At the late-night Pack Enforcers Agency (PEA), the task force was still hard at work on my case. I watched from the shadows, hovering near the flickering overhead lights, feeling a mix of frustration and longing. They were so close, yet so far from the truth. I wished the gruesome details of my murder had left a mark not just on my body, but on the hearts of those I once loved. But unfortunately, the only man I loved; my husband and alpha, hadn’t realized that I was gone.
The agents sifted through photographs that captured the horror of my final moments—pieces of me scattered, a puzzle they were desperate to solve. My life had always been miserable, but now, I was now reduced to just a chilling topic that even the public didn’t know about.
As they debated theories and reviewed evidence, I felt an overwhelming urge to guide them, to lead them toward the answers that eluded them. I could sense the darkness that surrounded my death, a malevolence that still lingered. I watched as one of the agents picked up the ring I was wearing when the murder happened. I really wished they would identify me already, because I couldn’t wait to see the look on my husband’s face.
Victor suddenly suggested a break, glancing at Ryker, who was sitting off to the side to approve it. When the alpha nodded, everyone immediately dropped what they were doing. Some got up to stretch, but my husband headed straight for a sandwich. Kaida and Victor followed closely behind him, exchanging curious glances.
Victor, his beta, joked, “Why not go home instead of lining up here for a sandwich like you don’t have a mate?”
Ryker just ignored him but Victor only continued, “The Luna is at home, right? It’s surprising she hasn’t sent someone to deliver your midnight snack tonight.”
The lights in the PEA’s break room shone softly on Ryker’s face, showing his darkened expression, and his sandwich slammed onto the table.
Victor’s brows knitted together at the sudden shift in mood, but by then, the alpha was glaring at him. “Why does everyone keep bringing her up?” he growled, shooting a glare in Kaida’s direction as well. “Huh?”
Sensing the rising tension, Victor chose his words carefully. “It’s… it’s just been a while since we’ve seen her around. I mean, she used to show up with snacks whenever you had to pull an all-nighter,” he stuttered.
Ryker shot him a pointed look. “And all those snacks ended up in your belly, didn’t they? Still hungry?”
Victor wasn’t just Ryker’s Beta; he was his friend too. When he saw how worked up Ryker was, he politely asked Kaida to excuse them. When it was just the two of them, Victor’s expression turned serious as he faced Ryker.
“Seriously, what’s the matter? Is your mate okay?”
“It’s gross enough that you keep bringing her up, considering I haven’t seen her recently,” Ryker murmured under his breath as he helped himself to another sandwich.
“Why? Is she missing?” Victor blurted out, his concern obvious.
Ryker snorted and then scoffed. “Missing? If she had any backbone, I’d respect her. She’s like a pesky little dog, always underfoot. It’s been quiet for two days now without her. So can we stop talking about her?”
Standing on the sidelines and watching them, I smirked. Husband, you wouldn’t have to put up with me nagging you anymore, I thought. Must be a relief.
“Alpha, we’ve ID’d the body!” A PEA officer barged in, his voice trembling as he waved the DNA results, and his face was twisted in an ugly mix of emotions. Kaida was back now, and so were the others as they waited to hear the news.
Victor reached for the results, but the officer hesitated. “I think Alpha Ryker should take a look first…”
Ryker looked up, puzzled. "Why do I have to look at it first? Victor’s in charge of this case. Why show it to me?"
Victor collected the results and glanced at it, his expression turning serious. "Your mate... Alpha, have you been in touch with her lately?"
Ryker looked like he had to think about it before he answered. “Yeah, she even sent me a voice message a few days back."
"A few days? Has it been more than three days?"
Ryker's eyes widened as the realization hit him. He shot up from his seat and looked from Victor to the officer that brought the results. “What are you saying?"
The officer's expression turned grave, and he took a deep breath before speaking. “We believe the body matches the DNA of your mate, Alpha. We need to prepare you for the possibility that she may be… gone.”
