CHAPTER 5 - THE TRAIL OF SCENT

Three months. Three agonizing months of traveling from one pack territory to another, and Kieran was no closer to finding his little rosemary than he was the night she vanished.

To the rest of the werewolf world, Alpha Kieran was on a tireless diplomatic tour. His official story was flawless: he was personally investigating the coordinated rogue attacks, checking on border security, and strengthening ties with his allies. It was a noble, commanding excuse that no one dared to question. But in reality? He was hunting for a ghost. He was hunting for a girl whose face he knew perfectly, whose voice haunted his thoughts, but whose name remained a cruel mystery.

Ever since that fateful night when she had broken down and whispered the word *mate*, she had never returned to his dreams.

Every single night, Kieran closed his eyes and prayed for the silver mist to take him back to the grand palace of his sleep. But the dream world remained frustratingly empty. Sometimes, he would catch a tiny, fleeting whiff of fresh rosemary while he slept, a cruel tease that made his heart clench in his chest. It made him wonder, with a sense of desperate agony, if she was still waiting for him at the edge of that dream house. Were they just keeping missed connections? Was she sleeping when he was awake, or awake when he was sleeping? The thought that she might be sitting by those phantom trees, crying and feeling abandoned all over again, made his inner wolf howl with pure rage.

"If you growl any louder, you're going to scare the horses, boss," a cheerful voice broke through Kieran's dark thoughts.

Kieran snapped his eyes open, glaring across the interior of the luxury SUV. Sitting opposite him was his Beta and childhood best friend, Marcus, who was currently grinning like an idiot. Next to Marcus was Luke, their intense, stoic Gamma. They were his two most trusted men, the only ones who knew the true, desperate reason behind this sudden three-month tour.

"I'm not in the mood, Marcus," Kieran rumbled, his voice low and dangerous.

"Oh, come on. You've been in a bad mood since March," Marcus laughed, completely unfazed by his Alpha's deadly expression. Marcus turned to Luke, nudging him with an elbow. "Hey, Luke, what do you think the excuse will be today? We've already used 'mandatory territory assessment' and 'strategic border evaluation.' What's the plan for the Silver Moon pack?"

Luke didn't smile, but a tiny smirk touched the corner of his lips. "The Alpha decided on a 'self-defense inspection' for this one, Marcus. We are officially here to ensure that every single wolf, regardless of rank, knows how to protect themselves against rogues."

Marcus burst out laughing, clapping his hands together. "A self-defense class! Beautiful. Absolutely brilliant. I love how our terrifying, ruthless Alpha has spent the last ninety days forcing every single pack leader to parade every single female wolf out into the courtyard under the guise of teaching them how to throw a punch." Marcus leaned forward, his face turning a bit more serious, though the teasing spark remained in his eyes. "You know, Kieran, the other Alphas are starting to think you're looking for a wife. Well, technically you *are*, but they think you're doing a royal talent search."

"She is hurting, Marcus," Kieran said, his tone dropping into a dark, heavy seriousness that instantly silenced the car. His claws peeked out, digging into the leather armrest. "She is out there somewhere, being maltreated. She thinks she is completely alone. I don't care if I have to invent a hundred more stupid excuses. I will see every female in this territory until I smell her."

Marcus's expression softened, a look of genuine sympathy crossing his face. Both Marcus and Luke were already happily mated. Marcus had found his mate, a fierce warrior named Chloe, three years ago. Luke had been blessed with his sweet mate, Lily, shortly after. They knew the absolute, unyielding power of the mate bond. They knew the peace it brought, and they knew the madness that came with losing it.

"We know, man," Marcus said gently, his usual teasing tone replaced by the fierce loyalty of a best friend. "We joke because it's the only way to keep you from tearing down entire forests out of frustration. But we are with you to the end. We'll inspect every pack in the world if we have to."

"We're arriving at the borders of the Silver Moon pack now," Luke announced, looking out the tinted window as the vehicle slowed down. "Alpha Richard and Luna Elena are waiting at the main gates."

Kieran turned his gaze to the window, his chest tight with a familiar, heavy anxiety. He had almost run through every single allied pack in the region. Over the last three months, he had visited dozens of territories, and every single time, he had left empty-handed. A dark, terrifying thought had been scratching at the back of his mind for the past week, and he couldn't ignore it any longer.

What if she wasn't here? What if she belonged to a pack that he wasn't on friendly terms with? The Moon Claw pack was respected and feared, but there were a few hostile, dark packs on the outer edges of the continent—packs ruled by cruel, power-hungry tyrants who hated Kieran's peaceful reign. If his little rosemary was trapped in one of those hostile territories, finding her would mean declaring an all-out, bloody war. He would do it in a heartbeat, but the thought of her suffering in a dark, enemy camp made his stomach twist into painful knots.

"This is one of our strongest allies," Luke muttered, checking his tablet. "Alpha Richard runs a tight ship. If there's anyone suspicious hiding in his ranks, we'll find them."

"Let's hope we don't have to go to the hostile zones," Marcus added softly, mirroring Kieran's unstated fears. "But let's focus on today first. Smell everyone. Leave no stone unturned."

The SUV rolled smoothly through the grand iron gates of the Silver Moon estate. Kieran looked out at the passing trees, his inner wolf pacing restlessly behind his ribs, sniffing the air through their shared senses. *Find her. Find our mate,* the beast demanded, its golden eyes burning in the back of Kieran's mind.

The vehicle finally came to a complete stop in front of the grand, sprawling Silver Moon pack house. It was a beautiful structure made of old stone and dark wood, surrounded by manicured lawns and bustling pack members who had all gathered to see the arrival of the world's most powerful Alpha.

Kieran adjusted his dark suit jacket, forcing his features into a cold, unreadable, commanding mask. The vulnerable, desperate man from the dreams had to be hidden away. To the world, he was the King.

The door was opened, and Kieran stepped out into the bright morning sunlight. Instantly, the heavy, respectful auras of Alpha Richard and Luna Elena bowed in greeting as they walked forward to welcome him.

Kieran took a deep breath, preparing to give his standard, polite greeting to the local leaders. He opened his mouth to speak, drawing a deep breath of the local wind into his lungs.