Chapter 3: No Goodbyes

Gabriel

I woke up to the persistent vibration of my phone. I groaned, reaching for it on the nightstand. The screen glowed with missed calls and unread messages.

All from Slyvie.

It was already morning.

I ran a hand through my hair as the events of the previous night came rushing back. The club. The scent of whiskey and desire. The woman who had captivated me with her defiance and stolen kisses.

Elysia.

I turned to pull her closer, to lose myself in her warmth again, but the space was empty.

My wolf, Zaine, snarled in frustration.

She left.

“She shouldn’t have,” I muttered under my breath.

“Find her”

I ignored his command, swinging my legs over the bed. I had never cared about a woman staying before, never felt this… void.

"She left," I said aloud, trying to convince myself it didn't matter. "Her choice."

A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts. "Gabriel! Open up!"

Sylvie. I could hear the impatience in her voice through the door.

I pulled on a pair of jeans and let her in, noting the way her eyes immediately scanned the room.

"Well?" she asked, crossing her arms. "Where is she?"

"Where's who?"

"Don't play dumb. The maids said you brought someone home. A woman. Where is she?"

I turned away, heading for the kitchen. "She left."

“Left? As in, you sent her away?” Slyvie asked, following me to the kitchen.

I clenched my jaw. “No. She left before I woke up.”

Her smirk widened. “Oof. That’s a first. Usually, you’re the one disappearing before sunrise.”

I poured myself coffee with more force than necessary. "What do you want, Sylvie?"

"We have the Vethania meeting in an hour. Please tell me you haven't forgotten."

The meeting. Right. The acquisition that would expand Elyndor's territory and solidify my power in the region. It should have been my primary focus.

Instead, all I could think about was the way Elysia had looked at me when she said my name. The way she'd trusted me with something precious.

Her first time.

The thought made Zaine pace restlessly. We'd taken something that couldn't be given back, and then we'd let her walk away.

"I'll be ready," I said, downing my coffee.

"Good. Because this deal is important, Gabriel. Vethania gives us access to the northern trade routes, and with the tensions in the neighboring territories…"

"I said I'll be ready."

“Now if you don't have anything else to say, Leave.”

Sylvie smirked, “Fine, I'm leaving, be ready in a few minutes.”

I nodded and she left

Zaine was pacing in my head.

"Why didn’t you let me mark her?" he snapped.

"She was ours. And now? Now she’s gone."

I ran a hand down my face.

"She left," I repeated. "Not like I sent her away."

“If she was our mate, why would she run?” Zaine said, feeling hurt.

I exhaled sharply, I didn’t have an answer for that.

I grabbed my phone. I needed to handle this first.

“Find her,” I ordered as soon as my assistant picked up. “Elysia. I want to know where she is.”

There was a beat of hesitation before he responded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

I ended the call, I had no time to dwell on this. I had a business deal to finalize.

I made my way to Derrick's office. When I arrived, the conference room was silent when I entered, all eyes turning toward me.

Derrick was seated at the table with a few other business leaders, their postures stiff as I took my seat at the head. Sylvie stood to my right, her sharp gaze scanning the room.

"King Gabriel," Derrick greeted, standing as I entered. "Welcome. Please, have a seat."

The businessmen introduced themselves, and we began discussing the details of the deal.

We were finalizing the purchase of Vethania, a territory that would give me greater control over the region.

Owning Vethania meant power, control, and expansion.

I could feel the tension in the room: some of these men weren’t happy.

Derrick cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, while we recognize the benefits of merging under Elyndor’s rule, some concerns remain regarding… ”

I lifted a hand, silencing him.

“You don’t get to have concerns,” I said smoothly, my voice cold. “The purchase was settled. Vethania belongs to Elyndor now.”

A few of the men paled.

Derrick, on the other hand, didn’t tremble, but I caught the subtle clench of his jaw. He nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

The others followed suit quickly.

I leaned back. “Good.”

After what felt like hours, the meeting finally came to a close. I stood up, nodding at Derrick.

"It’s done," I said. "Vethania is mine."

Derrick extended a hand. "Congratulations, King Gabriel. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

I shook it firmly, “Thank you.”

Outside, Sylvie was waiting, falling into step beside me.

“You were distracted,” she noted, glancing at me.

I didn’t respond.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

As much as I wanted to focus on business, my mind kept drifting back. The way Elysia had fit against me. The way her lips had parted beneath mine. How her scent still lingers on my sheets.

“You’re restless,” Zaine said, his voice thick with amusement.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you?” He let out a low chuckle. “She’s the only thing on your mind right now. You should’ve claimed her.”

I forced my jaw to relax. “It was just one night.”

Zaine smirked. “Then why do you look like you’re ready to tear apart the city just to find her?”

“Shut up.” I retorted

“Well, it's your fault,” Zaine smirked. “You just had to let me mark her but no, you were too consumed to claim her in other ways.”

I pushed him in the back of my mind, I couldn't deal with him now.

As I left Derrick's office, my driver was already waiting for me.

"We're heading back home," I informed him as we got into the vehicle.

Sylvie sighed. "I was looking forward to meeting Elysia."

I smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, sis. You will next time."

As the car pulled away, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was my assistant.

"Your Majesty, we followed the information you gave us on Elysia," he said.

"And?" I asked, gripping the phone tighter.

"She’s gone," he replied. "She doesn’t live at the address we traced her to anymore. We also checked her last workplace, but she hasn’t shown up in days."

I clenched my jaw.

She was gone?

“Thought you said you didn’t care?” Zaine taunted.

"Should we continue the search, Your Majesty?" my assistant asked hesitantly.

I was silent for a moment, then exhaled sharply. "No. That won’t be necessary."

For now.

I would find her again.

One way or another.