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051 A STRANGE UNFAMILIAR SCENT
Delilah’s jaw dropped as she took in the eerie emptiness of the Shadow Claws pack territory. The streets, usually bustling with life, were now deserted. Not a single Lycan was in sight. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, the rhythm of her feat echoing in her cars. Something was terribly wrong. The silence was unnatural, almost suffocating, and it sent a shiver down her spine.
She inhaled deeply, her senses sharpening as she caught a strange, unfamiliar scent lingering in the air. It was faint but unmistakable…a tinge of magic that made her skin crawl.
“This is weird,” she thought, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the situation. Beta Cross, followed closely behind her, his presence a small comfort in the unsettling atmosphere.
“Is something the matter?” he asked, his voice low and cautious. He could see the tension in her posture, the way her eyes darted around, searching for answers that weren’t there.
Delilah hesitated before responding. “There’s a strange smell in the air. It’s… magical. I can feel it to my bones.” She paused, her brow furrowing. “Besides, I should be able to smell my mate from here. But instead of his scent, all I can detect is this… this strange energy.” Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her unease.
She turned to Beta Cross, her eyes pleading for answers. “Tell me, what happened here?” she asked, her tone laced with curiosity and a growing sense of dread.
Beta Cross sighed, his expression grim. “We were in his office, discussing pack matters. Everything seemed normal until I brought up your nanny. The moment I mentioned her, the King stood up abruptly. He said you had requested that she be brought to you.” He paused, his gaze shifting to the ground as if the memory pained him.
Delilah’s eyes widened. “That’s true. I did ask for her. Where is she now? I need to speak to her immediately.” Her voice was urgent, her instincts screaming that this was somehow connected to the strange energy she felt.
Beta Cross shook his head slowly. “She disappeared. It was as if she vanished into thin air. The guards who were with her swore she was never there. It felt like their memories have been erased.
Delilah’s mind raced. “How can that be? Someone must have freed her,” she concluded, though the explanation felt hollow even to her.
“Exactly,” Beta Cross agreed. “The King was furious. His beast… it threatened to take control. You know how dangerous he becomes when that happens. Almost half the pack could have been wiped out. We had to secure everyone. He needs you, Delilah. You’re the only one who can calm his beast now.”
Delilah nodded, but her unease only deepened. “But why do I feel like there’s something else in the air?” she whispered, her eyes scanning the empty streets as if the shadows themselves held the answers.
Beta Cross frowned, his worry evident. He knew Delilah’s instincts were rarely wrong. If she sensed something, it was likely real. But he was a warrior, trained to face danger head–on. He couldn’t afford to show fear, even if the situation felt increasingly ominous. “Where is the King now?” Delilah asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside her.
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“He’s inside the grand palace. He ordered me to lock it down,” Beta Cross replied.
“Take me to him. I need to see him. I need to know why I couldn’t communicate with him, why I can’t even smell him. Something is wrong, and I have to find out what it is.” Her determination was unwavering, but beneath it lay a flicker of fear…fear for her mate, for her pack, and for the unknown force that seemed to be closing in arour. them.
As they approached the grand palace, Delilah’s heart sank. The massive doors, had been ripped apart, their
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LOSI A STRANGE UNFAMILIAR CENT
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splintered remains hanging precariously from the hinges. he didn’t wait for Beta Cross. She ran inside, her voice echoing through the empty halls. “My King! My King!” she called, but there was no response. The palace was as ilent as the streets outside.
“Where is he?” she asked, her voice trembling as she turned to Beta Cross.
“I left him here. I don’t understand what’s going on,” he replied, his confusion mirroring her own.
“Where are the others? Where are they hiding?” Delilah demanded, her instincts kicking into overdrive.
“Come with me,” Beta Gross said, leading her out of the palace and toward the heart of the pack’s territory. But what they found there was worse than anything Delilah could have imagined.
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