Chapter 107: Isn’t this the Kane family’s heirloom?
Chapter 107: Isn’t this the Kane family’s heirloom?
(Theodore’s POV)
My gaze darkened as I stepped out of my hotel room. The image of Olivia’s smiling face burned in my mind. I would find her, no matter what it took.
Just as I reached the hallway, I nearly collided with a cheerful she–wolf carrying an ornate gift box.
“Alpha Theodore!” Seraphina Kane beamed at me. “Are you going to see Uncle Asher? Wait for me, I’ll just give this gift to my sister–in–law and go with you.”
My eyes narrowed. “Your sister–in–law lives here?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, right next door to you.”
The mention of a sister–in–law sent alarm bells through my mind. The memory of last night’s conversation about a mating ceremony at the Kane residence crashed over me like ice water.
My gaze shifted to the door of the adjacent room. The faint image of a slender figure I’d glimpsed through the curtain the previous night flashed in my memory.
Could it be…?
Seraphina knocked cheerfully on the door. My heart hammered against my ribs as footsteps approached from inside. The door opened to reveal a complete stranger – a middle–aged she–wolf I’d never seen before.
“Oh,” the tenant said apologetically, “the she–wolf who was staying here checked out this morning. She left in quite a hurry.”
Seraphina’s face fell. “Checked out? But I don’t have her contact number, and I can’t reach my brother Matthew. He’s unreachable during missions.”
The tenant held out a small object. “She left this behind – a keychain.”
My breath caught as I stared at the acrylic piece. Inside was a photo of an adorable pup, maybe two years old, with bright eyes and chubby cheeks.
The resemblance to Leo was striking. The same nose, the same mischievous smile.
My heart began to race. Could this be…?
“Why would my sister–in–law have a keychain with a pup’s photo?” Seraphina muttered to herself, examining it closely. “She and my brother haven’t even had their mating ceremony yet.”
Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. Of course. Most young pups looked alike at that age. I was grasping at shadows, seeing connections that didn’t exist.
“I’ll deliver the gift later,” Seraphina decided, tucking the keychain into her pocket. “Come on, Alpha Theodore. I promised to help you get information about the European Territory.”
We arrived at the Council Hall only to find it nearly empty.
“Alpha White has gone to the Stonehaven Central Vault,” a clerk informed us. “He took a team of computer experts with
him.”
Impatience clawed at my chest. Every moment wasted was another moment Olivia slipped further from my grasp.
+15 Points
“Tell my pack to accelerate their efforts,” I commanded my head sentinel. “If we can identify the suspect first, we might earn Alpha White’s trust.”
My phone buzzed. The head sentinel’s voice was urgent. “Alpha, we have a result on the license plate from last night.”
“And?”
“It belongs to Killian Vance.”
The name hit me like a physical blow. Killian Vance – the same wolf whose private jet I’d followed on my disastrous trip to the European Territory.
“He has a villa nearby,” the sentinel continued.
A powerful premonition surged through me. Olivia was close. I could feel it in my bones.
“Let’s go now!” I commanded.
(Olivia’s POV)
I returned to the office with Alpha Asher White, my mind still processing the morning’s events. As we entered, I spotted an anxious–looking she–wolf pacing near the reception area.
“Seraphina,” Alpha White said smoothly, “finished with the pack documentation?”
She brightened immediately. “Yes, Uncle Asher. Actually, I was waiting for my sister–in–law.”
My stomach dropped. Sister–in–law?
Before I could process this fully, she approached me with a radiant smile. “I have a gift from Mother – a beautiful moonstone bracelet.”
She slipped the elegant piece onto my wrist before I could protest. The stones caught the light, casting ethereal blue reflections.
Alpha White’s eyes widened in recognition. “Isn’t this the Kane family’s heirloom? Once it’s on, it can’t be taken off.”
Seraphina beamed proudly. “Exactly! Sister–in–law, you must come home with me after work. Mother wants to discuss the mating ceremony with you.”
My head spun. Mating ceremony? The bracelet felt suddenly heavy on my wrist.
“There are so many details to plan,” Seraphina continued excitedly. “Ceremony styles, pack traditions, guest lists…”
I managed a weak smile. “I really should get back to work.”
“Of course! I’ll wait for you outside.”
I escaped to my office, but through the glass walls, I could see Seraphina settling into a chair with the determination of someone prepared to wait all day.
Hours later, I had no choice but to accompany her to the Kane family estate. The imposing structure loomed before us, all stone and tradition.
Barrett Kane and Lady Isolde Kane welcomed me warmly, their faces glowing with anticipation.
“We’re so excited about the mating ceremony,” Lady Isolde gushed. “Though Matthew is temporarily unable to hold it due
to clan affairs.”
Relief flooded through me, but it was short–lived.
“Still, we can begin planning,” Barrett added. His sharp eyes studied my face intently. “Olivia, you’re not pretending to mate to deceive us, are you?”
་་་་་་་་་་་་་
་་་། ་་་་་་་་་་ ་་་་་་་ ་་་་་་་་
+15 Points >
Cold sweat broke out across my skin. “No, impossible. Matthew and I have been marked.”
I pulled aside my collar, exposing the mark on my neck. The sight seemed to satisfy them partially.
“And we have a mating certificate,” I added quickly, pulling out my phone. I showed them the photo, personal information blurred but our faces clearly visible.
Their faces transformed with joy and pride. Barrett actually wiped away a tear.
“Our son chose well,” Lady Isolde whispered.
Despite fooling them, unease gnawed at me. Why were they so ecstatic? Surely an Alpha King of Matthew’s stature had
countless admirers.
“You must stay the night,” Barrett insisted.
“I’m sorry, but I’m staying with a friend. I promised to be there for a young pup.”
I called a taxi, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of their expectations.
(Third–person’s POV)
Hidden in the darkness nearby, Theodore sat in his black SUV. His eyes were fixed on Killian’s villa as warm light spilled
from its windows.
He watched as Killian, Elara, and a young she–wolf entered together. The villa came alive with activity – laughter echoing from within, shadows moving past the curtains.
His phone rang, breaking the tense silence.
“Alpha, our system has captured the suspect’s IP,” his head sentinel reported excitedly. “Alpha White is very pleased. This
might be the best time to ask for information. Alpha, should we go over?”
Theodore’s gaze remained locked on the villa. Every instinct screamed that Olivia was inside those walls. His obsession
overrode all rational thought.
“Wait a little longer!” he commanded.
Chapter 108: Who are you going to pick
