3: MISSING.

Zane dragged Serena’s dead body out of the passageway and abandoned it at the entrance where he could easily find it before heading to help the guards find Eve. She was his top priority and it was bad enough that he had already wasted so much time on Serena, that worthless thing.

She just had to get in the way, didn't she? He thought, walking through the forest. He sighed heavily. If only she had minded her business, she'd still be alive right now, and Eve would be dead with no trouble.

He released another sigh. He could only hope now that the guards had been useful enough to find, capture or kill her. He would prefer the latter, but any of the options would be really great as long as they had her.

“Zane,” Tyler called up ahead, drawing his attention to him. He creased a brow as his gaze met him, Tyler’s expression wasn't good, and he could already guess that whatever news he had for him couldn't be good either.

Oh, shit! He frowned.

“Please tell me you have her already,” he mumbled, and Tyler made a face that wasn't very promising. He could just feel the disappointment already.

“You need to see this,” Tyler said, gesturing with his head as he led the way. Zane followed, matching his pace until they arrived at the clearing—

Zane’s heart stopped at the dreadful sight before him, a chill running up his spine. What the hell? His blood turned cold, sweat greasing his forehead.

“What happened here?” he asked Tyler, his eyes fixed on the dismembered bodies of the guards scattered around the ground.

“I’m not sure. One of the guards with his dying breath said…” Tyler trailed off, hesitant, his expression grim.

“Said what?” Zane probed.

“He said it was Alpha Lucian.”

Zane shot Tyler a frightened look, swallowing hard as his gaze swept through the corpses on the ground.

It can't be, and yet this gruesome killing begged to agree.

Alpha Lucian was the leader of the Moonshadow pack, their rival, and enemy. He was one of the most powerful and deadliest Alphas in the whole of North Colorado. No one had ever messed with him and survived. Every single pack that had gone against them had been wiped out that only a fool would go against them.

This massacre was surely something he could do, but….Did he do this?

On their territory? It didn't make any sense.

He walked around the corpses, checking out all of them, one by one up until the last one. Disappointed, he turned to Tyler hastily, “I don't see her here.”

Tyler nodded. “Yeah, that's because she's not here.”

Zane arched his brow, confused. “What are you talking about? Where is she then?”

Tyler shook his head, “I have no idea.”

What?

Frustrated, Zane swung his fist into a nearby tree, and screamed. “Fuck!”

“How could we lose her?” he exasperated.

“What are we going to tell the King?” Tyler asked him after a moment.

“I don't know. I'll think about it on the way back. Let's go,” he gestured and they walked back to the palace.

When they arrived at the palace, Zane stopped at the entrance and turned to Tyler. “She's dead,” he said, “That's what we are going to tell Juliana.”

“But we don't know for certain if that's true,” Tyler protested.

Zane glared at him. “All the guards were killed, Tyler. There’s no way she survived that. I'm sure her body is out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered. She's dead, period. Is that clear?” He asked, sternly.

Tyler nodded, and Zane took one step towards the palace before stopping again, “And remember. You're not to speak one word about tonight to anyone ever again, especially the King. This is a secret, Tyler. Is that clear?”

Tyler hesitated a second, “Crystal,” he answered.

“Good. Now, do me a favour and go bury Serena's body. I left it in that passageway.”

Zane entered the palace and was instantly met by Juliana who had been waiting for them. Gesturing with her head, “A word,” she said to Zane.

He followed her into the guest room, shutting the door behind him, and leaning against it.

“How did it go?” Julian asked, looking at him, and folding her arms. “Is she…dead?” Zane hesitated a moment, watching the fear in her eyes grow. “Zane? Did something—”

“She's dead,” he cut in, holding her gaze and then laughing at her as she released a breath of relief.

“You asshole,” she marched over to him, hitting him playfully in the chest, “That was definitely not funny.”

“Sorry. Just wanted to give you a little scare,” he smiled at her, and she smiled back, hugging him tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered, “I'll never forget this,” she pulled away, and Zane stared at her. “What about the guards and all? Have you paid them off—”

“Don't worry. Dead people don't talk.”

“You killed them?”

“Something like that,” he replied vaguely. “Soon you'll be the new Luna. I can't imagine anyone else more deserving of that crown.”

Juliana's face broke into a big smile. “Indeed, I will, and I will reward you greatly for what you did for me.”

Zane scoffed, “I don't need any reward,” he took her hand, “We should go celebrate. A good thing has happened.”

Juliana pulled her hand away from him gently, “And we will, but first I have to go see the King. He needs to know what's going on,” she patted his shoulder and he moved away from the door so she could open it.

“What are you going to tell him?” He asked, and she pressed her lips to his ear, whispering to him and then giving a cunning smile as she walked out the door.

Zane laughed. What a devil she was, and he loved her for it.

Juliana headed over to Kai’s chamber, taking a deep breath as she knocked on the door. A few minutes later Kai appeared at the entrance, arching a brow. “Juliana, what are you doing here?”

“I heard that Eve went into labour. I thought I'd come see you guys, offer my congratulations. Can I come in?”

Kai hesitantly stepped back, “Sure. Uhm, but you have to be quiet. The baby is here.”

“Wow! Can I see her?” she beamed, looking excited.

“Him actually,” Kai corrected, showing Juliana the baby in the crib.

“Oh, my gosh, he is so beautiful,” she spoke softly, grinning at the little child. Then she turned to Kai. “How's Eve doing?” She asked him, pretending to care or be interested.

“Uhm, I'm not sure. I haven't seen her since she delivered our child. Serena said she needed time to rest, and sent me away to take care of our child, but I'm actually itching to see her. I just don't want to face Serena’s wrath, and I didn't want to leave the kid alone.”

Juliana smiled at him, her stomach churning. “I understand. She's very lucky to have you loving her like this,” she slid her hand over his, and his body reacted a little to the touch so he pulled away. It had been months since he had last been intimate with Eve due to the pregnancy, and he was on edge.

“Thanks. She's my world, Juliana,” he told her, and she nodded slowly, “I've never loved anyone like I love her. I didn't even know it was possible to love someone like this.”

Juliana buried her bitterness in a sweet smile, but deep down she wanted him to shut up about Eve already. The only thing that made her feel good about this was the simple fact that she was dead now.

“I see that. You guys are lucky to have each other, and now this cute little one,” she looked from the crib to him.

Their gaze lingered, the bond between them raising it ugly head. He had never really had the chance to reject her since they never really got the chance to even be together or anything. Kai averted his gaze, “I should go see my wife,” he said, “Do you mind watching—”

“Sure,” she didn't even let him finish.

“Thanks.”

Kai went for the door and just as he pulled it open, the alarm bell went off. He looked up at the speaker as the door opened and right before him was Zane, his hand balled into a fist, hanging midair, a grim expression on his face.

Kai felt uneasy about that look. “Zane?” he raised a brow, “What's wrong?”

“I have some bad news for you, Alpha Kai. It looks like the lady and the midwife have run away.”

Kai staggered backwards, stunned and unable to believe it. The ground beneath him had become suddenly unstable. “What? What nonsense are you talking about? Eve would never run away.”

“I'm afraid she has, my lord,” Zane insisted, and Kai grabbed him by the collar.

“Shut up! Take me to her, right now!”

Zane took the King to the lower wing where Eve had given birth, where he had seen her last. It was empty. She was gone.

He shook his head. “No. I don't understand,” his lips quivered, fear and confusion gripping him among many other emotions. “Where is she?”

“I've sent the guards after her, hopefully they can catch up, and bring her back in time before she's left our territory.”

Tears danced in Kai’s eyes as he looked around the room, turning away as he headed down the corridor. He returned to his chamber, where Juliana sat by the crib, singing a lullaby for his child.

She looked back at him as he walked in, and the dreadful look on his face told her how heartbroken he was already, and it made her wish she could tell him that Eve was dead so she could destroy him completely. After all, only then can she build him up from scratch.

She hid her joy behind a worried look, getting to her feet, “Are you okay?”

Kai shook his head, and slumped on the bed. “I don't know,” he croaked, and Juliana took her seat beside him on the bed, “I thought we were happy, and…I don't understand why she would run away. She—” his voice shrunk, “She wouldn't do that. We love each other, and we just had a kid. It doesn't make any sense—”

“Maybe she was overwhelmed,” Juliana cut in, and he looked at her. “I've seen it happen. My mother left my father after she had me. I guess it was too much for her, and she just couldn't handle it,” she placed a hand on his shoulder, and squeezed it tightly, “I’m sorry, Alpha Kai. I know how much you loved her.”

He dropped his head in his palms, frustrated and angry at the world, at Eve.

How could she do this? How could she leave him?

Why?

It didn't make sense, nothing made sense, but she was gone, and it was killing him inside. He clenched his fist tightly, unable to just sit there, he got to his feet, pacing the room, his fingers ruffling through his hair.

“I don't understand,” he kept chanting, and Juliana got to her feet, grabbed him and kissed him.

He pushed her away, “What the hell are you doing?” he spat.

“Calming you down,” she replied.

“I'm married,” he said.

“Yeah? To whom?” She asked him, “She left you, Kai—”

“Don't say that!” He grabbed her, squeezing her arms tightly, hurting her.

“It's the truth, Kai, and you're hurting me.”

Immediately, he released her, a tear rolling down his cheek, and then he pulled her to him, landing a kiss on her lips.