Chapter 42 Gathering The Pack

• By the second morning of Emily's disappearance, Kael's apartment didn't feel like a home anymore; it felt like a war room. Maps were sprawled across every flat surface, and allied Alphas were cycling in and out in small groups so they wouldn't attract too much attention. Lucas had been running a search effort for days, but until now, the only thing they'd found was confirmation that Emily was still alive.
• "We have a location," Lucas announced, walking in with a grim look that replaced his usual calm. "Confirmed twenty minutes ago. An old estate outside the northern territory line. It's technically neutral ground, meaning no pack has claimed it in over a decade. It's a smart play—no territorial laws force anyone to step in there."
• "How sure are we?" Kael asked, already heading for the map on the kitchen table. He looked exhausted, but his movements were sharp, driven by a restless kind of fury.