Chapter 5
Rane’s POV
Kane returned to the estate in the dead of night. Before that, he’d been at Selena’s residence the whole time.
Selena had cut her finger on a silver dagger, a tiny gash that she claimed wouldn’t stop bleeding. By the time Kane. arrived, the bleeding had already stopped. But Selena acted like she’d been through something traumatic, clutching her hand repeatedly, her eyes red as she asked Kane if it would leave a scar.
Kane found it irritating, but he kept his patience and soothed her himself. After all, Selena’s brother had taken a fatal silver arrow for him. That debt, he couldn’t forget.
As for Evelyn, he assumed she’d have calmed down by now. Her talk of leaving was just empty threats. For sever years, every time she threw a fit, she’d end up bowing her head in the end. Even with red-rimmed eyes, she’d still prepare his hot soup and organize the documents he needed for the next day’s council meeting.
But this time, the estate was dark. Looked like Evelyn had gone to sleep.
Kane pushed open the bedroom door and stopped.
The bed was empty. No one there.
Frowning, he walked to the dressing room. The lock had already been removed. A light push and the door swung open. All the elaborate Luna gowns were still there, jewelry cases neatly arranged in their places.
Everything was still here. Only the mistress was gone.
Kane went back to the bedroom. His eyes landed on the nightstand.
A termination agreement sat on top. On the last page, Evelyn’s signature was already in place.
Kane stared at that line of writing for a long time. An inexplicable restlessness built in his chest.
He reached out through the mate bond.
“Evelyn. Where are you? Stop this. Come back.”
No response.
He frowned and pushed harder, sending another mind-link. In the past, even when Evelyn didn’t answer, he could always feel something from her. Resentment. Disappointment. Muffled sobs.
But now, the other end of the bond was like a bottomless black hole. No voice. No presence. Not even a trace of her emotional echo.
Kane’s fingers clenched tight.
This was the first time in seven years he couldn’t reach Evelyn.
He summoned the guards immediately, his voice cold enough to freeze.
“Find the Luna. If you don’t, don’t bother coming back.”
The guards searched the estate, the Blackpine forest, and the patrol lines through the night. It wasn’t until the early hours that someone knelt outside his door to report.
“Alpha. Someone saw the Luna cross the boundary marker.”
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Kane’s face darkened. “Then go after her. Stop her.”
he witness said the Luna got into a carriage.” The guard hesitated, lowering his head. “It was a Moon Temple carriage.”
The Moon Temple. The sacred ground serving the Moon Goddess. A faith seat above all packs. Even Blackwood for all its power, couldn’t lay a hand on a Moon Temple carriage.
Something slammed hard against Kane’s chest.
Evelyn had gone to the Moon Temple. She wasn’t waiting outside the estate for him to chase after her. She wasn’t hiding in some side courtyard for him to give in first.
For the first time, Kane felt fear. His voice shook as he gave the order. “Prepare the carriage. I’m going to the Moon Temple.”
But before the carriage was ready, Selena came rushing in. Her eyes were red as she blocked his way.
“Alpha, you can’t go.
Kane’s gaze turned icy. “Move.”
Selena bit her lip, as if gathering courage.
“The Luna is waiting for you to come.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was steady. “She wants everyone to see you bow to her. If you go, you’ll never hold power over her again. Ever.”
Kane stopped.
He stood there in silence for a long time. So long that the guard outside came back to ask again.
“Alpha, the carriage is ready.”
Kane closed his eyes.
When he opened them, his voice had returned to that cold, hard edge of an Alpha.
“Hold on. Not yet.”
