ALPHA Elias POV
We scoured the territory for Lenore, but she had vanished, her scent masked and untrackable. She had always been a skilled warrior. The guards admitted she’d grown unstable during her confinement, her obsession with me worsening. Not seeing me seemed to push her over the edge. Her current mental state terrified me.
We returned to the village center to regroup and share any clues in hopes of finding a lead. I learned a few warriors had been injured in surprise attacks, with only one casualty. As tragic as that was, I felt relief before it vanished.
My eyes lifted toward my own cabin, expecting to see the guards I had left on duty. Instead, I saw the two warriors stationed to protect Lyra lying motionless on the porch—lifeless and still.
“No,” I breathed. Panic slammed in
