His Estranged Mate

Chapter 41: Crimson Shadow?

CONNOR

A foggy night is a pain in the ass, I think as I trot along the border of the Crimson Shadow Pack along with a few of Fenris's warriors. Ever since Cayden's disappearance, I am even more on the edge. Is it a coincidence that both the twins are kidnapped now?

I am not sure and the lack of knowledge about these events is very unsettling especially when it's your mate who's possibly being held, hostage. A sudden movement to my left alerts me. I signal the wolf beside me to watch out for other possible movements while catching sight of a small body running towards us, at full speed as if his ass is on fire.

I quickly jump in his way to stop him from running past us, since it's clear that he's trying to do it. The pup collides into me, and the speed at which he's running makes me lose my balance a bit but I manage to hold onto the pup while going down on my knees.

"Shift now," I order, letting my voice seep into his wolf head. The pup shudders and then whines but I just grunt at him, conveying that I am not going to take any bullshit. Only because I don't know if he's a rogue or Fenris's pack member; I am calm and not throwing him around.

The pup shifts back to his human form and I shift my hold to his neck to make sure that he doesn't runoff.

"Get me a pair of pants," I order the wolf behind me who's standing guard watching for any other rogue activity.

As soon as he hands me the pants, I make the boy wear them, waiting patiently while he does. The pup is trembling and unable to wear those pants until I help him put them on. With his head bent, not looking me in the eye at all, I realise that he's terrified of me at this moment but I don't have time to play nice.

"Who are you?" I demand. He is bloody and beaten with swollen cheeks and black eyes but that isn't my concern at the moment. My concern is that this boy was walking towards the school from the Crimson Shadow territory which is uninhabited for 2 decades.

The boy in front of me falls on his knees and starts sobbing. The action is so sudden that it surprises me at first and I motion for one of Fenris's warriors to come closer.

"Do you know this boy?" I ask him, pointing at the crying pup.

"Yes, Alpha. He's Henry. The boy went missing with Princess Catrina," he whispers and bows his head respectfully. The news gives me hope that maybe I can find Catrina here. Maybe she was just lost and not caught by someone. Maybe Cayden found her and they are both safe.

However, my hope is short-lived when the boy starts rambling about rogues and Xanthos.

"They... Xanthos... has Princess... My father... has her." I can make out only that much from his words, so I just haul the kid to his feet and start walking towards river Lena. Fenris and a few of his men are investigating near the river to get any clues.

"I'll go and search for King Fenris," says the warrior but Fenris's voice echoes through the woods making us stop where we are.

"I am here," he calls, walking through the thick canopy of trees. As soon as he comes into our line of vision, the boy struggles out of my hold and runs towards Fenris. I leap behind the pup to catch him just in case he tries to do something but the pup just falls on his knees in front of Fenris, weeping and sobbing, begging for forgiveness.

"I am so... sorry, Alpha. I went wandering through the woods that day and my father found me."

I watch as Fenris shakes his head and then bends to pick up the kid. He makes the kid stand in front of him and then caresses his head, murmuring soothing words to him.

I don't like that the boy, he is the reason for my mate's kidnapping. And the sight of him being comforted by my best friend is quite unsettling but I understand the boy's dilemma. He was just trying to impress his father.