Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets-Chapter 302 - so empty

302

~Damon’s POV

I slammed my fist against the table, frustration boiling inside me. "Nothing is going our way," I muttered under my breath, pacing the room. My anger wasn’t just at the situation; it was at myself, at Fridolf and Belinda for slipping through our grasp, and worst of all... at Lisa for disappearing like this.

Kael and Rowan sat quietly, their wounds still fresh, faces pale and sweating. "Is the pain unbearable?" I asked, stopping in front of them, trying to mask my worry with a harsh tone.

Rowan’s lips moved, weak but determined. "It’s... bearable. But it hurts, Damon."

I frowned. "And Kael?"

Kael shook his head slightly, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I’ll live... but what about Lisa?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "I... I don’t know where she could be. She’s nowhere to be found."

Rowan’s eyes narrowed. "Where else would she have gone, if not her own house?"

"I have no idea," I admitted, frustration twisting in my chest.

Kael’s voice was quiet but urgent. "Do you think... she’s hurt? Or worse... dead?"

I shook my head sharply, anger rising again. "No! I feel it...she’s alive. Fine. Okay. She’s just... hiding. Probably doesn’t want to be found." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Their silence pressed on me. It was heavy, almost suffocating. I rubbed my temples. "Her having no friend... that makes it worse. We have no one to ask, no one to even start searching."

I straightened and called a guard. "Send in the best painter in the world," I barked. "Also, set up a meeting with the alphas of the neighboring packs. Now!"

The guard bowed sharply and left. I turned to my brothers. "We have to find her... at all costs."

They nodded.

Minutes later, the guard returned. "Alpha, the painter is in the study room," he reported. "As for the meeting with the alphas, the message has been sent to every neighboring pack."

"Good," I said, my mind already racing. "I’ll be back shortly." I followed the guard to the study room, my steps heavy but resolute.

I watched the old man kneel beside the table, his hands smudged with paint, the smell of oil and pigment filling the room. When he looked up and bowed, I could see the respect in his eyes, but also the practiced calm of someone who had done this work a thousand times.

"Alpha Damon," he said softly, his voice steady. "I am ready to serve."

"Sit," I said, my tone firm. "There’s no time for formalities. I need you to paint a perfect portrait of a missing person. Not just one copy. Several. Every detail must be exact. Understand?"

He nodded slowly, and a faint smile crossed his face. "At your service, Alpha. I will do my best."

I placed the papers in front of him, a full description of Lisa. Her eyes, her hair, the shape of her lips, the way she carried herself, I described it all. I could feel my heart tighten as I spoke, thinking of her, wondering where she was. His hands hovered over the canvas for a moment, then began moving, each stroke precise, almost alive. I watched as the sketch slowly became her, the lines and colors capturing not just her face, but the intensity in her gaze, the spirit I had fallen in love with.

"Duplicate this," I instructed, my voice low but sharp. "I need multiple copies distributed across the packs. Every alpha, every ally, must see it. Make sure nothing is lost in translation."

He shook his head slowly, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Alpha... I cannot do it alone. There are too many copies needed, and it will take too long. Hours, at least."

"Then bring your apprentice," I snapped. "How long if you both work non-stop, without pause, without sleeping?"

He paused, thinking carefully. "If we push ourselves, no breaks, no distractions... we could have it done by noon tomorrow. But it will require complete focus and energy. There is no room for mistakes."

"Then work," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "If it’s done well, you will be handsomely rewarded. Do not stop until it is finished. This is urgent. Every minute counts."

He bowed again, already preparing his brushes, carefully mixing colors to match the description. "It will be done, Alpha. You have my word. I will not fail you."

I left the study, my mind racing with plans. Copies of Lisa’s portrait would go to every pack, every ally, every person who might see her. I wouldn’t rest until I had her back, safe, with me.

I returned to Rowan and Kael, seeing their anxious faces. "I’m doing everything I can," I told them firmly. "The portraits, the alphas will help us spread her portraits... We’ll find her. No matter what it takes."

I watched Rowan and Kael finally drift off, their chests rising and falling slowly, each deep breath a small relief. They were battered, sweating, in pain... but finally resting. I gave them a quiet nod, more to myself than to them, before leaving the room.

The corridors were empty and still as I walked to Lisa’s room. My heart felt heavy, almost like a stone pressing in my chest. When I stepped inside, the familiar scent of her lingered, faint but undeniable. My throat tightened. I approached her mattress, sitting down carefully, as if sitting there could bring her presence closer.

I rested my elbows on my knees, hands covering my face for a moment. Then, quietly, I whispered, almost pleading, "Lisa... where are you? Can you hear me?" My voice cracked slightly, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. The room was silent, offering no answer, no comfort, only shadows stretching across the walls.

I let my fingers trail over the bed where she usually slept, imagining her lying there, breathing softly, alive. My mind replayed the last moments I had seen her, and the pain of not knowing if she was safe pressed harder. "Why won’t you let me find you?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "Do you hate me that much?"

I leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling, the emptiness of the room echoing my own helplessness. My chest ached, and I could feel the weight of frustration, worry, and longing pressing down. I tried to tell myself that the portraits, the alphas, everything we were doing would bring her back... but the room felt so empty without her.

Finally, exhaustion overpowered my anger and pain. I curled up on her mattress, hugging a pillow she had left behind, and whispered her name one last time.