On His Knee
Williams’ POV
I stumbled back, disbelief and frustration crashing over me like a wave.
"What do you mean you can't say?" My voice came out rougher than I intended, but I couldn’t mask my desperation. Rob’s hesitation, his reluctance to reveal her location, gnawed at me, tearing into the last shreds of my patience.
Lucien took a step forward, a cold look in his eyes. "Cleopatra made us promise that if anyone came searching for her, we wouldn’t reveal her whereabouts. She said anyone who found her would no longer be part of her family. It was her last wish before she left."
His words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the weight Cleopatra carried. I swallowed hard, my gaze locked onto Rob’s. "That promise was between her and you," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Not me."
Rob folded his arms, watching me with a mixture of reluctance and pity. "The promise stands for all of us, Alpha. If we break it, we risk losing her trust forever. Are you willing to risk that?"
The question struck deep, but my resolve didn’t waver. "Tell me what you saw. Describe it. I’ll find her myself," I demanded, unable to shake the need clawing at me. "You promised her—fine. But I didn’t."
Rob’s gaze darted to Lucien, as if seeking permission, and I could feel my patience fraying. I would’ve dragged the words out of him if I had to, but instead, I found myself sinking to one knee. The action shocked even me, and the room fell silent, the weight of my desperation hanging in the air.
“Alpha,” Marcus muttered, but I didn’t care.
"Please," I said, voice low, swallowing the bitterness in my throat. "I need to find her. I’ll beg if I have to."
A flicker of surprise crossed Rob's face. The others shifted uncomfortably, not accustomed to seeing an Alpha on his knees, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. All that mattered was getting to her.
Rob let out a slow breath, a hint of reluctance still in his eyes, but after another glance at Lucien, he nodded. "Alright."
I pushed myself to my feet, watching him intently as he began to describe the place he had seen. His words painted a picture in my mind—a secluded forest with towering trees, their thick canopy casting the ground below in dim shadows, and a narrow, winding path leading up a steep hill. At the top, hidden behind layers of ivy and overgrown brush, was something that looked like an abandoned cabin.
As he continued, I committed each detail to memory, my mind racing with possibilities. “You never came here. We didn’t tell you where she is, do you understand, Alpha?”
His words struck a chord within me, and I clenched my fists. “I understand. Now, how far is it?”
Rob’s mouth tightened, and he cast another uncertain look at Lucien before muttering, “It’s on the outskirts of the Southern Territory, near the river.”
I nodded, holding his gaze with grim determination. “Thank you.”
I turned to Marcus with an urgency that made him blink rapidly. His eyes met mine, filled with understanding and a fierce loyalty that gave me strength. "Let’s go."
Marcus’s nod was all the confirmation I needed. We left the room without another word, moving swiftly through the corridors and out into the night.
The cold air hit me like a splash of water, sharpening my focus. As we rode through the forest, I replayed Rob’s description in my head, determined to find her no matter the cost. For too long, I’d let the thought of what others will think keep me from her, but that ended today. Whatever promise Cleopatra made them swear to uphold meant nothing to me.
We rode in silence, the pounding of hooves and the rush of the wind, our only companions. I had requested for two horses to make our search easier. Every second brought us closer, every mile feeding the sense of purpose burning in my chest.
After what felt like hours, we finally reached the outskirts of the Southern Territory. The river stretched before us, shimmering faintly under the clear sky, and there, just beyond the water’s edge, stood the dense forest Rob had described.
“This is it,” Marcus murmured, scanning the area. “Are you ready for whatever comes next?”
“Ready or not, I’m going through with it,” I replied, dismounting. “If she’s here, I’ll find her.”
Together, we moved silently into the forest, guided by the faint path barely visible under the thick canopy. The air was thick with tension, each rustle of leaves and snap of twigs putting my senses on edge. And as we pressed forward, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched, as if unseen eyes tracked every step.
We climbed the steep hill in silence, our breaths shallow, the oppressive quiet only broken by the occasional hoot of an owl or the distant howl of a wolf. The deeper we ventured, the thicker the foliage grew, until it felt like we were being swallowed by the very forest around us.
Finally, we reached the summit, where the cabin loomed ahead, half-hidden beneath layers of ivy and moss. The structure looked neat, as though it was freshly painted. I could sense something faint lingering in the air—a trace of her scent, like a whisper carried in the wind.
My heart pounded as we approached, and I stepped forward, hand reaching out to touch the cold, damp grass. “She was here,” I murmured, barely daring to breathe. The bond pulsed faintly, a fragile thread that seemed to come alive the closer I got.
I closed my eyes, letting the bond guide me, when suddenly, the faintest hint of laughter drifted through the air. It was so soft, so faint, I almost thought I’d imagined it, but it stopped me in my tracks. My pulse quickened, hope surging within me.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, glancing at Marcus.
He shook his head, his eyes searching the darkness. “Hear what?”
Another sound, this time a whisper, like someone calling another person’s name. I froze, my gaze snapping to the far side of the clearing, trying to see if there’s anyone out there.
“Am I going crazy? Why can’t you hear that?” I asked Marcus one more time and he furrowed his brow in concentration, as though trying to make out the sound I was pointing out to.
“I think I hear something too,” he whispered after a while.
Cleopatra.
She was here. I could feel it.
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