Williamâs POV
I was pacing around the room, trying to find some fucking way to remain in focus. Dimitri hadnât stopped whining or growling. I could tell that he was struggling and that he was in immense pain. I knew that he wouldnât be able to do shit until he came out of the shock he was in.
But that was why he had me. I had to take over until he managed to focus back on what mattered the most.
âShe was poisoned with wolfsbane,â the pack doctor said as he finished checking up on Ali. âThe dose wasnât big. She will be okay, Beta. The wolfsbane just needs to leave her body.â
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I almost lost it when I found her on the floor. But at least I found her. At least she was here.
Maddie wasâ¦
Gone. She was fucking gone.
âThank you,â I mumbled as I opened my eyes and looked at my beautiful mate. âYou can leave.â
The pack doctor nodded. He glanced at Dimitri before he picked up his bag and walked out of the room.
Mike and Ellie walked inside. Both of them looked like they were crying.
âAnything?â I asked and they shook their heads.
âHer scent disappears at the edge of the forest,â Ellie said, looking at Dimitri. âThere is no way to tell where they took her.â
I tightened my jaw and ran my fingers through my hair.
âOur warriors are searching the territory,â Mike said, his voice laced with fear and worry. âWe covered as much of the border as we could. They wonât be able to get her out of our pack if they are still here.â
I looked at Dimitri and took a deep breath. He was standing by the window and staring at the forest. He almost left to go find her, but I stopped him. I couldnât let him go until he was completely focused. I couldnât let anything happen to him. I was his Beta and I needed to protect him. I couldnât let him get hurt. Maddie would kill me if I let him get hurt.
âDimitriâ¦,â I called him, but he interrupted me.
âGather every fucking Alpha and bring them into the throne room,â Dimitri said, his voice void of any emotion. âI am keeping them hostage until we find her.â
I looked at Mike and gulped.
âYou canâtâ¦,â Mike started speaking, but Dimitri interrupted him again.
âOne of them took her,â he said, turning around to look at us. âThey will bring her back to me, or I will burn them all. They will fucking burn together with that throne they wanted so fucking bad.â
Dimitri looked like a shell of himself. Every emotion in his eyes was gone. He looked like he aged in the last half an hour. He looked like he was on the verge of breaking.
âIf you accuse themâ¦,â I tried to reason with him, but he interrupted me with an order.
âGather them,â he said, narrowing his eyes at me. âRight the fuck now.â
I had no other choice, but to listen to him. My body started moving on its own. I took a deep breath and released it slowly as I walked downstairs. Every packhouse worker and every single warrior I passed asked about Maddie. All of them had tears in their eyes. All of them looked so worried. I had to ignore them if I ever wanted to make my way to the throne room.
We will find her. I mind-linked them all, trying to sound confident. Just go do your jobs, okay? Your Alpha needs you to keep everything in order. Thatâs the best you can do to help him.
I walked inside the throne room and saw that every single one of our guests was already there.
âWill!â Alpha Theodore exclaimed. âWhere is our Queen?â
They are all here, Dimitri. I mind-linked him, but he didnât respond.
âWho took her?â Alpha Lucius asked. âHow the hell did they get inside the pack?â
âWe need to search the forest?â Alpha Alistair said. âDid you send anyone there yet?â
I raised my hands, motioning for them to stop. I couldnât answer all of their questions at the same time.
âWe sent our warriors to find her,â I said calmly. âWe donât know whoâ¦â
I was interrupted when the door burst open and a very angry Dimitri ran inside. He wasnât void of any emotion anymore. He was filled with anger. Mike was behind him and he looked as angry as Dimitri.
Ali? I mind-linked Mike.
She is still asleep. He responded. Ellie stayed with her.
I gulped and forced myself to focus back on Dimitri.
âOne of you took her and I want her back,â Dimitri growled loudly. âI swear to Goddess, I will fucking burn you alive if you donât bring my mate back to me.â
He narrowed his eyes, looking around the room and growling. Some of our guests gasped. Everyone was shocked.
âI know that one of you isâ¦,â he spoke, but he suddenly stopped talking.
I furrowed my brows and looked at him. He was looking around gritting his teeth and clenching his fists tightly.
âWhere is Alpha Jack?â Dimitri asked and my heart stopped beating.
I looked at our guests, but I couldnât find Alpha Jack. I couldnât see his Beta or his Luna either.
âWhere the fuck is Alpha Jack?!â Dimitri screamed, making everyone flinch and bow their heads.
His aura filled the room to the point where I started sweating. His anger was making it hard for all of us to breathe.
âThey took her,â Mike mumbled. âThat was why they opened the bedroom door. They trusted them.â
âI saw him on the battlefield,â Alpha Theodore mumbled quietly.
âHe was there at the beginning, yes,â Alpha Lucius said. âBut he wasnât with us when we were coming back.â
âBut why would they take her?â Luna Jennifer asked quietly. âWhat do they want to do with her?â
âThey want my throne,â Dimitri said. âThey want to use her as a way for me to give up my title and my Kingdom.â
Almost everyone in the room gasped.
âThat is betrayal, my King!â Alpha Xavier exclaimed. âHe is a traitor!â
âAnd he betrayed us all!â Alpha Lincoln added angrily. âIf you betray our King, you betray every single one of us!â
âYes!â
âTraitor!â
âHe betrayed our King!â
âHe betrayed our Kingdom!â
Everyone started shouting at the same time.
âWe will find him, my King!â Alpha Lucius shouted. âHe wonât get away with this!â
Dimitri tightened his jaw and looked at me.
Do you trust them? I asked. Do you think that one of them was working with him?
Dimitri didnât get a chance to respond. The throne room door opened and Landon and Rayan ran inside.
âMy King!â Landon exclaimed, his eyes wide. âYour Royal Secretary Kendrick is dead! He was killed!â
My eyes widened. The room was silent for a moment, but then everyone started shouting again.
âBetrayal!
âWe will find him and kill him!â
âHe has our Queen!â
âHe killed a member of the council!â
I looked at Dimitri and saw him gritting his teeth. He took a deep breath and growled so loudly that I saw a couple of Betas and Lunas cover their ears.
âYour Queen is missing,â Dimitri said, his voice cold and filled with hatred. âI want you to use every single one of your resources to find her. I want you to help me bring her home. He didnât take her to his pack. He isnât that stupid. Do whatever you need to do to find her.â
He didnât wait for anyone to respond. He turned around and rushed out of the throne room.
âShow me Kendrickâs body!â he shouted on his way out.
Landon, Rayan, Mike, and I ran after him.
My entire body was shaking with anger and fear. I couldnât even imagine what Dimitri was feeling. He looked like he was on the verge of a complete breakdown.
We needed to find Maddie. We needed to find her as soon as possible.