Chapter 273: Chapter 273

Rowan’s voice was weak, but firm.

"Get us Lisa," he said quietly, then his eyes slowly closed again.

I sat beside his bed, watching him sleep. His breathing was soft and steady.

Kael was already asleep too, lying on the other side of the room.

My mind wouldn’t rest.

The room was filled with the smell of herbs and smoke from the fire. I leaned back on the chair, feeling the bandages tight around my chest. The poison still burned in my veins, but that wasn’t what hurt the most. What truly hurt was missing her.

I rubbed my eyes and sighed. "Where are you?" I whispered.

Everything around me felt empty without her. Her laughter. Her voice. Even her scent that used to fill the room, gone.

After a while, I stood up quietly and left the room so I wouldn’t wake my brothers. The hallways were silent, only the sound of my boots echoing on the stone floor.

I walked straight to her chamber. My heart beat faster as I opened the door.

Her scent was still there, faint but sweet. I stepped inside and closed the door slowly behind me. The bed was neatly made. Her cloak still hung by the window. Everything looked the same, yet everything felt lifeless.

I sat down on her bed, my fingers brushing against the blanket. It felt warm, like she had just been there.

"I’ll find you," I whispered. "I don’t care what it takes."

I lay back, staring at the ceiling. I told myself I would only stay for a moment, but her scent wrapped around me like a spell. My eyes grew heavy, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

The next morning, a gentle knock woke me.

It was Matilda, the head maid. She peeked inside, her eyes widening when she saw me there. "My lord, forgive me, I didn’t know you were here."

I sat up slowly. My head hurt, but the ache was nothing new. "What is it, Matilda?"

"It’s almost breakfast time," she said softly. "The kitchen staff are waiting for your word."

I nodded. "Tell them I’ll be down later."

She bowed. "Yes, Alpha."

She quietly closed the door behind her.

I reached for the small wooden cup on the table beside the bed, my herbal medicine. The scent was sharp and bitter. I drank it all in one go. The taste was awful, but the warmth spread through my chest, giving me a bit of strength. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel✶fire.net

I stood, took one last look at Lisa’s room, and whispered again, "I’ll find you."

Just then, someone knocked again, harder this time.

One of my guards came in and bowed. "Alpha, forgive me for disturbing you."

"What is it?" I asked.

He looked uneasy. "Belinda’s father still says he knows nothing about his daughter’s whereabouts. Even after the torture."

My hands clenched. "Still?"

He nodded. "Yes, Alpha. He keeps saying he doesn’t know where she is."

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but anger boiled inside me.

"Has there been any word from the search squads?" I asked sharply.

"No, Alpha. None of them have found any trace of Lady Lisa."

My teeth tightened. "Nothing?"

The rage broke free before I could stop it. I hit the wall beside me so hard the wooden panel cracked. "Then what good are all of you doing?" I shouted.

The guard bowed low, trembling. "Forgive me, Alpha. We’re still searching."

"Take me to the dungeon," I ordered coldly.

He didn’t argue again. He turned quickly, leading the way down the narrow corridor.

The dungeon smelled like sweat and iron. The fire on the walls flickered weakly as we walked in.

Belinda’s father was there, kneeling in the center of the room. His hands were tied, his face covered in blood and dirt. When he saw me, he tried to bow, but he could barely lift his head.

"Alpha," he said weakly. "Please... have mercy."

I stopped in front of him. "Where is your daughter?"

"I don’t know," he said, shaking his head desperately. "I swear on my life, I don’t know where she is!"

My voice came out low and sharp. "You expect me to believe that?"

Binda’s father lifted his head weakly, confusion written all over his blood-streaked face. His voice cracked as he spoke.

"My lord... please," he said softly. "Tell me what is happening. Why would my daughter leave her Luna’s position? Why would she run away from the palace?"

I looked at him in silence for a moment, my hands tightening around the armrest of the chair beside me. His question made my jaw clench.

"You’re saying you truly don’t know?" I asked coldly.

He shook his head quickly. "I swear on my life, Alpha Damon. I don’t know anything. If she has done wrong, please, tell me what it is."

A bitter smile pulled at my lips. I took a deep breath, trying to hold my voice steady. "You really don’t know?"

"Yes, my lord," he whispered, trembling.

I pulled a wooden chair closer and sat directly in front of him. The room was quiet except for the faint dripping of water in the corner. I leaned forward, my eyes fixed on him.

"Your daughter," I began slowly, "killed our unborn child."

He froze. His mouth opened, but no words came out. His whole body went still, as if he hadn’t heard me right.

"What?" he whispered.

"She killed our child," I repeated, my voice harder now. "The heir that should have been born to this pack."

The man shook his head violently. "No... no, my lord, that cannot be true. Belinda would never..."

"She did," I cut him off sharply. "And I have proof."

Tears filled his eyes. "My lord, please..."

I snapped. "She planned it."

He stared at me in horror. His lips trembled, and for a while, he couldn’t speak.

I leaned back in the chair, my eyes darkening. "And she didn’t stop there," I continued coldly. "After destroying my child, she ran. She ran away with our uncle, Fridolf."

He gasped, shaking his head in disbelief. "Fridolf? No... no, he’s your father’s brother. He would never..."

"Don’t defend him," I said, my voice low but sharp. "Fridolf has betrayed this pack with your daughter’s help."

The man’s shoulders began to shake. "My lord," he said, tears streaming down his face, "I swear to the Moon, I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything about this."

"Enough!" I shouted, slamming my fist on the wooden table beside me. The sound echoed through the chamber, making even the guards flinch. My wolf roared inside me, begging to be released. My vision turned red, but I forced myself to stay in control.

I stood up, breathing hard. "You’d better be praying to the Moon Goddess," I said darkly, "that Belinda is found alive. Because if she’s not... you will pay for her sins."

He tried to crawl toward me, crying. "Alpha, please..."

I turned to the guards, pointing at him. "Torture him properly," I ordered. "But don’t kill him. Not yet."

"Yes, Alpha," the guards replied, bowing their heads.