Chapter 848 – Hidden Desires of the Werewolf King Novel

Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel

Liam was right behind them, determined not to lose Cassandra out of his sight.

James was staring at the spot where Talia was standing only a few seconds ago.

“It was… Talia,” James said robotically.

“What did you say to her!?” Keith was livid. It was his duty to protect Talia, and she had just vanished! That was it. Dayson will skin him alive, this time for real!

James shook his head. “We just talked, and she told me to take care of things here, and that’s it.”

Keith cursed loudly while walking toward the spot where Talia was, hoping she would reappear in the same mysterious way she disappeared. Arya joined him in searching for clues that were not there.

Cornelia turned to see that the ground glowed in pulses of light blue circular marks that looked like someone had scratched it.

Cornelia’s eyes widened when she realized what she was looking at. “Did Talia teleport?”

“I think so,” James said. He saw teleportation by witches many times. It required a diagram and energy crystals and chants, and there were no winds or other commotion. This was different, but the results were the same. Talia disappeared.

Cornelia couldn’t believe this. “Where did she go? How are we going to explain this to others?”

James was not sure. But he knew one thing. “Talia is an Alpha, and her mate is in danger. I wouldn’t just sit if someone was holding you captive. She did what she needed to do, and as their Gammas, it’s our duty to help. Let’s go inside. It’s time to contact others and go offensive.”

Cornelia was a nervous bundle of nerves, but James’ confidence was like a comforting blanket that made everything better. She leaned on him as they walked into the packhouse together.

“We sorted out almost all the items Cassandra brought,” Cornelia said. “There are quite a few that can be used on the battlefield.”

James smiled at his chocolate-colored mate. “Good girl.”

Cornelia grinned foolishly. Why did those two words make her all mushy on the inside?

…

Talia stared at her surroundings.

She was in the forest, illuminated by the moonlight that was not obstructed by leafless branches and evergreen trees.

Chills from below got her attention, and Talia realized she was ankle-deep in snow.

Talia’s heart was thumping wildly as she remembered Cassandra’s prophecy. It spoke about a forest covered in snow. And here she was.

Where was Dayson? Didn’t she teleport to his location?

Cassandra mentioned that Dayson was blind, his senses not working, and in danger. Talia hoped that was something open to interpretation. If the Guardians dared to take Dayson’s eyesight, she would kill them all!

Talia tried sensing her surroundings, and her insides tightened when she realized she couldn’t feel a thing. Trees and bushes all around her were undetectable by her senses, like they were an illusion, but she could touch them.

‘Lis?’

‘Something is messing with our perception,’ Liseli responded.

Talia cursed under her breath. Now what?

‘Is it possible that we are in the wrong place?’ Talia asked.

‘I’m not sure,’ Liseli said. ‘We did everything right. Dayson should be close, but maybe these disturbances messed up with our destination as well.’

Talia exhaled helplessly. She got her cell phone and was bummed to see that there was no signal.

‘How are they going to find us?’ Assuming that anyone searches for them. Tyler might be able to hack into satellites, but Tyler was in the Midnight Guardians pack.

‘Do you think anyone can help us? They would just become hostages or get in the way. This is better.’

Talia agreed with this, but… ‘We have no idea where we are. Standing here makes no sense, and picking a random direction will be even less productive. How come your wolf senses are not working?’

‘Don’t blame me!’ Liseli exclaimed. ‘You are the one who decided to teleport without any research or planning.’

‘We have a plan.’

‘We do?’

‘Rescue Dayson and kill anyone who tries to stop us.’

Liseli snickered. ‘I like it. But how are we going to find him?’

‘There is one option I can think of.’

‘Go for it.’

“HELLOOOOOO!!!” Talia shouted from the top of her lungs. “ANYONE OUT THERE!?”

Liseli couldn’t believe this. Shouldn’t they be sneaky? ‘That was stupid.’

‘You don’t seem to have a better idea,’ Talia responded irritably.

They waited and waited, and minutes passed. Nothing happened.

Talia’s patience was running thin. ‘Should I just summon my energies and emit light like a beacon?’

‘How about you climb a tree?’ Liseli asked.

‘Why would I do that?’

‘To get an aerial view. It’s a cold night. Maybe we can see the light or smoke.’

Talia had to admit that this made sense. ‘OK. Let’s pick a tree…’

Talia got down from the tree dejectedly. She climbed all the way to the top and looked in every direction, but there was nothing she could see other than trees and rocks and mountains in the distance.

‘This confirms we are in the area where Guardians are,’ Liseli said. ‘Their territory is North of the Shadow Fang pack, and there are no towns for miles from where they are.’

‘That’s not helping,’ Talia said dejectedly.

If her senses were messed up, there was a possibility that a bustling town was right there, yet she couldn’t see it.

Talia released a long breath and leaned against a tree. She was tired, mostly mentally.

Now what? She regretted coming here on a whim. She didn’t know where she was, or how to get out of there, or where Dayson was. It was hopeless. Should she just start walking randomly and hope it was in the right direction?

Talia’s ears perked up when she heard crunching sounds. An animal?

“I thought you would come to us through the portal,” a familiar male voice reached Talia, and she squinted at the shadow until a ray of moonlight hit him.

Talia’s heart rate shot through the roof. It was Declyn.

He stopped when he was only a few steps away from her and regarded her with curiosity. “It’s good that I came to investigate the energy surge; otherwise, you would be lost for a long time. How did you get here?”

Talia was confused. He didn’t seem surprised she was there, and he didn’t look hostile either. She told herself to keep her guard up.

Declyn mentioned an energy surge. ‘Was he talking about her teleportation?’, Talia wondered. That was almost an hour ago! Or maybe this environment also messed up with her perception of time.

“Does it matter how I got here?” Talia asked.

“It doesn’t. But it matters WHY you are here.”

Talia didn’t like his relaxed way of talking. But then she remembered James’ words. The Guardians see themselves as above others, and they are not aware of Talia’s abilities. He didn’t see her as a threat, and she should use that.

Talia hugged herself. “I’m cold. Is there a place I could have hot cocoa?”

Declyn smiled and gestured in the direction from where he came. “I can offer you tea.”

…

Talia was sitting in a small cabin. There was a square-shaped table with four chairs around it and a worn-down three-seater sofa on the side. The kitchen had only a few necessities, and everything looked old, but the fire crackling in the fireplace gave it a cozy feel. Based on the blankets and the scent of bread, Talia guessed that Declyn lived here.

A narrow staircase led up to a loft that appeared to be used as a bedroom.

Declyn placed a steaming mug on the table in front of Talia and sat on the opposite side of the table, his inquisitive gaze never leaving her face as he sipped from his mug.

“It smells funny,” Talia said after taking a sniff of the tea that was brewed with some mix of herbs.

Declyn took the mug from her hands and drank from it. “It’s not poisoned.”

He put the mug back in front of her.

“How do I know you are not immune to the poison?”

Declyn shrugged. “If I want to harm you, I don’t need to make you drink anything.”

Talia thought about how that made sense.

She took a sip and frowned. It was bitter.

“Do you want sugar?” Declyn guessed.

Talia refused. “No, it’s fine.”

Talia thought how this was ridiculous. Rogues were attacking, Dayson, Yasmin, and two babies were missing, and here was Talia, drinking tea with a Guardian.

She looked at Declyn whose expression was unreadable. Talia remembered him as a cheery guy who was overly enthusiastic about getting her to use the Sphere of Power again, but now he was serious to the point of making her uncomfortable.

Declyn cleared his throat before asking, “Will you tell me what brings you here, Alpha Natalia?”

“Some people are missing.”

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