins. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your Luna is missing. She went for a run and they cannot locate her."

"Why did she go alone?!" I glower, trying to keep my temper in check. I was speaking to another Alpha after all and we don't take disrespect kindly, no matter the situation.

"Your Beta said it was because she was going to stay well within the boundary. They suspect she was lured out beyond the boarder as her scent leads past it. There was also evidence of a dark witch around where she went missing."

"What?"

"Yes..." He sighs. "Who ever is helping them is the reason her scent disappeared completely and more than likely how she was lured in the first. Dark witches have many devious tricks up their sleeves."

"I need to talk to my Beta." I state. He nods and leaves me to it.

Discussing with Erin when and how she went missing, a lot of what Alpha Owen had told me lining up, I also learn that a warrior who was some what near had heard someone calling out to Selene. He said the voice sounded just like mine, but he hadn't received the order to secure the boarder while I return, so he knew it was an illusion but by the time he had gotten back to where she was, she was gone, her scent gone with her. Selene hadn't had the chance to learn boarder protocol yet, so she would have fallen flat for the illusion, thinking it was me. Regret washes over me, feelings of failing her swimming in my head. I should have told her the protocols before I left, it never crossed my mind that they would make a move while I was gone, let alone one so stealthy. I am going to tear this f*****r apart when I get my hands on him, but first I need to get Selene back.

After I get off with Erin, I ready the five hundred warriors I am taking from Alpha Owen to leave for my pack. I tell them that once we get there, its a boots hit the ground running type situation as the enemy has taken the Luna to the Blue Crystal pack. I let them know that once I talk to the council to get the move granted, it will be a hunt to kill situation, not hunt to imprison. None of us take lightly on the enemy kidnapping a Luna, they are the heart of every pack and treasured by all. No, this will NOT stand!

"Now, when we get to the pack, you will all be debriefed on what my Luna, Selene looks like, what her wolf looks like and identify her scent." I begin. "No one, I repeat NO ONE is to move on her unless it is an absolute threat to her life, am I understood?" Yes Alpha rings through the crowd. "We don't know why they took her, whether it is to lure me out or to keep her for their own sick games, so I reiterate the importance of not moving on her until it is safe or she is at risk of dying already." I command in my Alpha tone. These wolves may not be a part of my pack but it was ingrained in them to listen to an Alpha, regardless of pack origin.

A half an hour later, despite my constant pestering to move faster, we are on the roads heading back to my pack and Shane is constantly clawing at my head. All he wants to do is shift and track her himself but we had to play this carefully as there is still the potential risk to her life. If we didn't work this right and it was just a plan to lure me out, she would be killed regardless to weaken me and it would all be for not. I could not have that!

Just then, my phone rings. Not even glancing at the caller ID, I immediately answer.

"What?" I growl in the receiver.

"Alpha, it's Erin." His voice is low.

"What's wrong?"

"We found a body, sir." My mind reels at those five words. If it was her, I would have felt it..... right? I should have been able to. Please Moon Goddess, don't let it be her.

"Who...?" I choke out.

"It's Daniel, sir. We had caught his scent about two miles past the boarders and tracked him for about a mile more but someone got to him before we did. Who ever killed him tore him apart, Drew. We almost didn't recognize him." Relief floods through me knowing that my mate is still alive, now the only thing we need is to find her and bring her home. I have to get back so I can put my paws to the dirt and track her down.

Just then, the car ahead of us comes to a screeching halt, ours only missing them by millimeters. People begin rushing out of the car and running forward, looking down at something. I tell Erin I have to go, hanging up before he gets the chance to even respond and exit the car. I cannot see anything as I walk behind the first car but as I come around, a small hint of Jasmine and honey comes through but there is some strange note with it.... BLOOD. I rush to the front of the car and laying there, battered and covered in blood but breathing is my mate. I rush to her in panic, sniffing her and let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding when I catch the scent of who the blood belonged to. It was Daniels!!

Our tiny little mate..... killed Daniel. Chimed Shane.

Maybe the council was onto something with her being stronger than almost any other wolf? Blocking him, I rush to my mates side, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Selene?!" I breath out, scooping her up in my arms. She had a nasty scratch across her chest but was alive, breathing steadily in my arms. "Oh baby, don't worry, we will get this blood off of you. Its gonna be alright, little wolf." I tell her as I stand with her in my arms and walk back to our car. Gently, I sit with her in the back of the car, holding her to my chest and pray that she pulls through this. She has to pull through this. As scared as I was for her, I was relieved to have her back.

Thank you, Moon Goddess.