Stefano's POV
The forest was too silent to bear. Even the night creatures seemed to sense all my rage.
"Spread out!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the whole fog like a knife. "No one leaves this forest until she must be found!"
"My Lord," a guard called, his voice so weak from exhaustion, "we've searched every direction around this forest… north to the riverside, still no trail."
"Then search again!" I snapped angrily . "She's out here somewhere!"
The cold bit into my skin making me shiver, but I didn't care, I needed to find her. I could still smell her faint scent… lavender and moonlight, fading with every step.
"Alpha…" Beatrice's voice came from behind me. Soft. Shaky. "I have searched that side, no trail of her at all. Please, come back. We will continue tomorrow."
I turned, breath uneven. "She's my mate, Beatrice. How do I rest when she's still out there somewhere?"
Her eyes were swollen with so much tears. "I want her back too. I need her. She's my sister Stefano, but you can't lead if you collapse out here."
"I'm not leaving this forest without her."
She sighed quietly. "Then let me stay with you."
I didn't respond. I just kept on walking, searching for any trails, any hope left… any sound that would tell me she was nearby. But all I heard was nothing, the whisper of the wind came in loudly and the breaking of twigs under my shoes.
By dawn, I returned back to the pack house, though every step I took felt heavier than the last. The entire hall was silent when I entered. I burned with fury. Everyone who came across me, avoided my gaze.
"Anything?" I asked sharply.
"No, Alpha," one of the guards answered. "Not a trace at all."
My hands clenched. I turned to Beatrice, who stood near the window, arms wrapped around herself. Her face looked so paled, drained. Exhaustion.
"She wouldn't just vanish," I muttered. "Someone knows what happened."
Beatrice looked up slowly at me. "The investigator has been questioning the servants. We might hear something soon."
"Good," I said with no remorse, then added under my breath, "because if anyone had a hand in what happened, they'll beg for mercy before I'm done with them," I said so coldly.
That night, I sat alone in my chambers thinking while staring at the half-burned candle on my desk. Everything just happened so sudden. I couldn't breathe. I only saw her smile, the way she had looked at me hours before the ceremony began.
The door opened so quietly. Beatrice walked in carrying a tray of food in her hands . "You haven't eaten since yesterday," she said softly.
"I can't." I said tilting my head away.
She set it down anyway. "You have to stay strong. For her. For the whole pack."
I looked at her, my voice breaking slightly needing answers . "Do you think she's still alive?"
Beatrice smiled . "If anyone could survive… It's Aurora."
I wanted to believe her. I really did.
Before I could speak again, two guards entered, dragging Maia, Aurora's personal maid. Her wrists were bound, her face looked so pale.
"Alpha," one of them said, bowing quickly. "We have results from the investigation."
Beatrice stepped back, startled. "Investigation?"
I rose to my feet waiting for the answers. "Speak."
"The drink Lady Aurora took before the ceremony… it was poisoned."
My chest went so still. "What?"
The guard continued, voice trembling. "We traced the tray, the goblet, all handled by one person. Maia."
Beatrice gasped. "No. That's impossible. Maia loved her so much and trusted her." stated in disbelief.
Maia dropped to her knees, sobbing. "My Lord, I… I…"
"Silence!" My voice came out so harshly than I even intended, but the room was already shaking with tension. "Tell me the truth. Did you do it?"
Maia's tears fell fast. "I… I prepared the drink, but ….."
"Did someone tell you to?" I pressed.
She looked at me , trembling. "Em…"
I slammed my hand on the table while screaming loudly. "Talk! "
Beatrice's voice quivered. "Stefano, please. Calm down, don't ruin yourself ."
"She served her last drink before my mate died," I said, glaring down at Maia. "Until I know otherwise, she must give me answers ."
Maia sobbed heavily , pressing her forehead to the ground. "I didn't want to harm her… I didn't want to."
"Take her to the dungeon," I ordered coldly. "No food, no water. I'll decide her fate when I'm ready."
"My Lord…"
"Now!"
The guards dragged her out carelessly. Her cries echoed all down the corridor until the door finally shut behind her.
The silence that followed was much heavier than I expected.
Beatrice wiped her eyes quietly. "She's been with us for years… I can't believe she'd do something like this." she said disappointed.
"Neither can I," I said softly.
Her lips trembled. "Stefano… maybe it's time to let the elders help. You can't carry this alone."
"I don't need their pity. I need answers."
She nodded, eyes red.
I didn't reply. My thoughts were already miles away far from this world, deep in that dark forest where her scent still lingered around me. I could still feel her. Somewhere out there in need of me, she wasn't gone. My bond told me so.
Then, a loud crash echoed outside the chamber.
We both turned.
"What was that?" Beatrice asked, startled.
A guard while stumbling down on the floor at the doorway, clutching his chest. "My Lord… the cells… somethings…"
He never finished what he wanted to say. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed with his face onto the floor.
"Goddess!" Beatrice gasped scarcely, while coming forward.
I knelt, checking for a pulse. Nothing. No wounds, no poison…just gone.
Another guard ran in, looking so panicked across his face. "Alpha, he was fine just a second ago… then he just dropped!"
I looked at the dead body, my fists tightening in a rage. "This isn't a coincidence."
Beatrice looked at me, terrified. "You think it's connected to Aurora?"
I didn't answer. I just stared at the lifeless man and muttered, "She's gone… and now death follows her shadow."