Chapter 0063

My eyelids flutter open, revealing the familiar ceiling of my bedroom. The IV needle stings in my arm as awareness floods back.

I shoot upright.

"EVELYN!"

My mother rushes to my side as I scramble off the mattress. "Adrian, wait—"

I yank the IV out. Blood beads on my skin. "I don't need a doctor. I need my mate."

The scent of pack leadership pulls me toward Father's office. I burst through the door without knocking.

"Where is she?" My voice cracks like thunder.

Father rises, palms raised. "We have trackers combing the territory—"

"You don't understand!" My fist slams the desk. "Victor wanted her. I was just bait!"

Grant Sinclair steps forward. His voice slices through my rage. "Alpha Adrian. Breathe."

He's the only one who could stop me from shifting right now. I suck in air through clenched teeth, scanning the room.

Father and Grant lead the strategy session. Sebastian's here with his Beta, Nathaniel. Benedict, Donovan's father, stands beside my friend.

I collapse into a chair. "I followed Victor when he appeared on the ridge. He ambushed me." My knuckles whiten. "When he had me pinned, he kept saying he wanted Evelyn."

Father leans forward. "Do you recognize him?"

"Evelyn called him the Banished Beta."

Sebastian vaults to his feet. "She said that? Those exact words?"

"Yes. Victor Blackwood, the Banished Beta."

Sebastian's fist connects with the wall. Plaster dust rains down. When he turns, his eyes burn with decades-old pain. "That monster murdered my mother."

The room temperature plummets.

Theron stirs in my chest, his rage fueling mine. Victor Blackwood—Isolde's killer—has my mate.

I surge to my feet. "Then why are we sitting here?"

Sebastian gets in my face. "We wouldn't be if you hadn't charged in like a reckless pup! And then what? You let your Guardian sacrifice herself?"

My fist flies toward his jaw.

Grant catches both our wrists mid-swing. His alpha aura slams into us like a tidal wave. "Enough!"

We freeze.

"Either help find my daughter," he growls, "or get out."

Sebastian and I glare at each other, chests heaving.

"Understood?" Grant barks.

We mutter simultaneous "Yes, sir" and drop back into our seats.

I rake hands through my hair. "Evelyn's my mate. I tried to stop her—used every alpha command I had. But she's her father's daughter." My gaze locks with Grant's. "Nothing would've stopped her from fulfilling her Guardian oath."

Theron howls inside me. The bond aches like an open wound. Somewhere out there, Evelyn's in the hands of a murderer. And I'll burn the world down to get her back.