Noah.

I hadn’t seen Maria for a while.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. I had taken a quick bath, and assumed she had gone about her usual duties. She probably had forgotten she said she would be back.That was just like her—always moving, always doing something, never staying still for too long.

But as the minutes stretched into an hour, something didn’t sit right anymore.

A strange unease crept into my chest.

I pushed it aside at first, running a hand through my damp hair as I stepped out into the hallway.

She’s probably fine, I told myself. You’re overthinking this.

Still... I turned toward her room.

I knocked once.

No response.

I pushed the door open slightly and stepped inside.

Empty.

My eyes scanned the room quickly, noticing the mess, things scattered around like someone had been searching through it. My brows furrowed slightly, but I didn’t linger.

"She’s not here..." I muttered under my breath.

I stepped out again, closing the door behind me as my steps grew faster.

Maybe she was working.

That thought pushed me forward as I headed toward the areas she usually handled, cleaning spaces, the kitchens, anywhere she might be carrying out her duties.

But she wasn’t there.

Not in the corridors.

Not in the service areas.

Now, the uneasiness in my chest was no longer subtle, it was loud, pressing, suffocating.

Then I saw him.

Vincent.

He stood by the washing area, sleeves rolled up, casually handling dishes like he had all the time in the world. My jaw tightened instantly at the sight of him.

Out of everyone...Why him?

I walked straight toward him, my steps firm, controlled, but my wolf was already stirring beneath my skin.

"Vincent," I called.

My voice cut through the space, steady and firm, carrying just enough weight to make it clear I wasn’t here for idle conversation.

He glanced up slowly, like he had been expecting me, like this moment had already been sitting in his mind long before I got here.

"Where is Maria?" I asked, my tone direct, sharp, leaving no room for games, no space for deflection.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

That alone irritated me.

The way he didn’t rush.

The way he didn’t react the way he should.

"Maria?" he repeated, dragging her name out slightly, like he was savoring it, like it meant something more coming from him.

"Why are you asking me?"

My fists clenched at my sides, tension tightening through my arms as I fought the urge to step forward and wipe that look off his face.

"Don’t play games with me," I snapped, my voice edged now, sharper. "You’ve been around her a lot lately."

He chuckled softly, the sound low, almost amused, as he shook his head like I had just said something mildly entertaining.

"You should be careful, Alpha Noah," he said calmly, his tone steady, almost too calm. "I told you before, didn’t I? Stay clear away from Maria."

My eyes darkened instantly.

The audacity.

For a split second, my wolf surged forward, restless and aggressive, pushing against my control, urging me to shut him up, right here, right now. To break that calm, composed expression on his face and replace it with something else.

But I held back.

Barely.

Stay calm.

"See, I know you and Maria aren’t really engaged," he added.

His words caught me off guard just for a moment. A sharp pause in my thoughts as the implication settled in.

Did Maria tell him?

My jaw tightened further, the muscles locking as a new kind of tension crept in, colder, sharper.

Does she trust him more than me?

Why would she share anything with Vincent...?

I thought we agreed no one else would know.

The thought alone sent a flicker of anger through me, subtle but immediate, sparking beneath the surface.

But Vincent’s voice broke through my thoughts again before I could dwell on it.

"Be careful, this is the last time I will warn you," he declared, his tone firm now, no longer amused.

Be careful?

What could he—a rogue—possibly do to me?

The idea almost felt insulting.

"I don’t have time for this," I said casually, forcing my tone back into something controlled, something indifferent, even as irritation lingered beneath it.

I turned slightly, as if to leave, breaking the tension before it could spiral any further.

But then Vincent stopped me in my tracks, stepping forwards with urgency. He gaze locking into mine, as he stared at me with an unreadable expression on his face.

"You don’t have my time now," he said quietly. "But very soon... you will."

My brows furrowed.

What the hell did that mean?

Before I could question him further, he walked past me, leaving me standing there.

I watched him go, my mind turning over his words.

Very soon... you will?

A strange feeling settled in my chest but I shook it off.

No.

Maria was more important right now.

I didn’t have time to decode Vincent’s riddles.

I turned sharply and continued searching.

Every place I could think of.

But she was nowhere.

My chest tightened with every passing second, something wasn’t right and something was definitely wrong.

Without wasting another moment, I turned and headed straight for the Quadruplets’ quarters.

If anyone knew something...It would be them.

I didn’t bother knocking, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. My eyes immediately landed on Aidan.

"Where is Maria?" I demanded without hesitation.

My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Aidan asked coldly. "Didn’t you say she is your fiancee, how should I know?" He added mockingly.

My gaze locked onto his.

"Where exactly did you keep her?" I added, ignoring his comment, my tone dropping dangerously. "And did you...?"

I stopped myself, but the implication hung heavy in the air. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

My fists clenched.

Because if they had anything to do with her disappearance...

They were going to regret it.