Chapter 5 5

CHAPTER FIVE.

ONCE ABUSED. NOW LOVED.

RYDER.

Alpha Zed was trembling so much that his knees gave out and he was bowing, with his face pinned to the ground.

"Please spare my life and that of my people, Alpha Prince!" He wailed, rubbing his two hands frantically.

I wasn't paying attention to his theatrics. In reality, I was still lost in the words he'd said when he rushed in. They were too heavy and hurting to comprehend, and they were echoing inside my head.

Did he just say Hara's missing? How's that even possible? It makes no sense. I couldn't help but think of it all as a scheme; of course, he wouldn't want me taking the mate of one of his people, so he thinks he can feed me this thrash. I'll be damned if I believe this bullshit!

My angry strides closed up the distance between us and I stomped hard on his fingers, crushing those little things underneath my foot.

He cried so loudly I thought his warlords outside would come rushing in. But they didn't, they wouldn't dare come in here uninvited.

"Son, let go of him this minute! Get a grip for Goddess' sake!"

"He's lying, Father. Every single word he spewed is nothing but godforsaken lies!"

"No...no...please, I'm not lying. You have to believe me. I'm telling you the truth. Hara's...ahhhh!" His words were enveloped in his cries, as I crushed his fingers harder.

"Say the word 'missing' again and I'll have you hurled into the deepest part of hell. There, you'd be in the company of pathetic liars such as yourself!"

"I swear on my life, Alpha-Prince. Hara's not at home, nor here in the palace. She's got no friends so we can't assume she's visiting them,"

"Why doesn't she have any friends? Is she antisocial or just loves being alone?"

"I'm not sure which one is the case, Alpha-Prince. But what I do know is that she's always in the company of her mate, Roland,"

The great tide of spite that rushed through me had my foot crush his fingers even harder. I heard a crack sound, and his cries were louder than usual now. I didn't need to be told that I'd crushed a finger or two.

"Has she done this before? Has she ever disappeared without a trace?"

"No, Alpha-Prince. This is the first time and that's why we're scared. What if something bad has happened to her?"

I gave his fingers one last crushing before walking away from him, to the other end of the room.

Putting a reasonable amount of distance between us would be the only way I can guarantee him leaving here alive. Red was in a monstrous rage and it wouldn't be long enough before he'd be sticking his claws into something, or perhaps, someone.

"Get me her..." I couldn't say the word 'mate'. Calling my mate someone else's mate is as suicidal as injecting tons of silver into my bloodstream. Yeah, it was that detrimental.

"Roland?!" Alpha Zed inquired. My guess was, he'd noticed my discomfort in saying the word 'mate'.

"Yes, him. Bring him here right now. If he was always glued to Hara as you'd said, then he should have a clue about her whereabouts,"

Alpha Zed bowed and scurried off, tripping one too many times.

"Let me make this clear, son. The only reason I'm sitting here watching you continue your insanity is because I don't wanna embarrass you in front of them but you're pushing it!"

"Father, you have to see things as they are. These folks are trying to keep her away from me. I'm not gonna let that happen!"

"So what if they're keeping her away? She has a mate! She is not a member of your pack! She owes you nothing!"

"She owes me everything, Father. She is my mate. She's the reason I've had it rough for the past twenty-seven years. She owes me a whole lot more than words could say,"

"She has a mate!! What do I get to do to stick that reality into that brain of yours, Ryder?! Hara is mated! Get your claws off another man's woman and go find yours!"

"She is mine!!!" The words came out in an explosive, possessive tone, with a beastly growl.

"No, she's not! Earth to you, Ryder, for heaven's sake! What do you think would happen if the words spread that your desperation for a mate led you into taking someone else's?!"

"I couldn't give a damn what the people would say. I'm having Hara, even if that brings about an apocalypse!"

"You stupid boy! You're mistaken if you think I built an empire just to have you ruin it with one reckless decision!"

I was gonna say another word but we got interrupted by the approaching footsteps. It's about damn time!

Alpha Zed walked in with Roland and they both went on their knees. My gaze trailed to the cast tied around his arm to hold it up. I'm afraid he'd be having more than that if he thinks of lying to me.

"Where is she?!"

"I'm sorry, your highness. But I have no idea. I'm very much abashed by the news and all I wanna do now is go look for her,"

"Tell me something, Roland. Does she have a reason to just up and leave?"

"Not a single one, Your highness. Hara and I, we're the epitome of a blessed union. Everyone can attest to that. That's why I fear that she might be in danger,"

It was fucking hard to keep up a calm interrogation when this man was punching all the buttons of my rage. Beheading him was not enough punishment for the tsunami of jealousy brewing inside me.

"Alpha - Prince, if you'd allow it, I'd like to dispatch our warlords into every corner of the woods. If she was running away, then she might not have gotten far. If she was in danger, then we might still have a chance to save her,"

At that moment, the harsh reality dawned on me. This was real. Hara was indeed missing. Why tonight? Why now?

"Alpha - Prince?"

"Yes, Zed. You do that. Get your men combing every corner of the woods, every house, every street. Don't leave a place unturned. We have to find her, tonight !"

Alpha Zed bowed and left with Roland. I felt Father would wanna start another argument session but that'll have to wait. There's no way I'm gonna sit around and do nothing.

I have to find her. It was a matter of urgency and need.

"Just remember this," Father said, making me pause in my tracks, "If you don't find her tonight, then you're gonna forget about her, forever!"

His words just raised the stakes of this search. I'd barely made it outside when Red took full control, dashing into the woods like a ravenous beast.

I ran through every corner of the woods and sniffed up every single scent. None of it was like Hara's. But I wasn't stopping. Red wouldn't stop searching for his mate.

It was until the moon disappeared and a crack of dawn shone on my fur that I realized how hopeless this was.

My last run led me to a cliff and I stood there, howling endlessly in sadness and despair.

I think Jason traced my howls because I sniffed him next to me.

"You're needed in the palace, Ryder. Your Father wants that apology. And I hate to be the one to say this, but we're leaving in an hour. I'm sorry, Ryder. I truly am," Jason patted my shoulder soothingly.

I shifted back to my Human form, with my knees to the ground and my hand rubbing at my aching heart.

Red had crawled back to the back of my mind, whimpering endlessly. This could be the end of him, I feared.

"I have to be somewhere, Jason. I'll meet you in the palace," Was all I could say, as I walked past him.

In a few minutes, I was standing outside the cottage. The door opened and he was standing behind it, shirtless.

"I...uh..." I gulped. Not that I was scared, but not finding Hara made me lose the effrontery to call her mine. And if I never see her, then she'll go down history as Roland's mate. I Hated to do this, but I had to give it to him - he won. He was known as Hara's mate and I...as the man who'd been delusional for a night.

"Do you need something, your highness?"

"Can I see a picture of her?" It was all I could ask for. A picture - proof that Hara existed.

He hesitated but bowed and headed inside. Seconds later, he showed up with a photo.

"This was from our last picnic. Hara loved flowers, so the garden was our favorite place,"

I took the photo and my heart slammed hard against my chest as I saw they were both in the picture. But I barely noticed him as she was all I stared at. Hara. She was indeed statuesque, enchanting.

When I got to the palace, everyone was waiting. I went to stand beside Father and gave a curt bow.

"Alpha Zed, Jake. I'm sorry about the chaos I caused. Let it slide. It'll never happen again,"

"It's okay, Alpha-Prince. It was just a mere confusion. Nothing more,"

Saying what I felt last night was mere confusion made me wanna pull his eyes out of their sockets. A mere confusion wouldn't turn my world upside down, you idiot!

"Let's go, son. Till next time, Zed. I'm grateful for your understanding." Father said his farewells to Zed and in thirty minutes, I was locked in my limo, heading back to our pack.

The farther we were away from the Red Moon pack, the more miserable I felt.

Luckily, I was alone in this limo. Father's car was in front and Jason was riding with the other Betas in the car at the back of mine.

I was alone to mourn my loss. I hadn't stopped staring at her picture, it was just her now. I'd torn Roland's face off the photo.

Where are you, Hara? Did you leave or are you in danger? If only I could go to you. But I can't, and it hurts.

I gave the picture a firm kiss. It is my favorite thing now. I glanced at the wind-down window and realized we were passing the border of the Red Moon pack.

"See you on the other side of the moon, Hara." I soliloquized, gripping the photo even tighter.