Chapter 158
Chapter 158
“Ken!” I call out urgently, barely managing to get the start of her name before she slips out of the breakfast room, vanishing quickly from sight.
“Luna!” Bennet yells as he rushes after her.
“Hey!” Danny and Greta shout from behind me, their voices echoing as I sprint to
keep up.
I’m not sure if she’s deliberately ignoring us or if Todd has captured her full attention, making her oblivious to our calls. But one thing is clear-she’s moving fast, driven by a fierce worry that radiates through the bond we share. I can almost feel the weight of her concern pressing down on me.
“Where was she last seen? Or better yet, where did you lose her scent?” I overhear Luna ask Todd sharply.
Todd’s breathing is ragged, evidence of the sprint he must have made to the packhouse. “We were near the soccer field, close to our house. She wanted to play hide and seek, and we were all having fun, but it’s been too long now. We’ve been calling her nonstop. She doesn’t pull stunts like this—something’s definitely wrong p>
“Kennedy, slow down,” I urge, grabbing her arm and spinning her around gently. Her eyes are wild, filled with frantic energy, and I can tell her thoughts are racing too fast. If she lets her emotions take control, she’ll put herself at risk-and we don’t have any solid leads yet.
Her nostrils flare, and she steps so close that I can hear the rapid thudding of her heartbeat. “There’s a missing child!” she snaps, voice low and fierce. “I’m not going to sit here running through every possible scenario while she’s out there somewhere. If someone needs to analyze, delegate it-have them report back to you over mindlink.” She turns sharply to Todd. “You and the other teens pair up with adults who can shift. Use your tracking skills while they try to pick up her scent p>
“Understood, Luna,” Todd replies, already moving to organize the others.
“Bennet, you’re coming with me,” she commands. “Ryker, will you and Josh scout the perimeter? We’re not far from where Greta found that rogue yesterday. Maybe you can find a vantage point. Emily’s an excellent climber-she might have crossed from tree to tree to hide her scent. Or, worst case Luna lowers her voice and leans in closer to me, her tone dropping to a whisper. “Another rogue could be out here, and they might have taken her.” Then she spins back to Todd, dividing the warriors and firing off more questions.
I’m torn between admiration and something more complicated. I’m impressed by how swiftly she’s thinking on her feet, how naturally she steps into command, assigning roles without hesitation. I love how the pack has embraced her leadership -they follow her orders without question. Pride swells in me watching her rise to this role so effortlessly. And, I won’t lie, the way she’s bossing everyone around— even me is undeniably sexy.
She’s clearly concerned about the missing girl, but she’s not letting her emotions cloud her judgment like I feared. Still, something feels off. My wolf growls uneasily, and I can’t let Luna wander too far, even if Bennet is with her. I also can’t shake a flicker of jealousy that she chose Bennet to go with her instead of me, but I secretly appreciate that she knows I’d want the high ground and control of the search. The fact she took Bennet willingly tells me she’s been paying attention.
My mind is spinning. By the time I’ve rubbed my eyes and made a decision, everyone else is already yards away, scattered in search. No one’s waiting for my final say. It’s obvious they’re moving on Luna’s timeline, and I’m just along for the ride.
“Greta, take Josh with you. I can’t leave Kennedy alone. We got nothing useful from those rogues p>
“Got it, Boss,” Greta replies without hesitation.
“Kennedy! I’m coming with you, baby,” I call out, dropping my shorts and shifting to catch up.
“Ryker, Alpha, you and your team should be in the forest. You have the sharpest senses—better than any of us. I’m tracking the human way,” Luna says, pointing towards a small patch of trees to our left.
“No way, Little Lamb,” my wolf growls protectively. “Until we know who’s after you, you’re not out of our sight p>
“Fine,” she concedes, narrowing her eyes. “What can you pick up? Todd said they last saw her just outside the forest there.” She gestures toward the small clearing where all the kids’ belongings lie neatly arranged.
The tension hangs thick in the air as we prepare to dive deeper into the search, every muscle taut with urgency and hope.