46. Ryan

Cocrane was a town with modern architecture, high-rises, and a complex network of asphalted streets. The heart of the city pulsed with life, resonating with the murmurs of traffic and sounds of a busy and thriving town. The smell of food wafted from a string of restaurants, blending with the slightly tangy odor of city air.

On the outskirts of this urban milieu stood a stark aberration—the Alpha's house. Unlike the steel and glass structures dominating the cityscape, the house was more like a fort, nestled amid a lush expanse of woods. Its towering stone walls gave off an ancient aura, a throwback to times when power was displayed through fortifications and territorial markers. They were making a statement—to other Packs? Or to the humans here?

I steered my truck into the driveway. Two guards stood at the entrance, a solid steel door with no obvious handle on this side. I stepped out of my car and stopped when I was two feet from them. Their gaze on me was unflinching.

"I need to see the Alpha."

One guard, the older one of the two with a closely shaven face and calculating eyes, stepped away and spoke into his radio. After a moment, a muffled reply came. The guard turned to face me and nodded as the door swung open. I strode past them into a wide reception area decorated with fresh flowers and a six-meter fish tank. The tank was empty, but I caught a whiff of fish and coral coming from it. A woman with white hair pulled back into a bun and a gray business suit was waiting for me.

"Your name?" she asked.

"Ryan Shaw, Beta of the Three Rivers Pack. I'm here to see the Alphas about Seth Morin. He's kidnapped my mate, Mai Parker."

The woman jerked her head, shock crossing her features before she schooled her face.

"Wait here, please," she ordered, then turned and walked quickly to an inner door, her heels tap-tapping loudly.

I clenched my fists, urging myself and my wolf to remain calm. My best bet was to get the Alphas on my side.

A moment later, the woman returned.

"Follow me."

I trailed behind her through the inner doorway, down a hallway, and into a conference room. A thick carpet muffled my footsteps as I stepped inside, its deep red hue complemented by gold trim throughout the room. Gleaming mahogany furniture formed a semi-circle at one end, while onyx chairs lined the other side. At the head of the table sat a female werewolf. She was tall, with sculpted features, emerald eyes that stared coldly at me, and tresses of deep black hair that fell down past her shoulders. Next to her had to be Ajak. Steel-gray hair was combed back from his high forehead. He had a wide nose, prominent cheekbones, and a small scar under his left eye. Whereas the woman's power felt cold and contained, Ajak's presence filled the room. He was an imposing figure, and I suspected he used that to impose his will on others. To his left sat an older werewolf. Strong, powerfully built, with a hard face that suggested he would not suffer any excuses, his resemblance to the photos of Seth that Derek had sent me was undeniable.

"Ryan Shaw," the woman at the head of the table said, her silky voice filling the room. "I'm Kara and this is Ajak." She indicated the werewolf sat next to her. "We are the Alphas of the Cocrane Pack. This is Korrin, Seth's father."

I nodded to them all.

"My mate, Mai Parker," I began, cutting straight to the chase, "was assaulted by Seth a week ago. She fled home to the Three Rivers Pack. She and I sealed our mate bond. Yesterday, Seth attacked three of my Pack and kidnapped her."

Heavy silence filled the room. Kara, Ajak, and Korrin were too experienced to show whether my news shocked them.

"You have proof of this?" Korrin's voice was hard.

"Why don't you help me find Mai, and you can ask her yourself?"

Korrin waved his hand. "So, you have nothing. Your word against my son's. We don't know you. Go back home, Ryan Shaw, and mourn the loss of the female you rejected."

I didn't show my fury, but Korrin must have sensed it.

"Yes, we've done our homework on you and your Three Rivers. You should go home before you don't have a home to go to anymore."

"I'm not leaving without Mai. You're right. I might not have a home anymore. I have nothing to lose. I'll go through your entire Pack until I find her. In fact, tell me to go home one more time. I've got a lot of anger to work off."

Korrin slammed his hand onto the table in front of him. I tensed, ready for him to come at me, but Kara shook her head.

"Seth has been troubled for a while now," Kara's voice was measured and calm, "and we do not condone his violence toward Mai. She is a valued member of this Pack—"

"Was," I interrupted. "She is a member of the Three Rivers Pack and my mate."

"Lies. She's been with my son for months."

"Her scent is all over me. I know you can smell it."

I felt Ajak studying me and shifted slightly to face him.

"What do you want from us?" Ajak finally asked.

"I want your help," I replied. "I need to know where Seth is."

Korrin scoffed, "Even if I knew this information, I would not help you kill my son."

Ajak held up a hand, silencing Korrin. "We do not know Seth's whereabouts—he left Pack lands a week ago, and we have no knowledge of where he might be heading," Ajak said firmly and evenly. "I'm sorry we could not be of more help." His tone made it clear he was dismissing me.

My wolf growled. Something told us that Ajak spoke the truth.

Fuck. They didn't know any more than I did.

I stared at them, storing their faces and scents in my brain. If anything happened to Mai, I was coming back here and would exact my revenge. Then I turned and walked out.

A hushed whisper reached my ears as I left the house, a soft, tentative voice calling my name. "Mr. Shaw?"

I turned to see a young girl, barely fourteen, with curly red hair tied back in a messy ponytail and a smidgen of freckles across her pale face. Her wide eyes flitted nervously around, as if she was worried someone would see us together.

"Can I speak with you? Kara said it was okay." Her voice was barely above a murmur.

"Of course," I said, softening my tone. "What's your name?"

"I'm Anna," she said, drawing in a deep breath. "Isaac is my brother."

Isaac. I searched through my memory of the file Derek had sent me when we'd first learned Seth was the one who had beaten up Mai.

"Isaac is Seth's friend?" I asked.

"He's Seth's best friend." She glanced around again, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "They've always been inseparable. If Seth is involved in something… Isaac would be right there with him."

"Anna," I leaned in closer, "do you know where they might be?"

She hesitated for a moment, looking torn. Finally, she nodded, a determined glint in her eye.

"We have an old hunting lodge. It used to be my uncle's. It's deep in the forest, west of the Pack lands. If they're hiding… that's probably where Isaac would go."

A surge of hope ignited within me. It was a lead, as slim as it may be, but it was better than nothing.

She handed me a note with a handwritten address on it.

"Thank you, Anna," I said, my voice sincere. "This could be really helpful."

She gave a small nod, biting her lower lip. "I just… I just want Isaac to be safe. And… Mai. She was nice to me. She doesn't deserve… whatever Seth is doing."

"Thank you, Anna," I said again. "I'm going to do everything in my power to bring Mai back."

She gave me a small, uncertain smile, then turned and disappeared into the shadows. So, Kara wanted me to know where Isaac and Seth might be, and she didn't want to tell me in front of Ajak and Korrin. Was it a trap? It didn't matter. I'd go through every last one of them if it was.