The Alpha King's Battered Luna novel Chapter 8

Alpha Asher’s pov

Maya was my mate!

This was the only thought that ran through my mind, even as I went through this hell of a meeting.

Cypher has been a constant bug, running through the thin thread of my sanity, leaving me in an uncontrollable frenzy.

It was weird sitting around a conference table with people whose focus was solely on the matter at hand while my thoughts ran in a circle, skirting on likely methods to tame the wild redhead in the packhouse.

Of course, I’d give the suggestions of Daniel a trial. I only hope it yields satisfactory results because right now,

my patience has started to wear off; like petals of a rose flower, I was losing my resolve at a faster pace than thread by thread.

The meeting ended, and I was out as light; I needed to be somewhere other than that building. Maybe, just maybe, one peek at her lovely face would do the magic.

“Where is she?” I asked Edna as soon as I stepped foot into the packhouse.

“Define her,” Edna retorted, looking pissed as hell. Her mouth was pressed into a firm hard-line, and her eyes held a glimmer of venom that wasn’t there before.

“Maya… where is she?” I questioned again.

“Oh, Maya... She should be in her room, I guess,” she replied nonchalantly.

“The fuck you’re talking about, Edna? I left someone in your care, and you dare guess her whereabouts?” I barked, but Edna didn't flinch.

“Just pray nothing happens to her and that she is still within the confines of the pack,'' I howled before storming away aggressively in search of my mate.

I got to her supposed room, and to my utter disbelief, she wasn't there. I searched the corners and her bathroom, but she wasn’t inside still. My panic level skyrocketed, and if Cypher was roaring before, he was definitely thundering as I felt the echoes of his groans in my head.

At a much faster pace than before, I hurried to the rooms nearby, but she still wasn’t inside. I mind-linked Daniel and the rest of the guards, informing them to go in search of her while I joined them.

To make matters worse, I couldn’t smell her. The more I walked, the more Maya’s scent faded. I groaned internally but continued down the staircase to the living room. At that exact moment, Daniel rushed in.

“Where is Maya?” I asked, rushing to his side like a wife whose husband had just returned from the military after five years.

“Not anywhere outside the guards across the borders had reported not to have seen her.”

“Argh,” I groaned loudly as I felt his words cut through my heart, and pain exploded like a bomb of fire in my head. I ran my hand through my hair while my stomach churned in restlessness.

I’d never thrown up before, but I imagined this was the feeling you get before it happened. I took a shaky, calm breath, trying to put myself together before facing everyone.

Vomit be damned, I fucking felt like I would cry. I felt prickling behind my eyes, warning me that I was on the verge of tears. This was the first time I wished I wasn’t the alpha because being alpha meant I couldn’t cry in front of people

“Hey, calm down,” Daniel cooed, patting me on my left shoulder. “It’s all going to be fine. I think she is within. Let’s have a look inside.”

“ I already did, but….” I stopped talking when I caught sight of red curtails at the back of one of the couches.

“But what?” Daniel inquired, but I shunned his question and continued to walk towards the figure. Daniel trailed behind me skeptically.

I felt the air in my windpipe gush out as I took in the view before me. Behind the couch was Maya, curled into a ball, her red hair framed her face. Faint whimpers left her mouth, and her body shook even in her sleep.

I again swore by the moon goddess to avenge whoever made her so fragile. I moved closer to her statue and picked her up.

Her whimpering got louder, but she didn't open her eyes, and I also didn’t drop her. Daniel made way for us to pass, and I did it gently, carefully so that our movement didn't wake her up.