The Lycan Prince’s Defiant Mate Novel - Chapter 23

55 23 Gathering Storm Gathering Storm Kade's POV Luna Celestine stood in the grand hall of the pack house, her grey eyes sharp as winter frost. The air was thick with tension, the weight of Ara's absence pressing down on us. " It's been more than a week. No news of Ara. Only if I were there to help!" Amara said, her voice strained. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms. I clenched my jaw. That was right! I was weak. I let him take her away. "Yeah. As if she vanished into thin air," my voice was rough, raw with frustration.

"Her scent was haphazard after one point- like she was dragged, then carried. We scoured the woods near Carsten. Nothing." Guilt filled in my heart. I promised to protect her, to take care of her but I'd failed her instead. She was taken by a monster. What did he want from Ara? My wolf became restless at the possibilities. Celestine placed a steadying hand on my shoulder as if she could hear my thoughts. Her touch was cool and grounding. "We will find her, Kade." "Why would that wolf take her?" I muttered, more to myself.

Ara's terrified face flashed behind my eyelids- the way her eyes had locked onto mine before she was ripped away. f**k! She even tried to protect me. Her tiny frame was trembling still, she pulled out the dagger. Her screams had become my nightmare. "Especially if he's a lycan, like you suspect," Amara added, her voice dropping. No doubt about that. The wolf took me down with just only blow, that too when I was in my wolf form. Where are you, Ara! Are you okay! Celestine's gaze darkened. Before she could respond, her body stiffened.

A ripple of awareness passed through her, her grey eyes glinting like polished steel. "There has been a breach," she said abruptly. My head snapped up. "Where?" "Northmost entrance." Her voice was eerily calm. "Kade, take the warriors and go. Now." She didn't have to repeat. I moved through the tunnels like a ghost, Amara and a handful of warriors at my back. The air was stale, thick with dust and the scent of damp stone. What was happening these days? The northmost entrance was a relic, a forgotten passage sealed off for years. No one used it.

It even led to the furthest corner of the woods above. "Five of them," Amara whispered, her nose twitching. "Rogues." My muscles coiled. "How the hell did they find this place? " No one answered. I gestured to the warriors to prepare for attack Our pack was hidden for years and this was the first -time someone breached it. I eyes were sharp, my warriors were ready when a slow clumsy movement took us off guard. A shadow shifted at the end of the tunnel. I raised a fist, signaling the warriors to hold immediately . (23 Gathering Storm And a moment later, what emerged wasn't a threat.