288 Vouchers
Ninety–Nine
Alexander’s POV
I rushed back down the stairs and then out of the house linking my father only after I had crossed the threshold of the pack house before he could even think of stopping me. I told the guard behind me to get one more man ready to go with me as I went round the house to locate the window from outside. Not that I would have listened to him if he tried to stop me, but luckily all my father said was that I should go get my mate.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that the killer or killers were still out there. Whoever they were, they killed her parents and I’ll be damned if I let them get their hands on her as well. I still couldn’t smell her even as I got down to the spot below the window where she definitely landed when she jumped. I had hoped I would but I knew that my best bet would be to follow this exact path from here into the woods. I still sent a mindlink to the best tracker to summon him knowing that his expertise would be needed at this point since her scent which was the easiest way to track her down couldn’t be detected.
I made my way into the woods, hearing my men’s footsteps behind me. I didn’t turn around though, I didn’t have all that time as I pushed through trees and tall grasses, searching high and low. I just mindlinked them to spread out in opposite directions as I went another way as well. I heard their footsteps scatter round the forest as they obeyed instantly. I was worried as hell and the despair was making my steps heavy but I tried my best to push it away. I still couldn’t get even a whiff of her scent and after thirty minutes of combing through the woods, even my wolf was getting restless. I would have decided that I was wrong about her being somewhere in the woods but the trackers had assured me that she had
definitely come in here. Her footprints had been visible at some point at the beginning before they disappeared among fallen palm fronds.
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09:57
Ninety–Nine
288 Vouchers
Where are you, Isabella? My stomach twisted as I forced myself to shut out the what–ifs and stop imagining horrific scenarios.
I asked the men every minute at all the different points of the forest if they had seen her and they all linked me back a negative answer. There weren’t any new helpful clues either. I let out a low growl of frustration as I continued to trudge through the forest. I was trying not to lose hope, to have faith and be positive but it was hard. It was really hard. My mom’s words began to ring in my head again and my heart clenched. At some point, my mind even conjured an image of Isabella hanging from a rope on a tree and my heart seized for a couple of seconds as I panted to catch my breath. Just then, I heard leaves rustling somewhere close to me and I tracked the sound down, carefully moving towards it. I was aware that there was a possibility that it was danger so I took care to be cautious.
Aware that we’ve travelled quite far from the packhouse, I pushed aside a few more trees in front of me and soon I was at a clearing and there she was as well. With how frightened I’ve been in the past hour and with the way I’ve been going switching between being hopeful and fearing for the worst. I almost thought it was an illusion. But it wasn’t, she was truly there. She was sitting on a tree stump, barefoot and looking straight ahead with her back to me. She was so still that you could mistake her for a statue. Her hair was a mess as it tumbled down her shoulders and she was wearing a thin long gown with straps for sleeves. Even with all the intense body heat werewolves naturally have, it wouldn’t be long before goosebumps spread across her skin and she started to shiver at this rate. She looked like a forest nymph or some other fairy tale creature. A very sad, heart broken one.
I went to her and even though she knew that I was beside her, she didn’t move or make any indication that she was aware of my presence. She just sat there. She wasn’t crying nor did she look like she had been crying, she just had a blank, empty look on her face which was somehow even worse. I sighed and went to squat in front of her. I took her cold hands in mine and I was glad when she did not pull away. Baby steps, I whispered to myself.
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09:57
Ninety–Nine
288 Vouchers
It was at that moment that her scent filled the air again and I knew that she had finally let go of the strong hold she had on her wolf to keep it hidden. She probably decided that it was no use since I had found her anyway. I breathed it in, instantly calming my wolf. Although I wanted to talk to her so badly, ask her how she was and if there was anything she needed from me—other than to leave her alone, of course—I forced myself to remain silent not wanting to spoil any progress I had made while still hoping that she says something anyway.
Suddenly remembering that my men were still out there searching the woods for her I linked them that the Luna was now safe and that they could go back to the packhouse. Besides, since she was no longer hiding her scent they may track her down and come here. Other people suddenly appearing may make her lock up again and didn’t want that. I had a strong feeling that I was getting somewhere and I refused to ruin it.
She may have released her wolf but she still had a strong hold on her emotions and I stroked her palm softly, coaxing her to talk to me until finally, my patience paid off and she spoke.
“My father hated me.”
Those were the first words she said before her face crumpled up and she- suddenly burst into tears. My heart broke as I watched her cry. I had been hoping she would but it didn’t make it any casier to watch. “He died without even smiling at me. He died being angry with me. We didn’t even get a chance to make up and for him to call me princess again and now he‘ s dead all because of me. I couldn’t even do anything to help. I was busy watching funny videos on my phone while my mom and dad were being brutally murdered. I’m a terrible person.” She cried, her voice cracking at several points as she spoke.
I let her cry, gripping her hand to show her that I was there but refraining from saying anything in case it would stop her from saying more even though I wanted to immediately counter her words and stop her from further lying to herself. When her cries reduced into sobs and then sniffs,
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09:57
Ninety–ne
288 Vouchers
I brought out a clean hanky that I had fortunately carried with me inside my pocket and gently cleaned her face with it. Leaving the hanky in her lap, I took her hands again and forced her to look at me.
“Isabella, none of this was your fault, I promise you. I would find the culprit and make them pay but if you need someone to blame, I’ll take responsibility.” I pleaded with her. “It’s my fault, not yours.”
She shook her head and stood up, letting my hands fall and clenching the hanky instead. She turned around and without a word, she started to walk away. I took a step to follow her but she shook her head, “Don’t. Don’t follow me please.”
I cursed silently. How do I make her understand that I couldn’t leave her alone and that the last time I did, I almost drove myself mad looking for her. I don’t ever want to fear for her safety and I’m afraid, with the killers out there she’s not safe at all. What would it take for her to trust me and let me be there for her. I would beg, plead, anything for her not to send me away again. I would even watch from a distance if she’d prefer but letting her out of my sight again and not know where she was, I couldn’t bear it.
“Isabella.”
“Please, Alexander.”
But I would not go. She was barefoot in a dress that could easily be torn by a sharp branch and she wanted me to just go and leave her here? In a random part of the forest, not knowing where she was or if she was okay and while her parent’s killers were still out there. I wouldn’t go, even if it makes us fight.
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09:57
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