Denderick’s POV
The next morning, as the first light of dawn appeared, I knew it was time. Today, I would confront Erinne and Logan and save my son. I knew I could be walking into danger, but I didn’t care. There was no other option-I had to bring my son home.
I was strapping my sword to my waist, ready to set out for the forest where Erinne’s letter had directed me when the sound of hurried footsteps caught my attention. I turned to see Aria rushing toward me, wearing a white dress that billowed behind her as she ran.
“Dendrick,” she gasped, breathless. “You’re going to find them, aren’t you? You’re going to save Edward.”
I nodded, tightening the belt around my waist. “Yes, I am.”
“Then take me with you,” she demanded, stepping closer. Her trembling hands touched my shoulder, but her voice was firm.
I stopped, stunned. “No, Aria. It’s too dangerous. You’ve been through enough already. I can’t risk your life again.”
Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the stubborn determination in them. “You can’t stop me from coming, Denderick. He’s my son, too. I have just as much right to be there as you.”
I sighed, looking away. I didn’t want to drag her into the heart of this danger. If something happened to her-if I lost her-I knew I wouldn’t survive it. But I also knew that Aria wasn’t one to back down, especially not when it came to her son. She’d walk through fire for him, and nothing I could say would change that.
“Aria…” I started, trying to reason with her.
“Please,” she begged me. “I need to be there. I need to know that he’s okay. I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t.”
I closed my eyes, knowing I couldn’t win this argument. The truth was, I didn’t want to be without her, either. I needed her strength, her presence, and the knowledge that we were in this together.
“Alright,” I finally said. “You can come.”
Her features eased out in relief, and she nodded. Without another word, I took her hand, and we left the estate behind. The carriage sat waiting, but I shook my head at the carriage driver and led her toward the dense woods instead. We’d be quieter on foot, and the path was narrow, too narrow for a carriage.
As we stepped into the thick forest, the world around us became a cocoon of shadows and tangled branches. The air was damp, and the woody scent of moss seemed to cling to everything. I kept my hand on my sword, glancing around warily, expecting a trap at every turn.
I glanced at Aria as we walked, and I saw the fear in her eyes. She tried to hide it, but it was there-a flash of terror that no amount of bravery could fully suppress. And yet, she stood tall, her shoulders squared, determined to keep going.
I fell in love with her all over again at that moment. She was willing to walk straight into danger, to face her worst fears, all for the sake of our son. It made me want to protect her even more fiercely, but it also made me realize just how much she was a part of me. We were in this together, no matter what.
We moved deeper into the forest. I could feel something in the air around us like we were being watched. My grip tightened on my sword hilt as we approached a small clearing.
There, in the center of the clearing, stood a treehouse, perched high among the branches. It was old and worn, and the wood creaked in the slight breeze. The ground below it was filthy-littered with discarded food scraps, broken bottles, a cold hearth, and remnants of what looked like a makeshift campsite.
“This must be where they’re hiding,” I muttered, keeping my voice low.
Aria nodded, her eyes locked on the treehouse. “They’re here,” she whispered.
I felt a chill envelope me. This place reeked of desperation, of something unclean and wrong. It was a far cry from the grand pack houses we were used to. Logan had fallen so far from his former power, reduced to hiding out in this squalor.
I scanned the area, ready for a sign of ambush. I knew Logan wouldn’t go down without a fight, and I was prepared for whatever came next. My muscles tensed, my mind sharp, as I reached for the handle of my sword.
Then, without warning, a voice broke through the silence.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
Aria and I both spun toward the sound. Emerging from the shadows of the treehouse, with a smirk stretched across his face, was Logan.
He stepped forward slowly, his boots crunching on the dirty ground, and I felt the bile rise in my throat at the sight of him. He looked different than I remembered. He looked wilder, filthier, and more unhinged. His clothes were ragged, his hair disheveled, and his eyes gleamed with malice.
Aria gasped beside me, her hand instinctively reaching for mine. I squeezed it, grounding myself, as we stared down the man who had caused us so much pain.
Logan’s smile widened, his gaze flickering between the two of us.
“I’ve been expecting you.”
I sneered, unable to hide the disgust bubbling inside me. Logan stood there, grinning like the madman he had become, but all I could see was how far he’d fallen. Once a powerful Alpha, now reduced to living in filth, hiding out in a crumbling treehouse like some cornered rat.
“You have fallen, haven’t you, Logan?” I jeered. “The mighty Alpha Logan, brought so low that he has to scavenge in the woods. That must be humiliating for a man like you who thrives on power, must it not?”
Logan’s eyes darkened, but the smirk didn’t leave his face. Instead, he shrugged, as if he had accepted this pitiful existence. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you, Denderick. Coming all this way… just for a baby. What a joke.”
Ignoring his jab, I took a step forward, my hand still holding onto Aria’s. “Where’s Edward?” My voice was a growl of warning. “You know that’s the only reason I’m here. Bring him to me.”