Fenrir let out a single joyful bark inside me.
"Serenity? She came after all?"
The moment I asked, I realized this wasn't the time to be happy. I pressed on urgently, "When did she go missing?"
"About an hour ago," Lizzie said. "I was helping the Luna prepare for the Moon Ceremony. When we finished, I realized she was gone. I thought she had come back to the ceremony grounds first, but I can't find her anywhere…"
"She probably just left early," Liv cut in impatiently. "You said yourself she was only here to help, right?"
"That's impossible! The Luna would never leave without saying goodbye!"
She turned to me, her voice trembling. "Alpha, do you think something happened to the Luna?"
"I'll find her!" I said without hesitation.
Liv grabbed me hard, nearly jumping in protest. "Elias, what are you saying? The ceremony's about to start! You can't leave!"
"Liv…" I frowned at her.
"This is my first time leading the Moon Ceremony. If it fails, what will the pack members think of me?" She seemed strange—her eyes darted around, her breathing unsteady, as if she were afraid. "Besides, she's an adult. It's not like she's a child who'd get lost in the forest."
"Enough!" I snapped at her before I could stop myself. I forced my voice to soften again. "I'll just search the area. If I don't find her, it won't delay the ceremony."
Serenity and I shared a mental bond. The fastest way to find her was to go myself.
"I'll be right back."
I shifted into wolf form and sprinted in the direction our bond pulled me, leaving Liv's anxious calls behind. I didn't look back.
I circled the sacred lake, searching everywhere, but found no trace of her. The bond felt strongest toward that forest cabin, the one no one paid attention to once the ceremony began.
"Serenity! Where are you? Answer me!"
I ran and called her name.
Silence.
Just as doubt crept in, a faint thudding sound came from inside the cabin!
"Serenity!"
I rushed to the door. Pressing close, I heard weak cries for help from within.
"Serenity, get away from the door!"
I shouted the warning. After waiting a moment, I unleashed my wolf's full strength and kicked the reinforced iron door in.
The door crashed down. I charged into the pitch-black interior and saw a figure collapsed on the floor.
Serenity was curled into a ball, arms wrapped tightly around her stomach, her forehead drenched in cold sweat. She looked like she had just been pulled from water. The moonlight spilled through the doorway, but her face was paler.
I rushed over and gathered her in my arms. She instinctively burrowed into my chest, seeking shelter.
The gesture made my heart go soft; it even ached.
"Serenity, are you okay?" I called to her gently.
But she didn't respond. She lay utterly still, as if she'd already died. Panic seized me. I leaned close to her neck and inhaled. Her pheromones were erratic and faint, rising and falling like unstable tides.
