By late morning, John had found the patrol captain.
The man was waiting in one of the smaller meeting rooms beside the eastern administrative wing when John entered. He was older now, with grey beginning to show at his temples, but he still carried himself like a warrior who had spent most of his life serving the pack.
John closed the door behind him.
"Captain Marcus."
The man stood.
"John."
"I need to ask you about something that happened four years ago."
Marcus’s expression became serious. "About Serena."
John nodded. "You remember the night she disappeared?"
"I remember it."
"Alpha Kaidan needs to know exactly what you remember."
Marcus gestured toward the chair.
"Then ask."
John sat opposite him and placed the patrol report on the table. "This is your report?"
Marcus looked at the paper. "Yes."
"You recorded this date?"
"Yes."
"And you’re certain it was the night Serena left the territory?"
Marcus didn’t answer immediately. "I was on border duty that night. I remember because there was a storm earlier that evening. The roads were muddy, and we had to slow the patrol because visibility was poor."
John studied him. "What do you remember about Serena?"
"She wasn’t alone."
John’s eyes narrowed. "That isn’t in the report."
"I didn’t think it was important at the time."
"Who was with her?"
"I don’t know."
John leaned forward. "Captain, I need more than that."
Marcus nodded. "I understand."
He rubbed his hand over his jaw as he tried to remember. "Serena arrived at the eastern gate in a black car. She wasn’t being forced. She wasn’t injured. She wasn’t calling for help."
"Did she say anything?"
"She told the guards she was leaving the territory for a few days."
John stared at him. "She said that?"
"Yes."
"Did she say where she was going?"
"No."
"Who was driving the car?"
Marcus frowned. "I don’t remember his name."
"But you remember someone else was there."
"Yes."
"Was he from Blackclaw?"
"I don’t think so."
John’s expression tightened. "Why?"
"Because I didn’t recognise him."
"Did you ask who he was?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Serena was known to us. She had been around the pack for years. We had no reason to question who she travelled with."
John looked down at the report.
"And after she left?"
"We continued the patrol."
"When did you realise something was wrong?"
"We didn’t."
John looked up. Marcus continued.
"No one reported Serena missing that night. Not the next morning either."
John’s voice became quieter. "When was she reported missing?"
"A few days later."
John’s eyes narrowed. "Days?"
"Yes."
"Who reported her missing?"
Marcus thought for a moment. "I believe it came from Alpha Kaidan’s household."
John sat back. That was another detail one they hadn’t known.
"Captain, when did you first hear that Serena had disappeared?"
"The day the report was made."
"And before that, did anyone come looking for her?"
"No."
"Did anyone tell the patrols to search for her?"
"Not until she was officially reported missing."
John was silent. The timeline was becoming more complicated.
He gathered the report. "One more question."
Marcus nodded. "Did Serena look frightened when she left?"
"No."
"Are you certain?"
"I’ve seen frightened people, John. People running from danger don’t usually leave calmly in a car and tell the guards they’ll be back."
John stared at him. "You’re saying she looked calm?"
"Yes."
"Could she have been hiding it?"
"Maybe."
Marcus shrugged. "I can’t tell you what was happening in her head. I’m only telling you what I saw."
John stood. "Thank you."
Marcus stood as well. "If Alpha Kaidan wants anything else, tell him he can ask me himself."
John nodded. "I will."
He left the room.
Alpha Kaidan was in his office when John returned.
Alpha Kaidan had been going through several documents when John knocked. "Come in."
John entered, Alpha Kaidan looked up.
"You spoke to the captain?" "Yes, Sir."
"What did he say?"
John closed the door before answering. "The patrol report is accurate."
Alpha Kaidan put down the paper in his hand.
"Explain."
"Captain Marcus remembers Miss Serena leaving Blackclaw territory on the date recorded in the report."
Alpha Kaidan leaned back. "Was she taken?"
"No."
The answer was immediate, Alpha Kaidan’s eyes hardened. "What did he mean by that?"
"Marcus said Miss Serena arrived at the eastern gate in a carriage. She told the guards she was leaving the territory for a few days."
Alpha Kaidan was silent. "Did she look frightened?"
"No."
"Was she injured?"
"No."
"Did she ask for help?"
"No."
Alpha Kaidan looked down at the desk. "What else?"
John paused. "There was someone else in the car."
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes lifted. "Who?"
"The captain doesn’t know."
"Male or female?"
"Male."
Alpha Kaidan’s jaw tightened. "Did he recognise him?"
"No. He said the man wasn’t someone he knew from Blackclaw."
Alpha Kaidan stood and walked toward the window.
"Why wasn’t this included in the report?"
"The captain said he didn’t consider it important at the time."
Alpha Kaidan turned. "Anything else?"
John nodded. "There is."
"What?"
"Miss Serena wasn’t reported missing immediately."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression changed. "How long?"
"Several days."
"Who reported her missing?"
"The captain believes it came from your household."
Alpha Kaidan frowned. "My household?"
"Yes, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan turned back toward the window. He remembered those days. The panic, the unanswered questions, the search parties, the reports coming in without answers.
He had spent four years believing Serena had been taken before she had any chance to protect herself, but now there was something he hadn’t considered.
She had left the territory willingly at least according to the patrol captain.
Alpha Kaidan looked over his shoulder. "Did Marcus say where she was going?"
"No."
"Did he remember anything about the man?"
"Only that he didn’t recognise him."
Alpha Kaidan walked back to his desk.
"Find out who he was."
"Yes, Sir."
"And find out exactly when Serena was reported missing."
"I’ll do that."
John turned toward the door.
"John."
He stopped.
Alpha Kaidan’s voice was quiet. "Don’t tell Serena about the captain."
John nodded. "I won’t."
After John left, Alpha Kaidan remained standing beside his desk. He looked at the patrol report again. Four years ago, Serena had walked through the eastern gate.
She had told the guards she was leaving for a few days; she had been with someone Alpha Kaidan didn’t know and no one had reported her missing until days later.
None of it proved she had lied but it raised another question. Why had Serena left Blackclaw that night?
Across the pack house, Serena sat in the sitting room with Christine. Christine was talking about the council again.
"They should stop questioning you."
Serena kept her expression calm. "They’re only doing their job."
"They’re making you uncomfortable."
"I’ll be fine."
Christine reached for her hand. "You don’t have to defend them."
Serena gave her a small smile. "I know."
She looked toward the doorway. "Have you seen Alpha Kaidan?"
"He’s in his office."
"Has he been busy?"
Christine nodded. "He’s been meeting with John most of the morning."
Serena’s fingers tightened around the edge of the cushion. "John?"
"Yes."
Christine didn’t notice the change in her expression.
"He has been helping Alpha Kaidan with the council matter."
Serena looked away. "What council matter?"
Christine frowned. "The investigation."
Serena forced a laugh. "Of course."
Christine studied her. "Are you worried?"
"No."
Serena stood. "I think I’ll go upstairs."
"Serena."
She turned.
"Don’t let them frighten you."
Serena smiled. "They won’t."
She walked away. The moment she reached the hallway, her expression hardened, Alpha Kaidan was already investigating faster than she expected, and if John found the man who had been with her that night, the questions would become harder to control.
Serena stopped beside the staircase. She needed to know what John had discovered but more importantly, she needed to make sure he never found whatever he was looking for.
She turned toward the corridor leading to Alpha Kaidan’s office then she stopped herself.
No. Going near his office now would only make her look suspicious. She needed another way.
Serena turned and continued upstairs behind her, the pack house remained quiet but the investigation was no longer quiet, it was moving.