He had not walked far yet when his phone rang incessantly. It was Shein who was calling him.

"Where's Winter?!" He asked as soon as Valkyrie picked up the phone. "Where is she?!"

"She left after talking to Gabriel." Valkyrie answered slowly. "What's the matter?"

"Find her immediately! Brother-in-law is seething with anger right now. Winter's signal got cut off! I cannot track her!" Shein spoke in a hurried tone while taking a glance towards Travis who was sitting in front of the computers.

"What the f*ck! I'll look for her now. If you get a signal of her, let me know as soon as you can." Valkyrie didn't wait for Shein to respond and ended the call.

"Matthew, what happened?" Gabriel called out to him since he found that Valkyrie was looking agitated and worried.

Valkyrie turned towards him while pocketing his phone back. "We lost track of Winter. Her signal was cut off."

Gabriel raised the corner of his lips into a sneer. "Is this part of your act to make me look for her?"

His question stunned Valkyrie on his place. For the first time, he had the urge to hit his leader's face and trample him. He felt pity for Winter now. She went through a lot but the man she love just think it was an act.

"Whether she's acting or she's dead, it is no longer your business." Valkyrie didn't waste his time anymore and ran out of the village.

"Follow him and see what's going on." Gabriel told Mattias which the man followed without hesitation.

Valkyrie curled his hands at the side of his mouth, forming a big O before shouting as loud as he can. "Winter!" He didn't care anymore if the other military stationed in Pantar would know about their visit. All he wanted to do was to find her. "Winter! Where are you?"

Mattias was following behind him while looking around the place. As he observed, he could tell that Valkyrie wasn't acting at all. The worry and concern on his face were real.

"Winter! I know it's been hard on you but we can't do anything if he won't come home. Just show yourself already! Your cousin is very angry right now." Valkyrie continued to yell, not sure if she was still within the vicinity.

Earlier, he traced back the route they used to come over. However, he couldn't find any footprints of her. Thus, he concluded that she's still within the vicinity and probably in the forest area.

"She should still be within the vicinity." Mattias stated to at least give a little relief to Valkyrie. "The people stationed at the border didn't see anyone come out."

Valkyrie didn't speak and continued to walk aimlessly, deeper into the forest. "Winter!" He called again.

"Matt! Help me!" Winter responded with clear fright in her voice. She even called him with her real name. "Matt, I'm here! Please help me."

Valkyrie traced the source of the voice and found Winter hanging for her dear life on a cliff. Her clothes were torn and and she got a long gash of wound on her neck. She looked messy when she talked to Gabriel earlier and now she looked even messier.

"Matt, help me." Her trembling voice were pouring ice water on Valkyrie's heart.

"Hang on. God! Winter, please hang on." Valkyrie looked around to find a way to get her up.

Winter was holding on to a protruding root of a tree on the cliff-side. Below her feet was probably a hundred meter high ravine and a strong current of river was awaiting for her to fall.

Her hands were losing strength and her grip was getting loose. "Don't look down! I'll get you up." Valkyrie reminded her while getting a long thick vine from the forest. Even though he's a man, he felt scared for her. Any moment now, she might lose her consciousness due to blood loss or she might loose her grip and fall. Either way, death was awaiting for her.

Mattias helped Valkyrie in tying the long and thick vines around his waist. They did it a couple of times to ensure his safety. Mattias circled a large tree with the vines several times before tying the other end around his waist.

After making sure that it was safe, Valkyrie walked towards Winter. He held on to her waist and pulled her up slowly on to the high ground. Mattias pulled both of them up to a safe distance.

Valkyrie was panting heavily and he got few wounds on his arms and his face. 'Sh*t! Evan told me not to get any wounds and here I am.' He could only weep mentally while thinking of his prize being taken away.

Winter was still in a daze, lying on the ground. She couldn't even lift her hand anymore from so much exhaustion. "Let's go home." she mumbled softly, a single tear fell on the side of her cheeks while she kept her gaze straight on the thick leaves over her.

"Hn. We'll go home." Valkyrie responded to her. He helped her stand on her feet but, before she could do it, she fell unconscious.

Mattias felt sad for the woman but he couldn't make the last decision on this matter. It was hers and Gabriel's issue after all.

"Why don't you bring her back to the village first so we can administer first aid to her?" Mattias asked Valkyrie while looking at the pale woman whom he carried now on his back.

"It's fine. We will just go back to the city." Valkyrie turned around and retraced their tracks to get out of the forest.

"If you let her wounds wait another time, she might get an infection." Mattias stated once again. This time, Valkyrie stopped and nodded his head. "Come this way."

Valkyrie followed the man out of the forest and they walked back to the village. This time, Mattias asked the village head to take them for the mean time since he didn't know if Gabriel would want to take them in.