Next Morning…
I couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about what Dad had told me regarding Hannah and Louis. My mind was restless, filled with worry about how they were and how we would get to them early the next morning.
At 5:00 AM, my alarm went off, and I was wide awake. Sleep was impossible after that. When it was past six o’clock, I dragged myself out of bed, heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. The water helped calm my nerves a little, but I couldn’t shake off the unease.
I dressed simply-black pants and a white shirt. My hair was pulled back into a bun, as always, and I didn’t bother with any makeup. There was no need to dress up; today was about getting to my friends, not looking fancy.
By the time I was ready, it was nearly eight o’clock. I grabbed my phone and started heading downstairs. Just as I was about to reach the living room, I noticed Mona rushing out of the house.
“Where could she be going this early?” I muttered, frowning. “She better not be up to anything sneaky.”
I shook my head and continued down. Just as I was entering the living room, Luna Catherine walked in from the backyard. I stopped, confused.
“Luna Catherine?” I blurted out. She had left the day before, saying she wouldn’t be back for a week. What was she doing here?
She noticed me and gave me a sharp look. “Have you lost your sense of direction? Watch where you’re going.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” I apologized quickly, bowing my head slightly.
“As usual, another mistake,” she snapped, rolling her eyes. She turned to leave but paused and looked back at me. “Where are you going so early?”
“I’m going out with Dad this morning,” I replied honestly. There was no point in hiding it. She would find out eventually.
“Okay,” she said, her voice strangely calm. Without another word, she left the room.
Her reaction surprised me. Normally, she would have thrown some insult or comment my way. But this time, nothing. Just a simple “okay.” It was… unsettling.
I sat down on the couch, waiting for Dad. My mind wandered to Damien. I couldn’t help but wonder if he really meant it when he said he would never see me again. Maybe it was for the best. After everything with Alpha Derrick, maybe it was time to let go.
I tried to push those thoughts away. My focus needed to be on Hannah and Louis now. Once we got them back, I would deal with everything else.
Dad finally came down around nine. I stood up as he entered the room, smiling at him. “Good morning, Dad!”
“Good morning, my love,” he said warmly. “How did you sleep?”
“I couldn’t sleep at all,” I admitted. “I’ve been thinking about Hannah and Louis all night.”
“I figured as much,” he said, squeezing my hand. “But don’t worry. We’ll get them back.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I smiled at him. “Shall we head out now?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
We stepped outside, and I noticed two cars parked in front of the house. “Why are there two cars?” I asked, confused.
“We’ll be bringing some of our men with us for safety,” Dad explained as he got into the car.
I nodded and followed him into the back seat. Two guards sat in the front of our car, and another four were in the second vehicle behind us. We drove off, heading toward the location where Hannah and Louis were supposedly being held.
As we drove, Dad turned to me, holding my hand again. “Are you okay?”
“I’m trying to be,” I said honestly. “I just hope nothing terrible has happened to them.”
“I’m sure they’re okay,” Dad reassured me. “We just need to stay positive.”
“I hope so, Dad,” I said softly, glancing out the window.
After a few moments of silence, Dad spoke again. “Have you noticed anything strange about yourself recently?”
I looked at him, surprised. “Strange? What do you mean?”
“Any new abilities? Something different about your wolf?” His tone was serious.
“No, Dad,” I answered quickly. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious,” he said, not giving me a clear answer. “Since everything with Alpha Derrick…”
“I’ve been fine, Dad,” I interrupted him. “I’ve moved past all that.”
“Good,” he said with a small smile.
“But Dad,” I hesitated before continuing, “I’m still convinced that Mona is involved in all of this.”
He shook his head. “I know your sister, Kimberly. Mona would never do something like this.”
I sighed. “Okay, Dad. I just hope you see the truth soon.”
We didn’t say much after that. I didn’t want to argue with him about Mona anymore. I would let the truth come out on its own.
After two hours of driving, we finally arrived near the location. The place looked abandoned-an old, rundown building. We parked a little distance away and walked toward it, surrounded by Dad’s guards.
As we approached the door, something made us stop in our tracks.
From the other side of the building, Alpha Derrick and Mona appeared, along with a group of his bodyguards.
“What are they doing here?” I whispered, panic rising in my chest.
My father’s face hardened, but he didn’t say a word. The tension in the air was thick as we stood there, waiting to see what would happen next.
The sight of both of them stunned not only my dad but me as well. He had no idea that Mona would ever be in this place. The look on his face showed how disheartened he was.
This was the same girl he once gave a character reference for, and now, here she was.
Mona and Alpha Derrick were equally surprised to see us. Their shocked faces said it all, as if they never expected anyone else to be here.
“I said it, Dad! Mona is the one responsible for Hannah and Louis’s abduction! She told me herself just the other day!” I shouted, my eyes darting to Mona, who was clinging to Alpha Derrick’s arm.
“Kimberly, watch your mouth!” Mona barked, pointing at me angrily. “I had nothing to do with your friends’ kidnapping! Stop accusing me without proof!”
I laughed, though I felt my anger rising. “What more proof do we need? The fact that you’re here is proof enough that you’re behind this!”
“Enough, both of you!” my dad yelled, silencing us. Then he turned to Mona and Alpha Derrick. “What are you two doing here?” he asked, his voice full of suspicion.
“Hannah and Louis need help. We’re here to assist!” Mona quickly replied. Alpha Derrick stood still, his face blank, watching the argument unfold.
“Help? You, Mona? Since when do you care about my friends?” I sneered. “You’ve never shown any interest in them before. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Mona hesitated. I knew she didn’t care for Hannah, and I was sure she wouldn’t help her now unless something else was going on. Something hidden.
“I’m helping to prove that I didn’t do anything wrong. Dad, I’m innocent!” Mona’s voice softened, as if she wanted to convince him with sincerity.
“Don’t believe her, Dad. She’s behind this!” I pleaded with him, desperate for him to see the truth. My heart felt heavy, knowing how difficult it was to expose Mona’s lies.
Dad was about to respond when Alpha Derrick finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension. “Mona is telling the truth.”
All eyes turned to him. Mona smiled up at him, relieved, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was covering for her. They were partners after all. Of course, he would take her side.
“What do you mean?” my father asked, his brows furrowing in suspicion.
“Mona didn’t take them,” Alpha Derrick said firmly. “She asked for my help to save them. That’s why we’re here.”
His eyes locked with mine as he spoke, sending a silent message: drop it. But I wouldn’t. I glanced away, then looked back at my dad. “Let’s just focus on saving Hannah and Louis, Dad. We can figure the rest out later.”
Dad nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get inside.”
Together, we stepped into the house. The air felt cold and heavy, as if the walls themselves were watching us. Security guards from both sides moved around with weapons drawn, ready for anything. The eerie silence filled every corner, and I couldn’t help but shiver.
The house was dark, as if sunlight had never touched its walls. The windows were grimy, coated with years of dust, and the paint peeled off in flakes. Everything about the place felt old and forgotten, like it was on the verge of collapse.
We made our way from the empty living room to one of the bedrooms. I reached for the door, but my dad grabbed my hand, stopping me.
“Let me open it,” he said firmly, pushing me behind him. Mona and Alpha Derrick stayed behind, watching closely.
As Dad opened the door, my stomach twisted in horror.
“What… what is that?” I gasped, trying not to look at the bodies lying on the floor. Two people, heads severed, blood splattered everywhere.
Mona backed away, her face pale. Alpha Derrick glanced at the scene, his eyes searching the room as if expecting someone else to appear.
The guards had already spread out, searching the house. They returned moments later with grim expressions.
“No one’s here,” one of them reported. “We’ve checked the entire place.”
“That can’t be true!” I shouted in frustration. “Where are Hannah and Louis? Are they… dead?”
I shot Mona a fierce glare.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Mona snapped, anger rising in her voice.
“Because you planned this! Didn’t you?” I was shaking, barely keeping my anger in check.
“There she goes again, blaming me!” Mona yelled, her voice louder now. “How many times do I have to say it? I didn’t take your friends!”
But I couldn’t believe her. Not after all her lies, not after everything she’s done. She’d deceived me for years, pretending to be a sister to me. I wasn’t going to trust her again.
“Mona, you’re responsible for all of this!” I yelled, moving towards her, fueled by anger. “Where are they? Tell me, have you killed them?”
Before I could get any closer, Alpha Derrick grabbed my wrist tightly. His face twisted into a smirk. “Stop blaming her. She’s innocent!”
He pushed me aside, and I stumbled, nearly falling.
“Kimberly, are you alright?” Dad rushed to catch me. He turned on Alpha Derrick, his voice firm. “Why did you push her?”
“I was only protecting Mona from being attacked!” Alpha Derrick shot back, glaring at me.
“This is a family matter. Stay out of it!” my dad warned.
“But, Dad, Kimberly was trying to hurt me!” Mona’s voice trembled, her eyes filling with tears.
“You know your sister wouldn’t hurt you, Mona,” Dad said, though his voice softened.
“But she was going to!” Mona cried. “I keep saying I’m innocent. What more does she want?”
Alpha Derrick put a protective arm around Mona, caressing her hair. “Mona is part of my life now. I won’t let anyone harm her, especially her enemies,” he said coldly, his eyes locking onto mine.
Before Dad could respond, one of Alpha Derrick’s guards burst into the room. “I think I know where they might be!” he said breathlessly.
“What?” I rushed toward him, hope flooding through me.
“I saw a CCTV recording upstairs. It captured everything that happened last night!”
“Finally, some real evidence,” Dad said, his voice hopeful.
Without wasting another second, we all rushed upstairs to see the footage for ourselves.