Chapter 624: No Where To Be Found

Elijah’s face was unreadable as he strode down the long corridor of the hospital wing. The air around him was cold, his presence enough to make every werewolf step aside and bow their heads.

Their fear fed something inside him. Power. It was more intoxicating than any drink. The future of their kind was in his hands, and everyone knew it.

He reached the last private ward and opened the door without knocking.

Inside, Luna Zara lay propped up on crisp sheets, her pale hair spilling across the pillow. Two doctors hovered nearby with one checking her monitors, while the other quietly asked about her pain level.

They both froze as soon as Elijah entered, the air shifting immediately as the intensity of his aura pressed down on them.

Zara turned her head last, slowly and unbothered, her features impassive.

Elijah clasped his hands behind his back and said dryly, "Congratulations on returning from the dead, Luna Zara."

Her lips curved into a thin smile that didn’t touch her eyes. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The doctors didn’t need to be told. They bowed once and scurried out, leaving the two of them alone.

Elijah took the chair beside her bed and crossed one leg over the other, studying her.

Zara had always been pale — that was a signature trait of the North Pack — but this was different. She looked ghostly pale, as if she had no blood in her body.

"You’re quite a vision," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"If you’ve come here to taunt me," she replied, her tone cool and weary, "you’ll be disappointed. I don’t have the strength for it."

Elijah gave a wry smile. "Of course you don’t. Not when you’re this close to losing everything. I mean, even animals protect their young, yet you performed an experiment on your own son." His voice hardened, "On my heir. You do have some guts, Zara."

Her eyes flashed. "It would have worked," she snapped, then caught herself. Her voice shook with regret,"I improved the Mnemosyne crown. I eliminated the risk. It could have been a breakthrough. But..." Her shoulders sagged. "I see now where I was wrong. I’ve committed a great crime against my son, and he may never forgive me in this life."

Elijah looked at her without blinking. "Then I suppose you haven’t heard that Alaric is missing."

Zara’s head jerked up. "What did you just say?"

He leaned back, feigning surprise. "Oh? Caspian hasn’t told you? Seems he’s taking that divorce rather seriously, keeping secrets about your own son now."

For a brief moment, Zara looked devastated. So this was how far Caspian was willing to go to separate her from her children. But as she studied the Alpha King, realization dawned on her. That cunning intelligence in Elijah’s eyes gave him away.

Her expression hardened. "What do you want, Your Majesty?"

Elijah chuckled softly. "There she is, the smart Zara Storm I remember."

Zara’s voice rose an octave. "What happened to my son?"

For the first time since arriving, the smile vanished from Elijah’s face.

He said to Zara, "Your son, Alaric, is gone, alongside Violet. Any idea where your husband might be hiding them?"

Zara’s mouth fell open. "Why would Caspian hide—" She stopped midsentence as realization struck. Her eyes narrowed. "It’s the girl, isn’t it? Violet. She’s the one you want."

Elijah didn’t deny it. "Violet Purple has proven to be a valuable asset hidden away for far too long. The only thing left to determine is whether she’ll remain an asset or turn into a threat."

Zara’s lips parted in disbelief. "And you think my husband would hide her?"

Elijah answered calmly. "People tend to misunderstand my intentions whenever I’m involved. Violet is Alaric’s mate. Your husband would probably do anything to keep her close to ensure that kind of power remains tied to the North, even if she becomes dangerous."

Zara’s composure slipped. "Violet Purple is also mated to Griffin Hale of the East and Roman Draven of the South. So why accuse us of hiding her?"

Elijah tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps because she disappeared on Northern soil. And if history has shown anything," his gaze bored into hers, "it’s that your people go to great lengths to get what they want."

The implication wasn’t lost on Zara. He was hinting at how far she had gone in pursuit of power.

Zara’s jaw clenched. She told him straightaway, "Caspian doesn’t have Violet Purple. That’s not his style."

Without warning, Elijah reached across the bed and grabbed her by the chin. His grip was firm, his voice a low snarl. "I don’t care whether your husband has Violet or not. What I’m saying is, find the girl. That’s the least you can do for me after I saved you from a potential divorce. Be a little grateful, Luna Zara."

Then he let go. Zara exhaled sharply, releasing the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Elijah straightened, slipping his hands into his pockets as if nothing had happened.

"We’ll be in communication," he said

smoothly. "Once more, happy recovery."

He turned and left the room, leaving Zara to suffocate on the bitter taste of humiliation that lingered in the air.

No sooner had Elijah stepped out of the room than someone nearly collided with him in the hallway.

"Your Majesty," Christian bowed quickly, slightly breathless.

Elijah raised a brow, his voice edged with impatience. "How did it go?"

Christian straightened, his face grim. "We have a little problem."

The words made Elijah’s frown deepen. "What kind of problem?"

Christian hesitated, visibly uncomfortable under the Alpha King’s piercing gaze. "We’ve flipped the entire Pack House upside down but there’s still no sign of Violet or the boys. It doesn’t help that no one saw them leave the pack either."

For a moment, Elijah just stared at him, the silence thick. Then his expression turned serious. "You mean to tell me they just vanished into thin air?"

Christian swallowed hard. "It’s not just that, Your Majesty."

"There’s more?" Elijah could feel a headache brewing at this point.

Christian nodded slowly. "My men in the West Pack sent word. There was a rebellion in the pack but it’s been contained."

Elijah narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. "And?"

Christian exhaled. "Asher Nightshade and Roman Draven are missing too."

"What?!"