Chapter 7

LUCIAN’S POV The sun had long dipped below the horizon by the time I got home. The wind howled through the trees, stirring leaves and whispering rain into the air. It hasn't started yet, but I could feel it in my bones. A heavy storm was coming. Ashridge has always been like that during winters. I stretched my neck side to side as I stepped into the estate, fatigue settling deep in my shoulders. It had been a brutal day. The board meeting took longer than expected. The packs account had issues that needed sorting, and don't even get me started on the contractors. This is my life now after I became the Alpha of Erelis pack and still have to run my company as the CEO. All I wanted now was a long hot bath and something warm in my stomach. The house was a bit quiet, aside from a few pack members still running around to get some things done. They bowed their heads politely the minute they saw me walk in. I stepped into my side of the building and it was unusually quiet. Too quiet. No soft humming from Evelyn in the kitchen. No footsteps echoing in the hall. I reminded myself that Nora’s maid was on a short leave due to her Mother’s illness. But even so, Maya would have stepped in. She knew Evelyn was gone. She always took pride in keeping the estate running like a clock. I shook my head, dismissing the unease curling in my gut. I walked upstairs, unbuttoning the cuffs of my shirt, ready to wash today's stress off my skin. But the moment I opened my bedroom door, I stopped cold. Nora— my ten year old daughter was fast asleep on my bed. Still in her school clothes—her shirt was rumpled, socks halfway off, her hair unbrushed, and her homework was scattered on my bed. What the hell. I approached quietly, kneeling beside the bed. Her small hand was curled against her cheek, her face turned toward the window where the breeze could easily get her cold. I reached to scoop Nora up in my arms, intending to take her to her room. As I lifted her, she stirred. “Daddy,” she mumbled with sleep in her eyes. “Yeah, baby,” I whispered. “I'm here.” She blinked the sleep away. “Is Aunt Maya back yet?” Her question hit me harder than I expected. “No,” I said slowly. “She's not home yet.” She gave me a small nod, her lips pressing together. “I waited for her. She said she'd help me with my science project when I got back...but I guess she forgot.” Guilt pierced through me like a blade. “You shouldn't be sleeping here,” I said softly. “Come on, I will take you to your room and help you get changed. Nora pushed herself up gently. “It's okay, dad. I'm not five anymore. I can change my clothes now.” That made me pause again. Nora is sounding so grown it hurts my heart. Like, can I have my little Nora back? “Alright,” I said quietly. “Go ahead. I'll wait until you're done and fix us something to eat while you're doing that.” She slid off the bed and walked towards her room. I stood there for a long moment, staring at the door she closed behind her. The storm had begun, raindrops hit the windows in scattered patterns. I pulled out my phone and dialed Maya’s line. Straight to voicemail. I tried again. Same thing. A flash of frustration lit in my chest. She always picked up my calls. Always. Even in the middle of meetings or conferences. Where the hell was she? Just then, someone knocked. “Come in.” Aiden, beta of Erelis pack and my long time friend, stepped in. His expression was cold as always. “Alpha,” he bowed. “I was hoping to go over the quarterly logistics before tomorrow’s council call.” “Hold that thought for a second,” I said, sharper than I intended to. “Have you seen Maya around?” Aiden blinked. “You don't know?” My stomach tightened even before I heard what he had to say. “Know what?” “She flew out to Manhattan earlier today with the private jet. Said she has urgent business to attend to. I assumed she cleared it with you.” The silence in the room was deafening afterwards. “She didn't,” I muttered. Aiden looked genuinely surprised. “She usually tells you everything.” Exactly. “Do you know what business? Or who she went to see?” He hesitated, then he said, “Something about Queens Fashion Academy. She had an email sent to her from Lucas Banner. Said it was urgent.” Lucas Banner. That name sounds vaguely familiar. I raked a hand through my hair. “She left Nora alone. She didn't even bother checking in.” “I thought Evelyn was still here,” Aiden said carefully. “Evelyn is gone for a while due to a family emergency. Maya knew that.” Aiden fell silent. The image of my daughter curled up on my bed, waiting for a woman who never showed up flooded my mind again. My jaw tensed. “So she flew to Manhattan? Without telling me?” I muttered more to myself than him. Aiden gave an hesitant nod. “Yeah. One of the security teams saw her leaving in a hurry this morning. At first, I thought she was on pack business and you'd approved it.” My eyes narrowed. “Aiden, I said I didn't. She didn't leave any message.” There was a pause before Aiden cleared his throat. “I came for a pressing matter, Alpha. We've had another report on the Ridgeclaw pack (southern region). One of the motion sensors picked up a suspicious looking wolf last night—more than just a stray wolf passing through.” That straightened me up. “You think they're up to something?” “Looks like it,” Aiden said. “The movements were too calculated. One of the trackers swears the scent was masked—like they didn't want to be identified.” I cursed under my breath. “Alright. Put on a four hour rotation. No one goes in or out of the pack without clearance. And have tech check the surveillance grid again. I want all eyes on it and zero blind spots.” Aiden nodded in understanding. “Got it, Alpha.” But even as Aiden turned to leave. I couldn’t shake the feeling in my gut. Rogues were one thing. Maya disappearance without a word—that was something else entirely. “One more thing, Aiden.” Aiden turned before he could step out. “Yes, Alpha.” “Book me the next flight to Manhattan.” I said tightly. Aiden blinked. “Now?” “Yes, Aiden. Now.” Aiden nodded without questioning and stepped out. I stood by the window, watching the rain fall. Three years ago, I believed the bond between Maya and me was the answer to everything. That finding my fated mate would fix what was broken inside me—give me the love I needed from a true mate and treat my daughter with no difference. But tonight, looking at my daughter, hearing the disappointment in her voice…I wasn't so sure anymore.” My fated mate had just chosen her career over the child I swore to protect. And for the first time in years, Elora’s face flashed across my mind. The way she used to sing Nora to sleep. The way she never missed a single school recital. The way she'd dropped everything for our daughter, including her dream as a designer. I stared into the storm, wondering how everything had gone so wrong. And what the hell was I going to do to fix it ?