Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 68

After days of being stuck in a cage, Liam was finally sane enough to be released from confinement. He hid the internal turmoil, rocking his mind pretty well. He needed to because that was the only way he could replace Nicole.

His determination didn't do anything to erase the anguish, anger, and heartbreak he felt. He fought against the overwhelming rage, desperately seeking clarity amidst the chaos that consumed him.

His mind felt like it was engulfed in flames, the torment of not knowing where his mate Nicole was, tearing him apart. As he entered the council meeting, he tried to compose himself, unwilling to succumb completely to the anger that threatened to consume him. Liam took his seat at the head of the table, his expression a mask of controlled turmoil. The council members, sensing the weight of his emotions, exchanged concerned glances, aware of the immense burden he carried.

As soon as the meeting began, Liam's eyes locked onto James, "Tell me what progress has been made in replaceing Nicole. I need to know that every resource has been exhausted."

James met his gaze with a heavy sigh. He gritted his teeth as he spoke. "Alpha, we have searched tirelessly, but Nicole has vanished without a trace. It's as if she vanished into thin air."

The words struck Liam like a physical blow, the anguish within him intensifying. His wolf, primal and furious, clawed at the edges of his consciousness, urging him to succumb to the all-consuming rage.

"Alpha, I understand your pain," Garrett spoke up suddenly, his voice calm yet tinged with sadness. "But losing control will not bring Nicole back. We must replace a way to proceed, to honor her, and continue the fight." Liam clenched his fists, fighting against the turbulent storm within him.

"Liam, I know the pain you're feeling. I've lost my mate too, and it's agonizing. But we need to keep a level head. We must replace a way to bring Nicole back safely. Losing control won't help us in this situation." Garrett said softly. Liam growled and banged the table. He didn't like Garrett that much, but it was true.

"You cannot let your anger consume you, Liam. Nicole wouldn't want that. She deserves better." James added.

The council members, witnessing their Alpha's struggle, began offering suggestions and potential courses of action as fear pooled out from them. They understood that Liam's world had been shattered.

His mate is missing, and his trust betrayed. They knew that without Nicole, their Alpha was unhinged, his every step fraught with pain and uncertainty. They also knew that their being in proximity to him meant that they were in danger.

"Alpha Liam, we can explore every avenue available to us. We can reach out to neighboring packs, employ trackers, and delve into the supernatural realms. We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to replace Nicole." Gamma Connor said, trembling in his seat.

As the council members discussed possible ways to track Nicole's whereabouts, Liam's gaze remained fixed on the table, his mind racing with a mix of desperation and determination.

The mere thought of Nicole's absence unleashed a tempest of emotions within him, but he knew he had to channel that energy into replaceing her.

"We must do whatever it takes. Nicole is my mate, my love. I will not rest until she's returned to me, safe and unharmed." He growled.

"We should reach out to neighboring packs once again, seeking their assistance in locating Nicole. Our allies may have resources or information that could aid us." James supported Connor.

"We should also consider gathering all available information about Lilian. She betrayed us, and there's a possibility she may have left information that led to Nicole's disappearance. Her pack should be held under siege," a Council member suggested. "Lillian," Liam growled.

She was the most corrupted and foul soul he had met. He was pissed off that she had died. He wanted to be the one to rip her heart out after everything she had done. And yet, he was still heartbroken, she was his only family alive, and he had loved her. "About that, there are questions that we need to ask. If Nicole was the one who slit Lilian's throat, why'd she run away?" Connor asked with a raised brow.

Everyone exchanged a glance, and the tension in the air was palpable.

"I mean, rumors are circulating that she was supposed to leave-gain her freedom after the witch was vanquished. What if that was what she did -" Connor continued.

In a flash, Liam was at the other end of the table. He grabbed Connor by the collar, his eyes flashing from golden to black.

"She is my mate. My f*****g mate," he roared, "She's your Luna, Connor."

"Sorry..." Connor apologized, his life flashing before his eyes.

The whole room was pin-drop silent. Liam had just confirmed that Nicole was indeed the Luna of the Dark Moon.

Liam let go of Connor, but he had already made a great dent. Liam's heart shattered to smithereens. He asked himself the same question. Did Nicole really run away?

James interjected with a crucial piece of information that sent a surge of hope through Liam's veins. "Alpha, we still have Asha in our custody. She may have valuable information regarding Lilian's involvement. We should start our investigations by questioning her." Liam's eyes widened with anticipation, a glimmer of possibility emerging amidst the darkness of his anguish. "Asha? She's not dead? Bring her to me. We need to get to the bottom of this."

With a nod from James, Liam and Garrett made their way to the dungeons where Asha was held.

"Wait," Liam said suddenly, "Send out warriors to Lilian's Pack. Hold them under siege. They were the pack that kept attacking us. She cloaked them in dark magic so we couldn't decipher them. Capture their Alpha. I'm certain that he knows something." James nodded, his eyes turning golden as he relayed his Alpha's instructions.

The air was heavy with tension as they approached the cell, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridor.

Just as they approached the cell, Asha burst into laughter.

"I knew you would come, Alpha. I knew you would come back to me."

Liam's eyes blazed with a mixture of fury and anguish as he gazed upon Asha's smug expression. It was as if she reveled in the pain she had caused.

The fire within him threatened to consume him wholly, and only the strong grip of Garrett and James prevented him from unleashing his wrath upon her.

"She has left, hasn't she?" Asha's voice dripped with arrogance as she taunted him. Her lack of remorse only fueled the raging fire within Liam, his wolf straining against his control. Every fibre of his being yearned to tear her apart, to make her pay for the anguish she had inflicted upon him and Nicole.

"Your precious mate is long gone, and you'll never replace her." Asha sneered, her voice laced with malicious satisfaction.

Liam's hands balled into fists, his entire body trembling with rage. His wolf clawed at him. It wanted revenge. It wanted bloody revenge.

But Garrett's voice cut through the haze of Liam's rage, his words calm but commanding. "Liam, control yourself. She's trying to provoke you. We need words from her, no matter how much we despise her."

James, too, lent his voice to the plea for restraint. "Liam, stay focused. Our priority is replaceing Nicole. Asha may have crucial information that could lead us to her."

To Asha, he growled, "Speak now."

Asha, however, refused to cooperate, her defiant expression mirroring her stubborn resolve. "I won't say a word until you release me," she declared, her voice filled with venom.

"Asha," James warned.

Asha laughed out loud, "He knew. I told him. She told him. Nicole was leaving. You knew too, didn't you, Garrett? You wanted her for yourself too. Stop pretending."

Garrett growled, banging the cage, "I only know what happened before Lola died. F**k you! Yes, she was supposed to leave after paying Liam back and earning her freedom, but all that canceled out when she became the witch bane and his mate." Asha cackled, "If you say so. But Liam knew. Liam always knew that she was leaving. You knew it Alpha. Don't pretend now."

Liam's conscience snapped at him.

"And she has gone. That poor girl never wanted to be with you. That poor girl never had what it takes to be Luna. You kept on shoving more responsibilities than she could take on." Asha continued to rant.

Liam scoffed, his anger threatening to take over. "She was the Luna of Crimson."

Asha's eyes widened, "the same pack where she was a slave and tortured?"

Liam grunted, he didn't believe a word from the lips of Asha.

"Oh, Garrett knows all about it," Asha taunted.

"Shut up," Garrett hissed, "Nicole was never happy at Crimson.

Asha burst into laughter and at that moment, Liam's patience wore thin, his wolf struggling to break free from its restraints. He let out a ferocious growl. The tension in the room thickened, the air heavy with the brewing storm of Liam's wrath.

In a sudden surge of fury, Liam lost control, his instincts taking over. He lunged towards Asha, his grip tightening around her neck, his eyes glowing with an unmistakable ferocity.

Everyone in the room trembled in fear as they witnessed the sheer power of his wolf. His dominance mixed with his anger and grief surged through the airwaves.

"Goddamn, you!" Liam snarled, his voice a chilling growl. "You are nothing! You mean nothing to me! I don't want to hear what you have to say. All I want is to tear you apart for what you've done!"

Asha's smug expression vanished, replaced by a mix of terror and desperation. Tears streamed down her face as she begged for Liam's forgiveness, her voice tinged with madness. "Please, Alpha! I love you! I was supposed to be your Luna! I'm go crazy without you!" Liam's grip on Asha tightened, his voice laced with lethal intensity. "Speak, Asha. Speak now, or I will unleash the full force of my wrath upon you. I've said it before. Your life means nothing to me. I only want to replace Nicole and bring her back."

Asha's confidence wavered, replaced with fear as Liam's wolf roared within him, radiating an aura of primal power. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the remnants of her smugness.

She began to tremble, her voice choked with desperation. "Please, Liam... I-I beg you to love me again. I was meant to be your Luna. I-I'm going crazy without you."

Liam's grip loosened slightly, his anger still radiating in the air, "Love, Asha? Love is not something you can demand or force. It is earned through loyalty and sacrifice. You betrayed me and Nicole, and you will face the consequences of your actions."

Asha's tears flowed freely now as she reached out toward Liam, her voice filled with desperation. "I... I was weak, Liam. But I still love you. Please, forgive me. Let me make it right."

Liam's gaze hardened, and then he released his grip on Asha. She crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Tell me what I need to know," Liam growled, "Where's Nicole? And why didn't she return? What did you guys do to her?"

"Why would you think I should know? Isn't she the witch bane?"

"Asha!" James growled, yanking her up by her hair.

"Fine." Asha cried, "Lilian lied to her. She must have made her choose between Liam's life and hers. Lilian must have cast a spell.

She planned to use Nicole as the sacrifice to kill Liam, but it would only work if Nicole willingly sacrificed herself. And that would only work when Nicole thinks she's saving Liam."

"What are you saying," Liam gasped, his eyes widened.

"For her to be missing means Lilian started the spell, but you're still alive Alpha which means the spell wasn't complete. And so it went halfway and would have another effect on Nicole. She's probably raving mad halfway across the world or mindless or walking about with no memory."

"But... she's the witch bane. It's not supposed to..." Garrett trailed off.

"She must have willingly sacrificed herself. Knowing Lilian, she must have lied that she would be free."

"F**k!" Liam growled, "How do we replace her now?"

"You cannot." Asha said, "That spell is powerful. It is going to keep you apart forever. She doesn't know you anymore or what she is and was. It's going to cloak her scent forever."