His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse

49. Against Time

ZEDKIEL.

I shifted the moment I left the castle. The urge to crush the camera entices me, but instead, I hang the strap around my neck and bundle my clothes together before breaking into a run. 1

I’ll find her and if anything has happened to her… The forest is dangerous and it’s not somewhere I want Evangeline alone.

I try not to think of the worst. Obviously, they will have people posted there, but still. It’s over an hour later and I reach the forest, trying to catch her scent. I ran as fast as I could and although I made it here at record speed; I’m beginning to feel extremely uneasy.

There’s nothing…

I’ve been here countless times; I know where all the store cabins are, and any houses located in the area. I’ll check them all out. With each passing hour, my restlessness is growing. I need blood, but at the same time, I can’t shake off the growing unease. Am I overreacting?

I finally reach the deepest part of the forest and approach the small cabin that sits in the middle. I slam into the door, ripping it from its hinges in my anger as I glare into the room. For a moment, my heart skips a beat, and my gaze falls on the top that she had worn that morning, but it’s only for a split second because I realise that it’s not her.

This woman may have similarly styled black hair and may be wearing the same outfit- is the same build and Evangeline’s scent lingers on them, but it’s not Evangeline.

She’s sitting on the armchair, her back to me and I storm over.

“Where is she?” I growl into the extremely silent room.

Was this all for nothing? I have just reached the woman, grabbing her arm, when I tense – realising what is missing in the quiet room.

In my rage, I hadn’t realised that there is no heartbeat.

I shift back, crouching in front of the woman, her head is tilted sideways, and she’s staring ahead. Her mouth is parted and there’s foam at the corners of it.

She’s dead.

“What the fuck…” I mutter. I check her pulse, but there isn’t one.

For a second, I wonder if this is all part of the twisted games, but then I realise it can’t

She’s dead…

“This woman is fucking dead. What the fuck are you lot playing at?” I snarl knowing they can hear me through the camera. “Where is Evangeline!”

I hope they find a way to reach me, because I fucking need an answer.

I look at the woman. She’s still warm, meaning she died recently… but this means Evangeline is out there somewhere else.

My stomach twists, and my eyes blaze red as I leave the cabin, growling in rage. I need to talk to someone right now. Something isn’t right and if this isn’t part of the fucking tournament which I’m certain that it isn’t, it means Evangeline is in danger. Somewhere.

back out. She can’t be in here… I just needed confirmation. Do I keep looking or do

whatever it is, when two guards come

from the King!”

beating extremely fast, and I can tell they have come as

I glare at them, hating the fact that the mind link

and I take it. They hurry off and

I thought phones weren’t allowed in

is the one who should have been there.

I hiss venomously, trying not to lose

this happened, she was simply meant to be

hiss. “I want

a well-planned game. I’m sorry and we will find her, I promise you that.” Dad’s voice is calm, but I know

did this… and when I fucking

– any that caught her at any time of the day, up

the phone in my hand as I turn and head back towards the castle. I

time, pulling on my sweatpants and heading straight to

if I can’t breathe properly.

the door. The room falls silent, and I notice Dad, Alpha Aeron, and a few of the council members are here.

“Son, calm down-”

Dad. “Do not tell me to calm down when my woman is missing!” I hiss venomously, grabbing him by the collar. Everyone tenses and a few of the guards get up, but Dad motions for them to step down. Like they

looking concerned. He can stop fucking pretending. He didn’t

to me.

letting go of Dad and pushing aside one of the men as I look at the screen

a woman in a hoodie comes out first, we think perhaps it’s Evangeline and she

anyone can tell that’s not Evangeline, she doesn’t even walk the same way, nor does she look like Evangeline from the back… She’s the woman in the woods.” I scoff, looking at him.

this-” Franco tries, but I cut

to find her.” I growl. “The girl in the hoodie. Is she

Evangeline. I can tell from the sway of her

muses. “We all know what happened at the ball when she

as white-hot rage blisters. through me like an inferno and I grab his collar, slamming him into the table. “Don’t antagonise me because I will

somewhere.” I command. “I’m going to

I’ll start there. I’m feeling worse,

best place to catch her scent would be from

is my priority. What if she’s hurt?

the air, a lot of people have been here since. I close my eyes trying to capture her scent. It’s a few moments before I smell it, the faintest hint of her scent. My eyes flash and I slowly follow it. At times, I can barely catch it, but I follow it. Soon the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the castle fade

scanning the rooms that are all locked and bolted. I head lower but I can smell it now, her scent as well as

my heart racing as I try to calm it. I already feel weak

maybe it’s all

“Evangeline!”