Chapter 5
Holden slammed his car door shut and stormed into the Werewolf Tribunal.
The entire hall fell silent.
Had Silverclaw not summoned him back years ago, Holden Carter would have stood here today as a full High Judge, right beside Shaw. Everyone knew his name. His reputation.
Shaw saw him first.
“Just in time,” he clapped Holden on the back. “Heard about the murders? We finally caught one last night. Guy’s built like a tank.”
“Wasn’t he a warrior once?” Holden asked, already frowning.
“Yeah. Took four of ours to subdue him.”
A ruckus broke out in the corridor.
“Keep him still!”
Two warriors dragged out a huge man from the interrogation room.
Holden instinctively stepped aside.
And I, suspended in spirit just above them, froze.
It was him.
The beast who ended my life.
He lifted his head, cruel eyes glinting—and locked eyes with Holden.
For a split second, something in his expression shifted.
Because he recognized him.
Because that night, in my bedroom, on my wall, he saw our wedding photo.
Holden’s voice dropped. “That him?”
Shaw nodded grimly. “Yeah. Most savage bastard I’ve ever seen.”
The rogue was dragged away.
Holden’s temple twitched. His stomach turned.
“How many?” he asked.
“Two confirmed,” Shaw replied. “Could be more. Lone wolves. Nobody to report them missing.”
Holden clenched his jaw.
Then his phone buzzed.
Talia.
He hesitated. Then picked up.
“Holden,” her voice floated through, gentle and sweet. “I made red-berry stew. Your favorite. You haven’t eaten since morning.”
“I’m at the Tribunal,” he said curtly.
A pause.
“You’re overworking yourself again,” she said. “You remember what the Pack Healer said about your heart, right?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. You sat on the balcony all night. I saw you.”
Holden exhaled sharply. “Talia, now’s not—”
“I could go with you,” she said quickly. “I’m not just anyone, Holden. You need a Luna who can carry the weight with you.”
He stilled.
“Claire is my Luna.”
Silence.
“She’s gone, Holden,” Talia said softly. “And a real Luna wouldn’t leave her Pack like that.”
Holden gripped the phone tighter.
His knuckles whitened.
But he didn’t argue. Not this time.
He hung up.
Shaw gave him a look. “You sure you’re okay?”
Holden didn’t answer.
He wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
That evening, Talia was already waiting outside his office.
She held a polished silver box with care.
“I knew you’d come back,” she said, smiling. “You didn’t eat lunch.”
“I said I didn’t need anything.”
“I’m worried about you,” she whispered. “Ever since Claire… you’ve been distant.”
Holden’s eyes turned cold. “She’s not gone.”
Talia lowered her gaze. “Then why aren’t you out there looking for her?”
She stepped closer.
“What if you find a body? What if she gave up on you?”
“Shut up,” he snapped. “You don’t get to talk about her.”
“I’m not your enemy,” she said, voice trembling. “You’re starting to care about me. Admit it.”
Holden laughed bitterly.
“You think I don’t see what you’re doing?”
“I’m not doing anything!” she cried. “I just… I didn’t want you to break.”
“You’re not afraid I’ll break,” he said coldly. “You’re afraid Claire will come back.”
Silence.
Talia’s lips quivered, but she said nothing.
Holden pushed past her.
“You should go.”
She called after him, softly:
“What if she really is dead?”
Holden froze.
He didn’t turn around.
But something in his eyes—
Something dark, something unsure—
Flickered.
