Page 26 of Alpha's Hidden Gem

I try to filter through the noise, seeking out the one scent that matters most to me. Where are you, Lila? I think, my mind racing with terrible possibilities.

Should have bitten her,my wolf hisses.

Great, now even my inner wolf is giving me attitude. Just what I need right now.

And then I catch it—the faintest whisper of her scent, a delicate thread amidst the chaos. I whip my head towards the source, myeyes scanning the streets with laser-like focus. That's when I see it—a shadowy figure forcibly dragging Lila towards a waiting car.

A visceral roar tears from my throat, a sound that is more animal than human. My wolf surges to the surface, clawing at my insides, demanding to be released. I can feel my muscles straining, my body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. Every instinct screams at me to charge forward, to rip apart the threat to my mate with my bare hands.

I start running, pushing my body to its limits, but the car is too fast. It turns a corner and disappears from view, leaving me standing in the middle of the street, my chest heaving with exertion and despair.

I failed her. The realization hitting me like a physical blow. I failed to protect my mate.

But even as the crushing weight of guilt and fear threatens to suffocate me, a fierce determination takes root in my soul. I will find her. I will save her. And I will tear apart anyone who dares to stand in my way. My veins feel like they're on fire, consumed by an intense purpose that leaves no room for anything else.

My wolf howls within me, demanding action, but I force myself to think rationally. I need to find her. It feels like I was trying to solve a puzzle while the pieces keep changing shape – frustrating, but I can't give up.

I scan the streets, my senses on high alert, searching for any clue, any trace of Lila or her captors. The city is a maze of sights and smells, and I can feel precious time slipping away with each passing second. I won't give up, even if it's like searching for a single grain of sand on a beach.

As I break into a run, my wolf claws at my insides, demanding to be released. It takes every ounce of my self-control to keep the shift at bay until we make it to the forest– the pressure is immense.

I'm coming, Lila. My mind focused on a single goal. I'll find you, no matter what it takes.

We're coming,my wolf corrects. Even in this dire situation, he manages to be pedantic. Typical.

The streets of Millfield blur around me as I run, my senses stretched to their limits. I search for any sign of the black sedan, any trace of Lila's scent. But the city is a maze of sights and smells, and I can feel precious time slipping away with each passing second. I won't give up, even if it's like searching for a single grain of sand on a beach.

Think, Axel, I tell myself, forcing my mind to focus. Who would want to take Lila? What do they want with her?

A sudden thought stops me in my tracks. The rogues. Could they be behind this? My mind flashes back to the unsettling scent Idetected in Lila's food truck, the same scent that lingered on the rogues I fought and the cryptic messages I received. Could they have taken her as some kind of twisted revenge against me?

The thought sends a chill down my spine, and I feel my wolf growling in anger. If the rogues have Lila, there's no telling what they might do to her. The image of her scared and alone, at the mercy of those monsters, is enough to make my blood boil.

I'll find you, Lila, I vow, my resolve hardening into an unbreakable steel. I'll bring you back safe, and I'll make sure no one ever threatens you again.

With renewed determination, I push myself harder, my legs pumping as I race through the streets. I won't rest until Lila is back in my arms, where she belongs. And heaven help anyone who tries to stand in my way. Love, fear, and fury propel me with unstoppable force.

As I run, my mind races with possibilities. Where would they take her? What's their endgame? I try to think like a rogue, to anticipate their moves, but it's like trying to predict the path of a tornado – chaotic and unpredictable.

The city gives way to suburbs, and then to the outskirts of town. I can feel the pull of the forest, calling to my wolf. It's where I'm strongest, where I can fully unleash my abilities without fear of human eyes. But leaving the city means potentially losing Lila's trail. It's a risk I'm not sure I can take.

I pause at the edge of the treeline, my chest heaving with exertion. Sweat drips down my face, but I barely notice it. All I can focus on is Lila – her scent, her smile, the way her eyes light up when she talks about cooking. I can't lose her. I won't.

My wolf paces restlessly within me, eager to take control. He wants to howl, to call the pack, to hunt down those who dared to take our mate. And a part of me wants to let him. It would be so easy to give in to the primal urge, to let instinct take over where reason has failed.

But I know I can't. Not yet. I need to think this through, to use every tool at my disposal. It's like being caught between two worlds – the human world of logic and planning, and the wolf world of instinct and raw power. I need to find a balance between the two if I'm going to save Lila.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. "Hold on, Lila," I whisper into the night. "I'm coming for you. No matter what it takes, I will find you."

With one last look at the city behind me, I plunge into the forest. The familiar scents of earth and pine envelop me, and I feel a surge of strength. This is my territory, my domain. And somewhere out there, Lila is waiting for me to find her.

As I run deeper into the woods, I let my wolf rise closer to the surface. My senses sharpen, my muscles coil with untappedpower. I'm not just Axel anymore – I'm the Alpha, the protector, the avenger. And nothing will stop me from bringing Lila home.

May the Moon have mercy on anyone who stands in my way. Because I sure as hell won't.

Chapter 9

Waking up