Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King Chapter 247

DAMIEN'S POV

The phone was still clutched in my hand, Rose's weak voice echoing in my ears like a ghost.

'Damien...Damien, please help me.'

Then nothing. The line went dead, but my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might explode out of my chest. I stared at the screen for a split second, the unknown number mocking me. Who the hell had her? Where was she? The questions burned in my brain, but there was no time for that. Action. I needed action.

"Matteo!" I barked, spinning around in the bedroom. He was already there, bursting through the door with two guys trailing behind, laptops in hand.

"Run a security check on this call. Trace it. Now."

Matteo nodded, no questions asked. He grabbed the phone from me, his fingers flying as he connected it to one of the laptops.

I paced behind them, my boots thudding on the carpet, every second stretching like an eternity.

"Come on," I muttered under my breath. "Find her."

The mate bond tugged at me—faint, like a whisper in a storm—but it was there. She was alive. Hurt, maybe, but alive. That had to be enough for now. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. If anyone had touched her... if they'd hurt her... I'd rip them apart. Piece by piece.

"Got something," one of the techs said, his voice cutting through the tension. "The call bounced through a few proxies, but it's pinging from a cell tower about 40 miles out. Rural area. Signal's encrypted, though. Gonna take a minute to crack."

"Make it faster," I growled, leaning over his shoulder. The screen was a mess of code and maps, red dots blinking like warning signs. My wolf stirred inside me, restless, urging me to shift and run straight there. But I couldn't. Blind rage wouldn't save her.

Matteo glanced at me, his face grim. "We're mobilizing the team. Cars are ready downstairs."

I nodded, grabbing my jacket. "Let's go. Trace it on the move."

We piled into the cars waiting outside, engines roaring to life. I slid into the back of the lead car, Matteo beside me, the tech guys in the one behind us hooked up via radio. The convoy peeled out, tires screeching on the driveway.

The city lights blurred past as we hit the highway, heading north toward the outskirts. My knee bounced uncontrollably, anxiety gnawing at my gut like acid.

"Talk to me," I said into the radio. "Where's the signal now?"

"It's bouncing," the tech replied, his voice crackling. "First hit was near the old industrial park, but now it's jumping to a forest reserve. They're masking it good. Could be underground or something shielded."

Underground? The thought sent a chill down my spine. What kind of hellhole had they stashed her in? Visions flashed in my mind—dark rooms, chains, needles. I shook them off. Focus, Damien. She's strong. She's fighting.

I glanced at Matteo. His jaw was set, eyes fixed on the road ahead. He'd been with me through wars, betrayals, everything. But this? This was personal. Rose wasn't just my mate; she was family to all of us now.

"Any luck?" I asked, my voice tighter than I wanted.

"Working on it, boss. Signal's weak, keeps dropping. But we're narrowing it down."

Please be fine, I thought, over and over like a prayer. Please be fine, Rose. Hold on. I'm coming.

The highway gave way to winding country roads, trees closing in on both sides. The moon hung low, casting silvery shadows that did nothing to ease the knot in my chest. Every bump in the road jolted me, every minute that ticked by felt like a lifetime. What if we were too late? What if the signal died completely? No. I couldn't think like that. She needed me strong.

"Got a lock!" the tech shouted over the radio. "Coordinates: 456789 N, 1223456 W. About five miles ahead. Turn right at the next fork."

The driver swerved, gravel crunching under the tires as we veered onto a narrower path. My heart raced faster, adrenaline pumping through my veins. We were close. So damn close.

"Please be fine," I whispered to myself, staring out the window at the dark forest whipping by. "Just hold on a little longer."

The car slowed, then stopped abruptly by the side of the road. No buildings, no lights—just endless trees and underbrush. What the hell?

I leaned forward, confusion mixing with the rage. "Why are we stopping?"

Matteo checked his tablet, frowning. "Signal stops here. Dead end. No further pings."

"Here?" I exploded, throwing open the door and stepping out into the cool night air. The forest loomed around us, thick and silent, the kind of place where secrets got buried.

"This is nothing but woods. Where's the damn location?"