A Rival's Pursuit

Every second that passed felt like an eternity. The phone call had started with confidence—I'd been so certain my plan was flawless. Now panic clawed at my insides, threatening to choke me.

"What do you mean you don't have her?" I hissed into the phone, pacing the length of my apartment. "She was supposed to be at the meeting point!"

"She never showed, Mr. Bennett," the rogue leader replied, his voice tense. "We waited for over an hour at the park bench like you said."

"That's impossible. She always takes that route home from campus." My hand clenched around the phone. "Did you check the entire area?"

"Yes, sir. Nothing. She vanished."

Cold fear replaced my anger. If my men didn't have Seraphina, where was she? The mate bond in my chest pulsed painfully—something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Check again," I ordered. "She has to be somewhere."

I ended the call and immediately dialed Olivia.

"Did you change the plan without telling me?" I demanded when she answered.