Chapter 5

Gideon's POV

“Search every inch of the forest. Find her." My voice shouts over Leo's harsh cries.

Xavier rushes out to find my men to organize a search party. Less than thirty minutes later, I watch them funnel out into the forest.

As they disappear into the tree line, I feel an aching guilt in my chest. Claire may be weak, but she is still the strongest she-wolf in the pack. And possibly ever.

I tell myself she will survive. She has to.

But the truth is more complicated.

As I stand alone in my office, staring out the window at the darkening forest, I can’t stop my mind from remembering soft moments between Claire and I.

Her laugh that sounded of crystal clear wind chimes. The way she'd fall asleep after reading for only ten minutes or so. The sounds she made when we made love.

No stop. We never made love.

She betrayed me, used me. She used the Heat to bind me against my will. Love doesn't require that.

But somewhere beneath the anger and the betrayal, beneath the pride and the weight of my duties as Alpha, there’s something else stirring. Something I can't name. Because if I do, what was all that pain in the hospital for?

I shake my head, trying to dismiss it.

I'm only worried because of Leo. That’s all. A child needs his mother.

I tell myself this over and over, as if chanting it will make it true.

The hours drag on and on before the search party returns.

“Any sign of her?” My voice sounds frantic, almost fragile.

“No, Alpha.” Xavier rubs the back of his neck. “All parties returned empty-handed.”

“Continue the search.” I say roughly.

Daphne puts a hand on my shoulder. “Gideon, you need to stop this. She obviously doesn’t want to be found. We don’t need her. You and I can surely find a way to calm Leo down.”

I inhale deeply.

Daphne continues. “You should be happy that she’s gone. You’ve always hated her.”

I grit my teeth in frustration at her words.

I guess I had to confront the truth that I care about Claire more than I’m willing to admit.

“I said, continue the search. This is an Alpha’s order.”

Xavier nods, “Yes, sir.” He turns back to the men. “You heard the Alpha. We’ll go out in shifts this time.”

He leads everyone out of the main hall before the door shuts, leaving me alone with Daphne.

Daphne’s heels click against the marble floors as she approaches me. “Gideon, I am just as concerned—”

“If you were just as concerned, you would have ensured that Claire made it to the cabin safely! Now get out of my sight.” My voice pings in the hall, loud and angry.

Daphne takes a step back from me, her hands shaking, before rushing to her quarters.

I turn back to the window, the moon rising higher in the sky.

Be alive, Claire. Be alive so Leo will live. So I can hate you properly.

So I can tell you I was wrong.

***

Claire's POV

I am going to fucking die.

The thought buzzes in my head like an annoying fly as my feet beat against the dirt. Trees rip at my hair and face.

The sound of snarling echoes behind me. Paws rustling the forgotten leaves on the forest floor. The rogues are after me. They caught my scent on the air, like I'm nice bbq dinner.

The night sky is shrouded in clouds, making it impossible for me to get my bearings.

The worst thing is that I know I can't keep this up any longer. My wolf is no longer present. I'm too slow.

But I cannot give up.

I have to live.

I have to be strong for Leo.

A howl, followed by snarls, comes closer. I hear branches snap behind me. A low, excited sound.

I used my last bit of strength to push my legs harder. My lungs burn with every ragged breath. The world blurs together in green and black. My feet skid over mud and leaves. Darkness begins edging at the corner of my eyes.

And then I see something off in the distance.

A building. No… not a building. A manor. Large stone walls. Black iron fencing. I can barely make it out through the haze, but it’s there—safety. Or something close to it.

The rogues begin to slow.

I sense the moment of hesitation. Like they’re scared to step past the border of this land. I glance back and see them lingering at the edge of the clearing.

Then they lunge. Whatever fear held them back disappears. Hunger wins.

I scream and bolt for the gate. It’s too far. I know it’s too far. My body is giving out below me. The wolfsbane is still dulling my instincts. My legs buckle, and I fall hard. My knees scraping stone, hands hitting dirt.

I crawl like a wounded animal to the gates.

I just need to survive one more minute. One more minute and I'll be safe.

But my body quits.

I collapse in the mud. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, almost drowning out the sound of the rogues. I feel the rhythm of their paws beating against the ground.

Then, silence.

And a roar— but not from them. A pulse of power rolls through the ground, rattling the air.

I open my eyes to see what beast has finally come for me, and I see a man instead.

He steps into the clearing without a fraction of fear. Dark hair swept back, a long coat trailing behind him. He’s older than me, with an air of maturity and self-assuredness. Had the roar come from him?

Within ten seconds, all of the rogues retreat into the woods and disappear.

Then a woman with cropped hair walks out from the manor. She is wearing what looks to be a maid's uniform.

She rushes to me immediately after spotting me. "Miss? Can you hear me?"

I try to speak, but nothing comes out but a rasp.

The man with dark eyes slowly walks over to us and stares at me. There's something unreadable on his face—curiosity, and somehow recognition.

“She crossed the border,” his voice is smooth and low like cool silk.

“She’s injured,” the woman says.

The man with dark hair sniffs the air. "She smells pregnant."

That’s impossible. I think.

I just gave birth to Leo.

I try to lift my head again and tell them that, but the world tips. My body gives out.

The last thing I hear is: “Take her inside. She’s about to give birth to that child.”