Samuel

Samuel POV:

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. I sat beside Cameron, my identical twin, in the office that now seemed more like a war room than an academic space. Across from us were Lars, Kaiden, Aiden, and Fiden—Lyla's brothers. Their faces were drawn, lined with worry and frustration just like ours. Jax, Lyla's former fiancé, looked awkward, uncomfortable, but concern was etched in his features too. Members of the Royal Army stood in rigid formation along the walls, and it felt like the whole room was a pot, ready to boil over. Cameron was the first to speak, his voice razor-sharp.

"What's the status?"

The senior warrior from the Royal Army cleared his throat.

"We've gone through the surrounding areas, checked every place where she could be, and still, nothing. No traces."

It was like a punch to the gut. I clenched my fists, nails digging into the flesh of my palm. The beast within was growling, itching to be let out, to hunt, to find her. I could feel my