LIAM

"What's going on?" Austin asked.

"He took Maddox away!" Missy yelled, sinking to her knees. Lily immediately knelt beside her, trying to calm her down.

"Something might have happened to Maddox and Langston. I can't reach them, and Missy says her wolf has been agitated all day," I explained quietly.

"You tried calling them?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"Yes, twice," I said.

"They aren't supposed to check in again until tomorrow, and we expect them to be heading home," Austin said.

I nodded, watching as Lily helped Missy to her feet and led her from my office. I sighed. "I'm worried, though," I admitted to Austin.

Austin looked contrite. "What can we do?" he asked. He didn't like seeing Missy so upset, but he wasn't the one she was blaming.

"Let's call all the allied packs between us and the coordinates they were headed to," I instructed. "Let's see if they've sought refuge anywhere before we panic."

"And if we find nothing?" he asked.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I said.

Austin went to get Damien, Jacob, and Gentry to help with the calls. I found Beta Meadow's number and called her.

"Yes?" she answered curtly. We usually waited for her to contact us, not the other way around. She was keeping her association with us secret from her Alpha.

"I need your help, and I wouldn't be calling unless it was critical," I said.

"How so?" she asked, keeping her words brief, likely to avoid being overheard.

"I need a trace on our search party. My daughter's mate is one of them, and she believes something is wrong. We can't contact them," I explained. "Can you do it?"

"That's within my capabilities," she replied.

"We just need to know if they're alive," I said. "I know you're unmated, but I have to make sure that boy comes home."

"Understood. I'll see what I can do," she agreed before hanging up. I slumped onto the couch, leaning my elbows on my knees. Today was a disaster.

Thirty minutes later, I received an email. Meadow had come through. I jumped up, rushing to my desk and turning on my computer. Opening the email and the attachment, I scanned the screen, my shoulders slumping in disappointment. The last known location for either phone was about a mile from the coordinates, very early this morning. Neither phone had connected to a tower since they left for Warwick's territory.

Now I had reason to be worried. They should have been moving away from there by now. We should have some trace of them unless something happened to them or the phones.

Damien knocked on the doorframe, getting my attention. "Anything?" I asked.

He shook his head, stepping into the room. His posture was rigid; he was clearly frustrated with me. "Austin and Jacob are still calling, but the packs Gentry and I contacted haven't seen them."

I collapsed into my desk chair. "This isn't good," I whispered.

"I know she's hurting and scared, but we both know we can't jump to conclusions yet," Damien said.

"I shouldn't have sent the kid," I said.

"You didn't make a mistake sending him. Maddox is a strong kid with a good head on his shoulders. With Langston by his side, they'll be fine," he said.

"It doesn't matter," I said. "Missy's right. I put her mate in danger. I'm no better than my grandfather."

"Give it time. They might be trying to reach a safe place. The phones could have been discarded. We don't know anything yet," he said.

"Twenty-four hours. That's all I can do. If we don't hear anything in twenty-four hours, we're sending a search party," I told him.

Damien shook his head. "We'll discuss that tomorrow," he said, sounding disappointed. "Lily is taking Missy home. She's already called Sol to bring Missy's friends over. Your mother is bringing all the kids to me. You need to sort things out with Azalea before she can't forgive you."

"I'll handle my mate as I see fit," I growled, irritated by his implication.

"I might have my own issues, but I've told you before, I won't let you mess this up with Azalea. You had one chance, and what you did was out of line. Fix it and stop arguing with me," he threatened.

I clenched my jaw. I was acutely aware of my mistakes with Azalea and didn't need his guilt trip. Azalea was also at fault, and that was between us.

"Damien, don't overstep your bounds," I said quietly.

"Fuck you, Liam," he said before storming out.

I breathed heavily. Before dealing with Azalea, I needed to call Emma and update her.

AZALEA

Hours passed since Liam locked me in our room. Eventually, I crawled off the bed to the couch, wrapping myself in a blanket. I cried, upset with my foolishness.

I knew this could backfire, that Liam would be furious and lash out, but I'd proceeded anyway. I broke his trust. I pushed it too far, damaging our bond, and I didn't know how to fix it.

Warwick wanted to destroy Liam; he wanted to hit him where it hurt most. Liam was right. Even if I'd surrendered to Warwick, it wouldn't have ended there. He had no honor; he lied and manipulated Vlad for two years. I shouldn't have believed he'd honor any compromise.

I felt pity for Warwick. He'd lost his destined mate, and it consumed him with rage and hatred. I knew Liam would be the same if he lost me. He'd become worse than his father or grandfather. If I died, he would too.

I didn't know what time it was, sitting in the dark. I hadn't tried opening the door, but I was sure Liam had someone guarding it. When the door opened, light flooded the room, silhouetting Liam. He turned on the lights dimly and closed the door. I watched him.

He ignored me, going to the closet. He reappeared in pajamas and went to bed, still ignoring me.

"Liam?" I whispered. His steps stopped; I saw his shoulders tense. "Liam, I'm sorry—" I began.

He raised a hand to silence me. I held my breath. "You went too far, Azalea."

"I know. I'm so sorry. I thought I could find a better way," I tried.

Liam shook his head, still facing away. "I refuse to live in a world where you don't exist. I don't know how to make that clearer. I know you can't help it, I know the Moon Goddess made you this way, but I'm done with you trying to get yourself killed."

My stomach churned. "I'm not trying to get myself killed," I said, my voice breaking.

Liam whirled around, making me flinch. "Tell me you wouldn't have done it! Tell me you wouldn't have handed yourself over to end this fucking war!"

My lip quivered. Liam's eyes bulged; a vein throbbed in his neck. I couldn't tell him I would have, because if it would have truly ended things, I would have.

"You can't! You can't because you would walk right into death's door without a single look back! You would sacrifice without a thought to what you would destroy!" He was breathing hard, and I felt a fresh wave of tears.

"Liam, I'm scared," I admitted shakily. He was silent, only watching me with pained eyes, so I continued. "I'm afraid you're going to leave to fight Warwick, and I'll never see you again. That he'll get what he wants and then finish us off. I'm afraid this won't end with us, that we'll pass this on to our children. I can't bear the thought of our kids losing their mates to a conflict they had no part in."

I paused, my voice trembling. "Liam, you are strong. If something happened to me, you'd be okay. I'm not like you; I couldn't recover if you died. If giving up my life meant saving yours, our children's, and everyone in our packs, then I would. I don't want to die; I want to see our babies grow, find their mates. I want to watch Junior become Alpha and meet their pups. But I would do it to guarantee your future."

Liam stood straighter, looking at the floor. "You can't see the whole picture. None of that would happen if we lost you." His fists clenched and unclenched. "You're wrong. I'm not strong, Azalea. I've only ever been strong for you and because of you. When I rejected you, I improved myself because of you. I wasn't worthy of you then. Since I found you, I've only been strong to keep you safe. Without you, I am a weak wolf, and I admit it."

His eyes finally met mine. The expression on his face made it hard to breathe. "I can't play this game anymore, Azalea. I'm tired; I can't keep trying to convince you to stay away from danger. I never wanted things to come to this, but I don't have the energy to fight with you anymore."

He ran his hands over his face. I stood, letting the blanket fall. I closed the distance, my heart pounding. I slammed into him, hugging him tightly, hiding my face in his back.

"I won't do it anymore," I promised. "I won't be so reckless. Just don't…" My hand tightened on his shirt. His hands rested on my arms.

"I'm tired, Azalea," he whispered, turning in my arms.

I looked up, blinking away tears. I shook my head. "I promise I won't do it anymore, Liam."

"Do you trust me to end this and come back alive?" he asked, cupping my cheek. I nodded. I trusted him more than anyone. Despite my fear, I knew he'd do everything to return.

Liam pulled me close. His lips touched my head. "I'm sorry, My Alpha. I'm so sorry."