4/

RILEY POV

Nathaniel got the permissions we all needed to go on our learning trip. I don’t know why they included me. Julian and Victoria, I understand they are in training to work next to Nathaniel but me, yeah I am training as well, but am I really doing what I am supposed to do? Sometimes I really don’t know.

As we slowly make the rounds of the different packs and clans and a couple of other kingdoms around the country, I find that there are not very many packs or clans that actually use a separate third in command, as they are usually the Head Warrior. I learnt all I can, but I still felt out of place.

We have been travelling for a few months and are currently in the RedBlood Clan; I am about to get up and go down to have some breakfast when I hear from Nathaniel through our mind link.

“Julian, Victoria, Riley! I need to see you... My room right away!”

“Be right there.”

I throw on some sweatpants and a shirt and head down the corridor. When I get to Nathaniel’s room, Julian and Victoria are just getting there as well. I knock and we hear a muffled.

“Come in.”

I open the door and we enter to see Nathaniel moving quickly around the room, repacking his suitcase; I am the first to speak.

“Um... Nat, what’s going on? Are we leaving already?”

“I just heard from my mother, Scarlett has been taken by that male that has been attacking her. We need to head home...”

“We will go and pack right away. We will be ready to leave when you are!” Julian says. Nathaniel nods and we all turn and leave his room, heading back to our own.

I change out of my sweats and into some jeans, leaving my shirt on. As I repack my bag, I think to myself, why go back? I can’t do anything special. I like my technology, but Uncle Dominic doesn’t have much in the way of security in the castle or even on the borders, other than the Royal guards. I haven’t had enough courage to approach him about putting in more technical security, but then maybe he might listen and agree with what has now happened to Scarlett.

There is a light knock on the door as I do up the zip on my bag. I pick it up, go over to the door and open it to find Nathaniel, Julian and Victoria all ready and waiting. I nod to Nathaniel and we make our way down to the cars, say goodbye to the clan leader, get into the cars and head back home to the castle.

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JULIAN POV

As soon as Nathaniel told us about Scarlett, I knew we would be heading home. He won’t admit it, but Nathaniel has been missing his sister, as they used to be really close until the confrontation just before they turned eighteen. Nathaniel apologised, but they were never really the same. I think that is another reason behind, why he suggested doing this learning trip.

I pack and am back, standing outside Nathaniel’s room, waiting for him. Victoria joins me just as Nathaniel exits his room. We then head down to wait for Riley. I know Riley feels out of place with being so connected to him, but at the moment, there isn’t much I can do for him.

We head down to the cars. The ride home is quiet but quick. I must remember never to allow Nathaniel to drive when he is upset or preoccupied, as a trip that should have taken us at least four days to travel. He had us pulling up out the front of the castle in two days. As Nathaniel jumps out of the car I follow, he meets up with Uncle Dominic, Aunt Seraphina, and Phoenix in Dominic’s office. I stand back and just listen.

“So what happened?”

“Scarlett tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I thought I could still win. I even did some training with Zachary without Soren....”

“Wait, what are you talking about?”

“Scarlett told me she was having dreams of my death, that the male attacking her fights me but made it so I was just like a normal human. So I got Zachary to train me as a human, but it wasn’t enough and he nearly killed me. Scarlett saved my life by willingly going with him.”

I hear a low growl and hiss mix come from Nathaniel telling me that Hunter and Cole are fighting Nathaniel for control, no doubt wanting to kill Phoenix for putting his sister in such a situation. Nathaniel moves quickly and I get a glimpse of his eyes. They are a mix of all three of them; he has Phoenix pinned to the wall before anyone realises and can react. Nathaniel hisses and growls into his face.

“After everything, she went through growing up, and even after you had mated, you still doubted her. You still hurt her... You used her....”

He growls again, but before he could do anything, Aunt Seraphina walks up behind him and places her hand on his shoulder and whispers something to him. He then relaxes his hand, allowing Phoenix to slip from his hold and turns, wrapping Aunt Seraphina in a hug. She continues to whisper and holds onto him until she is satisfied that he has calmed down enough.

Seraphina then asks,

“Nathaniel, our connections to Scarlett. Are they still visible?”

He smiles. “Yes mother, it seems he hasn’t used any of the drugs he used on her last time..”

“Good, now go and get some rest...”

Nathaniel goes to interrupt, but Seraphina just holds up her hand and continues,

“Knowing you, Nat, you travelled straight through, so you need to eat and sleep. You can start your search strategies tomorrow.”

I can tell Nathaniel wants to argue with his mother, but we have all learnt that once Aunt Seraphina has reached a certain point, no amount of arguing will make her change her mind. I follow Nathaniel as he leaves the room, but typically of Nathaniel, he doesn’t go to the kitchen. Instead, he heads for Theodore’s office, and it is no surprise when Victoria and Riley are there waiting for us.

I look at Nathaniel “Didn’t your mother just say to leave this until tomorrow?”

“Jules, since when have you ever known me to do as my mother tells me?”

“True, but she is sort of right. You didn’t take a break while driving here. You need at least a little rest...”

“I will rest when I find my sister...”

“Have you tried to link with her?”

“Of course...”

“And??”

“She has blocked me...”

Once in the room, I have a look around and pull out one of the maps of the country showing all the kingdoms, territories, packs, and clans.

“Where do you think he took her?”

“If it was me I would head out of the territory and kingdom as soon as possible...”

Victoria answers but then continues

“From what I understand from Mike, Phoenix, and this mystery male fought on the training ground. The male left with Scarlett...”

“Why did our guards, even Mike, allow him to leave with her?”

“She told him to let them pass. Saying something about it was the only way to save Phoenix...”

I hear another growl, hiss mix comes from Nathaniel

“She was still protecting him, even after everything he has done to her....”

“He is her mate, and a mate comes first no matter what... Anyway, looking at the map and going off of what Mike said, they headed off in this direction but once they left the territory, he could have gone in any direction. I so wish Uncle Dominic would put in a proper security system!”

“I have been wanting to talk to uncle Dom about that for a while...” I am surprised and look in Riley’s direction, I didn’t even know he knew anything about that sort of stuff maybe he can find his place with that being his focus.

I turn my attention back to Victoria as she seems as stunned as I am.

“So if we maybe start with these packs and clans on the outskirts of our territory, they may be able to give us a hint of direction...” She looks up at Nathaniel

“Have you tried your gift connection to her?”

“Yes, actually we can follow that to start with... Get a little rest and we will leave first thing.”

After leaving Theodore’s office, I head to my room. I don’t bother to unpack as I know we will be leaving as soon as Nathaniel has had some rest.