Titus could scarcely recall the fear that clouded his senses when the anger had emerged from within the pits of his soul at the sight before him. The window was smashed to pieces, the glass scattered dangerously about the ground, and the private infirmary room was empty. Absolutely empty.

His beautiful mate was gone, and so was all the brightness she brought with her.

He had failed her yet again.

The wolf in him let out a growl that escaped his own lips, and he turned his blazing gaze towards Grey who had followed behind him, his own face painted with worry and fear. “Where the fuck is she? Where are the guards?!” His own words were becoming so warbled as he fought off the shift his wolf was fighting to let happen. His mind was half-mad and willing to let his wolf take over and just blaze the whole forest down until she was found safe, but the rational half of his mind had to win over this time, just this once he would permit it.

Deep down he knew that his mate’s life was worth more than his temper, and she needed him now.

“They must have been attacked. I stationed 3 guards outside for protection.” Grey rushed, heading over towards the shattered window as he hurriedly observed their situation. Titus heard Grey let out a snarl and he rushed over, effortlessly trying to calm his raging soul, as he saw what Grey was crouching over. Three of his men were dead, their bodies run dry. Titus grew even angrier, clenching his fists, as he realized that the man who had done this was no ordinary man.

Grey's voice was grim as he stood back on his feet. "We need to move."

Titus understood needed to act fast, as he felt that pull within his chest grow more painful each and every passing moment. She was heading toward the border, or someone was bringing her with them, someone he had missed from the Claws.

And whoever that someone was going to perish by his own two fucking hands.

He would make sure of it.

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They were running in their wolf forms, some of his warriors at his flank and others scattered about the other areas in case the…. Rat….. that had taken his mate had used another route. Even so, he had the mate pull to guide him, and he was more than sure that they were heading west where their border was weakest, and he was even more sure when he smelt a vile scent mixed with his mate’s as they headed west. It was a rancid scent, one that tainted the soft one of his mate's. It was a scent that was eerily familiar as well, as if he had smelt it before, though he could not pinpoint where at the moment. His mind was much too focused on his mate to care.

He snarled at the thought of someone taking his mate, imagining those hands touching her, touching what did not belong to them.

Their hands would be ripped off their sockets once they find him.

Grey was speeding beside him, the sheen of his gray wolf pelt catching against the corner of his eye as he tried to keep up with Titus’ great strides. His ears were pricked up, much like Titus' own ears were, in great alert to find suspicious noises.

They were halfway to the western border when Titus had heard it, the sound of feet running. "Someone is up ahead. Faster." Titus ordered briskly at his warriors and they quickened their speed, more than ever ready to catch their prey. Titus was becoming mad at that point, and he was more than willing to finally succumb to the darkness that was calling within him. He knew he could... he knew...

But, his thoughts were cut off when, as they continued to come even closer and closer to the footsteps, he had started to realize there was only 1 set. They were growing ever so dangerously close to the border, though he knew that his Gamma was now there waiting with his men. "Grey," Titus' voice was hard but panicked. "I can hear only one person."

Grey strained his ears to gauge the footsteps and turned to the Alpha. "It is a man, Alpha. It is heavy, and I think he is carrying her from what I can tell."

Titus growled at that, but let out a wicked smile. So, this rat thought he could take her? He was dealing with the Infierno Pack, and there are none who could escape their grasps. The man had nowhere to go at that point. The borders were closed off and they were right at his heel. There was no escape, and he would be captured by them, Titus was sure of it. The smell of his mate was what pushed him to move quicker, almost leaving behind the warriors behind him who were struggling to keep up.

When they were but a mile away from the footsteps, Titus heard them suddenly stop for a few seconds before resuming again, though this time much lighter. Titus grew worried at that, and even saw Grey twitch his ears beside him. Something was quite... wrong. Titus could feel it as he felt the pain in his chest start to waver.

"Alpha," the deep voice of his Gamma sounded quite confused through their mind link. Titus had wanted to ignore it and press on until his mate was safe in his arms, but he knew he had to respond.

"Bruce," he managed to let out in response, and the reply of his Gamma had his blood run cold.

"I- We have the girl- the Luna."

Titus shut off everything, choosing to he couldn't bear to hear any more before he rushed off, leaving behind Grey and the rest of his men. Within a few seconds, he was a minute away from the border where Bruce, his Gamma, and the border patrols were crowded about a figure on the floor. As he smelt the air, he knew then and there it was his mate.

Without a second thought, he shifted to his human form mid-run and clambered towards his mate, who was laying unsettlingly still on the grass floor. He barely registered Grey and the others arriving as he tenderly lifted her head onto his lap and studied her face, which had gone much too pale and dripping in sweat. Her honey eyes were half shut in what seemed to be in a daze, though she was alive. The wolf within him howled, and he himself let out a tiny sob, though the pain in his own chest had died down now that she was in his arms as she was meant to be.

She looked to be in so much pain, so much.

And his heart wrenched in guilt and sorrow as he grew disappointed in himself.

He had allowed this to happen.

He should not have left her.

Everyone was standing a safe distance, allowing their Alpha and Luna space for themselves, and in an effort to avoid their Alpha's wrath for standing too close to his mate. They watched in painful silence as their Alpha fluttered sorrowfully about his mate to check over her. Seeing their Luna, one so small and frail-looking, brought a sense of protectiveness in their own hearts, and even a sense of disappointment for allowing her to endure this. Everyone remained silent, deep in thought, though Grey had hurriedly called the nurse to prepare another room for the girl. The matter of their Luna's health was important, but there was another more imminent matter, one that the other men would not dare to speak of to their Alpha at the moment, other than Grey who had the strength to do so.

"Bruce," Grey silently addressed the Gamma, whose face was quite grim and serious as if in deep thought. "Where is the man who had taken her?"

At those words, the Alpha had lifted his gaze from his mate, eyes turning from a sorrowful red to a deep and raging black as he regarded Bruce, though he made no sound, waiting for Bruce's words. There was a fire in him now, and the men knew that their Alpha was now but an inch away from bursting.

Bruce swallowed, and his own patrol men shuffled behind him as they realized how their explanation might sound. Even so, Bruce spoke.

"There was no one, Alpha. No one."

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