6

Third person's POV

"We should just give up on finding Eliana.” Cade said. He was tired already, tired of looking for someone for whom the chances of finding her were slim. But he was also desperate. He didn't want to lose the throne, and the council of the pack was not making it any easier for him nor his brothers.

“Says someone who fucked her up.” Rhett said. He was angry, but there was nothing he could do.

“Will you guys just stop? Are you supposed to be at each other's necks? We don't need this now.” Ace was the one who spoke. Left to him, he would have been the Alpha. He didn't think his brothers were up to the task at all. The pack needed someone who was brave and strong, and Ace didn't see that in Cade or Rhett.

He thought he was the only one interested in finding Eliana and making her the Luna of the pack, because he was the only one putting in the effort. Cade would rather drink alcohol than do the right thing, and Rhett wouldn't even make any efforts; all he was concerned about was himself.

What could Eliana be doing? She could be anywhere right now. He didn't have that chance to talk to her properly before she ran off, and according to Cade’s side of the story, she killed someone, which Ace wasn't so sure about. Eliana was a soft woman, not the type that could kill.

“We are supposed to work together to find Eliana, but instead, you two are just standing around like you don't care.” Ace said, his frustration palpable.

Rhett and Cade exchanged lazy looks. “Look, Ace, we are trying,” Rhett drawled. He doesn't like to be thrown into discussions like this. “It's not like we can wave a wand and puff! She's here.”

Ace's scowl deepened. "I know that, but I expect more effort from you two. We need to find her, or we can just forget about the damned throne.”

Just then, the door opened and one of the triplets men, a burly guy named Van, entered the room. "Ace, Cade, and Rhett, I've got some leads on Eliana's whereabouts."

Ace's eyes snapped to Van, his interest piqued. "What have you got?"

Van hesitated, his eyes darting to Cade and Rhett before returning to Ace. "Well, it's just rumours, no one is actually sure. She couldn't have gone far but I've seen two people who told me some things. She was spotted at an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. And the other one said that she's stayed in a hotel for two weeks.”

Ace's grip on his temper faltered. "That's not what I want to hear, Van. I want to know where she is, not where she might be or where she has been, you know that's not what I want.”

Van shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Ace. But these leads are the best I could find. I'm doing my best.”

Ace was just tired of the fruitless search for Eliana. It's been three months, yet she was nowhere to be found.

"Fine," Ace spat. "Check out those places she might be and have been, and see if you can find anything. But I'm telling you, Van, if this is another wild goose chase, I wouldn't take it easy on you.”

Van nodded hastily, knowing the ability of Xeden, and he beat a retreat, leaving Ace to seethe in frustration.

“I will get back to you.” He had said as he left.

"What's going to happen now, Ace?" Cade asked, his tone a little too innocent for Ace’s likings.

Ace's glare could have frozen water at a hundred paces. "You know exactly what's going to happen, Cade. We would lose the throne. With the way things are, someone's been trying to feed us decoys, trying to just distract the whole search and frustrate us until we finally give up the throne.”

Rhett raised an eyebrow. "And you think it's one of our own?"

Ace's jaw clenched. It could even be those damned councils, who knows? "I don't know, but I aim to find out.”

“But what if we never find her? What if we lose the throne?” Rhett was saying.

“If we lose the throne, I'd start a music career.” Cade said, smiling like a child, “I'd tour the werewolf world and get women at my beak and call.”

Rhett chuckled. “And I will become a Mafia boss. You know, the Mafia get a lot of money.”

Ace looked at them, he couldn't believe they'd stoop so low to joke out of something so important like this. “Have you guys no shame? This isn't a joke!”

Ace was vexed. Didn't his brothers understand the gravity of the situation? Didn't they care that Eliana was still missing, that their pack was in disarray?

He stormed out of the room, leaving his brothers and staring after him in shock. Cade and Rhett exchanged a worried glance, their joking ceased.

"Guess we should've taken it more seriously," Rhett said, his voice laced with concern. Not that he wasn't worried, but Ace seemed more concerned.

Cade nodded. "Yeah, Ace's really worried about Eliana. We should be too, I think we are just being unreasonable.”

“Says the person who drove her out. I'm out of here.” Rhett said and left the room leaving Cade feeling worse than he had ever felt.

***

The triplets were together again after dinner, and Van came in. He brought some news that might interest them.

“Ace, I've got something.” He started, “I heard another rumour I think is true. It's about a strange woman staying with the Darkmoon pack. The woman showed up around the same time Eliana left the pack, so there are chances she is the one."

Ace was happy to hear this. "Tell me more."

Van told them about what he had: "I am sure she might be the one. The informant has never failed me. And the news is about a mysterious female who's been kept under wraps. But I think it's worth investigating; who knows, she might be the one you're looking for.”

Ace's mind raced, his thoughts whirling with lots of possibilities. Could this be the break they needed? Could this be what they needed to just get the throne and all would be well?

He turned to his brothers, his eyes locking onto theirs. If they even told him they didn't want to be part of the plan, he would look for Eliana alone; he didn't want anyone to pull him back from being the Alpha of the pack. "I'm going to follow this lead. Tonight."

Rhett's expression turned cautious; things like that scared him. The Darkmoon pack was not to be messed with, not that he had had any encounter with them, but he wasn't sure the Alpha of the pack would be willing to accommodate him.

“Ace, this is the Darkmoon pack we are talking about; you know them and we do too; they are not to be messed with. Be careful. If Alpha Ace becomes hostile, we don't want to spark a war between packs."

Cade nodded in agreement. "I think Rhett is right, Ace. We don't know what we're walking into if we just show up without warning; they'll call us spies. Let's think this through."

“And wait till when, huh? I can't wait anymore. They will take the throne from us if we cannot produce a Luna. Don't you guys get it?”

“Ace, relax; it's not like we do not understand the situation of things, but take a chill pill.” Cade said. He was beginning to regret ever sleeping with Eliana, but he loved it too; it was a great feeling, and he wanted more with her.

“I will do whatever I want for this pack; if you're not with me, it's your loss.” Ace said and walked out of the room.

His mind was made up. He couldn't shake off the feeling that this was the only key to finding Eliana.

That night, they all retired to bed, and that was when Ace’s wolf wouldn't allow him to rest. She tried to sleep, but it seemed impossible. A low, rumbling growl echoed through his mind. “She is there, Ace. Eliana is with the Darkmoon pack; go for her!”

Ace was dreaming — not any regular kind of dream. In the dream, Ace saw Eliana; her eyes were filled with tears, and she looked as if she had been thoroughly beaten. She was in a dimly lit room, the walls lined with coloured faces. But one face stood out — Alpha Ace's face. Ace had seen him only once, but he knew what he looked like as a wolf and as a werewolf.

Ace's wolf snarled, its growl and howl raised, and its voice whispered in his mind. "She is there; find her.”

It was then that Ace woke up, his heart palpitating. He knew what he had to do. With or without his brothers, he had to do this. And without much thought, he threw off the covers and began to dress; his movements were swift and silent.

He just had to find Eliana, no matter what happened.