Chapter 1

The storm had stopped, passed over and the grounds began to dry. I wasn't aware of the time as I was too lost in finding Lisa and where she had gone. Luciano took me back to the place where the car broke down, he didn't hesitate calling Ben to come pick us up from where we were. I was uncertain about him as I tried to kill him a few times.

"Lisa!" I shouted, peeking inside the forest.

"Are you sure she went this direction?" Luciano asked, following behind me. I was more than sure which direction she went. The car hadn't been touched and it had been almost an hour since she was gone.

"Of course,"

"You stay here and I will go find her," he said, removing the shirt I had given him. We were standing under complete darkness yet I could see him.

"No, I will get lost."

"You won't. Ben is on his way. He should arrive anytime soon and I have given him this location so go sit inside the car while I go look for you friend," he explained, undoing his pants. I looked away for a moment even though it was not anything I had not seen.

Luciano shifted in a snap of a second and disappeared into the path of the forest where Lisa had gone. I held my shoulders together and looked outside the car window, waiting for them to return. He'd get her right? Nothing could happen to Lisa. She had a few weapons in her hand just incase.

A few minutes passed by since Luciano left. The weather was cold and deadly, however, the storm had passed by. I was lost in my thoughts, wandering what all would happen if I went to the castle. Would anyone even accept me? I had done a lot of damaged, I had threatened the council, killed a few of them and disturbed the entire town. Luciano's promises and words weren't comforting enough, he was the king yet I feared for my life. There were many things I had to deal with when I'd go home.

"Red!" A voice followed me and I snapped out of thoughts. I looked to my side and found Ben standing at my window. "Don't kill me," he said as I stepped out.

"I found my talisman," I rolled my eyes at him.

"Thank god," he sighed, acting as if I was still a madwoman.

"And, I'm sorry for trying to kill you a few times," I apologized. While I was at the castle, I wanted to kill many people and among them was Ben. For some absurd reason, he made me angry.

"All is forgiven. Where is Luciano?" He asked, looking around.

"He had gone to find Lisa, he should be back anytime soon."

"And, where is Lisa?" Of course. Ben and Lisa had something after Derrick had died.

I shrugged, "I don't know. Her car broke do-"

"The car stolen from the castle," he clarified, cutting me off.

"Yes, whatever, we were driving and she accidentally killed someone." I showed Ben the body we had moved away from the road. The dead werewolf was resting and rotting under a large tree.

"Fuck," Ben cursed, grunting with disgust and then walking back towards the car. "That's disgusting,"

"Yes, it was an accident. Well, we were driving and Lisa killed him and then our car broke down so we separated our paths to find a house or anything nearby. During the separation, Luciano found me and you know what happened from there." I explained, walking behind him.

"So, you won't kill anyone now?" He asked, literally ignoring every single thing I had said.

I rested my hand over my hips and gave him a death glare, "I told you, I found my talisman, everything is under control. I won't be killing anyone unless they taunt or do something to me." I snapped. I was more concerned about Lisa and Luciano than anything else.

"Like everything?"

"Ben," I warned. "Everything is in control–including my magic. Can you go look for them? It has been a while now,"

Ben cocked his head towards the forest and I saw fear appearing in his eyes, "I think we both should go sit inside my car and wait. I don't what packs are here and I don't want to create new issues." He said before hurrying to his car.

That was a six-feet man being afraid of the darkness.

"Seriously?"

A low grunt came out of me and I walked inside his warm car. I sat on the passenger seat beside him and he turned on the heater. He diverted all his attention to his phone and began watching a video while I was losing my sanity over Luciano and Lisa being lost. I couldn't believe that Ben was so lazy considering that his best-friend and current lover were both lost inside a dangerous forest.

It wasn't long before Luciano emerged from the darkness. I stepped out of the car and Ben did the same. He handed clothes over to him and once he was all dressed, he came up to me.

"Where is Lisa?" I asked, looking beyond his shoulders.

"I searched almost everywhere. She isn't here." He replied, taking in deep breaths.

Now, I was more concerned.

"Are you sure? I remember watching her go in this path. She couldn't have walked that far," I argued.

"Yes, Red, I looked everywhere. It's late now. We should head back to the castle and I will send a few wolves here to look for her," he explained while grabbing my hand and touching me.

"But–"

"There is nothing else we can do. Maybe she went somewhere else or with someone else. Being here–in this unknown territory–isn't safe for either of us. Once we go to the castle, I will send someone here."

I licked my lips and glanced at the forest one last time. My friend was officially missing and it was all my fault. Ugh. "Promise me that you'll find her,"

"I will, come on now, let's go." Luciano took my hand and we walked back inside the car.

Ben drove us back to the castle, it was a long, agonising journey without Lisa. Just thinking about her being lost shattered my heart into a dozen pieces. She had a horrible life in the castle with Derrick as her mate and now, she was lost somewhere, because of me. She wanted to change her life and go to California, it was her dream.

"Come here, princess," Luciano said, throwing his hands over my shoulder and pulling me into his warm embrace. I pressed my head against his forehead and felt his heart beating. "Don't think about it too much. I will find her, okay?"

I nodded my eyes and let myself fall over him–once again.

The castle.

The town people.

Luciano's parents.

Luciano.

And now, Lisa.

There were a lot of things I had to deal with now. The list was never ending but for that moment, that one car ride to the castle, I let all the worries out and enjoyed myself being in the arms of my mate and the father of my child.