Chapter 15 — Suspicious Clues

Dual POV (Regina & Aldric)

Regina

By the time Regina returned to the hotel lobby, the warm ease from lunch had settled into a soft glow beneath her ribs — the kind that made the world feel just a little lighter.

For a few precious hours, she’d almost forgotten how heavy the past could feel.

Almost.

She slipped behind the reception desk, greeting a couple checking out, falling easily back into her work rhythm. But the bond remained a steady warmth in her chest, a quiet reminder that Aldric was nearby somewhere in the building.

It should have been distracting.

Instead, it felt grounding.

She finished updating the reservation system and reached for her coffee, lifting the mug halfway to her lips when something made her pause.

A faint scent drifted through the air.

Cool.

Metallic.

Her breath stilled.

The mug hovered inches from her mouth as her senses sharpened instinctively, every nerve going alert.

No.

Her heart began to beat faster, the warmth of the bond tightening into something more focused — protective, aware.

The scent was faint, barely there beneath the usual mix of coffee and cleaning supplies.

But she knew it.

Stone after rain.

Old iron.

Her stomach dropped.

Memory slammed into her — damp cave air, flickering firelight, a masked figure crouched in shadows.

Her wolf surged forward, hackles raised.

Regina set the mug down carefully, forcing herself to breathe slowly as she scanned the lobby.

Everything looked normal.

Guests chatted near the entrance. A staff member wiped down tables. Soft music played overhead.

But the scent lingered, threading through the air like a whisper only she could hear.

Her pulse quickened, adrenaline beginning to hum beneath her skin.

You’re safe.

But the instinct felt older than logic — primal and insistent.

Danger.

The bond flared suddenly, warmth sharpening as if responding to her fear.

Aldric.

Without thinking, she reached for her phone, fingers slightly unsteady as she typed.

Do you smell that?

She hit send before she could second-guess herself.

⸻

Aldric

He was halfway down the hallway toward the conference rooms when the bond shifted sharply.

Warmth tightened into alertness, a ripple of unease spreading through his chest that made his wolf lift its head instantly.

Then his phone buzzed.

Aldric pulled it out, reading the message.

His jaw tightened immediately.

Yes.

He’d caught it faintly earlier — just a whisper beneath the scents of polished floors and unfamiliar wolves — but it had been too subtle to place at first.

Now, with Regina’s awareness amplifying his own, it was unmistakable.

Cold.

Metallic.

Wrong.

His wolf growled low in his chest, instincts snapping into place with lethal clarity.

Stay calm.

He typed quickly.

Stay behind the desk. I’m coming.

He turned without hesitation, striding back toward the lobby with controlled urgency, senses stretching outward.

The scent was faint — frustratingly so — but it lingered like a shadow just out of sight.

Someone had been here.

Or still was.

⸻

Regina

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Stay behind the desk. I’m coming.

Relief mixed with tension, the bond warming slightly at the certainty in his response.

She set the phone down, forcing herself to appear calm as she helped another guest with a question about local restaurants. Her voice sounded steady, but inside her heart pounded fast enough to make her chest ache.

The scent faded slightly, then returned in faint waves, like whoever carried it had moved through the space recently.

Her wolf paced restlessly, ready to shift if needed — something she hadn’t felt this strongly in years.

The elevator chimed.

Regina’s gaze snapped up.

Aldric stepped out, eyes already scanning the lobby with quiet intensity. The moment he saw her, the bond settled slightly, reassurance flowing between them.

He crossed the space in long strides, stopping beside the desk.

“You smell it?” he asked quietly.

She nodded. “It’s faint. But it’s there.”

His expression darkened, jaw tightening.

“Not wolf,” she said softly.

“No,” he agreed. “Not wolf.”

A flicker of unease passed between them — unspoken but understood.

The scent that haunted both their memories.

They stood in silence for a moment, both listening, both scanning.

But the lobby remained calm.

Normal.

Too normal.

After a moment, Aldric exhaled slowly. “It’s old. Maybe a few hours.”

Regina nodded, though her shoulders remained tense. “It reminded me of the cave.”

His gaze softened briefly at the fear beneath her words. “I know.”

The bond pulsed gently, reassurance flowing from him like a steady current.

“We’ll increase security,” he said quietly. “Just in case.”

The certainty in his voice eased some of the tightness in her chest.

“Okay,” she said.

He studied her for a moment, concern flickering in his eyes. “You alright?”

She nodded, offering a small smile. “Yeah. Just… surprised.”

His hand brushed hers briefly across the counter — a small, grounding touch that sent warmth spreading through her chest.

The fear receded slightly.

⸻

Aldric

He didn’t like it.

The scent was too familiar, too wrong to ignore.

His instincts told him this wasn’t coincidence.

Someone connected to what happened years ago was close.

Or watching.

His wolf paced restlessly, protective instincts flaring stronger than ever now that Regina was involved again.

He forced himself to remain calm, not wanting to alarm her further.

“I’ll talk to the security team,” he said.

She nodded.

He hesitated a moment longer, reluctant to leave but knowing he needed to act.

The bond stretched gently as he stepped away, not painful — just a reminder.

This isn’t over.

As he walked toward the conference rooms, a single thought settled cold and certain in his mind.

Whatever had taken Rebecca.

Whatever had taken Regina.

It was moving again.

And this time…

He was ready.