Page 50 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

Just before sunrise, the bus came. I carried her on and sat down. Outside the window, gray-blue light. Everything in Silver pine fell away—farther and farther, smaller and smaller. She stirred in my arms. Didn't cry. I finally exhaled, pulled the jacket tighter, leaned back against the seat, and closed my eyes.

Chapter Sixteen

Lucifer

The car came to a complete stop. Marcus got out and pulled my door open.

"Sir?" His voice was low. When I handled business in secret, he always called me that instead of "Your Majesty." I rubbed my temples, exhausted. Lately, besides official duties, I'd been investigating Elena's case. Something didn't add up. If she could work with the Butcher Squad, why didn't she just kill Liam at that first dinner? Why save him instead?

But the Elder Council was dead set against her. If I didn't drive Elena out, they'd have her executed. And the Grays—they wouldn't mistreat Elena. She was the daughter they'd finally found, after all.

Night air rushed in, heavy with midnight dampness. The moment my feet hit the ground, a faint scent slipped into my nostrils.

Lily and bay leaf.

I froze. My hands started shaking.

The scent was threadbare, barely a trace. I stood motionless, turning my head left and right, breathing in the night wind over and over, confirming again and again.

Suspended in the darkness like an almost invisible thread, stretched between streetlight and shadow.

My wolf surged to its feet.

Every muscle locked tight, like a drawn bowstring, frantically combing the air for that scent. It recognized this smell. Recognized her. Mate, it growled low. She's here!

I didn't hesitate. I followed the scent.

"Sir!" Marcus blocked my path, bowing. "Our partners are all waiting in the private room. They've been—"

"They can wait." I pushed past him.

"Sir! They've already—"

"They can wait!"

I didn't look back. I searched carefully. My wolf was frantic. The mate scent came and went, scattered by the wind then surfacing again, faint but unmistakable. It led me to the restaurant's side entrance. Here, the fragrance was slightly stronger, clinging stubbornly near the door.

Marcus stopped two paces behind, waiting silently. He knew I was forcing down my hunting instincts, reeling in my scattered focus. I pressed my palm against the cold door frame, took a deep breath, shoved down the churning agitation, and turned toward the banquet hall.

"Finalize the contract first. Send people to search the area!"

"Yes, Sir."

I took a deep breath and rubbed my temples. Something occurred to me. "Elena—any news?"

Marcus glanced at me carefully. "No, Sir. The Gray family disowned her."

I said nothing. Marcus followed behind. He didn't know what I meant. Neither did I. Elena—she had ties to the Butcher Squad, she'd hurt Liam. Killing her wouldn't be unreasonable. I'd only banished her. That was generous. But—

Why did I still want to know where she'd gone?

Why did Marcus's words—that her family had disowned her—make my rage deepen? She was banished. Where could she go? She'd have to go back to her old life, working odd jobs—

The moment the private room door opened, the wolves who'd been sitting stood, straightening their cuffs and suits before bowing to me.

"Alpha."

The room's atmosphere wrapped around me—warmth, alcohol, artificial perfume, and—