The Hunted Wolf – Chapter 44

MARK

“No one knows where Jori is there?” I said, more out of surprise than actually looking for an answer.

Scythe had returned an hour ago to give an update on Pack Sallow. Percy decided to stay behind to continue helping out the pack while the alpha was missing, but what they had found there was surprising. Jori had been neglecting his alpha duties ever since Percy was kicked out, maybe even before that. The pack was managing as best as they could, but work was piling up, and things were starting to fall apart.

erratic, even when he was there. He would snap at people without any prompting,” Scythe explained. His forehead was scrunch

t.”

biggest fan of his, but he cared about his pack. Something is wrong with him.” Scythe curled

hat Reyland had suggested with Jori being involved with Adira’s kidnapping. Had the situation with Adira thrown him into such a dark spiral that he would neglect his duties? Would he really go to the lengths of taking another alpha’s mate? It didn’t seem like it was that simple, but I couldn’t figure out what I was missing.

we find Adira, we might find Jori.” I hadn’t shared this idea with anyone else yet, but Scythe deserved to know.

ink he would be involved with Adira’s kidn

n’t rule anything or anyone out.”

all of this? Are you holding up okay?”

at just won’t go away. If I think about it too much, I feel like I can’t breathe. I don’t know what I’m going to do if we can’t find her. I-”

what we can. We’ll find her ad get her back.”

on my shoulders. “We all want her back. Adira is our luna, and s

–

ADIRA

eep.

Focus.

food. He didn’t stick around for any conversation. I think he was less than pleased with my reaction to him. I thought about ambushing Cain again. If I shifted into wolf form, it would give me an advantage. If it was the building stopping me from using my powers, that would mean that Cain couldn’t use his as well. That would give me an advantage.

of my stomach that told me that wasn’t actually the case. Jori wanted me, and he would go through Cain if that was what it took. Cain was too naive to see that, but I wasn’t going to let my guard down.

e my move sooner rather than later. I needed to get out of here before Jori came back, assuming he left at all. Time was be

.

to come home.

door, so that when Cain entered the room, he wouldn’t see me right away. I was able to overpower him once. I just had to do it again. I went over all of the self-defense techniques Mark had

d, and I held my breath as the door slowly opened. There was a moment of silence where it seemed like time had frozen.

.

started to shut the door behind him, just barely reveal

are going to release me, or I’ll break your arm,” I demanded.

s easier for me. I only had the basics, but that was enough. It gave me the advantage in the situation.

of the bubble around me, and I couldn’t move. No, that wasn’t it. I could move, but it was extremely slowed down.

been trying to give you time to adjust, and this is how you treat me. Did you think you actually could overpower me?”

eless in my time.

he case.”

up magic spells that prevented me from entering. That’s why I needed that wolf to help. As for containing you, I don’t need help.”

h in, and for a moment the bubble around me wavered. It wasn’t enough to make more than an inch of movement, though.

these walls.” Cain had a small twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. “This place has long been forgotten and there’s no way for someone to tie me to this place. Even if your friends figure out I’m involved, they won’t be able to track me. They won’t find you. Just accept it already. It’ll

anted to respond. I wanted to fight back, but I was stuck, unable to do anything. Cain started walking towards me and knelt

, but trust me. This will be for the best.”

hrough every inch of my body. The pain felt worse without being able to react to it. I wanted to twist and scream to let out some of the pressure, but it wasn’t possible.

his for a while, but with time, it will get easier. You won’t miss him so much this way.”

eck, feeling for my mate-mark, but the skin was completely smooth. My heart raced. There was no way he was actually able to remove the mark.

was like it had never happened. Cain must have manipulated time in a way that erased the moment Mark marked me. My fist pressed against my mouth as I tried to hold back the inconsolable sobbing that was making its way up my throat.

sed my bond with Mark. I wouldn’t be able to lin

wanted children. Then I had imagined taking the test when he was there and finding out for sure.

how to escape or even send a signal out for help. My body doubled over, and I couldn’t breathe between the sobs. How could Cain say this was for the best? How did he think this would make it easier for me to give in to his demands? I felt hopeless and empty, and I needed Mark more than ever at this moment.