Love And Betrayal | ✔️

17. The blame game

IT ISN'T TOO long before evening falls. Noises begin to die down. The breeze grows colder, the air mistier and the atmosphere eerier.

It's time to return.

Tidying up the desk, I lock the office when I exit. Breathe in the warm air once one last time before pulling the jacket closer around my shoulder. It's only once I'm at the threshold I hear someone call my name.

"Kiara, have you seen my daughter?" Biting her lip, I am startled when I see Bella wringing her hands in concern. Her hair is slightly disheveled and there a thin sheen of sweat on her face as she looks at me, expecting a positive answer.

My brows furrow. "Why yes, I did see her a few hours ago. She said she was going to play with her friends."

If the former sentence had been of any reassurance, the latter one certainly hadn't. The frown on Bella's face deepens. "I know," she sighs, leaning against the wall tiredly, "she did tell me when she left. But it's been two hours now and it's almost dark. All the kids except Nora have returned."

That's odd.

"Bells, relax. I'll see what I can do. She most likely just wandered a bit farther away from the rest of them." I say, taking her hand in mine and squeezing them in reassurance, "I'll inform the warriors to search for her. We'll find her in no time, okay?"

She seems slightly unconvinced, but is relatively calmer than before. "Okay. Where are you going by the way? Isn't it too late to roam around?"

"I'll be fine. I'm going back to the Inquisition. Ash said he needs me there."

She opens her mouth to say something, but thinking the better of it remains silent. Instead, she gives me a quick hug and tells me to stay safe.

"Please find her, Kiara." She breathes softly, "I've a weird feeling about this."

"She'll fine." I say, more confidently than I actually feel. "We'll find her, Bells. I promise."

And then, leaving the door ajar, I stuff my hands in my pocket and walk back to the Dark Wolf pack house.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

The crackling fire in the fireplace is a slight comfort, but I still dread the sight of blood and bones when I think about the prison downstairs.

Remembering what Bella had asked me previously, I mindlink the Chief Warrior.

"Ask the warriors to scout around the perimeter, Jared." I order him. He mutters something under his breath before he asks me for the details. "A little girl, brown hair, brown eyes, short height, has been missing for the last two hours. She's the Alpha's niece and the Beta's daughter."

"Warrior Jared." He grumbles at the way I address him despite his numerous corrections. It's hopeless, I'm never going to change. "And yes, I'll see to it immediately."

"Keep me informed. If there's something wrong, don't take any action until I confirm it."

"As you say, Luna."

Closing our mindlink, I go down the long winding staircase that opens into the dreadful dungeon.

When I finally reach her cell, Aden and Ashton are already present. They nod at me in acknowledgement, and turn back to the prisoner who is still bound to the cold iron chair. Aden's slightly put off mood stirs something in the pit of my stomach, but I'm quick to cast those feelings aside.