NINE

 “Did she step out for breakfast?”

 “No, Alpha Storm.”

 “How about lunch?”

 “Still no trace of her, Alpha.”

 Alaric’s jaw flickered, his pen immediately slipping out of his hands. He didn’t reach for it though, his mind now elsewhere.

 “Alright, you may leave,” he said to the maid, his frown deepening the moment she left the room.

 What exactly was Eliza up to? He had gotten her the mangoes she said she wanted despite being allergic to them himself so why was she still refusing to step out?

 Was she really still asleep as Rebecca said? Even if that was the case, how many hours of sleep was one really allowed before it became disturbing? Was it really okay for her to spend more than half the day without eating?

 Especially when she was carrying the future heir of the Storm Pack?

 Unable to cope with not getting answers to his questions, he rose to his feet and walked out of his office. His office was on the third floor of the palace and her room was on the ground floor. A couple of steps meant nothing if he was going to get answers to his question.

 “Eliza?” his first knock against her door was gentle as he considered the fact that she might be asleep. But on second thoughts, he dismissed the thought and followed it with harsher knocks. “Eliza. You’ve been in this room all day. Don’t you think it’s time to step outside.”

 His already thin patience wore off the second he didn’t get a response immediately. Without hesitating, he opened the door himself, his brows furrowing as he stepped into an empty room.

 “Did she get up already?”

 He turned around and just as he was about to leave, was interrupted by his mother rushing in. she looked at the bed, a flicker of worry on her features as she looked at Alaric.

 “Where’s Eliza?”

 “Isn’t she outside?” he raised his brows. “She isn’t here. She wasn’t here when I got here.”

 “No, she’s not outside,” Pamela immediately rushed in, checking the bathroom and closet. “No, she isn’t in the palace. She’s- she’s not here.”

 “What?” the words landing heavy, immediately erupting a gush of unfamiliar emotions in Alaric. “What do you mean she’s not in the palace? She-”

 Before he could finish, as if on cue, Rebecca also appeared by the door. She had her arms folded, her eyes lazily travelling from the bed to Alaric.

 “Where’s Eliza?” his question was directed at Rebecca, Pamala frantically moving around the room. “Where did she go?”

 “Why are you asking me that?” her shoulders moved as she replied him. “She was sleeping here earlier this morning so-”

 He didn’t wait for her to finish. He immediately took a step forward, followed by another as he stormed out of the room, calling on his personal guards immediately.

 Pamela and Rebecca rushed outside, trailing right behind him as the palace quickly broke into chaos. Maids gathered around, Alaric’s guards all ready for whatever he had planned.

 “The mother of the future heir to the Storm Pack has gone missing,” he announced, refusing to use the words ‘ran away’. “Every single person in this palace must be on alert until she’s found. Guards, follow me.”

 “Where are you going?!” Rebecca grabbed him by the arm as he threw his coat on. “Where do you know she has gone to? It’s getting late so how can you just go out like this?”

 “Exactly, it’s getting late,” he barely spared her a glance. “And I have no idea where she is. Or where she might be.”

 “Alaric-”

 “If we don’t find her, you should know your position would be at risk,” he breathed out to her as she attempted to grab him again. “Your position as Luna? She’s the only thing holding it right now.”

 Rebecca’s grip on him immediately loosened, her hands falling to her side. She watched a dozen soldiers rush to his side, all of them leaving the second Alaric walked out of the palace.

 It was indeed getting dark but that didn’t bother Alaric for a second. All he could think about was Eliza. Where she could be. Where she could have gone.

 For the first time, he felt conflicted. He had a million questions, every one unanswered ticking him off.

 Did she run away? Why did she run away? Where did she run off to?

 How dare she run off with his heir in her stomach?

 He let out a bitter chuckle as a thought crossed his mind. It was impossible. There was no way she’d be reckless enough to return to her old pack?

 Suicide would have been an easier way out than returning to her old pack. Not only would he easily find her, she would also automatically be bringing utter ruin to the pack.

 “Spread out and search every inch of this forest,” he ordered. “No one returns unless she’s found.”

 “What if she has ben captured? Or what if she has company?”

 “The only thing I care about is bringing her safely,” he balled his fists. “Get rid of anything or anyone that tries to come in the way of that.”

 “Yes, Alpha!”

 With two soldiers by his side, he also resumed his search. Plunging through the forest, he yelled out her name, hoping she’d do herself a favour by answering.

 It wasn’t that easy though. An hour later and his entire search still felt as futile as it did from the beginning. There was no sign of Eliza, the only sign being that from the sky as it rumbled continuously.

 “Alpha Alaric, it looks like it’s about to rain,” one of the soldiers said. “Should we try to find shelter in case it rains?”

 “If you’re certain Eliza has the exact same shelter wherever she may be, then go ahead,” he didn’t stop his steps.

 “My apologies,” he immediately bowed his head. “I wasn’t thinking. I- Alpha Alaric, I think I hear footsteps. Faint footsteps.”

 “What?” silence immediately took over, Alaric lifting a finger. He listened carefully and just like the soldier had said, he could hear the faint sound of footsteps.

 The faint sounds of feet crunching against the dried leaves. The faint familiar sounds he heard the very night he felt the mate bond.

 “You’re right,” he immediately felt his senses heighten, his chest tightening, something stirring in him. He wasn’t mistaken. He could feel her. He could sense her. “I hear it.”

 “This way.”