Alpha's Hidden Precious Luna-Chapter 43

Lucas POV

The moon hung low in the sky when I moved swiftly through the shadows, my senses were on high alert as I crossed the border into Alpha Kai’s territory – The Royal Hunters Pack.

I lay in the shadows for a bit, my heart pounding from fear and determination. This wasn’t the first time I was sneaking into another Pack’s land but Royal Hunter was no ordinary pack – it would have been impossible given the fact that their borders were always heavily guarded with warriors patrolling day and night.

But tonight was different. The air was heavy with tension but the usual patrols were absent and I knew why.

All the guards on duty have been summoned to guard the cottage where the meeting of both Alpha Gregory – Lily’s father and Alpha Kai, was taking place. At least, that was what one of the warriors who had escorted both Lily’s father and her sister Vanessa had told me earlier on.

With the guards not at their posts, it created an opportunity for me. As I moved saliently through the Pack land, careful not to leave a print, my mind flitted back to the conversation that had set me on this dangerous mission.

Days ago, I had learnt a rather heartbreaking news from Lily’s father – Alpha Gregory and that was what had fuelled my determination.

“Lily is dead,” he had told me coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Now that she’s no longer here, It’s time you settled down with Vanessa, her sister. The sooner, the better it’ll be for all of us.”

The news had shattered. I was still grappling with what I did to her but to learn that she was dead came as a hard blow to me. I didn’t want to accept it. I couldn’t. I had mustered the courage to ask Alpha Gregory and his response shocked me more.

“She betrayed our pack, Lucas and that’s the price you pay for betrayal and that’s all you need to know.”

I wanted to press for more details, but I knew at that point that there was nothing I could get from him. But I still couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t accept that Lily was dead. I couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. That was why I was taking the risk.

At least until I confirmed it myself, I still there was hope and that was why I had come here to look for her.

I took a deep, calming my mind and calming my wolf before I shifted into it. Although Lily didn’t have any wolf, she still had a unique scent. If I could trace that...And in my wolf form, I’d be faster and my senses would be more heightened. I didn’t have a lot of time... Whatever I was going to do, I had to finish it up before the meeting ended, or else, I stood at risk of death.

With practised ease, I leapt onto the roof of the nearest house I saw as soon as I came into the residential area of the packland. On the roof, it would be easier to move freely, without being spotted by any patrol team and without leaving footprints. And since it was night, I would not be spotted easily, I just had to avoid being under the moonlight or the artificial night lights scattered all over the pack.

I paused on the first, my nose slightly upturned in the air as I sorted through the scents floating up to me, looking for Lily’s scent. I began to bound from one rooftop to another, pausing each time I landed on a new roof, to sift through the scents in that house. Each time, I thought I caught a whiff of her scent, it ended up being nothing but the projection of my own memory.

Minutes ticked by and I was still searching without any result. I was growing more anxious and time was running out. I knew the meeting would not last forever and once it ended, the territory would once again be filled with warriors. If I didn’t find Lily before then... and was caught her... Alpha Kai was known for being ruthless in dealing with intruders. I couldn’t afford to be careless.

I refocused on my task, trying not to think of the ticking time. Failure wasn’t an option for me on this mission, especially when Lily’s life might be at stake.

An hour into my search, I was on the verge of giving up. I’d covered a significant part of the pack land, but there was still no sign of her.

Had I been wrong? Was Lily truly gone? I checked my watch, any moment from now, the meeting would be over soon, should I go on? I didn’t want to be trapped here but I couldn’t ignore that I could find Lily anytime now.

I hesitated for a few minutes, the fear in my heart growing with each second. Finally, with a determined resolve, I pushed it aside. I will find Lily, no matter what it takes.

As I prepared to leap onto another roof, a familiar scent teased at me, making me pause. I froze, every muscle in my wolf form going taut, at first, I thought it was just my memories playing tricks on me like before but as I inhaled deeper, filtering through the thousand scents hovering in the sky... my heart leapt in anticipation.

It was there...the faint, unmistakable scent of Jasmine and the fresh scent of the earth after rainfall.

It was Lily’s.

My eyes widened, and without thinking, I followed the trail of the scent, with every step I took, it got stronger until I arrived at a large three-story house that stood out from its neighbours. It was a beautiful house that looked freshly renovated with neatly trimmed hedges and an array of flowers at the entrance. As I stared at the building, I didn’t need to be told that the house must belong to someone important in the pack.

My heart raced. If Lily was here, it could mean she might be under the protection of someone important within the pack or under captivity just like back home. I crept stealthily through the stone pathway leading to the entrance and in a second, I was overwhelmed by Lily’s scent. She was definitely here.

I slowed down, darting behind the hedges, adrenaline pumping into every part of my body. I clamped on the urge to howl my relief to the moon, knowing that one wrong move could bring doom. I circled the house, searching for a way in that wouldn’t draw attention. I had to confirm that she was really in there.

From where I stood, I could see the soft glow of lights coming from the second-story window, partially covered by thick curtains, I edged closer, listening carefully for any sounds inside. From within, I heard faint voices, although, I couldn’t make out the words. But it sounded hushed and urgent.

With a big leap, I managed to catch the edge of the windowsill of one of the rooms that looked dark but had a window open. I hung there for a few seconds, listening for signs of life in the room but it was empty before I pulled myself up and entered, landing inside with a soft thud.

Once in, I shifted back to my human form, it’ll be better to make excuses in this form. Quietly, I moved to the door, and stepped out of the hallway, trying to trace the room I had seen the light from.

Carefully, I crept up the hallway, following Lily’s scent which seemed to be everywhere but I concentrated on where it was most potent. I darted in and out of the darkness, thankful that the lights in the hallway were off.

I finally arrived at the room that had the light and voices drifted to me.

“...Fever’s still high,” one of the voices said with worry. “We need to inform Alpha Kai. He needs to know what’s happening.”

I pressed myself flat against the wall, trying to listen more, but no other words were said. The door of the room opened and I wedged myself in a dark corner in the hallway. I saw two figures leave the room. I waited until I could no longer hear their footsteps. Heart pounding, I crept towards the door.

I placed my hand on the knob, took a deep breath and slowly turned it and pushed open the door.

The door opened to a beautifully, furnished room, bathed in soft lamplight that was used only for sick people. But I barely registered these details. My attention was drawn to the figure lying motionless in the large four-poster bed.

It was no other but – Lily!