Missing

Eve was fidgeting, trembling in Malakai's hold. Then it all came, her thoughts, pouring right into his head like ringing bells. 

'Is this a joke?'

He looked at her, while taking her to the altar. 

'Herla… No, no, no, that's impossible. Why…?'

Who was Herla?

Malakai briefly followed her gaze to where Patro now sat, glaring with steepled fisted hands, knuckles turning paper white. Next to him, a woman, blonde haired with pale gray eyes, sat, smiling at Eve with pure hatred and spite radiating from her like an aura. 

Who was she to Eve? he wondered.

Eve's hands wrapped around a single finger of his so tightly, he cocked a brow at her, but she didn't notice. He suddenly couldn't hear her thoughts anymore, she'd closed him off without even knowing it. This omega, the first werewolf that somehow he could hear her thoughts, taste her feelings, every little change in it—that was how he knew she was honest with every proposal she'd made with him and deemed her anything but a threat to him. It bewildered him. 

"Do you, Mr. Salvatore take Eve Irvine to be your lawfully wedded wife?" 

They stood opposite each other, Eve's eyes, though on him, was quiet distant. 

"I do." 

The priest shifted his gaze to Eve. "And do you, Ms Eve Irvine, take Malakai Salvatore as your lawfully wedded husband?" 

There was a pause, one a bit long before she looked up to Malakai, mouthing, "I do."

That touch of softness he'd seen in her hazel eyes from the moment he met her last night was completely like a light that had been blown off. It was gone, all because of Patro. He'd taken that away from her in barely a few minutes of his direct presence. 

"You may kiss the bride," the priest spoke right after the rings were exchanged.

Malakai reached for Eve's hand, grabbed and yanked her right into his arms, taking her mouth. 

Her eyes widened, before falling shut with haziness. It was all kisses, but there was a bite—one that had her hissing. And then her blood flooded his tongue, a kind of fire, enough to incinerate him stroking inside of him at a rapid pace. 

This omega. This woman that was suddenly tied to him, was she…his? His…mate?

Eve's quivering hands pressed desperately to his chest and he let go, letting her catch her breath. 

How…? Wasn't she Patro's mate just a few weeks ago? So, what if he rejected her, a second mate wasn't a thing. It didn't exist and even if it did, it was rare!

Evee's shoulders rose and fell in heavy breathing and she looked at him. Confusion and curiosity sparked in her eyes as if she knew. No, no, she knew. She definitely felt that spark. 

It came again, that fire inside of him that wanted to bite, to mark her. His teeth were suddenly itching irritatingly, his canines threatening to elongate on its own.

The sudden clapping from the crowd drew their attention and they broke eye contact, looking over as the crowd all stood up, each holding fake smiles on their faces. 

They'd eventually transferred to the second hall where the party was held, and every one of the guests, all wealthy, walked up to Malakai to congratulate him. Reporters were taking photographs, and he knew he would be in the tabloids, headlines, you name it, the first thing in the morning tomorrow. 

Malakai responded back with fake smiles he'd learned and perfected, but that was until someone walked up to him. Patro Zolotov, his thirty two teeth in full display, face plastered with his cocky smile. 

"I never thought you'd stoop this low, Malakai. Marrying my ex-mate? What are you trying to do now? Bite at me because you couldn't make me pay for the death of your sister?" 

Malakai walked past him to step away, but Patro's hand came around his arm, stopping him. "Don't ignore me now. You marrying that bitch isn't enough to bite back at me!" he grounded out. "Incase if you don't know it, I don't give a fuck about her or—-" 

"Shut it!" The entire hall went rigid, every single person within frozen on their spot, unmoving and unblinking. Malakai gripped him by the throat, hauling him into the air with ease, his feet dangling in mid air and hands coming around his grip, struggling to free himself. 

But he didn't let go. 

His nails instead sharpened, growing inches longer to dig into Patro'sthroat, but not dangerously enough to kill, still enough to give him a taste of excruciating pain. 

He watched his face turn purple, eyes bulging and an unhinged smile pulled up on his face, the kind he would never show the public. It wasn't fake—no this was truly his smile, and Patro wasn't taking it so well because his eyes dilated to the point it could pop out of his sockets. 

"How do you feel?" 

Patro squirmed, fear rushing through his body. 

Malakai was amused, but he knew that any more of this, the man would die. So he tossed him to the floor and squatted down to grab him by his tie, jerking him close enough. 

"One more chance is all I give you to mess with her again in front of me, I'll slit your throat and watch you bleed to death on this floor. No one will save you, Patro, and I will make sure of it. So keep your dirty eyes off her and zip your mouth around her. She's no longer yours. No, she's mine now." 

Patro saw his own death in his eyes, whimpering like a puppy backed into a corner, and pure fear crippled him for a few moments. His wolf was submitting against his will and he couldn't understand why. 

Malakai let go of him and took out his handkerchief to wipe his hands, disgusted. He stepped away to make sure the sudden predicament wouldn't tie to him. Then the hall came undone from his work, but when he looked around, Eve was gone. 

Gone from his sight and nowhere to be seen within the hall. He couldn't even smell her scent any longer.

Who'd taken her?