Chapter 70 - 070: Missing mate

The next morning came quietly.

Anaria had already dressed herself and little Ana before leaving their room. She was still recovering from childbirth, and her body reminded her of that with every movement, but the Recovery Essence had made things much easier. She could walk without struggling badly, and she no longer felt as weak as she had immediately after giving birth.

With Ana resting comfortably in her arms, Anaria adjusted the baby’s clothes before preparing to leave.

Her hand had just reached the door when a thought crossed her mind.

Rylan.

She remembered how strange he had seemed the previous day. There had been something unusual about his behavior, especially after she had seen him speaking with an unfamiliar beastman. She hadn’t been able to hear what they were discussing, nor had she gotten a good look at the stranger.

Anaria frowned slightly.

She had wanted to ask Rylan about it, but everything else happening around the baby had distracted her.

Perhaps she could ask him now.

Instead of going directly to the dining area, Anaria changed direction and headed toward Rylan’s room.

She knocked lightly before entering.

"Rylan?" Anaria called.

There was no answer.

She stepped farther inside and looked around.

The room was empty.

Anaria glanced toward the bed, then toward the other side of the room. Rylan was nowhere to be seen.

She wasn’t immediately worried. Perhaps he had woken up early and gone outside. He might have gone to handle one of the many things that needed attention around the residence.

With that thought, she turned and headed toward the dining area instead.

When she arrived, Kenai and Kai were already seated.

Both men looked toward her as she entered. Anaria took her seat and looked around the room.

"Where is Rylan?" she asked.

Kenai shook his head. "I haven’t seen him this morning either."

Kai glanced toward the entrance before answering, "He probably went somewhere to fetch something. He should be back soon."

Anaria sighed softly and settled into her seat.

Kenai reached out and carefully took Ana from her arms so she wouldn’t have to hold the baby while eating.

"I’ll hold her," Kenai said. "You eat properly."

Anaria gave him a small smile.

Kai leaned closer to look at Ana, and soon the two men were quietly fussing over the baby. Ana moved her tiny hands while Kenai supported her carefully, and Kai smiled whenever she made a small sound.

The sight warmed Anaria’s heart. Still, every now and then, her eyes moved toward the entrance.

Rylan still hadn’t appeared.

More time passed.

Kenai noticed her distracted expression.

"Don’t worry too much," Kenai told her. "Rylan can take care of himself. He may have simply gotten caught up somewhere."

Anaria looked at him.

Kenai continued, "You need to eat. You’re still recovering, and you’re breastfeeding Ana. You need your strength."

Anaria glanced at Kai.

Kai nodded. "Kenai is right. If Rylan doesn’t return later, I’ll go looking for him."

After a moment, Anaria finally nodded "All right," she said quietly.

She picked up her food and began to eat.

But even as she did, the uneasy feeling in her chest refused to disappear.

After breakfast, Anaria took Ana back into her arms,settled down with the baby, breastfeeding her before getting comfortable.

Once Ana was finished, Anaria adjusted the baby against her chest and looked toward the door.

"I’ll stay inside with Ana," she told Kenai and Kai. "If Rylan returns, tell me first."

Kenai nodded. "We will.". Kai agreed as well.

Anaria gave them one last look before returning inside.

The moment she was gone, Kenai and Kai exchanged a glance.

Neither of them spoke at first, something didn’t feel right. Rylan wasn’t the kind of person who simply disappeared without telling anyone.

They waited a little longer, hoping he would return. He didn’t.

Eventually, Kenai stood "Let’s find out where he went,"

Kai nodded.

They began asking the servants around the residence whether anyone had seen Rylan that morning.

Nobody could tell them exactly what he had been doing, and none of them could provide useful information about what he had been wearing when he left.

The lack of information made Kenai increasingly uneasy.

"Rylan couldn’t have been that careless," Kai said.

Kenai’s expression hardened "He wouldn’t disappear like this without telling anyone."

They continued searching around the residence, checking the places Rylan might have visited.

Just as they were about to move toward another part of the residence, a servant hurried toward them.

"I heard you were looking for Rylan," the servant said. "The First Lady’s first mate."

Kenai immediately turned toward him. "Did you see him?" Kenai asked.

The servant nodded quickly "I saw him near the backdoor gate this morning."

Kai stepped closer. "Was he alone?"

"No," the servant answered. "He was speaking with another beastman."

Kenai’s eyes narrowed.

"What did he look like?" Kai asked.

The servant thought for a moment "He looked similar to Rylan. I think he was from the same kind."

Kenai and Kai exchanged another look.

The servant continued, "I was about to approach them when the stranger suddenly grabbed Rylan and dragged him away."

Kai’s expression changed immediately.

"When did this happen?" Kai asked.

"This morning," the servant replied. "Not long ago."

Kenai didn’t waste another second.

"Thank you," he said.

He and Kai immediately rushed toward the back gate.

The servant followed behind them for a short distance before stopping.

At the gate, Kenai searched the surrounding area while Kai looked toward the path leading into the woods.

Meanwhile, Anaria remained in her room with Ana, trying to settle her thoughts.

She had been thinking about Rylan, but she reminded herself that Kenai and Kai were already looking into his absence.

She was about to sit down when a familiar chime suddenly sounded.

Anaria froze.

The System panel appeared before her.

[Emergency Task Available.]

Her eyes widened.

Another line appeared.

[Husband No. 1 has been captured by his own clan.]

"Captured?" Anaria whispered.

Her heart immediately began to pound.

She stared at the words before asking, "What happened to Rylan?"

The System responded.

[The Wolverine Clan entered Ravenfall and forcibly took Husband No. 1.]

Anaria’s face paled.

[Host must retrieve Husband No. 1.]

"Where did they take him?" Anaria asked quickly.

But before she could ask anything else, the System panel disappeared.

Anaria stared at the empty space, she didn’t have time to think.

She immediately got up and hurried outside to find Kenai and Kai.

When Anaria reached the others, Kenai and Kai were already preparing to search the surrounding woods.

A few people were gathering with them, ready to help look for Rylan.

Kenai noticed Anaria immediately.

"What are you doing outside?" Kenai asked.

Anaria stopped before them"I know where Rylan is," she said.

Both men stared at her.

Anaria continued before they could question her. "We don’t need to waste time gathering too many people. We can bring him back."

Kenai frowned "How do you know Rylan is missing?" he asked.

Anaria froze for half a second, her mind raced for an explanation."When I went to Rylan’s room this morning, I found a note," she said. "It said that his clan had taken him."

Kenai and Kai exchanged a look.

The explanation was enough to make sense of what they had already learned from the servant.

Kai’s expression remained serious.

"Rylan has a clan?" he asked.

Anaria shook her head "I didn’t know about them either."

She tightened her hold on Ana "I only know that they took him, and whatever is happening must be serious."

Kenai looked at her carefully "Where did you first meet Rylan?" he asked.

Anaria briefly explained that she had first encountered Rylan alone in a cave. There had been no one else with him at the time.

Kai frowned "Something about this still doesn’t feel right,"

He looked at Anaria "Did the note give a location?"

Anaria nodded "Yes. The Wolverine Clan is at the end of the eastern rivers."

Kenai’s expression changed "The eastern rivers?"

He knew the distance.

That place was far away.

Anaria understood from his expression that the journey would not be a short one.

Kenai shook his head"You’re not going."

Anaria stared at him.

"You just gave birth," Kenai continued. "You’re still recovering. Kai and I will go find Rylan and bring him home."

"No," Anaria replied immediately.

Kenai frowned "Anaria"

"Rylan is my mate too," she interrupted. "I’m going with you."

Kenai stepped closer "You aren’t ready to travel that far yet."

Anaria’s expression hardened "You can’t guarantee Rylan’s safety without me."

Kenai opened his mouth to argue, but Anaria spoke first.

"If you refuse to let me come, I’ll go alone."

Both Kenai and Kai fell silent They stared at her.

They knew Anaria well enough to understand that she wasn’t making an empty threat.

"We’re only thinking about your safety," Kai said.

"I understand," Anaria replied.

Her voice softened, but her decision did not change "I’m still going."

She turned around before either man could argue further.

"I need to prepare Ana and gather the things we’ll need."

Anaria walked back inside. Kenai and kai watched her enter inside

For several moments, neither man spoke. They didn’t liked the situation, but they both knew Anaria.

Once she had made up her mind, stopping her would be nearly impossible.