Page 33 of Fear

Alaska’s heart pounded against her ribs. “What—”

Dash’s gaze snapped to hers, something flashing in his eyes. Something he didn’t want to say. Alaska’s stomach dropped.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Alaska’s stomach twisted. Something wasn’t right.

Dash stood in the doorway, his chest rising and falling too fast, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might crack. The air around him was charged, his usual calm veneer fractured. She took a slow step forward, her pulse hammering. The way he was looking at her… something was wrong.

Very wrong.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Her voice was steady, but she could feel the prick of fear creeping in.

Dash’s gaze flicked away for half a second. Just half a second, but it was enough. Enough to know that whatever it was—he didn’t want to say it.

Alaska moved closer; her shoulders squared. “Dash. Talk. Please.” Dakota’s grip tightened over her belly; Siena’s fingers curled into fists. Dash exhaled slowly, his nostrils flaring. He was hesitating as his eyes clashed with Alaska’s. He would give anything to make sure that his mate didn’t worry, that she wasn’t scared, but the fuckers had taken Sophia and he had no way of protecting Alaska from the pain of him losing her friend.

Dash never hesitated. Alaska’s stomach sank like a stone. “Dash, what aren’t you telling me? Did something happen to one of the men” The words rushed out of her before she could stop them.

She braced herself but Dash’s head snapped up, his eyes flashing with something else entirely. Not grief. Not loss. Fear. And Dash never fucking looked afraid.

“No. It’s not any of the men.” His voice was gravel, but there was an edge to it. Something sharp. Something raw. A silence thick enough to drown in settled over the room.

“What is it?” she demanded, her voice lower now. Darker.

Dash’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw locked tight. He was battling something inside himself.

And then, finally—

“She’s gone.” The words hit the room like an explosion.

A pause.

A breath.

Then chaos.

Siena jerked forward first, “What the fuck do you mean she’s gone?”

Dakota gasped, clutching her belly as if to keep herself steady. Alaska’s eyes darkened, her fists trembling with barely restrained fury. “Dash, you better start explaining. Right fucking now.”

Dash looked like he wanted to punch something. Maybe himself. His voice came out hoarse, raw. “Sofia’s missing.” The world tilted.

The breath rushed from Alaska’s lungs like a vacuum had sucked it straight from her chest. She could hear them yelling, cursing, demanding answers.

“Did she leave?” Onix asked.

“No, it looks like there was a struggle.” Dash reveals.

The sound of the prospects tearing through the house, shouting her name, searching every room, but she was gone. By the time they reached the perimeter of the property, they found the first sign of the struggle.

Blood. A single, dark stain on the frozen ground. The moment Dash saw it, something inside him snapped.

“FIND HER!”

The men scattered. The women stormed from the house, their fear turning into rage.

Alaska’s face was hard, unreadable. But Dash could see it—the way her hands trembled, the way her body shook with barely restrained fury.

Onix’s knuckles were white, her mouth set in a firm, deadly line.

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