Chapter 4—The Hunt Begins

Theo woke to silence.

A cold, unnatural silence.

His body was warm, the scent of pine and wildflowers lingering in the air—Willow’s scent. But something was wrong.

His arm stretched across the bed, fingers searching for her familiar warmth.

Nothing.

Theo’s eyes snapped open.

The room was dimly lit, the early morning light barely creeping through the window. The space beside him was empty.

Panic surged through him, sharp and sudden.

He reached for the bond.

Nothing.

His chest tightened, breath catching in his throat. The bond was there—but faint, distant. It was like trying to hear a whisper through a storm.

Then, the mind-link slammed into him.

“Alpha!” Luka’s voice, sharp and urgent. “It’s Luna! The rogues—she’s gone!”

The world stopped.

Atlas snapped inside him, rage and panic crashing together in a violent storm.

Theo was out of bed before the words fully registered, his bare feet hitting the wooden floor hard.

Gone? Theo’s mind barely formed the thought before his body was moving, every muscle coiled tight, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs.

No.

His vision tunneled as he shifted mid-stride, clothes tearing away as Atlas took over. His wolf form exploded forward, paws digging into the dirt as he tore through the forest toward the southern border.

The world blurred around him, his body nothing but speed and raw power.

When he reached the clearing, the scent of blood and earth filled his nose.

Theo shifted back instantly, landing hard on his feet. His body was vibrating with tension, barely contained rage curling through his muscles.

The warriors were already there—Luka, Darius, several others. They had fanned out, searching, tracking.

Theo’s blue eyes scanned the ground.

Claw marks. Blood.

Signs of a fight.

A struggle.

She had fought.

Of course, she had.

His mate—his fiery, stubborn, brave mate—hadn’t gone easily.

But still.

She was gone.

Atlas snarled inside him, the sound so vicious that Theo almost let it spill into reality.

Instead, he clenched his fists, forcing himself to breathe.

Think.

He dropped to one knee, fingers brushing against the disturbed earth.

There were drag marks—but then they vanished.

Theo’s head snapped up. “How did they cover their trail?” His voice was low, dangerous.

Luka swallowed, shifting uneasily. “We think they used a wagon or some kind of vehicle. The scent ends here.”

Theo’s jaw tightened so hard it ached. “Rogues don’t do that.”

“They don’t.” Luka’s expression was grim. “This was planned.”

Planned.

Theo exhaled slowly, trying to keep himself from breaking apart.

Atlas wasn’t helping.

His wolf was practically rabid inside him, clawing to get out, demanding they hunt—demanding they kill.

“She’s ours!” Atlas raged.

“They took her—“

“I know!” Theo shoved back, gritting his teeth. “But we can’t lose control. We need to think.”

But his mind was splintering, fraying at the edges.

She was gone.

And the mate bond—weak.

Too weak.

Something was wrong.

Theo’s hands curled into fists. “We find them. Now.”

Luka nodded sharply, already barking orders to the scouts.

Theo turned, breathing hard, trying to think past the fury—

“Alpha.”

Darius’s voice. Low. Hesitant.

Theo turned to find the scout standing stiffly, something clutched in his hand.

“A message,” Darius said quietly. “I intercepted a conversation between the rogues before they disappeared. I only caught part of it.”

He held out a scrap of paper.

Theo snatched it, unfolding it with controlled precision.

His eyes scanned the jagged, rough handwriting.

“The fire-haired one is more than she seems. If she remembers, she will be unstoppable.”

The words might as well have been a physical blow.

The world blurred for a second, rage slamming through him like a storm.

He gripped the paper so hard it crumpled in his fist.

Luka shifted on his feet beside him, uneasy. “What does it mean?”

Theo’s breath came slow and even, but his hands were shaking.

“She’s more than she seems,” Darius murmured. “More than just a Luna.”

Theo’s vision darkened.

Atlas let out a snarl so vicious and sudden Theo couldn’t contain it. Every wolf in the clearing stiffened, waiting, worried. Theo had never lost control before. No one knew what to do.

Theo didn’t know what this meant.

He didn’t care.

What he did know was that someone had taken his mate, and they thought she was theirs to claim.

They were wrong.

And they were going to die for it.

He turned away, breathing hard.

The mate bond should be stronger.

Even with distance, he should be able to feel her more than this.

Something was blocking it.

Or worse—

Something was weakening her.

Atlas snapped, pushing against his control, demanding blood.

Theo gritted his teeth, his nails digging into his palms.

Luka stepped forward cautiously. “Alpha—”

Theo moved before he could stop himself.

He struck out, his fist slamming into the nearest tree. The bark cracked, splintering beneath his knuckles.

Silence.

The pack stilled. Watching.

Theo breathed hard, forcing himself back into control.

Atlas snarled, prowling inside him like a caged animal.

But rage wouldn’t find her.

Only strategy would.

He straightened slowly, exhaling sharply.

Then, he lifted his head, commanding the warriors with nothing but a look.

“We leave now.” His voice was quiet. Deadly. “We find her.”

His blue eyes burned.

“And we kill anyone who gets in our way.”

Theo shifted in an instant, Atlas taking over, massive and lethal.

Luka and the warriors followed, their wolves falling into step behind him.

They moved as one, cutting through the forest like shadows.

The moon rose above them, silver light spilling through the trees.

Somewhere, Willow was waiting.

And Theo and Atlas were going to tear the world apart to get her back.