The Alpha’s Substitute Mate

Malcolm

When the warriors had searched everywhere without any report on the Luna, Arden got furious and decided to lead a search himself.

” Let’s go,” he said and grabbed my arm while dragging me toward the door.

” Go where?” I inquired. I had no intention of helping him search for Bella. As much as it hurts that she is gone, I knew she would never be safe in this house with Arden.

” We are going to her Dad’s pack. Where else would she

easily flee to?” I gave an audible sigh, I have always wanted to meet her family, especially her Dad. Rumor had it that he despised her so much. I stopped resisting and let him pull me out towards the parking space. I knew that we wouldn’t find her at her Dad’s pack. She was too smart for that and also her Dad would have called Arden to inform him if she was there.

We arrived at Alpha Nicholas Cross pack. It was an old pack with a grand yard that seemed to be created to perfection. The grass seems jubilant green, and the various colors of flowers blend perfectly with it. We arrived at midday, so the sun shone perfectly as graceful butterflies flew around the roses, and buzzing bees danced around the flowers. Armed guards stood at the gates, beyond in a neat yard.

Arden was furious when our cars were stopped at the gate. He wanted to kill the guards and move through. I had a tough time restraining him ” Be gentle, Arden.”

” If that bastard is hiding her in there, I will not be gentle and swear I would claw out their hearts and feed them to the dogs,” He growled furiously

” Remember, we have an alliance with Nicholas Cross and also your father-in-law and our allies. I suggest you calm down and handle it more diplomatically.” I urged him

” Fuck the treaty! She took off the nuptial bands and ran away. So there are no fucking alliances and allies. To hell with that?”

” Actually the document says she had to marry you as part of the alliance but it doesn’t state that she had to be married to you forever. You know!” I sat back, feeling a little self-satisfied watching him in pain.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

” Fuck you, bro, on whose side are you in? Are you not supposed to team up with me, instead of getting on my damn nerves,” He growled, his eyes blazing with fury, and he ran his hands through his hair, scattering his hair and making himself look even more wild and insane.

Alpha Nicholas came out. One could tell that he was scared of Arden from the way he skidded to a halt a few meters away from us and he seemed paralyzed in fear. Immediately Arden came out of the car and I followed him at a more sedate pace.

“Alpha Arden,” It’s nice seeing you. He bowed his head in greeting.

” Hope there is no problem, You came with troops of warriors and unannounced,” he muttered and looked around us.

” We are looking for your daughter?” Arden growled, his face was covered with rage, a murderous flash of hate, and something else that I couldn’t decipher stalked his eyes.

” What happened? Where did she go? How could she have gone missing with all the warriors littering in Blood MoonPack?

She has never done anything like this, she has always been the docile one.

Please, Alpha Arden, I will send out warriors to look for her. And if she’s found, I would personally return her back to you.” he bowed and tried to hide his trembling hand behind his back, something like fear flashing in his eyes.

” Shut up Nicholas, What do you take me for a mule or what? The last time you came up with a proposition to create a long-lasting alliance between my pack and yours, you pledged to offer your most beloved and skilled daughter as a gift to the treaty alliance. What did you do?

You sent Isabella the despised and ugly one to me. You thought I wouldn’t find out. And you have the nerve to try and sweet talk me. How am I sure you’re not hiding her in one of your chambers?” Arden snapped, angrily at him.

” I’m sorry, please forgive me, but I assure you, she isn’t here. But you and your warriors are welcome to search our grounds.” Alpha Nicholas said and cowered in fear.

” Your sorry won’t fix anything,” Arden snapped and motioned to the guards and the big iron gates swung open so that our vehicles could enter inside. I knew deep down that the terror in his eyes was not an act and I knew he was saying the truth. Knowing how much he hated her, he wouldn’t think twice about handing her back to Arden. He was hiding nothing and her scent in the house was faint, and very old. The pack’s members scurried fearfully out of the way as we went through the house. Even Bella’s sisters stood behind their dad and stared at us in fear and awe as we trooped inside the hallway.

” This was her room,” Alpha Nicolas stopped in front of a closed door. He turned the handle and pushed it open for us to inspect. Arden pushed him out of the way and entered the room while I followed behind him.

The room was exactly what I would have expected from Bella. Bright, Gentle, and Soothing. Everything was decorated in bold colors yellow with touches of ruby pink and rosewood. And photos of her favorite memories were all over the walls, mostly pictures of her sisters. I stopped to study an old picture frame of her parents hanging on her dresser. Bella is the exact replica of her late mom, same blond hair and, the same facial structure but a different eye color.

” She’s not here,” Arden snarled, his eyes scanning through all the corners of the chamber. She had not stepped foot in this chamber any time recently.

” Spread out, and find her! Search the whole house and grounds, he ordered the warriors.

Arden turned to Alpha Nicolas, walked towards him, and towered over him with a menacing look on his face. Bella’s Dad started shaking with fear as he approached him

” This was all your plan, right? You planned all this, for her to escape after the alliance has been sealed. Where are you hiding her? Answer me immediately.” He snarled while Nicolas shook under the weight of his gaze and his eyes widened in fear as he shook his head.

” No, I swear, I had nothing to do with this. I don’t know where she is,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Arden leaned in closer, his voice low and dangerous as he spoke ” There are two ways this can go, either you find her before the next full moon or your pack would pay for it starting with your beloved second daughter. I will make you watch me burn her alive in your grounds.”

Nicholas swallowed hard, his eyes darting around nervously. He knew he wasn’t bluffing, he meant every damn word.