Chapter 6: Sofia’s Missing, Albaz Returns.

        

        Damian pov: 

        

        

        I burst through the hospital doors and found Philip already waiting, his eyes flickering with nerves. “What the hell, Philip? Sofia is missing? you were supposed to guard her door. How did she slip out without you noticing? Are you that useless?” I hissed,  sounding really angry and confused.

        

        He swallowed, “I… I had to use the bathroom. When I came back, she was gone. I asked the nurses, but they said they never saw her leave.” The words didn’t make any sense at all. A full‑grown woman, my mate, could vanish  without a trace.

        

        I turned to the  hospital staff , my alpha aura crackling. “Where were you all  when my mate left her room or was taken? Who took her?” I demanded. The  hospital staff shifted nervously, their shoulders trembling under my pressure. My heart pounded—if I don’t find her in the next minute, all hell would break loose.

        

        I barked out orders, voice cutting through the hallway’s Mark, go with Philip and pull the hospital’s security footage. I need to know if she walked out on her own or was taken. I’ve got no clue who’d want my mate—except maybe Vanessa, and she’s already locked up. No one else comes to mind.”

        

        Mark and Philip  left to carry out my order. Josh stepped up, hand firmly on my shoulder, and said, “Hey, dude, calm down. Try using your bond to locate her.I tried, reaching out with the bond, but nothing, her block was up, panic urged, and I let out a low, resonant growl.

        

        “Nothing,” I told Josh, eyes wide. “I can’t feel her. It’s like she’s not there, her block is up.”

        

        Josh looked confused and scared.

        

        I mind‑linked the border warriors, ordering every exit sealed. “Nobody gets in, nobody gets out. My mate is missing.” I sent the rest of the pack warriors into the woods, then shifted into Storm, my wolf form, with Josh already at my side,  Storm’s voice rumbled in my head, you better pray to the goddess we find her Damian.” he growled, “or I’ll ask the Moon Goddess to take me away. You’ve failed her before, we can’t fail again.

        

        Thirty minutes later, still no sign of Sofia. My father and mother arrived, concern etched on their faces. “What’s happening? Why’s the whole pack in chaos?” my father asked.

        

        Sofia’s missing,” I said, sounding really scared and angry. She left the hospital, or someone took her, and no one saw and the hospital CCTV didn’t show her leaving or being taken. My mother’s eyes softened. “Calm down, we’ll find her. Have you checked everywhere?” I nodded, mind racing. “I’ve searched every corner of our territory.

        

        My mother’s gaze lingered. “I’ve known Sofia and her habits for years. When she’s down, she always goes to the lake at the northern edge of the park—her grandmother used to take her there. She goes there to be alone. She looks at me, hope flicker. “Have you checked there?”

        

        I blinked, realizing I’d never thought of that spot. “Wow, mother, you know my mate better than I do,” I said, gratitude and urgency mixing.  go on then check it out and with Josh and Mark, we transformed into our wolves and sprinted toward the lake.

        

        When we arrived, Sofia sat on a weathered log, staring straight ahead, her shoulders relaxed. Relief flooded me, and I shifted back to my human form, ready to step toward her. But before I could move, Storm said Wait. Don’t approach yet—sniff the air. Something’s off about our mate. I drew in a breath, but the familiar              chocolate‑vanilla scent was gone, and the mate bond was still blocked.

        

        Mark and Josh stared at me, “Dude, why aren’t you going to Sofia? Is something wrong?

        I nodded, eyes on them, “Yeah, something’s off.”

        Sofia turned, her gaze a striking violet‑silver, like moonlight on water—beautiful, but unsettling.

        Josh and Mark muttered, “Damn, that’s gorgeous, her eyes never looked like that before. Did we miss something?

        

        Storm’s voice cut in, “That’s not Sofia, it’s her wolf.”

        I told them, “That’s Sofia’s wolf on the surface.”

        

        She spoke, “Approach, mate, but I need to talk to your wolf, Storm.

        

        Instantly, Storm took full control.

        

        

        

        

         Storm's pov:

        

        I stepped up, locked eyes, and said, “Albaz, is it really you? It’s been ages—three hundred, five hundred years?”

        

        She gave me that cold, icy stare and spoke in our native tongue.

        

        Xathra vek’thal storm, yx’la shathra do’nal, k’rathuul va’rin thul’maer. (Why do you always disappoint me, Storm? You did that four hundred years ago and you’re doing it again with your human.)