Page 14 of Brutal Alpha’s Sold Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #4)
That pricks my nerves. Usually, about this time of day, I’d see her or at least hear them practicing. I wander over and check for footprints or something else that might indicate where she went. I find a few half-faded prints in the dirt, leading off in multiple directions, but no immediate clue.
I head back to the center of the settlement. A short woman with braided hair stands near the well, filling a bucket. I recognize her as one of the women who occasionally joined Kai’s training.
“Hey,” I call to her. “Have you seen Kai?”
She glances up, startled at being addressed by me so directly. “She was at the practice area earlier, but we wrapped up about an hour ago.”
I frown. “Did she say where she was going?”
The woman hesitates, seeming wary of me. Then she shrugs. “She told me she might take a walk to the forest.”
“Which part of the forest?”
“I’m not sure. She didn’t say.”
That’s not ideal. The forest is expansive.
Usually, Kai sticks to a certain radius near the meadow or further up the ridge.
If she’s gone somewhere else, it might be tricky to track her down.
Still, there’s a twinge of concern that won’t let me ignore this.
I recall the conversation I had with Reed about a possible rogue attacker.
If one is lurking in the area, Kai’s not at full strength.
I’d like to believe she can handle herself, but she’s still suffering from that poison.
I offer a curt thanks and walk away, rolling my shoulders to try releasing some tension. “Gather a few men,” I tell the watcher who’s remained by my side. “Spread them out through the forest. I want to locate Kai, make sure she’s not run into trouble.”
He nods without question, rushing off to assemble a small search group.
I push down the spike of unease. This is purely precautionary, right?
She’s probably just wandering around, stewing in her own thoughts.
She’s strong-willed, so maybe she needed space.
Yet, my gut churns, remembering the brutal beating that happened recently, possibly at the hands of some rogue from Reed’s territory.
Or even from Malcolm and Wiley’s circle. We haven’t ruled anything out.
I hurry past the next set of cabins, ignoring the curious glances from a few bystanders. They can keep their gossip to themselves. I’m not about to let any potential threat slip through my grasp. Not when my pack is vulnerable, and especially not with Kai out there alone.
Within minutes, I’m leading a handful of men into the forest’s edge. Some are watchers, others are volunteers with decent tracking skills. I assign each group a route, instructing them to cover ground quickly but meticulously. We can’t risk splitting into tiny pairs that might get ambushed.
“Report back in an hour,” I tell them. “If you find Kai, guide her back safely, then alert me through the pack connection.”
They nod, then scatter along separate paths.
I take the route that leads toward the meadow she uses for training.
The quiet is unnerving. I cross the meadow swiftly, spotting only a few footprints.
I crouch to examine them, and sure enough, they’re smaller, possibly Kai’s, but overlaid with a heavier print. That sets my hackles rising.
I follow them, occasionally spotting broken twigs or a scuff in the dirt. The footsteps appear to move deeper into the forest than she usually goes. Why would she head this far if she’s just blowing off steam? Unless she’s following someone or being followed.
A fresh wave of worry hits me. I quicken my pace, observing the surroundings with every step.
A few minutes later, I spot a mark carved into a tree trunk—two parallel slashes that look deliberate.
Kai taught some of her students to leave signals if they ever needed help.
Did she leave these? Or is it random? It’s suspiciously precise.
“Dammit,” I grumble as I press my hand to the bark. My pulse jumps. This has to be from her. She must’ve known she was in trouble.
I sprint along the path, searching for another sign. Another set of scratches appears on a low branch, angled toward a narrow game trail. I bolt down that path, feeling my heart slam with every stride.
My mind conjures images of her pinned by a stranger, that haunted look from the day I first met her, when she was too weak to fight off Malcolm and Wiley’s potions. She’s stronger now, but not at full capacity. If she’s cornered by someone who has some real muscle, she might struggle.
I skid to a halt when I see another mark on a rock, arrowing left. I dash that way, nearly tripping over a root. The forest thickens, and branches claw at me. I ignore the scratches and keep going, following whatever signs I can find.
Suddenly, I hear something—a muffled grunt, possibly. I freeze, straining my ears. Yes, there’s a sound of a struggle. I clench my teeth, forging ahead until I reach a small clearing overshadowed by twisted trees.
My breath catches at the sight: Kai is on the ground, wrestling with a stranger who straddles her. He has one arm pressed against her throat and the other wielding a blade aimed at her side. She’s thrashing, trying to knock him off, but it looks like he’s got the advantage.
My wolf roars inside me, and adrenaline floods my limbs. The intruder’s knife glints as he shifts position, attempting to pin her arms. Kai’s face is contorted in fury, and perhaps a bit of fear. She’s not helpless by nature, but right now, she’s at risk, and that’s all I need to see.
I lunge forward, ready to tear this scum off her. Everything else fades to a blank haze. My single focus is on stopping that blade before it plunges into her.
And at that instant, an emotion flares through me—something primal, protective. The realization that I might lose her if I don’t act floods me with a singular certainty. I can’t let it happen. I won’t let it happen.