Page 30 of Reclaiming His Lost Mate (Secret Legacy #3)

S elina

Panic and dread clawed at my chest as I paced the shop’s small kitchen.

The warm, earthy scent of herbs and spices swirling around me like an embrace contrasted sharply with the icy grip of fear coiling around my heart.

The comforting landscape of my shop had turned into a prison.

My hands trembled as I clutched my phone, staring at the screen as if it held the answers to the questions spiraling in my mind—an unrelenting storm of worry and despair.

Alexis’s voice had been an anchor amidst the turmoil, stitching together the seams of my being.

Just knowing he was airborne, racing toward me, brought a whisper of solace against the suffocating atmosphere clinging to my skin.

The determined gruffness in his tone had made my heart clench, filled with love and a tempered fury I almost couldn’t contain.

“Mia’s going to be okay, Selina,” he had assured me, though his words were thick with tension. “I’m getting on the plane now. We’ll get her back.”

After I had ended the call, I swiftly dialed Lyvia, almost as instinctual a move as needing Alexis.

She arrived alongside Seraphina, her eyes ablaze with a resolute fire that pulled me from the depths of my fear into something steadier.

Both witches had immediately fallen into a deep trance, heads bent and hands weaving through the air, calling upon every ounce of magic they could muster, tracing the hint of dark energy that lingered like a bitter ghost around the back door and garden.

Because they had to sort through the dark magic that had infected the shop earlier, it was taking them some time to look for anything new.

Meanwhile, I had combed the streets and frozen valley, just in case Mia had wandered off. But I knew deep in my heart she hadn’t. I could feel her absence like a hole in my heart.

Another hour passed, the sun dipping lower in the sky, casting long shadows that mingled with shades of crimson and violet.

The atmosphere thickened with dread as Alexis finally landed at the small airstrip in Matsuna, usually reserved for only the cargo plane.

He called me back, his footfalls telling me he was jogging.

“Any updates?” he asked, the urgent undertone setting my heart racing.

“I’ve been out looking in the valley and the surrounding streets,” I replied, the heaviness in my chest making my voice tighten. “But there’s no sign of her.”

“I’ve got two packmates with me combing the area, looking for her scent,” he said, the focus in his voice bolstering my faltering spirit. I realized then that Mia’s natural scent was so similar to Alexis’s that his packmates would easily recognize it if they found it.

His breath was coming hurriedly, and he said suddenly, “I’m here, Selina.”

I rushed to the door and unlocked it. As it swung open, his familiar presence and strength cocooned me. His earthy fragrance enveloped me, and I felt my heart flutter painfully, instantly reminded of Mia’s scent.

His shoulders were squared and jaw set as his stormy eyes met mine, burning with both determination and anguish. Our gazes locked—a silent understanding passing between us. No words were needed. In that instant, we both knew that we were in this together, bound by love for our daughter.

Just then, Lyvia’s footsteps echoed behind me, a steadfast fire igniting in her amber eyes.

“I can confirm that it was Marissa who kidnapped her,” she stated, her tone blaring with purpose.

“The energy signature of dark magic tainting the frostvine leaves is the same as that in the garden and the back door.”

Lyvia gestured to Seraphina, who had joined us. “This is Seraphina,” Lyvia said, introducing the other witch to Alexis. “She belongs to the Silver Moon Pack and is familiar with Marissa’s dark magic.”

Seraphina nodded gravely, her jade-green eyes reflecting a wisdom far beyond her youthful appearance. “Our pack was invaded by the Black Moons several years ago. I recognize Marissa’s dark magic, which I felt in some of their shifters. I would wager she has links with the Black Moons.”

A chill crawled up my spine, an unwelcome realization flooding through me. I took in Alexis’s somber expression, the heaviness of the knowledge resting on his shoulders.

“She’s always wanted you, Alexis. She poisoned my products recently just to try to get me away from you.”

“Selina,” Alexis began, his voice steady but imbued with an undercurrent of tension, “This isn't just about her wanting me.”

“Then, what is it about?” I demanded, unable to restrain the urgency in my tone. “What does she want?”

“It’s about control. Marissa craves power—she always has. She wants to be the Luna of a powerful Alpha and secure her place in the world. That’s why she set her sights on me.” He paused, then added, “But if she’s mixing with the Black Moon Pack, that’s a new low, even for Marissa.”

The thought of Marissa bringing Black Moon Pack magic into my shop turned my stomach.

Memories of my conversations with my customer, Helen, came back to me, her warnings about the Black Moon Pack and their connections with dark magic. “But why take Mia?” I asked, trying to piece together the fragments of this sinister puzzle.

Before Alexis could respond, my phone buzzed violently in my hand, tearing me from the moment and pulling me back to the present. I glanced at the screen, dread freezing my blood. It was an unknown number, but instinctively, I knew who it was.

“Selina.” Marissa’s voice slithered through the line, cold and smooth, like ice carving into my bones. A shiver ran down my spine. “Is dear Alexis with you?” I hit the speaker button so that Alexis could hear her.

“I’m here,” Alexis agreed, his voice low, a growl simmering below the surface.

“Where’s Mia?” I yelled, my heart pounding, each beat roaring like a war drum.

Her laughter echoed menacingly, vibrating through the air like a wicked spell. “She’s safe… for now. But if you want her returned, you need to think carefully about your next moves. I have demands.”

“What do you want?” Alexis growled, his voice vibrating with fury.

“A simple exchange,” Marissa purred as if discussing ores or herbs rather than the life of my child. “I will see you in the Shadow Moon Pack lands—at the southern border at dawn. If you’re smart about things, you’ll hand over the territory peacefully. If you refuse, the consequences will be dire.”

My breath faltered as horror gripped my heart. Would she harm Mia to gain what she wanted? The thought fueled a fire in my veins—a mix of dread and fury that begged for release.

“Marissa!” Alexis's voice thundered through the phone, furious. “You’ll regret this!”

Her laughter twisted into the air, a sinister melody.

“I believe I told you something similar in your throne room only a few days ago! You can’t intimidate me, Alexis.

You and Selina refuse to see what I’ve had to endure.

My rightful place as Luna should have been at your side in Shadow Moon.

Instead, I’ve found an Alpha who is much more aligned with my vision.

Torin takes what he wants, and you can be assured that he will be beside me when I take Shadow Moon if you don’t give it to me as you should have when you had the chance. ”

Alpha Torin’s name crashed over me like a cascade of icy water.

Marissa hadn’t just thrown her lot in with the Black Moon Pack in general.

She’d allied with the Alpha of the pack.

The Black Moon Alpha was double her age, closer to our father Lucian’s.

He had a son, Marcus, around our age. It hit me that Marissa would stop at nothing, just like Alexis had said, in her pursuit of power.

The Black Moon Alpha’s name had a similar effect on Alexis, whose jaw clenched and he ground out. “Torin! So what, I rejected you, and you ran off to Torin to secure yourself a place as Luna? That’s a new low even for you, Marissa.”

“I told you you were making the biggest mistake of your life, Alexis,” she shot back.

“Only a fool sets their sights on one prospect. I’ve had influence with Torin for a few months now, but let’s just say your foolish actions had me securing him.

Just remember it was you who forced my hand,” she said with relish. After a pause, she said,

I won’t harm Mia—not yet—until you give in to my terms. Be there at dawn tomorrow.”

“It’s already night,” Alexis argued. “We can’t—”

“If you want to see her alive, I will see you at dawn,” Marissa cut across, her words final. And with that, the line disconnected, leaving a suffocating silence in its wake.

I tightened my hands into fists, but I couldn’t stop trembling as Marissa’s threat kept replaying, “If you want to see her alive…”

“Selina?” Alexis’s voice cut through the frozen dread clawing at my insides. “We’re going to Shadow Moon, and we will get our daughter back.”

“How?” I sounded desperate, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear.

“I helped Alpha Kyle overthrow the previous corrupt Alpha Reginald. Kyle will help us now,” he replied, confidence mingling with fury as he fisted his hands.

I thought of Alpha Kyle and the Moonlight Pack, who I had also come to consider friends. I could picture Luna Leah, her strength and warmth enveloping me like a balm, a reminder of the love that existed in our world, even amid the turmoil.

“Yes,” I agreed. “Luna Leah will understand what we’re facing, too,” I said, a sense of solidarity pushing through the fear.

Lyvia's thoughts echoed similar sentiments as she said, “And the Blood Moons will answer, too. I know Roman and Mark will stand beside us against the Black Moons, too. Besides, I’ll fight beside you, Selina,” she added.

My gaze brimmed with gratitude as I moved to Lyv. “I don’t know what I did to deserve such a friend as you, Lyv, but every day I’m grateful.” I hugged the witch who had become my best friend these last five years and who I couldn’t imagine life without.

“I’ll come with you, too, Selina,” Seraphina said.

I looked at her in surprise. I’d only known her a day and she was offering to stand in battle with us for the sake of my daughter. I had witnessed her compassion in helping the infected witches in this shop earlier, but this was going above and beyond.

“Seraphina, I can’t ask that of you—” I protested.

She moved closer to me, putting her hands on my shoulders and holding my gaze.

“The Black Moons invaded my lands. I want to stand against them, too. They've caused so much pain and suffering in our lands... and… in my own family.” Her voice trembled slightly, and the same look of sorrow that she’d had earlier when she’d spoken about her mother came over her face.

She took a deep breath and continued. “I want to be a part of stopping them, for my own sake and for the sake of everyone they’ve hurt.

” Tears stung my eyes as I thought of how she couldn’t have been more than a young teenager when the Black Moons had invaded.

I knew what it was to grow up without my mother and intuited that whatever loss she felt concerning her mother was connected to the Black Moons invasion.

I felt even more kinship with this remarkable woman as she offered to support me in this fight.

“I’d be honored to have you standing with us,” I said, squeezing her shoulder before I turned around to look at each one of them.

“But don’t underestimate Marissa,” I added, dread trickling through me.

None of them—neither Alexis nor Lyvia—knew the monster that Marissa truly was.

They’d witnessed the dark magic, but I’d grown up with her and seen the depths of the cruelty she’d sink to.

I hated that I could imagine that she would sink to harming a child, but I knew she would, especially my child.

Fury ignited like a flame in my chest—and each of my heartbeats thumped with a visceral need to protect Mia. “If she harms Mia, I will find Marissa and kill her,” I vowed, rage making my voice tremble.

Alexis’s gaze bore into mine, filled with unwavering conviction, a fierce guardian ready to protect his family. “I won’t let Mia come to harm. You have my word. All of Shadow Moon and I will fight for our daughter.”

The intensity in his eyes sparked a fire in my heart. And with that, we locked eyes—a silent vow of strength and resilience reinforced by the love we had for our daughter. Together, we would navigate this darkness, flanked by our friends and packmates.