The clock reads mid-afternoon, and I'm consumed by worry. My insides feel perpetually jumbled, and Storm, my wolf, has been pacing anxiously, mirroring my concerns. We've heard back from the last two groups of searchers, and it's clear from their tones that they've found no signs of our missing pack members.

As the Alpha, I could have pressed them for immediate answers over the phone, but that's not how I operate. I know that if they had discovered something significant, they would have asked for backup and provided precise location details.

Fredrick, standing nearby, speaks up, his voice surprisingly gentle. He points out that I've been pacing in the same...