spanng="EN"(Theodore’s POV)

spanng="EN"The phone connection was instantly severed. My eyes zed crimson, my Alpha aura radiating murderous intent.

spanng="EN"“Tell me, where is my mate?” My voice cut through the air like ice.

spanng="EN"Killian remained coldly defiant, his jaw set in stubborn silence. He refused to reveal Olivia’s location.

spanng="EN"But I had already pieced it together. The clues were all there.

spanng="EN"“I know my mate is in the Sovereign’s Citadel,” I said with chilling certainty. “In fact, beforest night, she was living in this very vi. You brought her here from the hotelst night.”

spanng="EN"Killian’s face grew paler with each word. Hisposure was cracking.

spanng="EN"I would find her even without his help. My eyesnded on a keychain sitting on the table – car keys with a distinctive fob.

spanng="EN"“Check his car for clues,” I ordered one of my Alpha’s Sentinels.

spanng="EN"While waiting, I sank into a tormented reverie. I could vividly picture Olivia in this very kitchen, moving gracefully between the counters.

spanng="EN"A bittersweet smile flickered on my face, turning my expression into something unsettling and eerie. The constant, torturous memory of her- so close yet untouchable – was a private hell that kept me perpetually on the edge.

spanng="EN"Logan howled in my mind, desperate and aching. We had been so close to her, breathing the same air she had breathed just hours before.

spanng="EN"The sentinel returned with crucial information. “Alpha, his car was parked in front of Alpha White’s office building yesterday morning.”

spanng="EN"I suddenly realized the truth. I had missed her by mere hours.

spanng="EN"Rage exploded through me as I rushed toward the door. The sentinel had already confiscated Killian’s phone and keys.

spanng="EN"In the Rolls–Royce, I tried to dial the number Killian had used from the seized phone. But I discovered it was a one–way securework line that could not be called back.

spanng="EN"Frustrated beyond measure, I drove straight to Alpha White’s office building.

spanng="EN"Alpha White greeted me politely, thanking me for my technical support. But then he mentioned that he had already found “more distinguished experts.”

spanng="EN"I sensed he was being sarcastic, but I couldn’t care less about his attitude.

spanng="EN"“I need permission to enter and look for a friend,” I requested.

spanng="EN"Alpha White agreed without question.

spanng="EN"As I walked into the office building, I seemed to smell Olivia’s scent. A ghostlike presence that intensified my painful hope.

spanng="EN"Logan howled excitedly in my mind, recognizing her lingering essence in the air.

spanng="EN"(Olivia’s POV)

spanng="EN"I left the office building feeling aplished. The case had been solved sessfully.

spanng="EN"Alpha White gratefully thanked me for my help. “I really envy Matthew, having such a capable partner,” he said enthusiastically.

spanng="EN"After walking out the door, I finished a phone call with Killian. He had sounded concerned about my safety, but I assured him I was fine.

spanng="EN"I decided to find a cafe to rest before heading back. The investigation had been mentally exhausting.

spanng="EN"While passing through a small alley, I saw Matthew’s name sh on my phone screen. Perfect timing – I wanted to update him on the case.

spanng="EN"Just as I was about to answer, a young pup ran toward me with a bouquet of flowers. He looked no older than eight, with innocent eyes and a bright smile.

spanng="EN"“For you, miss!” he said cheerfully, holding out the beautiful arrangement.

spanng="EN"I saw the adorable pup offering me flowers and unsuspectingly took them. The sweet fragrance filled my nostrils as I took a deep breath.

spanng="EN"The world suddenly went pitch ck.

spanng="EN"When I woke up, I found the car had stopped. My head pounded with a splitting headache.

spanng="EN"I was bound by silver ropes, thrown in a car trunk. The metal burned against my skin wherever it touched.

spanng="EN"Staring back at me was a man with obvious burn scars covering half his face. His eyes held a familiar malice that made my blood run cold.

spanng="EN"He was Silvanus’s son and ra’s full–blooded brother. The family resemnce was unmistakable despite the disfigurement.

spanng="EN"“You’re finally awake,” he said with hysterical anger. “Do you know what you’ve done to our family? What did you do to my sister ra?”

spanng="EN"His voice cracked with rage and desperation. The scars on his face twisted as he spoke, making his expression even more grotesque.

spanng="EN"I tried to assess my situation. The silver ropes were tight, burning my wrists. But I needed to stay calm and think clearly.

spanng="EN"“Your sister brought her fate upon herself,” I said evenly. “I had nothing to do with her choices.”

spanng="EN"He backhanded me across the face. The force made my ears ring.

spanng="EN"“Liar! You destroyed everything! Our family, our future, everything!”

spanng="EN"I looked at the river in front of us, trying to summon my wolf. But Zoe was unresponsive due to the silver cord’s restraint.

spanng="EN"The metal was suppressing my supernatural abilitiespletely.

spanng="EN"Despite the difficult situation, I remained calm. Panic would only make things worse.

spanng="EN"k********g me will only destroy your fate,” I warned him. “You’re making a terrible mistake.”

spanng="EN"He punched me again, this time in the stomach. I doubled over, gasping for air.

spanng="EN"“I’m going to throw you into the river,” he revealed his n with sick satisfaction. “No one will ever know what happened to you.”

spanng="EN"I responded cleverly, bluffing with the only card I had left. “My body is imnted with a tracker monitoring my location and vital signs. Danger alerts are ready at any moment.”

spanng="EN"Silvanus Jr remained unmoved by my words. He grabbed my backpack and threw it forcefully into the raging river.

spanng="EN"The current swept it away instantly, taking any real hope of rescue with it.

spanng="EN"Then he began binding my limbs with silver chains, attaching heavy stones to weigh me down. The silver chains burned my wrists, leaving angry red marks.

spanng="EN"I nced at the time on his watch. Three hours had passed since my capture.

spanng="EN"“Three hours have passed already,” I said mockingly. “My danger was discovered three hours ago. Thew enforcement is on their way. I’mughing so hard, you’re such an idiot.”

spanng="EN"My words made him even angrier. His scarred face contorted with rage.

spanng="EN"“Let’s see how much you can talk in the river in a moment,” he snarled.

spanng="EN"When he was about to kick me into the water, I yed my final card.

spanng="EN"“I am Luna of Matthew Kane,” I dered. “No matter who ordered my capture, let me go, and I can pay you double the reward.”

spanng="EN"Mentioning that powerful Alpha King’s name – a name that even Can feared – made Silvanus Jr hesitate.

spanng="EN"His confidence wavered for just a moment. But it was enough.

spanng="EN"Seizing the moment of his hesitation, I used all my strength to lift my stone–bound hands. I hooked them around Silvanus Jr’s legs, using my own falling momentum to knock him down.

spanng="EN"A sharp scream pierced the air, followed by a huge ssh. Silvanus Jr fell into the river.

spanng="EN"I also fell, desperately grabbing an old tree root on the riverbank. My body hung vertically, the silver rope burning my hands until they bled.

spanng="EN"“Help!” I called toward the shore. “Someone help me!”

spanng="EN"Three hours had passed! I just needed to hold on for a few more minutes.

spanng="EN"Thew enforcement team would surely arrive soon. The Syndicate’s protectionwork must have discovered my danger and quickly notified Matthew.

spanng="EN"He would have certainly immediately called the police. They must be on their way.

spanng="EN"Just hold on for a few more minutes!

spanng="EN"My body seemed to be mercilessly pulled by thousand–pound gravity. I felt my muscles tearing under the strain.

spanng="EN"Aurora’s face shed through my mind, then Matthew’s. If I died, I wondered if Matthew could raise her properly.

spanng="EN"If he got a new partner, would he still cherish Aurora like his own daughter?

spanng="EN"I was about to lose my grip. My fingers were slipping on the wet root.

spanng="EN"In the moment of falling, water rushed into my ears, instantly filling my throat.

spanng="EN"Just then, a familiar and desperate call came through our mate bond: “Olivia…”