The Missing Queen's Scent

LUCIAN

I look at my phone for the millionth time since Liana left. It is unusual that I’ve heard ~nothing~ from her, not even a message when she arrived. I know her father is unwell but it still doesn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t sleep all night. Instead, I paced around the palace with my phone in my hand, praying for a message, a call, anything. I was even too distracted to focus on any work calls. It’s sunrise now and I’m ready to leave. But I know I have to wait a little, at least. Kia isn’t up yet and he needs the rest.

The second the hand on the clock flicks to seven a.m., I call out to Kia.

~“Beta.”~

~“Yes, sir?”~

~“We need to go.”~

~“I’ll get the car, sir.” ~

I grab my coat and phone, then go outside to wait on the steps, pacing uncomfortably as I do.

***

In the SUV, I fidget as Kia drives. I know he can feel the unease radiating off me and it’s making him tense.

“Lucian…” He never uses my name unless he’s serious. I look across to him, my leg still jigging impatiently. “Are you okay?”

“She’s not said a word since she left.”

“Her father is on his deathbed, Lucian… She loves you but she’s probably just preoccupied.” Kia’s attempt to reassure me helps very little. I know Liana. Busy or not, she would contact me.

***

It feels like forever until we finally reach Liana’s childhood home. The alpha’s mansion looks suspiciously quiet for such a large, “busy” pack.

I hop out, and Kia follows slightly behind me but at my side. I take the steps two at a time and thump a closed fist on the alpha’s door. While I wait, I sniff at the air but can’t smell Liana—which confuses me. If she is inside, I should still be able to smell her. When nobody answers the door, I call out to her.

~“Liana.”~ I’m met with silence, and frown, looking around for signs. ~“Liana! Baby, I’m here for you.”~ My call is louder this time, more urgent, but still I hear nothing.

“Kia, check the back.”

“Yes, sir.” Kia jogs around the back of the house and I bang on the door again.

“Alpha Zayne!” I sing out in a dangerous tone. “Don’t make me take the door off its fucking hinges!” Still no response. Just as I’m about to smash the door into a million pieces, Kia comes back, empty-handed.

“Nothing, sir. No entry, no movement, no scents.”

I growl, frustrated. “I knew it. I have a bad feeling about this, Kia. I can’t feel her, I can’t hear her, I can’t even smell her. It’s just blank.”

“What about the pack house? It’s some distance down the track; maybe that’s why you can’t feel her.”

I frown and look down the track. Only one way to find out.

I start to remove my clothes and toss them onto the hood of the SUV. Kia follows suit, and we both shift. As my wolf, I reach out to feel for my mate, but once again I can’t find her. My wolf growls and looks at Kia, who whines slightly with discomfort at the situation. I give my beta a determined glare and we take off down the track.

***

As we run down the pack house green I let out an earth-shattering howl, and the pack starts to flood out of the main house to meet us. They all drop to their knees when I get close, and I quickly recognize the peeking eyes of that slim, athletic she-wolf. What was her name? Ariel. If something is going on, she would likely know.

Kia and I both shift back to human form, and I proudly keep my mark on display—the scar of the bite Liana gave me when we were mated. Ariel recoils slightly and I smile internally. Good. She deserves to feel ashamed.

“Ariel,” I call, and she rises from her knee and takes a step forward, away from the crowd.

“Your Majesty.” Even her voice makes me cringe.

“My mate. Where is she?” It’s a demand, not a question.

“I have not seen her, Your Majesty,” she responds far too sweetly.

Without thinking, I lunge forward and grab her by the throat before spinning her around into my body and holding her in my fist to face her pack. This pack, although strong, does lack females so she would be a loss. Especially with the minimum of five males I can smell on her skin. I see a few members jerk forward, and then, on second thoughts, settle back. They know better than to challenge me.

“Anyone who is aware of the whereabouts of ~my~ mate, ~your~ queen, come forward right now! Or so help me Goddess, I will kill this vile creature you call a female!”

“Hey! Fuck you!” she spits at me, but I just scoff. Her threat is nothing. Some of the members stiffen again and look around at one another, waiting for someone to open their mouth.

I growl, tightening my grip around her throat as she starts to gasp for breath. She chokes and splutters as she tries to pry my hands off her neck, but to no avail.

I notice movement through the crowd and stop squeezing Ariel’s neck for a moment to see who is passing through.

Zayne.

As he appears at the front of his pack in fucking perfect health, I growl a thunderous roar that has Ariel trembling in my grasp.

~“Where is she!”~ The tone in my voice makes even me shiver. I don’t even sound like myself.

“My daughter. ~Our~ princess. Is home. Where she belongs.”

“I will burn this pack to the fucking ground!” I roar but he just smiles.

“You can,” he says with a shrug and walks the line of his pack. “But you still won’t find her.”

~“Kia. Call the warriors.”~

~“Yes, sir,”~ Kia responds without any hesitation. He knows I’m serious and they’ll be here in no time at all.

“I wouldn’t bother calling your warriors, either. If we are attacked, Liana’s as good as gone.”

I freeze, and Kia looks to me for direction as I glare at Alpha Zayne who stares stonily back at me.

“Do you really think I would leave her ~alone~?” he asks with a grin. My stomach drops as he glances down at his wristwatch and taps on the dial before looking up to the sky with a self-assured smile.

I growl, feeling the first flushes of the upcoming heat that will rise tomorrow. Ariel whines a little and tries to grind herself back into me. Snarling, I throw her forward, as far away from me as possible, and she lands with a thud.

“You dare! You filthy, little pack whore!” I snap, my anger rising rapidly.

~“Sir? What do we do?”~

~“Have the pack surrounded, every inch of the grounds to be covered. No escape. We’ll smoke him out.”~ Kia nods in agreement and I turn back to Zayne.

“I will find her. I won’t be going anywhere, Zayne. Not until she is where she belongs. With ~me~.” The alpha grins smugly and gives a mock-gracious nod.

“Of course, Your Majesty. We welcome you.”

I keep my face impassive and pray that Liana is safe, wherever she is.

~I will find you, Liana.~