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.

confirmation. Do I keep looking or do I leave the

launch myself at whatever it is, when two guards come running out and

Prince Zedkiel! An urgent message from the King!” They say,

fast, and I can tell they have come as fast as they could.

my human form, I glare at them, hating the fact that

take it. They hurry

thought phones weren’t allowed in this shit tournament.

there. Something has gone wrong; we have sent a team out

she’s missing?” I hiss venomously, trying not

don’t know how this happened, she was simply meant

escorting her!” I hiss.

the training fields. This was a well-planned game. I’m sorry and we will find her, I promise

and when I fucking find

any that caught her at any time of the day, up until she went missing.” I

back towards the castle. I will search from there. There are guards everywhere around

the castle in record time, pulling on my sweatpants and heading

can’t breathe properly. There’s a discomfort in my chest and I

falls silent, and I notice Dad, Alpha Aeron, and a few of the council

“Son, calm down-”

front of 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

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

up to

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

her, just out of range of the cameras … however a woman in a hoodie comes out first, we think perhaps it’s Evangeline and she had changed clothing… As you can see, a short while later Evangeline comes out, but when I observe closer, I feel that she is slightly taller, and her

the same way, nor does she look like Evangeline from the back… She’s the woman in the woods.” I scoff, looking

planned this-” Franco tries, but I cut him

that’s your fucking job to figure out. I need to find her.” I growl. “The girl in the hoodie. Is she seen anywhere in any of the surveillance

from the sway of her

Franco muses. “We all know what happened at the ball

into the table. “Don’t

find her somewhere.” I command. “I’m going to try to see if I can catch her scent.’

had gone right from the north hallway… I’ll start there. I’m feeling worse, and I take a few deep breaths, trying to get rid of the odd feeling that is wrapping

I jog down the hall. The best place to catch her scent

What if she’s hurt? If something happens to her… My stomach

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

head lower but I can smell it now,

try to calm it. I already feel weak and it’s crippling

great, maybe it’s

“Evangeline!”