The Princess's Revenge Chapter 79

Logan’s POV

I left my study and headed toward Amara's room. Her absence at both ceremonies wasn't just disrespectful - it was dangerous. She was one of only two senior pack members left, and she held secrets that could destroy everything if she decided to betray us.

The corridor was quiet except for servants starting their morning duties. They bowed as I passed, but I barely noticed. My mind was on Amara. Where the hell was she?

I knocked on her door. Hard. "Amara."

No response.

I knocked again, harder. "Amara, open up."

Still nothing.

A servant girl was passing with an armful of linens. She froze when she saw me, nearly dropping everything.

"You," I said. "Have you seen Gamma Amara?"

"N-no, Alpha," she stammered, clutching the linens tighter. "Her room... we couldn't clean it this morning. She didn't answer when we knocked."

My chest tightened. "When did you last see her?"

"Yesterday morning, Alpha."

Over twenty-four hours. Fuck.

"Go," I said. The girl practically ran down the corridor.

I tried the door handle. Locked. I could break it down, but if Amara came back and found her door destroyed...

I took the stairs two at a time. The morning air hit me as I stepped outside. Cold. Good training weather.

The training ground was busy. Warriors practicing formations, the clash of metal on metal, grunts of effort. In the center, Elias was demonstrating a sword technique to a group of younger warriors.

"Like this," he was saying, his blade moving in a perfect arc. "Use your whole body, not just your arm."

He saw me approaching and straightened immediately. "Alpha."

The other warriors stopped training, all eyes on me.

"Continue," I told them. They went back to their drills, but I could feel them watching.

"Elias." I kept my voice low. "Walk with me."

We moved to the edge of the training ground, away from the others.

"How are they doing?" I asked, nodding toward the warriors.

"Better," he said. "Still shaken from the attack, but getting stronger."

I studied his face. He looked tired but determined. He reminded me so much of Clarence. I couldn't shake the awkward feeling when I saw him.

"I'm naming you as the new Gamma," I said.

His eyes widened. "Alpha, I... what?"

"You heard me. I'll announce it tonight at the Luna ceremony."

"Luna ceremony?" His voice rose slightly, then he caught himself. "Tonight?"

"Yes."

He looked at me carefully. "Is it... is it Valencia?"

I nodded.

Something flickered across his face. Not disgust or anger. Just... surprise. Maybe a little confusion.

"She's a good person," he said finally. "She helped during the attack. Killed that rogue."

"She did."

"The pack will talk," he said carefully.

"Let them."

He nodded slowly. "Should I tell everyone about the ceremony?"

"Yes. But don't mention Valencia's name yet. Just say there's a Luna ceremony tonight."

"Understood." He paused, thinking. "Alpha, if I'm Gamma now... what about Amara?"

"That's what I need to discuss. Have you seen her?"

He shook his head. "Not since last night. She left the funeral early. Haven't seen her since."

My jaw clenched. "I need you to take a team. Find her."

"You think she ran?"

"I don't know what to think. But we need to find her. Take five warriors you trust. Search everywhere. The villages, the borders, everywhere."

"If she doesn't want to be found..."

"Then track her," I said coldly. "She knows too much to just disappear."

He shook his head. "Not since yesterday afternoon. Before the funeral even started."

"Yesterday afternoon?" My voice sharpened.

"Yes, Alpha. She was in full armor. Light armor, but fully armed. Sword, daggers, everything."

My heart sank. Full armor meant she'd planned this.

"Which direction?"

"West gate. The guards would know more."

"Fuck." I ran my hand through my hair. "She's been gone way too long. She could be anywhere by now."

"Alpha..." Elias hesitated. "Full armor means she expected trouble. Or was planning to cause it."

"I know what it means," I said coldly. "Take ten warriors. Split into two groups. Check the west road first, then fan out."

"You think she went to Elton?"

"That's exactly what I think." My hands clenched into fists. "If she left in armor yesterday, she could reach Emerald Grove by tonight."

"But why would she—"

"Xander's death. Grief makes people do stupid things." I looked at him directly. "If you find her and she resists, subdue her. Don't kill her unless you have no choice. We need answers."

"And if she's already with Elton?"

"Then we're fucked," I said bluntly. "Get moving. Now."

Elias nodded sharply. "We'll find her, Alpha."

"Elias." I grabbed his arm before he could leave. "If she's betrayed us... if she's really gone to Elton... don't try to be a hero. Come back alive."

He looked shocked for a second. Then his face broke into a genuine smile. The first real smile I'd seen from him since Clarence died.

"I will, Alpha. Thank you."

He jogged back to the warriors, already calling out names. "Bastian! Ryan! Thomas! With me!"

I watched them gather, Elias speaking quickly, gesturing as he explained. They nodded, faces serious. Within minutes, they were heading toward the stables.

I walked toward the stone house. The morning sun was climbing higher, but the air was still cold. My boots crunched on the frost-covered ground.

The stone house was nearly empty when I entered. Only a few servants were moving between the beds, checking on the last wounded warriors. Most had been discharged or died.

Dr. Vance stood at the work table, bent over a copper pot suspended above a small fire. Steam rose from it, carrying the sharp smell of herbs. He was stirring the mixture with a long wooden spoon, occasionally adding dried leaves from small clay jars arranged beside him.

"Alpha," he said, straightening up and bowing his head respectfully when he noticed me.

"Dr. Vance." I nodded. "Tonight we're holding the Luna ceremony in the great hall. The hall needs to be prepared."

"Already being done, Alpha," he said, wiping his hands on a cloth. "I've assigned servants to clean and arrange everything. The banners will be hung, the tables arranged properly."

Dr. Vance was always thorough. Always thinking ahead.

"I received Soren's response," I said. "He'll send supplies within four days."

Dr. Vance's eyes widened slightly. "Four days? Alpha, our food will last until tomorrow. That means we need to survive two more days without supplies."

"I know. I need you to send people to the villages below. Borrow whatever food they can spare."

He nodded slowly, but his expression was troubled. "I'll arrange it immediately. But Alpha..." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Borrowing from the villages won't be enough for two days. They barely have enough for themselves in winter."

"I know," I said. "I'll take a hunting party out. We'll catch what we can. Between that and rationing what we have, everyone eating less, we'll make it through."

"Yes, Alpha." Dr. Vance turned back to his pot, adjusting the flame underneath. But his movements were stiff, uncomfortable. He had something else to say.

"What is it?" I asked.

He stirred the pot slowly, not meeting my eyes. "Alpha, about the Luna ceremony. Somebody has already guessed it's Valencia."

My chest felt heavy. "And?"

"They're saying..." He paused, clearly uncomfortable. "They're saying she's not worthy. That they won't accept a wolfless slave as their Luna."

Anger flared hot in my chest. My hands clenched into fists. "They'll accept her because I say so."

"Alpha," Dr. Vance's voice was quiet but firm. "You can't force acceptance. Not truly."

"Watch me."

He set down his spoon and faced me fully. "Alpha, please listen. This is a difficult time. We've lost many people. We're facing starvation. If there's internal conflict now, if the pack divides over this..."

He didn't need to finish. I knew what he meant. A divided pack was a dead pack. Especially now, with Elton likely planning another attack.

But Valencia had no one else. She was my mate. I had to protect her. Give her the status that would keep her safe.

"Then it depends on Valencia," I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. "Whether she can win their recognition."

Dr. Vance nodded slowly. "The ceremony will be a test."

"She'll do fine," I said, but doubt gnawed at me. Valencia was strong, but she'd been a slave for fifteen years. That kind of conditioning didn't disappear overnight.

"I hope so, Alpha," Dr. Vance said. He returned to his pot, adding what looked like willow bark. "For all our sakes."