Chapter 232: Noah

A single text from Hannah glared from their screens: “WATERFALL!”

“Waterfall…?” Zoe muttered, scratching her head. “Has Hannah finally lost it?”

Drake pursed his lips. “Maybe she’s playing a prank…”

Noah wanted to agree, to believe Hannah was joking or drunk, but a strange urgency washed over him. His wolf growled, bristling with worry. “Something is wrong. Our mate is in trouble.”

Noah’s chest tightened at the word mate. He sometimes forgot, or chose to ignore, their bond. But they were mated, and his wolf was right. Something was wrong, and he would be damned if he didn't go to her.

“We need to go. Now,” Noah said, pocketing his phone.

Drake nodded, already heading for the door. “I only have my motorcycle, but—”

“No,” Noah said firmly, pulling out his car keys. “I’ll drive. I know where the rental is.”

Zoe hesitated, glancing between them before huffing, a lock of blonde hair falling into her eyes. “I’m coming too,” she said, grabbing her purse.

Noah had no time to argue. They rushed to his car, piling in as he revved the engine. He peeled away, tires screeching against the asphalt.

As they sped toward Hannah’s rental, Noah’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. His wolf urged him faster, to find Hannah.

“What do you think happened?” Zoe asked from the backseat.

“I don’t know,” Noah growled. “But it can’t be good. Hannah wouldn’t send a cryptic message like that without reason.”

“Maybe she’s drunk?” Zoe suggested.

Noah narrowed his eyes. “Hannah hasn’t been drinking lately. It can’t be that.”

Drake typed furiously. “I’m trying to track her phone, but it’s not working. Either it’s off, or…”

He trailed off. They knew the alternative.

“Keep trying,” Noah urged. “Any information helps.”

Tense silence filled the car, broken only by the engine’s roar. After what felt like an eternity, they reached the rental house. Noah was out before the car stopped, rushing toward the door.

Chapter 237 + 25 BONUS

Inside, chaos reigned. The living room was wrecked; furniture overturned, a shattered vase—with what looked like blood—on the floor. Noah stooped, letting his wolf assess the scent, and breathed a sigh of relief; it wasn't Hannah's blood.

“Ahh!” A woman screamed, and Noah jumped back, avoiding a flying plate. It shattered against the wall. He saw Viona in a doorway, another plate raised high.

“Oh,” she said, lowering it. “It’s you.”

“What the hell is going on?” Noah demanded, searching for Hannah. He saw Emma and Amber behind Viona, armed with a kitchen knife and a floor lamp, but Hannah was gone.

Viona shook her head, eyes wide with fear. “We don’t know. We heard a commotion, a gunshot. Hannah was gone, and a black car sped away by the time we got here.”

“We called the police,” Amber added, trembling. “But they’re taking forever.”

Noah ran a hand through his hair. “Did you see anything else? Anything that could help us find her?”

Emma spoke, her voice trembling. “Just before this, Hannah sent that group text: ‘Waterfall.’ We didn’t understand, but then I remembered…”

“Remembered what?” Drake entered the room.