The Accusation
Draven stepped forward, his towering frame bristling with barely restrained fury. “You expect us to believe that?” he snarled, his claws twitching at his sides.
Leonora raised her hands in a placating gesture, her soft features taut with worry. “We would never harm our grandchildren, Isla,” she said, her voice trembling. “We’ve sent out scouts to search, but there’s no trace of them. None.”
Draven’s patience snapped. With a feral growl, he lunged forward and slammed the Alpha against the stone wall of the gatehouse. His claws grazed the older man’s throat as he growled, “If you’re lying, I’ll rip you apart.”
The Alpha’s voice remained steady, though his breathing was labored under Draven’s weight. “I’m not lying. I swear to you, Draven. I would never harm them.”
“Draven, stop!” Isla’s voice rang out, sharp and trembling. She grasped his arm, her fingers digging into his skin. “This won’t bring them back!”
Draven released the Alpha with a snarl, his amber eyes blazing as he took a step back. His chest heaved with rage as he jabbed a clawed finger toward the man. “If I find out you’re hiding something, you’ll regret it.”
The tension hung thick in the air as Isla turned to Leonora, her voice cracking. “You swear you don’t know where they are?”
Leonora placed a hand over her heart, her eyes glistening with tears. “I swear it, Isla. We’ve searched everywhere, but it’s like they disappeared.”
The group left Midnight Crest empty-handed, the gnawing dread in Isla’s chest growing heavier with each passing moment. As they plunged back into the dense forest, the silence between her and Draven spoke louder than words.
“We’ll find them,” Draven said quietly as they rode side by side. His voice held a raw edge of desperation, his grip on the reins white-knuckled.
Isla nodded, her silver eyes fixed ahead. But deep inside, the icy grip of helplessness began to take hold. What if the twins were truly lost? What if they were already beyond her reach?
