Chapter 178 Vivienne’s Escape 2

Chapter 178: Chapter 178 Vivienne’s Escape 2

Talia’s POV

He was awake now, watching me with a sleepy smile.

"Did you order food?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I mind-linked Stephanie."

I frowned. "Who is Stephanie?"

He smiled. "She is the cook."

"I have never met her," I said.

"She is always in the kitchen," he replied. "You would not see her unless you went looking. But she is one of the most important wolves in this pack house. She has been with the pack for years, and she is the one who makes all the meals.”

I blinked, and my eyes widened, because I just realized that he was talking about the chief Cook, who I had met in the kitchen, the same day I met Nora. "I did not know her name." I said.

"Now you do." He sat up and stretched. "Come, let us eat."

We sat at the desk and ate together.

The food smelled delicious, and my stomach growled in response. I had not realized how hungry I was until I saw the tray. I picked up the bread and tore off a piece, dipping it into the soup.

The bread was warm and soft, and the soup was rich and flavorful. I ate slowly, savoring each bite, and I watched Kaelen as he ate.

He looked stronger than he had in days. The color had returned to his face, and his eyes were bright. He was healing, and that gave me hope.

I watched him eat, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. He was alive, he was here, and he was getting better. And I would do everything in my power to make sure he stayed that way.

Then his eyes lost focus.

I had seen that look before, because it meant that he was mind-linking someone. I watched his face change, with the way his jaw tightened, and the way his breathing slowed.

When his eyes cleared, he looked at me.

"Cain has some issues to discuss with me," he said.

He reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. I could see the concern in his eyes, and I knew he was worried about what Cain had to say. "Come with me."

I shook my head. "I might be a distraction."

He reached out, and took both of my hands in his. "You are not a distraction," he said. "I want you with me, and I want you to be there."

I looked at him, and I could see the sincerity in his eyes, that he meant it. He wanted me beside him.

I nodded. "Okay."

We walked to the main hall together where Cain was waiting for us, with his face serious, and his arms crossed over his chest.

"Alpha," he bowed. "Luna." he called and bowed.

Kaelen nodded. "What is it?"

Cain took a breath.

I could see the weight of the news on his shoulders, the burden of being the one to deliver bad news. He had been carrying so much since the battle, and I could see the exhaustion in his eyes.

"I have received reports from the warriors who have recovered. It seems that Vivienne was captured during the battle, but somehow, the rogues got to the warriors who were holding her. They were dragging her to the dungeon, but she escaped."

My blood ran cold. "She escaped," I repeated.

The words came out flat, and hollow, because I could not believe what I was hearing. Vivienne was supposed to be captured, and she was supposed to be gone. And now she was free.

Cain nodded.

"They were guarding her when the rogues attacked," he said. "They fought back, but they were outnumbered. By the time the chaos settled, she was gone."

"The warriors were injured, but they were not killed. They had been recovering, and they only just regained consciousness and informed me of what happened."

I looked at Kaelen. His face was hard, and I could see the anger in his eyes.

"Send word to the border patrols," he said. "She cannot be allowed to return, and if she is spotted, she should be killed on sight."

Cain nodded and walked away.

I stood there, frozen, with my mind racing.

I thought about all the things she could do, and all the people she could hurt. She had already tried to kill me once, and I knew that she would try again. And this time, she would not stop until she succeeded.

Vivienne was out there somewhere.

She could be planning her revenge, gathering allies, or biding her time until she could strike again.

Kaelen took my hand. "We will find her, and we will stop her."

I nodded, but I was not sure I believed him.

We walked back to our room together. The pack was quiet around us, and I could feel the weight of the news settling on my shoulders.

I walked to the window and looked out at the dark valley. The sun had set, and the sky was painted in shades of purple and orange. The mountains stood dark against the horizon, and I knew that somewhere out there, Vivienne was watching.

She was planning her next move.

I could feel it in my bones, the same way I could feel the power of my voice when I spoke. She was out there, watching, waiting, and planning.

And I would have to be ready.

I touched the empty space where my necklace used to hang. I did not need it anymore, because my face was my own, and my power was not going to be hidden anymore.

And if Vivienne returns, I would be ready.