31

[Jade’s pov]

As we drove out of that unknown pack's territory, my heart started to ease, knowing that safety and familiar faces awaited us. However, just as we approached the exit of the forest, a group of wolves appeared on the road once again. Ragnar's eyes narrowed as he recognized them, these were members of a neighbouring pack, known for their territorial behaviour.

Ragnar skillfully steered the car away, trying to avoid confrontation but the wolves blocked our path, forcing him to stop the car. My breath caught in my throat, fear gripping me as memories of the earlier encounter with the brothel hunters rushed back.

"Jade, stay in the car," Ragnar said firmly, his voice authoritative yet protective. He stepped out of the car and stood before the wolves with a commanding presence. I watched him from the car as Ragnar walked a bit ahead after warning me.

And I couldn't help but marvel at his courage and composure. He took a deep breath, his voice resonating with authority, as he declared his name and position as the alpha of the Gravestone pack.

"I am Ragnar, alpha of the Gravestone pack," he said, his voice carrying through the night air. "We mean no harm, and we seek safe passage through your territory." The wolves regarded him with wary eyes, growls still rumbling beneath their breaths. The tension was palpable, and my heart pounded in my chest.

I prayed that Ragnar's declaration would be enough to deter any further aggression. After a tense moment, the largest wolf in the group stepped forward, his gaze locking with Ragnar's. It was a standoff, a silent exchange of dominance and territorial claims. I held my breath, feeling the weight of the situation hanging in the balance.

As the gloomy night settled around us, a figure emerged from the depths of the forest, catching everyone's attention. He was a tall and imposing man, with a rugged appearance that seemed to mirror the wildness of the surrounding wilderness. His eyes, like shards of ice, pierced through the darkness, and his presence carried an air of authority.

He stopped a few paces away from the wolves, and a tense silence enveloped the area. The pack members glanced at each other, sure of who this man was and what his intentions might be. Ragnar's protective stance did not waver as he stepped forward, positioning himself between the stranger and our car.

"Who are you?" Ragnar's voice carried the same authority he had displayed to the wolves earlier. I could feel something from that man which was unexplainable, it was something I could not fathom. As I resumed staring at those men, wolves and the dense forest which was only illuminated by our car’s headlights.

The man's lips curved into a faint smirk, and he spoke with a voice that was both deep and commanding. "I am Kaldir, alpha of the Moonshadow pack," he declared, his voice resonating through the night.

His announcement sent ripples of surprise in my body, I immediately recalled who he was. Kaldir was known for his fiercely territorial nature, and encountering him in his own territory was unexpected and potentially dangerous.

Ragnar's eyes narrowed, his gaze steady as he assessed the situation. "What brings you here, alpha?" he asked, his tone cautious but resolute. “Me and my wife means no harm, we are just crossing the forest back to our pack.”

The tension in the air was palpable as the two alphas locked eyes, a silent power struggle unfolding before me. The pack members held their breath, ready to defend their alpha if necessary.

Kaldir regarded Zilver with a hint of surprise, but he seemed to consider his words. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded. "Very well," he said, his tone less hostile. "But remember, this is my territory, and I will be watching everything. Though where is this wife of yours you talk about?"

He playfully nudged him and said, "Ragnar, it seems your lovely wife has disappeared! Did she run away from you?" Ragnar's brows furrowed in confusion as he turned to look back at the car. His playful expression quickly turned into concern when he saw that she was indeed missing from the vehicle.

Panic began to gnaw at the edges of his heart, and he immediately scanned the vicinity, hoping to catch a glimpse of me. "Jade?" Ragnar called out, his voice tinged with worry. "Jade, where are you?"

Ragnar's heart pounded in his chest as he mumbled to himself, "Jade was just here in the car, and now she is gone. I…where the heck could she have gone?” Ragnar had no clue how and when it happened and where Jade disappeared. And how was it possible for him to even know?

"Jade!" Ragnar called out again, his voice tinged with urgency. "Jade, where are you?" Silence greeted his calls, and panic threatened to overwhelm him. He turned towards Kaldir, suspicion growing in his eyes. "Did you see Jade? Where is she?" he demanded.



As Ragnar looked back at the car and found me missing, his heart sank with worry. His mind raced with thoughts of where I could have gone and whether I was safe. But as he scanned the area, he couldn't see anyone around, including Kaldir and the other wolves who had been present just moments ago.




Ragnar's mind was in turmoil, torn between trusting that Kaldir's presence had nothing to do with it and the fear that something might have happened to me. As the minutes passed, and there was still no trace of Jade or alpha Kaldir, Ragnar's worry intensified.

He couldn't understand how Jade could have disappeared so suddenly without a trace. The unsettling feeling of uncertainty gnawed at him, and he fought to keep his composure. Ragnar knew he had to sort out that mystery and find Jade as soon as possible. Knowing that Jade was pregnant he wanted to find her out quickly.

Alpha Ragnar called his beta and a few other pack members, who immediately arrived and scattered in different directions. They all were determined to find any clue that could lead them to Jade’s whereabouts. Ragnar's heart raced as he called out her name, nonstop hoping she would respond if she was nearby but the forest remained eerily silent.

As the minutes turned into what felt like an eternity, Ragnar's fear intensified when the pack wolves could not even sense her scent at all. He could not bear the thought of something happening to Jade, and the possibility that she might be in danger haunted him. It appeared as if somebody had removed all her traces of existence to begin with.

Just as he was losing hope, something caught his attention as he recalled that man’s name. He turned his head in the direction towards the west and carefully put two into two. “Get back in the cars and head towards Grimclaw pack, I want to talk to alpha Zilver right now!”