[ Near Bloodfang territories]
Rory was on his way back, something clutched under his cloak, his face a little dusty, hair absolutely unkempt.
He didn’t actually think he would survive but he did. Praise the Moon.
The wind howled behind Rory. He rode faster and faster.
His horse thundered across the rough terrain, hooves hammering into the ground with reckless urgency. Dust clouds kicked up in their wake, spiraling into the air before settling into silence again.
Rory’s mind was singularly focused.However his horse looked worn out. He urged the beast faster, even though he knew it had been running for days at a stretch... nonstop.
"Come on, just a bit more... we are almost there," he muttered, his voice lost in the wind.
The flags of the Bloodfang territories finally came into view, dancing wildly against the afternoon sky.
And then he yanked the reins hard. The horse gave a half panicked whinny as it skidded, hooves sliding dangerously on loose gravel. The animal nearly lost its balance, veering sideways before regaining footing. Rory jumped off before the beast had even fully stopped.
"Go. Rest," he murmured, patting the horse’s soaked neck.
Without another word, the steed took off towards the stables.
Rory didn’t wait to catch his breath. His legs burned, his back ached from days of nonstop riding, and his eyes were rimmed with exhaustion.
He strode towards the inner quarters, headed straight for the office chamber where Velor usually took residence. The corridor guards stiffened at his presence.
"Requesting Alpha Velor’s presence," Rory barked," I bring classified and urgent news! Alpha’s special case! "
One of the men stepped forward cautiously. "He is not here, boy. He left in the morning for the All Alpha meet."
"The Meet," the guard repeated. "All Alpha congregation. Emergency summon. We believe it’s..."
" Trouble...An emergency All Alpha meet???I don’t like the sound of it...," Rory finished,his voice grave. His jaw tightened, his brows drawing low. "It always is trouble."
He ran a hand down his face, his fingertips crusted with dirt and blood from days on the road. "Fine. Then I should go visit Lady Autumn.Where is she?In the guest chamber? "
The guards exchanged glances. The silence that followed was immediate. And so awkward.
Rory turned, slowly, eyes narrowing. "I asked you a question...ok fine. I will go find out by myself."
The younger guard shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact.
And then the older one cleared his throat. "She is... missing...probably kidnapped."
"The Alpha’s men are actively searching for her. But she hasn’t been found yet..."
The words didn’t finish. Rory was already moving.
In a blur of rage, he crossed the distance and grabbed the guard by the collar, yanking him off his feet with startling strength. The younger guard flinched but didn’t intervene. Rory’s voice came out rough, ragged, like a growl ripping through his chest.
"What the hell do you mean kidnapped? She was under the Alpha’s protection...You let her vanish under your nose?"
"I...we don’t know!" the man choked. "She was cursed or something...then there was this strange Seer. Even the Lunas were injured trying to save her. The Seer vanished with her."
"So she could be anywhere!" Rory barked now, actually losing his head. "Dead, injured...worse...and all you have got is ’probably kidnapped’?"
The man shoved Rory off, panting hard. "We are just as shocked as you are! The Alpha is investigating!"
"Investigating?" Rory spat the word like it tasted foul.
He turned away, seething, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. The corridors swam slightly from the fatigue clawing at his spine, but rage was winning. " I shouldn’t have trusted Velor!! " Rory muttered, clenching and unclenching his fists.
He didn’t know where he was going next.
He just knew he needed to move. Do something.
And then...he heard a noise.
A group of armed guards were moving swiftly down the west wing corridor.
Not towards the war room.Not towards the barracks.But towards the dungeons.
Rory’s gaze sharpened. Something shifted in his gut.
A terrible thought crept into his mind like a shadow curling around his spine.
What if... Autumn hadn’t been taken?
What if she was being kept...hidden?
What if Velor... lied?
Rory didn’t waste a second.
With a fluid stealth, he ducked behind one of the stone columns. When the guards turned the corridor, he followed, gliding noiselessly along the edge of the wall. One of the older guards coughed. The keys at his belt jingled.
They reached the heavy, ironbound gate. The leader barked something Rory couldn’t hear, and the door groaned open.
He waited until the last man passed through before slipping in behind them, blending into the shadows with ease.
The air changed the moment he entered.
It was colder here. Wetter. Like the stone itself was weeping.Dungeons were never a welcome place no matter which pack.
Torchlight flickered down the long, arched hallway of cells. Metal groaned with every step. The scent of mildew, blood, and rust hung thick in the air.
Rory waited, then took the opposite turn from the guards. Quiet. Focused.
One cell after the next. Empty. Or filled with unconscious rogues too broken to speak.
"Autumn..." he whispered under his breath.
But there was no response.
He pressed on... kept going from cell to cell. Peeking, prying, trying to find her desperately.
And then suddenly his feet froze.
His eyes widened at what he saw. His chest tightened as he tried to make sure whether his eyes were playing tricks or not.
There was no Autumn but he saw someone he never even could have imagined seeing in a place like that.
A small built figure, slumped in the corner of one of the farthest cells, the light barely touching her shoulder. The cell wasn’t dirty but it wasn’t exactly humane either.
Her hair was matted with blood. Pale robes torn at the sleeves. How the fuck did she end up here?!
The name left his lips as a gasp.