Chapter 5

Ragnar’s POV

I could still taste the kiss.

It was faint, but I couldn’t shake it. It was still so vivid since it hadn’t even been a day since it happened. The warmth of her skin, her messy hair, and those deep blue eyes that made me restless—made her hard to resist. The way she had trembled beneath me—not in desire, but in fear. Dominating her was so easy, and yet.

I paused, feeling infuriated by the thought as I slammed my fists against the polished wood of my desk.

I had drawn the line at the banquet, yet I still crossed it.

When she cried out against me, I knew there was nothing she could do but lay there, begging me to stop. I could have ignored her, but at that moment… The second I pulled away and saw her tears, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

It was guilt.

But why should I care?

She was just an omega. She was a weak, insignificant nuisance.

But my wolf disagreed.

Mate.

I’ve heard this word more times than I can count in the past few hours. I snarled under my breath, forcing the possessive growl down.

I couldn’t afford to think like that. She could not be my mate. I refused to accept the Moon Goddess’s decision. I had already made my choice. Blaire was going to be my future partner—she was the strongest she-wolf to rule beside me.

Jade? She was nothing. A fragile, unwanted girl who flinched every time I came near her.

The bond meant nothing.

A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my swirling thoughts. I exhaled before answering. “Enter.”

My Beta, Kaius, stepped in with a grim expression on his face. “Alpha, we have a situation.”

I raised a brow. “Which is?”

He continued, “We’ve received reports of rogues attacking near the eastern border. And…” He paused.

“And what?” I asked, my patience wearing thin.

“Omegas have been going missing,” he admitted. “At first, we thought it was a few runaways, but now there seems to be a pattern. It’s come to light that this isn’t random. It’s happening too often to be a coincidence.”

I shifted my gaze from him, pondering his words. “How many have gone missing so far?”

Kaius exhaled with unease before answering. “Four in the past two weeks. They vanish without a trace. No scent trails, no footprints—just gone.”

A dull throb began behind my temple, and I rubbed it in frustration. Rogues attacking near my territory was one thing, but this? Omegas vanishing like the wind? If they were weak enough to be captured, it wasn’t my problem so far they weren’t taken from my territory.

But yet, unease curled in my gut.

Jade was an omega.

The thought formed before I could stop it and I clenched my fist, veins standing out on my skin.

I wasn’t supposed to give a damn about her.

But the memory of her cowering beneath Blaire’s assault made my wolf restless.

I watched.

I had let it happen.

And I walked away. That was the right thing to do. I convinced myself.

A sharp exhale left my lips as I pushed back my chair. “Where is she now?”

Kaius frowned. “Who?”

I scowled. “The omega. Jade.”

His brows furrowed in confusion before he shook his head. “If she’s done with her chores, she should be in her quarters. Why?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I got up and moved past him, my steps quick and purposeful.

I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in my gut. Maybe it was nothing—just a hunch. Maybe she was exactly where she was supposed to be. But I had to satisfy my curiosity. I had to trust my instincts.

When I reached the hallway leading to her room, I found the door slightly ajar.

That was my doing.

I remembered forcing the lock open the other night, and that guilty feeling began bubbling up again. I pushed it down quickly and stepped inside, my sharp gaze moving around the room.

Empty.

The bed was rumpled, just as I had left it yesterday. Her slippers sat beside it. I turned my gaze to the wardrobe, where her maid’s uniform was supposed to be. Taking a step closer, I pulled the door open. The uniform was still there.

I frowned.

That meant she hadn’t left for her chores.

So where was she?

A growl rumbled in my chest as I turned sharply, facing Kaius, who had followed behind me with a cautious expression.

“She’s not here,” I stated. “Her uniform is here as well, which means she never left for chores. Find her.”

Kaius nodded. He hesitated as if he wanted to say something but kept his curiosity in check. “Yes, Alpha,” he responded before leaving.

I stepped out of the room and nearly ran into Blaire.

“Alpha,” she greeted, studying me.

“Where’s Jade?” I asked immediately.

She frowned. “Why are you asking me like that?”

“Answer me, Blaire,” I snapped.

She studied my expression, recognizing that I was in no mood for nonsense.

“I don’t know,” Blaire said with a huff. “I came by to check if she was still sleeping so I could punish her, but she’s not here.”

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. “Kaius is already organizing a search party, but if you see her, let me know immediately.” I turned to leave, but she stopped me.

“What’s so important about her that has you all rattled like this?” Blaire asked, her tone sharp with anger.

“She is missing, and all I want to do is find her. There’s another situation on the ground linked to this, which is why it’s a priority,” I replied, attempting to move past her, but she blocked me again.

“If we don’t see her soon, we should just assume she went off to die somewhere,” Blaire said with a smirk.

I felt my fury spike.

“No.” I responded coldly.

“Why?” Blaire demanded with furrowed brows.

“Because she is mine, Blaire.”

Her expression darkened.

“My servant,” I clarified. “No one should dare take what’s mine without my permission. I will find her, and I will end the culprits who think they can steal from me.” My voice was steady, but something inside me twisted at my own words.

Blaire studied me for a few seconds before scoffing and walking away.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.

My wolf was clawing at my mind, whispering what I refused to acknowledge.

“Claim her.”

But I refuse. This mate bond was a disturbance, an unwanted chain binding me to someone I never chose. The solution was clear—I had to reject her.

Yet, My wolf growled inside, resisting.

I couldn’t help but wonder. Could I bring myself to do it?