She curled up tighter, as if trying to disappear, and covered her mouth to stifle her sobs.

If they found her crying, she would have to explain, and the last thing she wanted right now was to see them. But, as usual, her wishes went unfulfilled.

"I can smell her trail here, but it’s faint and inconsistent. Too strange."

"Rose, sweetheart!" Maell’s worried voice called out.

They were trying to reestablish the bond with their mate that she had closed during the conversation with Lucian. But she was absent, and the two Alphas were growing terrified at not being able to sense her.

Rose tensed; they were moving closer to her position.

She glanced around but saw no way to escape.

She didn’t want them to find her. She pressed herself closer to the tree trunk, wishing she could merge with it, willing herself invisible.

"Maell, I’m seriously starting to worry. What if she’s having one of her panic attacks?"

"Finn can’t sense her either, and he’s getting really stressed. Where is she? Could she