Chapter sixteen

Bran's POV 

I pushed Saskia off without thinking, and regretted doing that when she looked at me with horrific eyes.

My gaze returned to Grayson who had reported Serafine missing. 

Missing? 

Impossible. 

Dark Mountain was the only pack in North America with top notch security. Not even a fly can leave the pack grounds without my notice.

It was impossible for the girl to escape. Except she was helped.

My eyes narrowed at Grayson. 

“You were with her last night and this morning. How is it that you’re the first to report her disappearance, yet you didn’t notice when she left?” I asked, forcing myself and wolf to be calm.

“Yes, Alpha. I was with her. But I left as soon as you left us in her room this morning. It was during lunch I noticed she wasn't in the dining hall. I asked Ember. She said Serafine didn't come to work.”

My heart boiled with anger. My fists hid under my desk. No one should see me this way. 

But I couldn't control the turmoil in me. If Saskia noticed my rage. If Grayson did. There would be problems because I never get angry at such meager issues. They would think I care so much for the human girl and assume she was my fated mate. 

That was the last thing I wanted to happen. 

“She had wounds from the flogging yesterday.” Grayson added quickly. Guilt filled my heart. Didn't know she was wounded.

Grayson continued. “I thought she couldn't make it to work because of her wounds and went to check on her in her room, only to find it empty. I searched everywhere and didn't find her. That was when I thought of coming to tell you.” 

I said nothing for a long time. According to his words he had no hand in her escape. I couldn't believe it entirely. But Serafine escaping my pack unnoticed was unbelievable too.

‘Aric,’ I mindlinked my beta. ‘Check Serafine's room. If she’s in, bring her to me. If she isn't, search around. Make sure you search properly for her.’ 

‘Yes Alpha,’

“Ha” Saskia scoffed and I turned to her. Her gaze was on her cousin. “This is unbelievable. Even my cousin is charmed by the human girl.”

My gaze fell back on Grayson. His eyes were fixed on Saskia. 

“Cousin, you look so much better than I remember.” He said.

Saskia frowned. 

“Grayson when did you return?” She asked.

Grayson smiled nervously. And was hesitant to reply.

“I see you value the stupid human more than your own cousin.”

“Not so, cousin. I returned yesterday. When I checked on you. The maids said you were sleeping. Since then I've been so occupied with work.”

“Does Javier know you're back?” Saskia asked again.

“He doesn't. I plan on—”

The door opened. Aric walked in with Lupin and Bane. Grayson stopped talking as our attention went to Aric. 

“She's not in her room, Alpha. I searched around with the guards. We didn't find her.”

I felt a snap in my chest. A growl escaped my throat.

“Lock the pack down,” I ordered instantly. “No one enters. No one leaves. Tell the guards to spread and search every perimeter. Including the forest.”

“Copy, Alpha.” Aric responded and left.

“Alpha,” Lupin and Bane called.

“Go search her room again.” I ordered them and they left. 

Aric returned moments later. “I've passed your orders, Alpha.” 

“Good.” I said, “We just have to wait a little.”

Lupin and Bane came back too. 

“Serafine's is not in her room.” Lupin reported.

I nodded.

We waited hours to hear news from the guards.

A runaway human should have been easy to find. Yet when the guards returned, their faces told me everything before they spoke.

“We couldn't find her,” one said. “Not even a trace of her.” 

Another Impossibility. 

Unless she’d never left.

The thought struck me so hard I stilled.

I walked out of the office to Serafine's room. My Beta, Gamma’s, Grayson and Saskia followed me.

Anger simmered beneath my skin, tangled with relief.

I pushed open the door to her room. And froze at my first look inside.

Serafine stood inside. Dressed in her servant uniform. She looked clueless. Like she hadn’t turned my pack upside down.

“Where did you go?” I demanded.

She blinked at me. “Go?”

I looked behind at Aric. At Grayson. At Lupin and Bane. They had disbelieving looks on their faces.

“You weren't in your room. We searched everywhere for you.” Aric said. 

Serafine’s brows knitted together slowly. “I must have been in the bathroom.”

I felt her lie in my bones.

“If so, why didn't you go to the kitchen today?” I asked coldly.

“I had constipation. I barely stayed ten minutes without visiting the toilet.” she answered smoothly. 

I smirked in my heart. She was hiding something.

I stepped closer, towering over her. “You expect me to believe you were in your toilet when everyone was searching for you?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

There was silence.

I could hear my wolf snarling, furious at being deceived.

“Call the pack doctor, Aric. Serafine needs some treatment.” I ordered.

Serafine's eyes flashed. 

“No.” she said sharply, “I mean I'm fine now. I can return to work.” she corrected herself quickly, lowering her gaze.

That confirmed my suspicion. She was never sick. Otherwise, she would have accepted my kind gesture instead of making an excuse.

I could tell she was hiding something.

“You’ve again disobeyed me,” I growled. She shrank in fear as I closed in on her. “You hid in your room, refusing to work in your assigned station.”

“I didn’t—”

“Enough.” Anger burned in me as I saw no iota of guilt in her eyes for lying to me. “You don't talk until I ask you to.”

She nodded at once.

“The pack doctor examines you now. Or you will be locked in this room for two days without food and water. Make your choice.” I said in a lethal voice.

Her head snapped up. Her next words surprised me.