Runaway or kidnapped?

[Ragnar’s pov]

I woke up to the soft glow of morning sunlight peeking through the thin curtains, my body was still longing with the lingering warmth of our shared intimacy. It was not that I disliked having sex with Jade but our little session did not really change the fact that I was not in love with her.

As I blinked away the lazy remnants of my sleep, I noticed that the space beside me on the bed was empty, empty of Jade's presence. A feeling of uneasiness mixed with curiosity coursed through me, I was hoping that she would stay there and praise my skills. But it seemed that I had my hopes high for no darn reason.

I assumed she must have slipped out quietly to prepare breakfast for me because that day I was alone at home. After all, that was her duty for which she had been brought there in the first place. Jade was indeed an easy target for me to manipulate and play with as long as I liked.

However, Blaire was the one whom I adored and loved to bits and she had no idea that Jade had been in my bed yesterday night. Not that I was planning to tell Blaire anyway and I was certain Jade would not dare forget her position as a maid. Even though Jade was my mate but that still did not change the fact I was not romantically interested in her.

With a lazy stretch of arms and a long yawn, I rose from the bed feeling a sense of carnal satisfaction wash over me. As I dressed myself in the loose white robe, my mind replayed the moments Jade and I had shared. It was amazing and inevitable because after all, our sexual desires were going to overtake the senses.

The intimacy and connection we had found in each other's naked skin was definitely the result of mate bond. A smug tugged at the corners of my lips, reflecting the happiness that emerged within my heart. Back to normal, another regular day after having good sex! It did not matter to me who it was because being an omega Jade could not smell like my scent.

Leaving the room after dressing up in formals, I made my way through the corridors towards the meeting room. The usual bustle and energy that accompanied my daily morning hours were noticeably absent. Instead, a quiet unease settled in the air upon seeing that Jade was nobody to be found.

Nonetheless, I shook those thoughts assuming that Jade might be around or perhaps in her servant quarter. Being used like that and still not marked by me, it was a big humiliation for her and I presumed that she might be hiding from me. So, I didn’t bother and got dressed for the pack’s meeting.

As I entered the meeting room, the tense sight before me caused a knot of concern to form in my stomach. My father informed me that several wolves were missing, and they happened to be from the lowest class, the omegas who relied on the pack for protection. I had absolutely no clue why did my mind slip to Jade instead of Balire, out of concern.

The realisation sent a chill down my spine, an instinctive understanding that something was amiss. Our pack had never lost any wolf before and suddenly a lot of omegas were missing. It hit me by surprise that whether there was an abduction ongoing?

Just as I was lost in my thoughts when my phone rang, breaking the heavy silence in the room. I hastily answered, recognizing the voice of Iris, my house’ caretaker. Her words hit me like a physical blow, sending a jolt of fear through my veins. It was like a nightmare coming true within the blink of an eye.

"Alpha Ragnar," she began in her worrisome voice, her tone laced with concern, "I have been trying to reach Jade, but she is nowhere to be found. I am certain she left the house last night and hasn't returned. I have searched everywhere, but there is no trace of her."

The whole abduction thing disturbed me when something else added up. Just in one day my whole darn life had turned upside down. As the evening wore on, an unsettling feeling crept into my heart. Jade, my mate, had been missing since last night, and my mind raced with worry and unanswered questions.

I couldn't shake off the sense of unease that had settled in my heart. It was definitely not as if I loved her or something like that but I could not swallow the fact that she was not with me. Not under one roof with me. A million emotions flooded within me in that instant which was beyond my control.

Panic, fear and an utter realisation of helplessness began to consume me. Where could Jade disappear without a trace? Where could she have gone and why? My mind raced through various scenarios, and I could not help but think that she might have been captured by those hunters.

Questions bombarded in my mind, desperate for answers. Had something happened to her? Was she in danger? The thought of her out there, alone and vulnerable, the idea sent a surge of protectiveness through my veins.

I took a deep breath while attempting to soothe my worry and clear my thoughts. That was not the time to succumb to despair or numb my brain. I needed to act faster, to find any clues that might lead me to Jade. She was my mate even though I never accepted her, but I would stop at nothing to ensure her safety.

With my reputation at stake my every move had to be precise, I thanked Iris for reaching out to me about her absence. I promised myself to do everything in my power to locate Jade. I knew that time was slipping from my hands if the hunters were involved. And I couldn't waste a moment anymore.

As I hung up the phone, a mix of worry and immediate determination settled within me. I was certain that if needed, I would scour every inch of the world, leaving no stone unturned until I found her. Jade should be out there somewhere, and I would stop at nothing to bring her back home.

To keep her safe in my arms once more, though Jade never was as long as she was under my roof. The bond between us as mates was too strong to ignore, and I could feel her absence eating my soul like a moth of death!