Chapter 4 The Unseen Threads

feeling miserable. "No one knows where she is." "Damn it!" Kael cursed, slamming his fist on the table. "I will not let this go unpunished."

Kaleb was about to take action when Gavin interrupted, looking troubled. "Alpha," he said softly. "As much as it hurts to say this, you can't go out there alone." "Why not?" Kael snapped back. Gavin took a step closer, more confident now. "Because there is no way of hunting her down if you don't know what she looks like," he replied.

Kael felt his heart begin racing again; it was true that Elara hadn't changed much from the pictures they had together back then. "Fine..." He replied begrudgingly. He pulled back from the desk but then paused midway through pulling out the drawer until finally resulting in nothing being done at all besides moving around some papers and pointing at various objects around him which made no sense whatsoever until finally stopping at one object he never thought would come into play again until now.

Twenty minutes later they were outside the pack's borders when Kael yelled for everyone else to stop chasing them because this was going nowhere fast anyways...

It took them a while waiting there by a big oak tree as they tried to catch their breath amidst all the confusion about what just happened only moments ago inside his room...

He had tried thinking of alternatives since he knew too well that these thoughts were just going to torment him unless something substantial was done about them."

Suddenly searching for something within her own bag prompted Eira to say something important.

"Oh well." Eira shrugged casually at herself but Kael quickly reminded her why doing so wasn't necessarily acceptable. He stared deep into her eyes knowing exactly what would happen if she didn't stop asking any more questions.

Gavin licked dry lips telling them that they needed to get Elara as soon as possible.

When they got to the pack house after a lengthy delay when Kael had told them they were going back home since he wasn't playing anymore, Gavin came up with an idea – "How about we just wait here?"

"Are you crazy?" multiple voices said at once.

He then repeated himself more loudly.

After twenty minutes of waiting silently under a very huge oak tree, all of them started breathing heavily while trying to make sense out of what just happened inside Kael's room..."I don't want to be responsible for this," Kaleb thought over again and again until he knew he couldn't bear it anymore.

Suddenly going through her own bags prompted Eira to say anything important but at the same time knew too well that either way she would pay heavily for not stopping being inquisitive.

Do we need Elara Gavin to laugh dryly?

A heart-rending news reached Gavin's ears. "Elara is no longer among us, and she can't be found," he said.

At once, Kael's eyes blazed with anger and suspicion. "Another pack won't stop," he spat out the words full of hatred for all Alphas. "They're already trying to grab her from us."

Turning towards Gavin, whose resolve was already hardening, he spoke, "Call in our warriors. We will meet them and bring back Elara."

But Gavin hesitated, knowing they were outnumbered in this case. "Alpha; it would be a disaster to face all three packs even if we are strong enough."

Kael knew that he was correct because although his warriors were tremendous, they could not win against three other alphas together. A plan was vital now. After a moment of tension-filled silence, Kael had an idea on what to do. "I will have a word with Rhys," he said firmly. "He is among the most sensible ones."

Later during the darker parts of nightfall everywhere throughout the land Kael left home bound for Rhys. The pair had never been friends but they respected each other at least a little bit. The best ally available during times like this should be someone bearing Rhys's name due to possessing such composure and strategy skills.

They met deep in the woods where moonlight flooded everything around them in silver hues raining down like stars fading into nightfarers' eyes glistening bright upon earth beneath these ancient trees whose cypress standing next him prevented their intruder further approach keeping arms crossed low against his chest while watching over someone else who came closer step by step breaking that eternal silence preserved amid living things ever since time began within nature itself which only existed for them alone.

He said, "What's the matter? Why did you want to meet me in private?" to which he, his voice calm yet puzzled, greeted Kael with a slight nod.

Kael continued without beating about the bush. "Elara has gone missing. I think someone may have taken her and I need your assistance in locating her."

Rhys turned his eyebrows together and looked worried. "Taken? By who?"

Kael hesitated for a moment and then admitted, "I don't really know for sure. But if we are going to find her, we must combine our efforts."

He paused for a moment while Rhys considered it with an expression of deep thought. "Do you suspect one of us might be involved?"

Kael confessed that he had been thinking along those lines at some point. However, now he wasn't so certain any longer. There could be an alternative force behind all this mess instead.

Rhys nodded slowly realizing how serious this situation was. "You can count on me," he said hesitantly adding, "but we must tread carefully. Power is too delicate; any wrong move could cause chaos."

The two Alphas clasped their hands together sealing their momentary partnership. They will search for Elara together while putting off their rivalry for the time being.

The forest around them held its breath as they considered their next steps amidst the soundless night full of possibilities and dangers; it seemed to crackle with the tension of change.

At just how far ahead she was taken into a secret camp deep inside the woods, Elara she found herself caught up in politicians who made use of others' fate as instruments.The captors filled her belly and thirst basket but gave no rights to walk freely.

Elara, however, spent her days trying to analyze her captors' weaknesses in a bid to flee. Nevertheless, she knew that it would be difficult to escape but not impossible with a determined mind. Her thoughts raced with various schemes that grew more frantic by each moment.

The remaining Alphas were simmering in conflict back at the village. Finn was uneasy because he suspected that Lorne was up to dirty tricks while Lorne did not know about Kael and Rhys' peace treaty with him.

Finn had some watchful Betas who remained resolute while they prepared themselves for any immediate conflict. Lorne, on the other hand, sat brooding in his camp filled with strong doubts and fury.

As time passed, it became clear that urgency was mounting. Everyone understood that what happened as a consequence of what the Moon Goddess said about Silver Ridge was a complete mystery.

Together Kael and Rhys set out to find out what had really happened to Elara. They found evidence of violence at the edge of the forest and followed it, grimly determined to see where it led.

Even though their alliance was not without tensions, it worked very well for them. A combination of Kael's powerful drive and Rhys's strategic thinking created an unstoppable team.

Their search took them deeper into the woods, where trees were so thick one could hardly see daylight through them and there was an air of suspense in addition to the thick mist around them. They moved quietly because any misstep could lead their enemies onto their scent.

Eventually, the rogue camp was found when day broke on the third day. It was a beehive of activities in the middle of trees as rogues moved with purpose plotting their next move.

The heart of Kael was pounding with a mix of relief and rage when he saw Elara whose figure he could not miss among shadows. She looked unharmed but her eyes showed determination.

"Let's wait," Rhys said, placing a hand on Kael's arm. "We need a plan." According to him, rushing in would only put her at more risk.

Kael nodded unwillingly, forcing himself to stay calm. They then came up with an idea that could help them outsmart the rogues and save Elara.

Still in the act of planning, all around them sounded like a lull especially as they set to strike; there was tension in the atmosphere thick with something about to happen soon. These were dark days for Silver Ridge: its fate lay hanging in mid-air waiting for sacrifices from Kael and Rhys.