Chapter 11
The Empty Den and the Miami Flight
I boarded the transport without a backward glance, unconcerned with Benjamin and Adam’s reactions. As the transport ascended, a sense of unprecedented lightness washed over me. My Perceptive Wolf, finally free from the weight of their unspoken desires and Qiana’s machinations, felt a release it hadn’t known before.
Back at the Riverview Mansion in the Jackson Pack territory, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Three hours had passed since Benjamin, Adam, and Qiana arrived, yet there was no sign of me. Only their luggage was present; mine was nowhere to be found.
Benjamin’s anxiety mounted; something unexpected was happening. His Warrior Wolf stirred restlessly.
Adam sat on the sofa, his face grim. His Shadow Wolf sensed a profound wrongness. Qiana, knowing the truth, remained silent, her Healing Wolf radiating an unnervingly calm facade.
Breaking the silence, she said, “Lanie probably isn’t ready yet. Should we instruct the movers to begin? We’re having dinner tonight; she wouldn’t forget.”
Benjamin nodded, but a nagging unease remained. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
His wolf’s unease was palpable.
He was inexplicably anxious, a feeling entirely foreign to the usually stoic Alpha.
Adam stared at his communicator, mirroring Benjamin’s display-a cascade of unanswered messages. He couldn’t sit still. He grabbed his jacket, threw it on, and stormed out.
“Something’s wrong with Lanie. I’m going to check on her,” he said, his Shadow Wolf urging him to action.
Benjamin couldn’t sit still either.
He quickly directed the pack workers and apologized to Qiana.
“Forgive me, I need to go check on her. Remain here; I’ll return shortly.”
“Benjamin! Adam!” Qiana called after them, her voice laced with feigned concern, but they didn’t turn back.
Our previous den was empty.
They searched the Jackson Pack territory in their swift vehicles, but found no trace of me. They both ended up back at our old den. Benjamin’s heart pounded.
His Warrior Wolf throbbed with a primal need to find her.
He contacted his assistant, Lee, to track my whereabouts. Lee quickly responded.
“Mr. Benjamin, Ms. Lanie’s transport to the Blood Moon Pack departed this afternoon. She should have arrived by now.”
Benjamin and Adam froze, stunned.
Their wolves reacted in unison
–
a shock so profound it momentarily stilled their usual instincts.
“What… how? That’s impossible…” Adam refused to believe it.”Why would Lanie suddenly return to the Blood Moon Pack? She said she’d remain in the Jackson Pack territory with us. Lee, did you make a mistake?”
Benjamin was equally disbelieving. His voice hardened.”Lee, check again. Confirm it.”
There was a pause over the communicator. Lee confirmed several times before hesitantly speaking.
“Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Adam… I… I’m sorry, it’s correct.” He sent the transport details to Benjamin.
The transport details were irrefutable. Benjamin felt like he was hallucinating. He looked at Adam. They shared a look of stunned disbelief.
*Clunk!* The communicator slipped from Benjamin’s hand, hitting the floor. Their minds raced. They couldn’t believe I’d actually left! Just hours ago, we were discussing the move to the new den. They replayed my strange behavior before they left.
My carefully controlled detachment, the chilling lack of warmth.
Adam snapped his fingers. My last words on the communicator before they left flashed into his mind, crystal clear.
“Everything’s prepared. I’m departing now. I’ll be there tonight.”
The seemingly innocuous statement now held a chilling finality.
The realization hit them both with the force of a physical blow.
They had lost
her.
