Little witch

Titus

Titus POV

Three months. Three agonizing, relentless months since Adeline had vanished.

Titus had never imagined the bond could break so violently. He remembered that morning as if it were yesterday. The way he had woken to the hollow emptiness in his chest, his bond with Adeline severed, the pain raw and brutal as it ripped through him. He had felt her leave—felt the moment she slipped through his fingers.

His wolf had howled in agony, clawing at him from the inside. Blaze had wanted to tear through the pack lands to find her, but she was already gone, her presence nothing but a faint memory through the bond. They had searched everywhere, sent warriors and scouts as far as they could, but it was as if she had disappeared from the earth itself.

For the last three months, that burning ache in his chest had been his constant companion, a reminder of the mate who had left him behind. Blaze had quieted some, though not by choice. The wolf was still there, pacing beneath the surface, always ready to break free at the slightest hint of her scent, at the mere thought of Adeline. But Titus had to maintain control. His pack depended on him, especially now with Aspen's threat growing by the day.

Having a mate was supposed to be easy. The bond was supposed to bring peace, not this never-ending torment. Nothing about his connection to Adeline had ever been simple, but he had never expected her to leave him—especially not after they had mated. Not after they had shared so much.

His fists clenched at the thought. How could she have left without a word? Without even a goodbye? He tried not to resent her for it. She had done it to protect him, he knew that much. But it didn't make it any easier to bear.

He glanced out the window of his office, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pack house grounds. Warriors were already preparing for the mission ahead. Aspen's base had been located, and Titus was ready to end this. After months of searching, they finally had a chance to put an end to the man who had caused so much pain, not just to him, but to Adeline as well.

Titus had to believe that taking Aspen down would bring Adeline back. He couldn't allow himself to think otherwise. If he had to go another three months without her, he wouldn't survive it. The pack needed him, but without his mate, nothing seemed worth it. Every day that passed without her felt like another piece of him was withering away.

The only thing that kept him moving forward was the thought that maybe, just maybe, when Aspen was gone, Adeline would return. Maybe she would feel safe again. Maybe she would come home.

He could still remember the way she'd looked at him, the way she'd smiled, how she had fit so perfectly in his arms. How she had whispered that she trusted him, that she loved him. He had replayed those moments over and over again in his mind, trying to make sense of why she had left.

But nothing made sense without her.

Zander knocked on the door, interrupting his thoughts. Titus didn't bother turning to face him. He could already sense his beta's presence, the tension in his voice evident as he spoke.

"We're ready to move. The team's in place."

Titus nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. This was it. They were about to confront Aspen and, with any luck, end this nightmare once and for all. His hand instinctively went to his chest, where the bond with Adeline still pulsed faintly, a distant hum of something that was once so strong.

If this didn't bring her back...

He couldn't even finish the thought.

"Let's finish this," he said, standing up and turning toward Zander, his expression hardening. "I want Aspen gone, and I want answers."

Zander gave a firm nod. "We'll get them."

As they headed out of the pack house and toward the waiting vehicles, Titus felt Blaze stir again, restless as ever. His wolf wanted blood. He wanted revenge for Adeline, for the pain she had suffered. Titus could feel his own anger rising to match Blaze's, the need to tear Aspen apart almost overwhelming.

The mission was simple: get in, take down Aspen, and find out where he had been hiding. But to Titus, it was more than that. It was personal. This was his chance to finally put an end to the threat that had loomed over them for too long, and hopefully, to find some peace.

As he climbed into the car and the convoy started moving, Titus allowed himself one last thought of Adeline. Wherever she was, whatever she was doing, he hoped she was safe. But more than that, he hoped she was coming back to him.

Because if she didn't... if she didn't return soon... Titus wasn't sure how much longer he could go on without her.

She was his world. And without her, everything felt meaningless.

This had to work. It was his only hope of getting her back.