Shenaya’s POV
I landed in Aiden’s boardroom with a loud thud. The looks on the warrior’s face were of utter shock and fear because they weren’t expecting me obviously, even I wasn’t expecting myself to land here. The large oak table was scattered with papers, and the silence that filled the air was suffocating. The council members, warriors, and Aiden himself were stunned into silence. Ethan and Aiden were the first to rush toward me, questions flooding from their mouths,
“Shenaya?”
“What happened?”
“Where is Zoey?”
“Where did you come from?”
“Did Andrew take Zoey?”
“Zoey is trapped… with Andrew.” was all I could manage to say.
The shock in Aiden’s eyes was immediate. He asked more questions, but my mind was racing, and the only thing I could focus on was the fact that Zoey hadn’t come through the portal with me. A few seconds passed, and when she still didn’t appear, my panic grew.
“We have to go. Now,” I urged my voice almost breaking. “The cave-Zoey once said she could feel Aiden from afar. The cave can’t be far from the Crescent Pack.”
Aiden and a few warriors, along with me, decided to head into the woods immediately. Ethan stayed behind, just in case Zoey somehow found a way to return. As we entered the thick forest, the trees towering over us like silent sentinels, the atmosphere grew heavier. We searched cave after cave, my anxiety rising with each empty one we came across. Aiden was tense beside me, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready for anything. But the further we ventured, the more it felt like we were grasping at nothing.
And then we saw it-a natural phenomenon that most people would probably ignore-a cave behind a waterfall. It was so loud and palpable, as I could hear the sound of pouring down water in my bones. This was the place. I knew it.
Without hesitation, we entered with our weapons ready and everyone in a fighting position. My heart raced in my chest as we stepped inside, the darkness of the cave enveloped us, but to our dismay, it was empty. No one was there.
The scent of Zoey and Andrew remained but they were no longer there.
It dawned on me in a flash, as if a ton of weight had fallen on me. I fell to the ground as my knees were weak and I was crying uncontrollably and could hardly breathe.
“I shouldn’t have left her alone with that monster” I cried, “It is my fault that Zoey is trapped with that devil.”
“It’s not your fault Tenaya please, don’t blame yourself”
“But it’s my fault and now she’s gone,” I whispered, devastated. The weight of it all crushed me. Aiden crouched beside me, silent but his face showed the same pain, the same sense of loss.
We searched the entire cave, every corner, every hidden space. Nothing. After what felt like hours, we reluctantly decided to return to the pack house. I prayed-prayed-that Zoey had somehow managed to open a portal and come back, but when we got there, the disappointment hit me hard. She wasn’t there.
Ethan rushed in, looking frantic.
“Aiden,” he called out, his voice shaky. “Lucy has been found… in Russia. She’s on her way back to Rome.”
Aiden’s face shifted from grief to relief, though a new worry creased his brow. Lucy, his sister. I hadn’t heard much about what had happened to her, and the curiosity gnawed at me. What had happened? Why Russia?
I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“What happened to Lucy?” I asked quietly, trying not to pry but unable to ignore the question burning in my mind.
Ethan and Aiden exchanged a glance before Aiden spoke, his voice heavy with emotion.
“Lucy’s mate, Alenjro… he works with Andrew. Together, they kidnapped her to use her against me, but once they had me in their sights, Alenjro thought Lucy might become a problem… so he sent her off as part of a trafficking ring.”
I felt my stomach churn, bile rising in my throat.
Trafficking? My heart broke for Lucy, imagining the horrors she must have gone through. Aiden’s hands clenched into fists, the tension in his body visible as he spoke about his sister.
“And… Andrew?” I asked hesitantly.
Aiden’s eyes darkened.
“Andrew claimed to be my brother. When I asked my father, he didn’t deny it.”
Brother. Was Andrew Aiden’s brother? That revelation hit hard. I could see the confusion, anger, and betrayal swirling in Aiden’s eyes. But there wasn’t time to dwell on it, not yet. Lucy was coming home.
When Lucy finally arrived, the pack house was full of tense anticipation. I stood by the entrance with Aiden and the other pack members, waiting. The car had just driven in, and everyone was ready to welcome her. Alpha Fernly, Aiden, and Lucy’s mother were pacing back and forth, her fury was palpable.
“If I ever see Alenjro again,” she growled, “I’ll kill him myself.”
Aiden’s father stood beside her, silent but supportive, his face was a mask of controlled rage.
And then Lucy arrived.
The sight of her nearly broke me. She looked… lifeless. Thin, and gaunt, her skin was pale, and her eyes were vacant like a broken robot. She barely resembled the vibrant woman I had once known. The entire pack fell silent as she stepped inside. No words were spoken. She didn’t say a thing to anyone.
It was an emotional moment. Tears filled my eyes as I watched her walk by, supported by two warriors. The whole family surrounded her, trying to comfort her, but Lucy didn’t react.
She was cold, and nearly always withdrawn into her own hopeless existence.
Time went on, and she finally started to receive the treatment of our pack healers and her external wounds began to heal, but it was quite apparent that the fiercest fight was yet to happen.
Her mind and her wolf were broken, and we all knew she needed psychological and supernatural help to heal fully. That’s when Aunt Belle stepped in. She was the one who could help Lucy-if anyone could, it was her.
Aunt Belle began the spiritual healing in the large healing room, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and the soft glow of candlelight. She closed her eyes, her hands gently hovering over Lucy’s broken form, whispering ancient incantations to heal her wolf. But then… she stopped.
Her eyes snapped open, and she looked at Lucy with shock.
“Lucy,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, “you’re pregnant.”
The room fell silent. Pregnant?
Aunt Belle smiled, clearly pleased, but Lucy… Lucy’s reaction was different. Tears welled up in her eyes and began streaming down her face, but these weren’t tears of joy. She wasn’t happy. She wasn’t relieved.
I stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend. She was pregnant… shouldn’t she be happy? But Lucy’s tears-her silent heartbreaking tears-said everything.
I stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Lucy…” I whispered, unsure of what else to say.
But she only shook her head, silent and broken.
And in that moment, I realized. The child she carried… it was Alenjro’s. The very man who had betrayed her, the man who had sold her into slavery.