Chapter b220 /b

“Caleb?” My mother’s voice was weak as she reached for me. “What… what happenedb?/b”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my hands shaking as I helped them sit up. “I just woke up too. My father rubbed his temple, his jaw clenched, before his eyesnded on everyone around us.

“Caleb!” My father’s voice was sharp, his expression grim. His gaze swept over the pack members who were still regaining consciousness. “What the hell happened here? Is everyone alright?”

I swallowed hard. “I have no idea, father,” I answered honestly, ncing around at the confused faces around us. “I’m still trying to figure things out.”

His jaw tightened, and he nodded before moving to check on others. But something felt… off. I couldn’t shake the unease crawling up my spine. I turned, scanning the crowd as more and more people slowly woke and stumbled out of the pack house. Something was missing–no, someone. My chest tightened as I searched the faces around me.

Aurora.

I pushed past people, my heart hammering as I scanned the room. Where is she? She should be here. She should be waking up with everyone else. “Aurora?” I called out, my voice sharper than I intended. No answer. I moved faster now, stepping over bodies still unconscious, shaking shoulders, searching. The dread in my gut only grew.

And then it hit me like a punch to the stomach. Not only was Aurora missing–but so was Harmona.

My breath caught, and I spun back toward Alpha Camden, my voice urgent now. “Alpha–Aurora and Harmona. They’re gone.”

His eyes snapped to mine, and I saw the same realization dawn in them. Something was very,

very wrong.

I stormed down the hall, my heart mming against my ribs with every step. Aurora. I had to find her. My mind was spinning with all the possibilities, and none of them were good. Harmona had taken her–she had to be the one behind this. I didn’t trust that woman, never

had, and now Aurora was gone.

As I reached the top of the stairs leading down to her room, I skidded to a bstop/bb, /bbmy /bbbreath /bcatching in my throat. Caroline. She was sprawled at the base of the stairs, her bbody /bblifeless/b, her blonde hair fanned out around her like some tragic painting.

“Caroline!” I bolted down the steps, dropping to my knees beside her. I shook her shoulder, my hands trembling. “Hey! Wake up! Come on, Caroline, open your eyes.” Nothing. No response. A cold wave of panic rushed through me as I pressed my fingers to her neck. Her pulse was there, steady but weak. I clenched my jaw. What the hell had happened here?

“Caleb!” Damien’s voice rang through the hall, sharp and urgent. I nced up just as he stormed toward me, his expression a mixture of confusion and anger. “What the hell is going

on?”

“I don’t know!” I snapped, frustration creeping into my voice. “I just got here. I found her like this!” I gestured at Caroline’s still form in my arms. My pulse was a hammer in my ears as I looked back down at her. This wasn’t right. This whole situation reeked of something twisted. “But listen, Damien–Aurora’s missing too and so is Harmona.”

His eyes widened slightly, and for a second, I saw something flicker across his face–fear. “What do you mean, missing?”

I pushed a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “I mean she’s gone. She’s not in the room, and I have a really bad feeling about this. Harmona–she might have taken her.”

Damien’s jaw tightened, and I could see the wheels turning in his head, his mind piecin things together just as mine was. He crouched down beside Caroline, checking her over. She breathing. That’s something. But if Aurora’s really missing…” He met my gaze, and for the fi time in a long time, I saw real concern in his eyes. “Then we have a serious problem.”

My stomach twisted painfully. Yeah. That was putting it lightly.

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