The forest stood still.
The kind of unnatural silence that made even the wind hesitate.
Lucas emerged from the shadows.
The Gammas were already gathered at the edge of the forest.
Dorian was the first to step forward.
"We didn't find any more tracks, Alpha," he reported.
Lucas's gaze slid to him.
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
He studied Dorian for a moment longer before speaking.
"I found them."
Dorian's shoulders stiffened.
The Gammas held their breath.
Dorian cleared his throat. "Where are they?"
Lucas exhaled slowly, rolling the tension from his shoulders.
"She escaped." His tone was casual. "Jumped into the river. Dennis's territory."
Ava was gone.
For now. But that was the thing about mates, wasn't it?
They could run to the ends of the earth and they would still feel you.
Still know you. Still be yours.
No matter how much they hated it.
"And Kade?"
Lucas locked eyes with him.
And smiled. "Dead."
The word hung between them.
