The Red Moon mansion was quiet, almost eerily so. The aftermath of Gloria's public punishment still lingered in the courtyard—whispers among the pack members, wary glances at each other, and the heavy tension that came with knowing a traitor had been punished.
Ryan stood in the main hall, his eyes closed for a moment as he concentrated. The scent of Hazel had returned to his senses, faint but unmistakable, layered with another scent—the cold, calculated presence of Alpha Justin. His hands clenched at his sides.
"She's close," he muttered. Liam and Nick flanked him, ready for any sudden attack.
"Where is she?" Nick asked, scanning the perimeter.
Ryan's eyes snapped open. "Justin took her. But I can feel her fear. I can hear it in every breath. I will find her."
He turned to Gloria, who was still weak and bleeding from Blade's punishment. Her eyes widened with fear when she saw his gaze.
"You," Ryan said, his voice calm but edged with steel. "Tell me everything you know about Hazel's location and Justin's plans. Now."
Gloria trembled. Ryan stepped closer. His Alpha voice—the one that commanded obedience without question—washed over her like a wave. Even the strongest witches would have struggled against it, and Gloria had no choice.
"I… I can't…" she whispered, trying to resist.
"You will," Ryan said, each word resonating with power. "If you do not, I will break you completely. You will speak, or you will regret it for the rest of your life."
Gloria gasped as the Alpha voice pressed deeper into her mind. Memories she had tried to hide, plans she had tried to conceal, all surfaced involuntarily.
Justin had taken Hazel to a hidden human-world location, a place chosen for its isolation and security. Gloria revealed every detail, the rooms, the guards, the traps Justin had set, and the rogues stationed outside. She could not stop herself; Ryan's voice left no room for deceit.
"And Hazel…" Gloria stammered, her voice shaking. "She is unharmed… but she is frightened. Justin thinks he can use her to force Ryan's hand. He… he doesn't know the power she carries… but he believes he has control."
Ryan's jaw tightened. Every word sent a spike of anger through him. He turned to Liam and Nick.
"Prepare the trackers. We leave immediately," he commanded. "Bring every warrior, every healer. Hazel is coming back to us tonight."
Gloria's eyes widened in terror. She had betrayed Hazel, tried to manipulate her, and now, under Ryan's Alpha voice, had revealed everything. Her hidden agenda was laid bare, and she could only tremble in submission.
Ryan's gaze returned to the bleeding witch. "You will remain in the prison. If you speak again without my command, I will make sure your punishment is far worse than you've imagined."
"Yes… Alpha," Gloria whispered, voice barely audible.
Without another word, Ryan shifted into his wolf form, Liam and Nick following suit. The air around them crackled with energy as they tracked Hazel's scent through the night, moving silently but with unstoppable speed.
The forest around them blurred as they closed in. The moonlight reflected off Ryan's black fur, his eyes glowing as he led the way. The pack was united, their purpose clear: Hazel must be brought back safely.
And somewhere far away, Hazel waited, unaware that her Alpha and his pack were already closing in, every second bringing them closer to her side, closer to ending Justin's control.
The hunt had begun.