The loud crash sent a chill down my spine. I didn’t need to look outside to know what it was. The enemy pack had arrived.

“Cedrica! Edward!” I shouted, panic creeping into my voice. They were already running toward the window, their movements quick and determined. My heart raced as I stepped forward, locking eyes with Amira.

“Amira, get everyone inside now! Ethan’s still outside.” I didn’t wait for her response, turning to grab my phone. I needed to make sure my driver was safe, too.

Amira nodded, her expression tense. “I’ll handle it.” She rushed to the door, calling for Lina, her maid, to follow her.

I moved quickly toward the window, watching as Cedrica and Edward stood side by side, their eyes scanning the grounds. The silence in the house was suffocating.

“Do you see them?” I asked, my voice strained.

Cedrica didn’t answer. She simply turned, her eyes colder than before, and walked away from the window. Edward followed,

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but just as I was about to check on them, the door swung open with a creak, and in walked Deryan.

Deryan. The Alpha of the pack.

Amira’s husband.

His presence filled the room, commanding and full of power. As soon as his eyes met mine, my breath caught in my throat.

There was something about him, something so magnetic. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair falling messily around his sharp features.

I have to admit, Amira was lucky. Deryan was handsome, dashing, even. Not like my own Alpha, who spent his days hopping between women and causing chaos in our pack.

“Luna Zadre,” Deryan said with a calm, yet powerful voice,

“It’s good to see you again. Please, stay for dinner.” His words had a warmth to them, an invitation I couldn’t refuse.

I hesitated for a moment, but something in his gaze, the way he said my name, made it impossible to say no. “I’d be happy to stay,” I said, trying to mask the sudden flutter of my heart.

Amira’s eyes sparkled with joy. She rushed toward her husband, throwing her arms around him. “You’re finally back!” she exclaimed.

I watched them for a moment, before turning my attention back to the door. Cedrica and Edward were gone.

“Amira, have you seen Cedrica and Edward?” I asked, my voice tight.

Amira glanced at me over her shoulder, then at the door where her son and my daughter had disappeared.

“They’re probably fine. Let them be for now,” she said with a carefree tone.

“Come let’s just get the kitchen sorted. Nina’s in there too, come , let's cook.”

I nodded, trying to push the unease aside. I followed her into the kitchen,

The chatter and clinking of utensils helped distract me, but my thoughts kept drifting back to my daughter.

Where had she gone?

Time seemed to slow as we moved through the motions of setting the table and preparing the meal. Finally, the door to the dining room opened, and Edward walked in. Alone.

My stomach dropped. I had been expecting Cedrica to walk in with him, not just him. He looked at me, and there was something off about the way his body was stiff,

“Where’s Cedrica?” I asked, trying to mask the panic rising in my chest. “I thought she was with you.”

Edward shifted uncomfortably. “I thought she was with you,” he replied. His tone was strange, like he was confused, or maybe... lying?

I stared at him for a moment, trying to gauge the situation. My mind raced. Where was Cedrica? Why wasn’t she here?

“I’ll go check on her,” I said, pushing back from the table. My heart was pounding now,

But before I could move, Deryan’s voice stopped me.

“Don’t worry, Luna,” he said, his voice commanding. “I’ll go out and find her. The pack can handle this.”

I hesitated. Something in Deryan’s tone made me want to trust him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

“I’ll go with you,” I said, but Deryan held up a hand.

“No. Stay here with Amira,” he insisted. “You’ve had a long day.”

But I didn’t want to stay. I didn’t want to be here, not while my Cedrica was missing.

Deryan’s eyes softened for a split second, like he understood my worry,

“We’ll find her. I promise.”

I watched him leave,

Amira, sensing my unease, placed a hand on my arm. “Don’t worry, Zadre,” she said softly. “Deryan will bring her back.”

I nodded, though I didn’t believe her words.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Every noise outside made me jump. Every flicker of movement made my heart race. Finally, the door swung open again, and this time

It was Deryan. Alone. Again!.

I froze. The air around me thickened with tension. I didn’t even have to ask. I could see it in his eyes, something had happened. Something was wrong.

“What happened?” I demanded, my voice barely a whisper.

He swallowed, his jaw tightening. “We couldn’t find her,” he said, his voice low. “She’s gone.”

Gone!!

A chill swept over me. My body went cold, the room spinning around me. “What do you mean, gone?” I whispered.

He met my gaze, his eyes wide. “She’s not at the school. She’s not anywhere. We... we don’t know where she is.”

My mind raced, the panic now flooding my veins. “We need to find her,” I said urgently, turning to Amira. “Amira, we need to.......”

But Amira wasn’t there.

I turned to “Edward, where was she? You were the last person with Cedrica, right?”

He nodded, looking uncomfortable.

“Yes, Luna, we walked downstairs together. She said she needed to grab something from the car. I waited for her, but she never came back up. I thought she’d be right back. That was the last time I saw her.”

I didn’t let him finish before I spun on my heels and rushed towards the door. My head was a blur of thoughts, and I could barely think straight.

“I’ll deal with this now,” I muttered under my breath as I hurried down the stairs.

I needed answers. I needed to know where Amira had gone, where Cedrica was. Why were they both gone without a trace?

As soon as I stepped outside, I spotted Ethan, my driver, leaning against the car. He looked up at me in surprise, probably thinking we were about to leave.

“Ethan,” I called, my voice sharp, “Have you seen Cedrica?” I could hear the desperation in my tone.

Ethan looked confused.

“No, Luna,” he replied. “She hasn’t been out here. I thought you were going out, so I started the engine, but I didn’t see anyone.”

I frowned, feeling a sudden pit in my stomach. Where was my child? What was going on?

I stepped closer to Ethan, keeping my voice low. “Have you seen Cedrica?” I asked again , my words rushing out. “Is she with Amira?”

“No, Luna,” he said, shaking his head. “I haven’t seen Amira either. Are you sure she’s... missing?”

My heart skipped a beat. Was it possible that Cedrica was still here and just... hiding?

I was about to ask more questions when, suddenly, I saw her. Cedrica. She walked calmly down the stairs, her expression neutral, like nothing had happened.

I froze. She was alive. She was here.

“Cedrica!” I called, rushing towards her. “Where were you? Why didn’t you come back inside?” I needed answers, and I needed them now.

Cedrica glanced up at me, her face a mask of indifference.

“I’m fine, Mom,” she said flatly. “I just went outside for a while. No big deal.”

I didn’t buy it. Something was off. My daughter didn’t just disappear and act like nothing happened. “Are you sure?” I pressed, my worry turning into suspicion.

She nodded, but I could see something in her eyes that unsettled me. I had to know more. But before I could ask another question, she turned and walked toward the car.

“Cedrica, wait!” I called after her. “I need to get my bag. Stay here.”

She didn’t answer, just kept walking, and I had to hurry to catch up.

As I reached the car, I noticed something strange in the air, an unease, like something was out of place. But I pushed it aside for now, focusing on my next step.

I held her hand, “Let me quickly grab my bag, then we’ll leave,” I said, trying to reassure myself more than anyone else.

“Did you hear anything strange, Ethan?” I asked as I turned to my driver, my voice trembling slightly. “Any sounds, any signs of a pack or attack?”

Ethan shook his head, looking around the yard nervously. “No, Luna. I didn’t see anything unusual. But I heard some noise, like... rustling. It was probably just the wind, though.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. The enemy pack was close, i always trusted my intuition, and I could feel it in my bones. But where were they? Why hadn’t they attacked yet?

“I’m going inside,” I said quickly. “I need to grab my bag.”

I barely heard Ethan’s reply as I dashed back toward the house. My feet moved faster, but the unease gnawing at my gut only grew with every step. There was something wrong, something I couldn’t put my finger on.

As I stepped into the hallway and turned toward the stairs, I froze.

There, standing at the top of the stairs, was Daryan.

My pulse quickened. My body tensed as I tried to gather myself. There was no telling what he would say, what he would do next.

Daryan wasn’t just the Alpha of the pack. He was... dangerous. Even with Amira by his side, his power alone could change everything.

I tried to keep my composure, but there was no mistaking the sudden jolt in my chest.

As I stepped forward, Daryan looked at me, his gaze deep and knowing. He took a step toward me, his presence filling the hallway. Without a word, he reached out, taking my hand in his.

Before I could pull away, he gently drew me closer, his voice a low murmur in my ear.

“You’re not leaving yet, Zadre,” he said softly.

A shiver ran through me, and I couldn’t breathe. Something about his touch made everything inside me go still. I needed to break free, but his grip tightened, not painfully, but firmly.

“Daryan,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I, I need to go get my bag. Cedrica is...”

His eyes met mine, and there was something dark, something I couldn’t understand.

“Everything is about to change,” he said, his voice almost... soothing. “But not yet, Luna. Not yet.”

My heart pounded as he held me there, his gaze never leaving mine.

And then, without a word, he pulled me even closer. I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do.

This wasn’t just about Cedrica anymore.