Fated to the Alpha–And His Triplet Brothers novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Lost and found

*~ Cayden’s POV~*

We had searched every damn nook and cranny of New Orleans. Every alley, tunnel, ruin, and ridge. But still no sign of Hazel. No trace of my wife. No whisper of my babies.

The wolves stationed at the border swore they hadn’t seen Cyrius cross. And I believed them..if only because I had given the command myself: Lock the borders the moment we realized they were missing.

So where the hell were they?

It’s not that easy to vanish. Not with three people and two newborns. And not that fast. Even if Cyrius was reckless enough to attempt it.

I sat high on a jagged rock, overlooking the edge of the camp as my men rested and caught their breath. The air smelled like sweat, smoke, and silent worry. Everyone was tired, including me.

But I couldn’t stop. My mate was out there my children and every wasted second felt like a betrayal.

Then Aurora approached. Her steps were slow, deliberate, eyes scanning the horizon before settling on me.

"We’ve searched everywhere," she said softly, brushing twigs off her sleeve. "But I think... there’s one place left. One we’ve ignored."

I raised an eyebrow. "Where?"

"The forest near the border," she said, voice low. "Think about it. You reached the border. Your wolves are stationed there. No one saw them cross, right?"

I nodded. Slowly. "So what if they didn’t cross?" she continued. "What if they’re waiting just inside the woods? Close enough to monitor the patrols, far enough not to be noticed."

I stared at her. The idea was infuriatingly simple. And smart. Damn it why didn’t I think of that?

"But that forest..." I muttered. "It’s dangerous. Wild magic still runs through it. And there’s no way Cyrius would risk hiding there. Not with the twins."

Aurora’s gaze didn’t waver. "If he’s desperate enough, he would. That forest has plenty of dark corners. And the magic... it might actually help him stay hidden. You know that."

I hesitated. But still...

"I’ll give it ten minutes," I said finally, rising to my feet. "Prep everyone. We search there next."

Aurora nodded sharply, no hesitation in her stride as she turned to alert the others.

"And Auror..—" I called out, making her pause. "Do you know exactly where it is?

She glanced over her shoulder, eyes flashing with something unreadable. "Yes. Back when I was still in Dahlia’s coven, we used that part of the forest for rituals. It’s rarely used now not since she vanished...but I remember the path."

"Good," I said. "That’s where we’ll start."

Ten minutes later, the pack was prepped. Every warrior was armed some with swords, others with scent-tracking spells. The night had already bled into the sky, dark and hushed, but I didn’t care. In fact, this was better. Cyrius would let his guard down. He’d think night meant safety. Rest.

But it would be the perfect time to strike.

We reached the edge of the forest in silence. Tall trees stretched above us. The air was damp and heavy with old secrets. It smelled like moss, decay... and magic.

"Stay alert," I said, stepping forward first. "Don’t make a sound unless you have to. If he’s here, he’ll hear us before we smell him."

And then... a half tree, split unnaturally at its center.

Aurora paused beside it, her voice hushed. "This was the place. Where we found the babies... dead."

I turned to her sharply. "What?"

She nodded, eyes hollow. "This is where Cyrius and the witches performed the ritual. Right here. Which is exactly why he wouldn’t come back here."

It made sense. No sane creature would return to the scene of a failed, dark ritual especially not with a newborn and a target on his back. But still, Aurora insisted we keep going.

"We’ve searched everywhere else," she said. "We can’t give up now."

I sighed, reluctant but not blind. "Fine. Lead the way."

We delved deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser, older. The light thinned, and the earth grew soft under our boots. Silence pressed in around us like fog.

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