Chapter 52

Alpha Luca West wasn't sure which was greater, the searing pain that sliced from the top of his right shoulder to his left hip, where he had been clawed during the battle that followed Dani's disappearance, or the emotions that had followed his realization that she was gone. He had been injured in wolf form, but the cuts were deep and were still very much with him when the enemy finally made their retreat. He made the painful shift back into this human form and began to search for his mate.

Lars, who he only then realized had been standing beside Lyra the entire time, ready to protect her and the pups she had been carrying if she was threatened, was the one to tell him that Dani was gone and that he had seen one of Harding's men disappear into the forest with Stella as well.

Luca had fallen to his knees at the news and recoiled when he felt Lyra's hand on his shoulder, managing to stand quickly, despite the pain slicing through him as he stepped back away from her. "Don't. Don't to