Miles away—
Deep within the territory no one entered without permission—
He stopped.
Mid-step.
The forest went still with him.
No wind.
No movement.
Nothing.
Because something—
Was wrong.
The connection—
The one he had just secured—
Vanished.
Completely.
His expression darkened slightly.
Not anger.
Not yet.
Confusion.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
He tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something only he could hear.
Nothing.
No pull.
No resistance.
No presence.
Gone.
"…Interesting."
But his voice was quieter now.
Colder.
Because that didn't feel like escape.
It felt like—
Loss.
And that?
That didn't happen to him.
Ever.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Reaching.
Nothing responded.
No flicker of her emotions.
No trace of the unstable power he had just touched.
Just silence.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Who did that…?" he murmured.
Because one thing was clear—
That wasn't normal.
She didn't push him away.
She disappeared.
And there was a difference.
A dangerous one.
The air around him shifted.
Subtly.
But heavily.
Power pressed outward—
Not uncontrolled.
Contained.
Precise.
And irritated.
"You're not supposed to hide from me."
The words were quiet.
But final.
Behind him, one of his subordinates stepped forward cautiously.
"My Alpha—"
"Leave."
The command wasn't loud.
But it didn't need to be.
The man froze instantly.
Then bowed his head and disappeared without another word.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't empty anymore.
It was thinking.
Calculating.
Because now—
This wasn't just about claiming her.
This was something else.
Something rare.
Something that had just—
Broken his connection.
His lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something sharper.
"You chose them."
Not a question.
A statement.
His gaze lifted slowly toward the direction she had fled.
"Let's see how long that lasts."
The air grew heavier.
Because now—
He wasn't just interested.
He was invested.
And that made him far more dangerous.
Because an Alpha who is curious will watch.
But an Alpha who is interrupted?
Will hunt.
And this time—
He wouldn't stop halfway.
He would finish it.