Chapter 3 Commotion in the land

Alpha Idris of the Viridian Moon Pack was enjoying his time with his high-ranking officials at the banquet he had organized to celebrate his daughter finding her mate-the future alpha of his pack. He could finally rest from pack matters and enjoy time with his beautiful Luna, Sera, knowing his pack was in good hands. The Moon Goddess had truly blessed him: first with a wonderful daughter who was dutiful, strong, and kind, and second with a powerful son-in-law, a man who knew how to lead.

Though some members of his council weren't fully in favour of the merger, he was confident since Rustyn had proven he was a promising young lad. After several conversations with him, Idris knew the young lad was more than capable of handling things during the transition. He couldn't be more grateful to the moon goddess.

Just as he was about to raise a toast to the new alliance they were about to form with the Falu Red Pack, news arrived that his beloved daughter was nowhere to be found. Beta Federick of the viridian moon pack pulled his alpha aside. "Alpha, we've searched everywhere for your daughter. We've combed the entire pack house and even your chambers, but she's nowhere to be found."

Idris couldn't comprehend what his beta had just said. His whole world started to spin. Did his beta just say that Ava was missing? This must be some kind of sick joke he thought. How could his daughter be gone? turning to his beta he spoke

"Federick, where is Rustyn? Has he heard the news yet?"

"Yes, Alpha. He was the one who alerted the guards when he couldn't find her." Idris instructed his beta to find Rustyn and tell him to meet him in his chambers. The beta scurried off to deliver the message while Idris told his luna and council to handle the party as he went to his chambers to wait his daughter's mate.

On reaching where Rustyn was beta Federick greeted the young alpha with respect even though he was older, bowing his head he said "I greet you, Alpha Rustyn of the Falu Red Pack. Alpha Idris requests your presence in his chambers."

While Idris waited, tension gripped him as his mind raced through all the possible reasons why Ava was missing. Could she have been kidnapped? he thought, but he knew no enemy was brave or stupid enough to abduct his daughter, especially now that the world knew she was mated to the Alpha of the powerful Falu Red Pack, whose reputation preceded them. Even if some fool dared to try, his daughter was no weakling. She was strong, witty, and smart, so she would have made a ruckus, alerted the guards. This disappearance didn't sit right with him. He could only come to one reasonable conclusion: Ava had left willingly. But why? He knew she disliked the idea of ruling alongside someone instead of on her own terms, but that didn't seem like enough reason to leave. Perhaps something had happened between her and Rustyn, had the young lad done something to make his daughter leave, he wondered.

Rustyn grew more restless with each passing second. He could feel the bond between him and Ava weakening, the connection barely holding on, proving that wherever she was right now, it was far from this pack. Stopping in the hallway, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. How had he let this happen? He should have marked her the moment he met her or at least within a few days. If he had, she wouldn't have been able to leave without his knowledge. Even if she wanted to leave, he would have sensed it through the bond, and the pull wouldn't have allowed her to go far without alerting him. And if she had been taken against her will, she would have screamed or fought back. From the short time he had spent with her, he knew she wasn't weak, and her strength was well-known across the packs, and no one would dare to attempt kidnaping her in her own pack especially now that the world knew she was his, so this led him to only one reasonable conclusion, his mate had left willingly.

When he had first felt the pull towards her, he was shocked because he knew who she was, her reputation was well known in their realm, he knew the Moon Goddess had given him a rare blessing. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have a mate admired for her beauty, strength, and intelligence, and she came with a powerful pack that would soon be his. She was the full package, his trophy wife, one to boast about to the world. But after a few interactions, he realized she was strong-willed and independent. She didn't want her father to know about their relationship, and Rustyn knew he had to act fast and marry her before she changed her mind. Given her personality, he wouldn't have been surprised if she rejected the mate bond. So, he tried to make her understand him, showing her what she wanted to see. He thought he had played all his cards right, but something went wrong it seems.

As he resumed his walk to Alpha Idris's chambers, realization haunted him: Ava didn't want the union, so she left. But why didn't she want it? They were perfect together, at least in his eyes. Rustyn wondered how he would face everyone tomorrow when they learned his bride had fled the night before their wedding. The embarrassment of not being able to "handle" his woman might lead some to doubt his ability to manage his pack, and at this critical moment, he needed everyone's support for the merger. Now, the woman who was supposed to be his greatest supporter had vanished, and with each passing second, their bond weakened further he didn't know how to feel so he blocked his thoughts from wandering and continued his walk silently to her father's chambers.

Sera knew her daughter well enough. Though she hadn't raised Ava herself because of her duties as Luna, their bond was strong. She had made a conscious effort to connect with her daughter every weekend since she was a little girl, and that's why when news of Ava's disappearance reached her, she didn't panic. Contrary to what others thought, she wasn't in shock. Sera knew Ava had left intentionally. She had seen it in her daughter's eyes at the banquet, just moments before Ava had dashed out of the hall. Her green eyes had shone with an intensity that only appeared when she had made up her mind to do something. The first time Sera noticed this was seven years ago when Idris had told their daughter she couldn't be an alpha. Ava had trained her entire life for that position, so it was no surprise when she stormed off in anger. Sera and Nanny Kate had felt the girl's rage through the bond they shared with her. From that day on, Ava did everything in her power to prove her father wrong.

Despite all their daughter's efforts, Idris remained too stubborn to change his mind. Sera had never supported her mate's decision to tell their daughter she couldn't be an alpha. She was excited to see how Ava would lead as the first female alpha in centuries. But when Sera voiced her thoughts, they fought, and she refused to join Idris when he broke the news to Ava. With a deep sigh, Sera hoped her daughter was safe, wherever she was.