Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 68: Follow the trail

Chapter 68: Follow the trail

ADRIAN’S P.O.V.

The moon hung low over the quiet town, its silvery light spilling across the cobbled streets like a celestial glow. Long, jagged shadows stretched and swayed with the whispering wind, painting a haunting picture of stillness that mocked the storm raging within me.

My living room was a stark contrast to the darkness outside, brightly lit by the brilliance of a single, grand chandelier. Its light cascaded over the polished oak floors and bounced off the ornate furniture, creating a fake illusion of warmth. The remaining members of my coven, those not already scouring the earth for Teresa, stood in silence around me. Their faces bore a combination of dread and vigilance, the weight of my fury heavy in the air.

I stood by the wide window, my fingers clasped tightly behind my back, staring into the distance. The cold glass mirrored my face, though it couldn’t hold my reflection. Its surface reflecting a calm exterior that betrayed nothing of the chaos inside. Somewhere out there, Teresa was running—scared, confused, and utterly unaware of the world she’d stumbled into. Unaware of me.

Three days. It had been three agonizing days since she vanished, slipping through our grasp like sand through clenched fists. My world had unraveled in her absence, a tempest barely contained beneath the surface. Every shadow seemed to hold a whisper of her name. Every gust of wind mocked me with her scent—there one moment, gone the next.

We had torn this town apart, ripping through its seams in a relentless search. My coven, loyal and efficient, left no stone unturned, no corner untouched. And yet, she remained elusive, slipping through the cracks of my fury.

Even the humans, blissfully ignorant of the creatures that roamed among them, could feel the tension in the air. Businesses closed their doors earlier than usual. Families whispered of dark omens and unshakable dread. Nightmares plagued the townsfolk, seeping into their reality as though my wrath alone had poisoned their fragile peace.

But none of it mattered. None of them mattered. Teresa was out there, somewhere, and she was mine.

And yet, no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn’t find her.

The silence in the room deepened, thick and oppressive, as I clenched my jaw, my thoughts spinning furiously. My coven could feel the undercurrent of my anger—an emotion so potent it hummed in the air, threatening to explode.

"She’s running scared," I muttered to no one in particular, my voice low but sharp as a blade. "Unaware of what’s out there. Unaware of what she’s left behind."

Behind me, the coven members exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to speak. My temper was not something anyone wanted to test tonight.

The moonlight spilled through the window, cold and indifferent, as if mocking my desperation. Somewhere, far from this room, Teresa was out there, and the thought of her alone—frightened, vulnerable—gnawed at the edges of my composure.

And yet, she slipped through my grasp. A truth that burned hotter than any flame.

Mike burst through the door, his boots scuffing the polished floor. I turned slowly, the silence stretching between us.

"Adrian," he began, bowing his head low. "I found her trail. She’s gone to a city called Redfield."

Relief and fury warred within me. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, the cool veneer of calm barely holding.

"You found her?" My voice was steady, each word deliberate, yet the room seemed to grow colder. "And yet, here you are, instead of bringing her to me?"

Mike flinched, his gaze darting to the floor. "I... I thought it best to inform you first. Redfield is large, and I—"

"Stop." I took a step forward, and he instinctively took one back. "You thought? When did I ask you to think, Mike?"

His mouth opened, but no sound came out. I could hear the fear in his unsteady breaths, the quivering of his heart.

"You lost her trail," I said, my voice dropping to a near-whisper, and yet it carried the weight of a thunderclap.

"I—I didn’t mean to—"

Before he could finish, I lunged. In the blink of an eye, my hand was around his throat. His eyes bulged as I lifted him off the ground, his boots kicking futilely.

"You failed me, Mike. And failures... have consequences."

The others in the room remained frozen, their eyes wide with terror. With a flick of my wrist, I threw Mike to the floor. He gasped, clutching his neck, but he didn’t get far. I was on him again in a flash, sinking my fangs into his throat. His scream was cut short, his body going limp as I drained the life from him.

When I pulled back, blood dripping from my lips, I snapped my fingers. Flames engulfed his body, reducing him to ashes within moments.

The tension in the room was thick, suffocating, as I stood before my coven. My eyes swept over their faces, each one pale with fear, their gazes averted. None dared to meet my gaze, knowing the storm that brewed within me.

"Prepare yourselves," I barked, my voice slicing through the silence like a whip. "We leave for Redfield tonight."

The command was absolute, my tone brooking no argument. They scattered instantly, like leaves caught in a violent gust, each one desperate to escape the weight of my fury.

But not Harry.

Harry, my right hand, my once most trusted ally, stood his ground. Flanked by Carlos and Brain, he stepped forward, his expression resolute yet edged with hesitation. I could see it in his eyes—the conflict, the strain of walking the fine line between loyalty and defiance.

"Adrian," he began, his voice steady but cautious.

I raised a hand, cutting him off. "If you’re about to suggest anything other than finding Teresa, tread carefully," I warned, my voice deceptively calm, carrying the edge of a blade.

Carlos tugged at Harry’s sleeve, his eyes wide with silent pleas for him to stop, but Harry ignored him. Foolish, brave Harry.

"You can’t storm into Redfield and wreak havoc," Harry said firmly. "It’s a human city. We’re supposed to blend in, remember? You’re risking exposing all of us."

My eyes narrowed, the icy fury in my gaze pinning him in place. "Is that so, Harry?" My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Was it also your job to watch Teresa? To ensure she didn’t escape? Because it seems to me you’ve failed spectacularly at that."

Harry’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t waver. His voice, though quieter now, was no less resolute. "I’m barely hanging on with you, Adrian," he admitted, his words biting with the weight of truth. "But I won’t let you destroy everything we’ve built because you’re blinded by obsession."

The room seemed to freeze as my fury boiled over. My glare burned into him, but Harry continued, his tone unyielding.

"Adrian, think about this. What you’re doing with Teresa—it’s exactly what you did with Margaret. And how did that end?"

The mention of her name was like a dagger to my chest. The pain it unleashed was raw, uncontrollable. My temper snapped, and in the blink of an eye, I was in front of him, my hand around his throat.

"You dare bring up Margaret?" I hissed, my face inches from his. My grip tightened, and I could feel the fragile bones of his neck creak beneath my hand. "I warned you, Harry. I told you never to speak her name again. Do you want to die tonight?"

Carlos and Brain sprang into action, their frantic pleas filling the room as they begged for mercy. "Please, Adrian!" Carlos implored. "He didn’t mean it! Let him go!"

But Harry, stubborn as ever, didn’t yield. Even as the life drained from him, his voice rasped through labored breaths. "You liked me because I stood up to you," he choked out. "Go ahead, kill me. But I won’t stand by and watch you lose everything again."

His defiance only stoked the flames of my anger, yet beneath the rage was a flicker of something else. Respect, perhaps. Or the bitter realization that he was right.

With a growl, I flung him across the room, his body crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud.

"Don’t test me again, Harry," I snarled, my voice cold as death itself. "Mention her name one more time, and I won’t hesitate."

Harry lay slumped against the wall, his breaths ragged but his eyes still blazing with defiance. Carlos and Brain rushed to his side, whispering words of concern and relief as I stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me.

The sound echoed in the silence that followed, but I paid it no mind. My anger still coursed through me, a burning fire that refused to be extinguished.

*******

Back in my chambers, I began packing. Essentials only—a few credit cards, a stash of cash, and the dagger that had seen me through centuries of battles. As I buckled the strap of my bag, Harry’s words echoed in my mind.

He was right. I needed to be smart about this. But that didn’t change my resolve. Teresa would be mine again, no matter the cost.

I paused, running a hand through my hair, and sighed. "Damn you, Harry," I muttered. "You’re right, but I’m still going to do it my way."

The night was young, and Redfield awaited.

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