153 Chapter 153


    Damien’s POV


    The smoke still hung heavy in the air as we stood over the ruins of what had been thergest rogue stronghold in three counties.


    “That’s what I’m talking about!” Marcus shouted, pumping his fist in the air. Around us, warriors cheered and howled their victory to the dark sky.


    I should have felt triumphant. Should have felt that rush of satisfaction that came with a job well done. We’d just dealt the rogues the


    biggest blow they’d taken in decades..


    But all I felt was empty.


    “Alpha!” Tyler jogged over, his face flushed with adrenaline. “The perimeter sweep is clean. No survivors. No escapees this time.”


    “Good. My voice came out t, emotionless. “Casualties on our side?”


    “Minor injuries only. Jake twisted his ankle, but he’s walking it off.”


    I nodded, my eyes scanning the destruction we’d left behind. Three buildings reduced to ash and rubble. Enough weapons confiscated to arm a small army. Intelligence gathered that would help us track down the smaller cells.


    It was everything I’d wanted. Everything I’d nned for.


    So why did it feel like nothing at all?


    “We did it, Alpha!” Jake appeared at my shoulder, grinning despite the blood trickling from a cut on his forehead. “Those bastards won’t


    be threatening anyone for a long time.”


    “Years,” Marcus agreed, wipin


    soot from his face. “This was their main supply depot, theirmunications hub, their fucking headquarters. It’ll take them years to rebuild this kind of operation.”


    The warriors around us were still celebrating, sharing war stories and pping each other on the back. They’d fought well tonight. They deserved to feel proud.


    “Good work, everyone,” I called out,


    voice carrying across the clearing. “Clean up and head home. We’ll debrief in the morning.”


    As the team began packing up equipment and tending to the minor wounded, I found myself staring at the smoldering ruins again.


    *This is a good start,* I thought grimly. *But it’s not enough.*


    The real targets were still out there. The rogue leader who’d ordered Sera’s capture. Valerie, that treacherous bitch who’d betrayed her


    own sister and helped them torture my mate.


    They were still breathing. Still free. Still unpunished for what they’d done to her.


    *This won’t bring her home,* I realized with cold rity. *Not until she sees them suffer. Not until she watches them pay for every scar, every nightmare, every moment of agony they put her through.*


    08:30 0


    114


    “Damien?”


    I turned to find Riley approaching, her expression unreadable in the dim light. She looked smaller than usual in her tactical gear, but I


    knew better than to underestimate her. She’d fought as fiercely as any of the male warriors tonight.


    “Good work out there,” I said. “Your team handled the north nk perfectly.”


    “Thanks.” She nced around at the celebrating warriors, then back at me. “Can we talk? Privately?”


    Something in her tone made my stomach clench. “Sure”


    She gestured toward a cluster of trees away from the main group. I followed her, my boots crunching on broken ss and debris.


    When we were far enough away that the others wouldn’t overhear, Riley stopped and turned to face me. Even in the darkness, I could


    see the serious set of her jaw,


    “Alright,” she said, crossing her arms. “Time to stop bullshitting me.”


    “What?”


    “You know exactly what. Her voice was steady but sharp. “Where is she, Damien?”


    My blood turned to ice. “Where’s who?”


    “Don’t.” Riley held up a hand, cutting me off. “Don’t you dare lie to my face. Where is Seraphina?”


    I stared at her, my mind racing. How much did she know? How much had she figured out?


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said carefully.


    Rileyughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Right. That’s why I haven’t seen her in months.”


    Fuck.


    “Riley-”


    “I’m not stupid, Damien.” Her voice cracked slightly. “She’s my best friend. You think I wouldn’t notice she’s gone?”


    I ran my hand through my hair, ash and smoke making my scalp itch. Around us, the sounds of the cleanup continued, but they felt


    distant. Unreal.


    “How long have you known?” I asked quietly.


    “I started suspecting about days ago. The engagement party was thest time anyone saw her, wasn’t it?”


    I didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer.


    “Jesus Christ.” Riley’s voice dropped to a whisper. “She really left. She actually left you and the kids.”


    “It’s not what you think,” I said quickly.


    “Then what is it?” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like my best friend abandoned her


    family and disappeared into thin air.”


    08.30


    214


    “She didn’t abandon us.” The words came out fierce, protective. “She’s hurting. She’s been through hell, and she-”


    “She what?” Riley stepped closer, her voice rising. “She decided parenting was too hard? Marriage was too much work?”


    “She lost her wolf!” The words exploded out of me before I could stop them.


    Riley went dead still. “What?”


    “The rogues,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “When they captured her. They poisoned her with so much wolfsbane it severed


    the neural pathways. A’s gone.”


    The silence that followed was deafening. Riley stared at me with wide eyes, her face going pale in the moonlight.


    “Oh my God,” she breathed. “She left because…”


    “Because she thinks she’s not good enough anymore. Because she thinks we’d be better off without her.” My voice cracked on thest


    words.


    Riley sank down onto a fallen log, her head in her hands. “This is insane. This whole situation ispletely insane.”


    “Please,” I said, kneeling in front of her. “Please don’t tell anyone. Not Lucas, not the pack. No one can know about this.”


    Riley looked up at me, her eyes red with tears. “How are the kids handling it?”


    My chest tightened. “Adrian asks about her every day. Lily…” I swallowed hard. “Lily doesn’t understand why Mama isn’t there anymore.”


    “Oh, Damien.” Tears spilled down Riley’s cheeks. “This is so fucked up.”


    We stood there in the smoking ruins of the rogue stronghold, both of us crying for different reasons. Around us, the celebration


    continued, warriors basking in their victory while the two of us fell apart.


    “I won’t tell Lucas,” Riley said finally. “He’d make it into a huge thing.”


    “I know. That’s why-”


    “But I can’t keep lying to him either.” She looked at me with red-rimmed eyes. “So you better find her soon, Damien. Because I can’t keep


    covering for you much longer.”


    “I will. I swear to God, I’ll find her.”


    Riley was quiet for a moment, then let out a shakyugh. “You know what the really fucked up part is?”


    “What?”


    “Lucas and I were going to ask you and Sera to be godparents.”


    My heart stopped. “Godparents?”


    “I’m pregnant.” The words came out in a rush. “Found out yesterday. We were going to tell you both together, make it this big


    announcement at dinner next week.” She pressed her hands against her face. “God, I’m such an idiot. I was so excited to tell her. She was


    going to be so happy.”


    08.20


    viapict


    ???


    “Congrattions,” I managed.


    “Thanks.” Riley wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “It’s early still. Eight weeks. But we’re excited.”


    “Sera would be over the moon,” I said quietly. “She loves babies. Loves you.”


    “I know.” Riley’s voice cracked again. “That’s what makes this so hard. She should be here. She should be squealing and asking about cribs


    and offering to babysit.”


    We stood there in the ash and smoke, grieving for the life we’d all lost when Sera walked out that door.


    “Find her,” Riley said finally. “Please, Damien. Find her and bring her home. We all need her back,”