CIAN
I pushed through the estate grounds with Garett at my side, my boots striking the stone paths with more force than necessary. Every corner we turned felt more vacant than the last, each room we checked offering nothing in return. The sentinels had been thorough, excessively so, to the point where it no longer made sense.
"We've covered the eastern wing, the guest quarters, the garage, and the cellars," Garett said, matching my pace. His tone remained steady, but the strain beneath it was unmistakable. "The greenhouse, the storage buildings, the old chapel. Nothing."
I stopped and turned to him. "Do you really think she left?"
He hesitated, only for a moment, but it was enough.
"Speak freely," I said.
Garett's jaw tightened. His gaze drifted past me before returning, more deliberate this time. "There were bags in her room. Packed, but still there. Her wardrobe was almost untouched. I've been in this pack long enough to recognize when something is off, Alpha. That's my job."
