Chapter Seventy Four

Damian:

After massaging my temples repeatedly, I aggressively ran my hands through my hair as my men and I combed through the dense forest. Our senses were on high alert for any sign of Ruby. Hours had passed, and still she remained hidden like a ghost slipping through our grasp.

Her scent was faint and untraceable; it was almost as if she didn't exist anymore. If it weren't for my scent marking all around her, I wouldn't have perceived anything. Yet, it wasn't enough for me to figure out her exact location.

What made everything more infuriating was the fact that our mate bond felt practically useless. I couldn't communicate with her through it; it was as if an invisible barrier had been placed between us. This left me with a gnawing fear that she might have been hurt, or worse—dead.

No, I hoped not...

"We've been searching for hours, Alpha. Perhaps it's time to regroup and come up with a new plan," one of my warriors suggested, rubbing his eyes tiredly, reflecting the exhaustion we al