Page 42 of Whisper of an Alpha
“Wyatt,” I whisper silently, hoping my thoughts can reach him. “Please find me. I need you.”
The cabin feels suffocating, the air thick with tension. I can hear Rachel muttering to herself as she scavenges through the remnants of the past. “He’ll never forgive you,” she hisses, and my heart skips. Is she talking about Wyatt? Or is it something else?
Suddenly, she stops, the air around us shifting. I can sense her mind working, plotting, and I understand that whatever she’s planning, it’s about to unfold. The dread coils tighter in my stomach as I search for a way to distract her, to buy myself some time.
“Rachel,” I say, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me. “You don’t have to do this. You can let me go. We can work together.” I try to keep my tone as calm as possible, even as my heart races.
She turns, her eyes narrowing. “Work together? You really think I’d ever team up with you? You’re a fool.” She laughs, but it’s hollow, like the empty walls surrounding us. “You’re nothing but a stepping stone for me. Once you are out of the picture, I’ll take my place as the true Luna of this pack.”
“Rachel, don’t you see? This isn’t the way to get what you want. You’ll lose everything.” I can feel the desperation creeping into my voice, but I push it back. “Wyatt won’t choose you. He loves me. You’ll just end up alone.”
Her expression shifts, anger boiling beneath the surface. “You think I care about love? This is about power, Octavia! Power is everything! I won’t let you ruin my chances!”
The realization settles in, and I know I must act fast. I can’t let her spiral deeper into this madness. While she’s distracted, Iglance around the room, searching for anything that can aid my escape. Old furniture, broken items strewn about — a treasure trove of possibilities.
Rachel moves toward me, her fury palpable, but I don’t waver. “You’re wrong about power! It doesn’t come from fear or manipulation; it comes from trust, from love. Wyatt will never trust you if you keep this up!”
The words hang in the air, and for a brief moment, I see a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. It’s small, but it’s there. I decide to press on, to push her further. “You think taking me will make you stronger? You’re only showing your weakness, Rachel. You’re scared of losing control, and that’s why you’re doing this.”
“Shut up!” she screams, but there’s a tremor in her voice. I can feel it — her confidence wavering, her grip on her emotions slipping.
“Wyatt won’t stop searching for me,” I say, my voice steady and calm. “And when he finds me, he’ll be furious. You’ll have to answer for what you’ve done, and there will be no escaping that.”
Her expression twists, and for a moment, I can see a glimmer of fear in her eyes. It’s enough to give me hope. I take a deep breath, focusing on the connection I share with Wyatt. “He’s coming for me, Rachel. You can’t hide from him. You can’t run.”
22
SEARCHING
Wyatt
The sun castslong shadows across my office as I sit at my desk, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. I can’t shake the image of Octavia’s bloodstained gown from my mind. It’s a haunting reminder of the horror that has unfolded — the kidnapping, the betrayal, and the impending chaos surrounding the Luna Ceremony. The thought of Rachel, the woman who faked a pregnancy to manipulate me, sends a surge of rage through my veins. I can’t let her get away with this. I can’t let her hurt my fated mate.
I glance at the aerial view plans spread across my desk, the intricate lines and shapes of the forest surrounding our pack land. Each tree stands as a sentinel, guarding secrets that feel both familiar and foreign. I trace a path with my finger, contemplating every inch of the terrain. The woods are vast, a tangled mess of branches and underbrush that could easily swallow someone whole. And somewhere in that wilderness, Octavia is waiting for me, scared and alone.
My mind races as I consider calling the neighboring alphas for help. They have resources, men who can search the woods with me, but the thought of their faces, twisted with disdain, stops me. They’ve resented my rise to power, my bond with Octavia. They see me as a threat, and I can’t afford to show any weakness now. But the thought of going at it alone gnaws at me. What if I don’t find her in time?
“Wyatt, you need to eat,” Dalton says as he steps into my office, his voice breaking through the fog of my thoughts. He leans against the doorframe, tattooed arms crossed, concern etched across his face. “Octavia would kick your ass and mine for not taking care of yourself while she’s gone.”
A slight smile flickers across my lips at the mention of her name, but it fades as quickly as it appeared. “I don’t have time for that, Dalton. I need to find her.”
“Yeah, I get that. But you can’t do anything on an empty stomach,” he replies, his tone lighter now. “Besides, you can’t let her down. You know she’d never forgive you if something happened to you because you didn’t even eat a damn granola bar.”
“Don’t remind me,” I mutter, rubbing the bridge of my nose. The thought of Octavia’s disappointment is a weight I don’t want to bear.
Just then, Harrison walks in, his presence commanding yet relaxed. “What’s going on?” he asks, glancing between Dalton and me.
“Wyatt’s being stubborn again,” Dalton says, shaking his head. “He’s too focused on Octavia.”
“Good,” Harrison says. “We need that focus. But we also need a plan. What about Rachel? Have you thought about going to her parents? They might know something.”
I nod slowly, the idea taking root in my mind. “You might be right. If anyone can help us track her down, it’s them. They might have an idea of where she could have gone.”
“Let’s hit the road then,” Harrison says, clapping me on the shoulder. “We’ll figure this out.”
I stand abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as I grab my denim jacket. “I’ll drive,” I say, determination surging through me. The thought of Rachel’s parents stirs a mix of anger and urgency within me. They may have raised the monster that has taken my mate, but I’ll be damned if I let them go unchallenged.
We makeour way to the outskirts of our territory, the familiar landscape blurring as I focus on the road ahead. I can’t shake the feeling that time is running out. Every second spent driving is a second closer to losing Octavia forever.
