Chapter Ten

Author POV

The guards rushed up to Alpha Summer, their faces pale.

“Where the hell are they?” Summer’s roar shook the night.

“My Alpha,” the lead guard stammered, “we searched everywhere—every tree, the old house by the ridge. There’s no trace of them. I fear they might have been attacked by rogues. No one could run that far without being caught. The path ends at a river beneath the mountain.”

Summer’s hand shot out, gripping the guard by the neck. The man choked, eyes bulging.

“Fool!” Alpha Summer snarled, his voice like a whip. “How could you not find them? Beta Alex has already left in anger and told me to call the moment they’re found. Do you even understand the danger this pack faces if we lose them?”

He released the guard with a shove, his fury radiating like heat. Summer’s gaze swept the area, sharp and calculating—then froze.

A car sat half-hidden in the shadows. Alpha Caleb’s car.

Summer’s lips peeled back in a dark grin. “If he’s hiding, he’ll come for this.” He stepped closer, eyes narrowing on the polished frame. “This car cost him dearly. A man like him… he wouldn’t abandon it. Burn it, and he’ll crawl out from whatever hole he’s in.”

He clenched his fist, the veins in his arm standing out. “Burn that car down,” he ordered, his voice a deadly growl.

The guards hesitated for half a heartbeat—then moved.

Alpha Summer stood with his arms crossed, eyes glinting as he watched the flames devour the car. The fire crackled and hissed, thick smoke twisting into the night sky. Still—no one came out of hiding.

His phone rang, slicing through the roar of burning metal. He checked the screen and saw Selena.

Moving a few steps away from the guards, he answered in a low voice. “Have you captured her grandmother? If Kaia learns the old woman is missing, she’ll come running back.”

“Father,” Selena replied, her voice tense. “When we reached their hut, she wasn’t there. We searched the area, but she’s nowhere to be found.”

“What!” Summer’s roar exploded through the night. The guards turned toward him, startled.

He shot them a deadly glare. “Get back to work! Into the woods—find them!”

The guards scrambled, disappearing into the darkness.

“Father,” Selena continued urgently, “if Kaia Summer and her grandmother have escaped, it’ll be dangerous. She could return one day to blackmail us.”

“For now, pretend to be Kaia,” Summer ordered. “Ask around the neighborhood. Someone must know where they went.”

“I already tried,” Selena said. “People said rogues attacked. Everyone ran for their lives. No one has seen her grandmother since.”

Summer tightened his grip on the phone, eyes narrowing. “Rogues… the same ones who attacked earlier—and now again? That’s no coincidence.” His voice dropped, sharp and calculating. “We’re being played. I think that man, Ethan, is one of them. His people must have staged the attack to rescue Kaia.”

Selena gasped. “So Kaia’s in love with a rogue? What the hell!”

Summer’s teeth clenched. “Come home. We’ll decide our next move there.”

The call ended, leaving only the sound of crackling flames and Summer’s dark fury hanging in the night.

*****

He finally chuckled, a low sound that broke the heavy silence. “My name is Jeffrey,” he said at last.

Kaia tilted her head, still wondering why it had taken him so long to answer. “Why the delay? Were you trying to keep it a secret?”

Jeffrey scoffed lightly. “Nothing like that. I just… felt the bond between us. It’s strange. I don’t usually let anyone this close. My personal space is sacred, and yet here I am, sitting with you. It’s… new to me.”

Kaia’s lips curved in a shy smile. “Do you feel comfortable with me here? I could stay overnight and leave tomorrow if you want.”

Before Jeffrey could reply, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and picked up immediately.

“Hello,” he said, his voice shifting into a quiet authority.

“We’ve rescued her grandmother,” a man’s voice reported. “But she wants to confirm if the girl is safe.”

Jeffrey’s eyes softened. “Put her on.”

A moment later, the trembling voice of an elderly woman filled the line.

“Your grandmother wants to talk to you,” Jeffrey said, handing the phone to Kaia.

Kaia snatched it, her fingers shaking. “Grandma? Grandma, are you okay?” Tears blurred her vision.

“Kaia, my lovely child,” her grandmother’s voice cracked with relief. “Where are you? Are you safe?”

Kaia nodded instinctively, as though her grandmother could see her through the call. “Grandma, I… I thought Father had finally changed. I thought he wanted to be a real parent. But he took me there to marry a cursed Alpha—someone who only has three months to live. After that, they planned to kill him and use me to claim the throne with another man’s child. But the Moon Goddess saved me.”

Her words spilled out, heavy with hurt and betrayal, tears streaming unchecked.

Jeffrey’s jaw tightened at the mention of the curse, but he stayed silent, his eyes locked on her, reading the pain behind every word.

“Grandma,” Kaia choked, “I still can’t feel my mate bond. I don’t even know who he is. How dare they try to force me into marriage? You always told me to marry for love, not position. Maybe if my mother hadn’t cared about status and married my father, I wouldn’t be trapped like this. But she sacrificed everything to protect you. Please, Grandma… pray for me.”

“My sweet Kaia,” her grandmother said, her tone firm despite the worry. “Summer is no father—he’s a tyrant. But don’t lose hope. The Moon Goddess never fails her children. Your mate is near you. You will feel the bond soon, I promise.”

Kaia swallowed hard, clutching the phone tighter as a small, trembling nod escaped her.

“Grandma, I’ll come to see you tomorrow. Please take care of yourself,” Kaia said softly.

“Stay where you are for now, my daughter,” Grandma replied firmly. “I’m safe here, but we can’t underestimate Summer. Keep your heart open so you can finally connect with your mate. Do you understand?”

Kaia nodded even though her grandmother couldn’t see her.

The call ended, leaving a heavy silence in the room. Kaia lowered the phone, then turned toward Jeffrey—Alpha Caleb—and without thinking, threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

“Thank you for saving my life and my grandma’s,” she whispered against his chest. “I owe you so much. I’ll do anything to repay you.”

Jeffrey looked down at her, his eyes searching hers. “Anything at all?” he asked, his voice low.

Kaia blinked but didn’t pull away. “Anything.”

“Then promise you’ll stay here with me,” he said, his tone carrying a quiet plea. “You give me a sense of confidence I haven’t felt in years. I want to see you every day… at least until you find your mate.”