Stephanie’s POV
The dense woods felt like they were closing in around me as I made my way down the narrow, winding trail. The darkness was oppressive, with only faint slivers of moonlight peeking through the towering trees. My pulse raced with every crunch of leaves beneath my boots.
When I reached the small, hidden house nestled deep in the forest, I glanced around one last time to make sure I wasn’t followed. The familiar wooden door stood slightly ajar, its creak echoing as I knocked twice.
The door opened, and Sarah’s wary face appeared. She motioned me inside quickly, shutting the door firmly behind me and bolting it.
“Thanks for coming,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” I replied, pulling off my scarf. The room was dim, lit only by a single oil lamp on a rickety table. “Sarah, we need to talk. You can’t keep hiding here forever.”
She sighed, collapsing into a chair and motioning for me to do the same. “You think I don’t know that?” she said, frustration lacing her tone. “But it’s not that simple.”
“It has to be,” I pressed. “They’ll find you eventually. And now, I think Marcus and Reyna’s father are planning something, something big. If they target her, they’ll come for me too.”
Sarah leaned forward, her expression darkening. “You’re right to be worried. I’ve been hearing whispers about their plans. They’re not just after Reyna they see you as a threat, too. You have to be careful, Stephanie.”
I nodded, trying to mask the unease that gnawed at me. “I’ve been careful, but it’s not enough. Reyna is already suspicious of me. She keeps asking questions, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep her in the dark.”
“Do Jake and John know who you are?” Sarah asked abruptly.
“No,” I said firmly. “They don’t know, and I’m keeping it that way. At least until I figure out how to handle all of this.”
Sarah shook her head, a flicker of concern crossing her face. “Steph, you need to make a decision soon. You can’t keep juggling this web of secrets. The longer you wait, the more dangerous it gets. And if you make the wrong move…” She trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.
I exhaled sharply. “I know. But what choice do I have?”
Sarah leaned back, crossing her arms. “You always have a choice. But I’ll tell you this: If Marcus and Reyna’s father get their hands on her, they’ll force her to marry Alpha Damon. You know what that means, don’t you?”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Alpha Damon?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Sarah nodded grimly. “The most ruthless rogue alpha in the region. If they succeed, Reyna’s life will be a living hell. And you, you’ll be collateral damage.”
The room seemed to close in on me, the weight of her words pressing down like a heavy fog. “This can’t be happening,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
“You need to act fast,” Sarah said, her voice firm. “And whatever you do, don’t let Reyna out of your sight.”
I looked at her, my mind racing. “It’s not that simple. She doesn’t trust me right now. She’s been questioning who I really am.”
Sarah frowned, pacing to the small window and peering out into the darkness. “Then you need to fix that. Convince her you’re on her side, no matter what. If you don’t…” She let the sentence hang, her gaze fixed on the shadowy trees beyond.
I stood, feeling the urgency settling in my bones. “I’ll figure something out,” I said, though the words felt hollow.
Sarah turned back to me, her face serious. “You better. And for now, you need to leave. It’s dark, but someone could still see you if you stay too long.”
I hesitated, looking at her. “What about you? How long are you planning to stay hidden like this?”
She shrugged, her expression unreadable. “As long as it takes. But my safety isn’t the priority right now. Reyna’s is.”
I nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders. “Fine. I’ll go. But if I need you…”
“You know where to find me,” Sarah said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Without another word, I pulled my scarf back on and headed for the door. Sarah hugged me briefly before unlocking it and peering outside. “Be careful,” she said softly.
I slipped into the night, my mind swirling with thoughts of Reyna, the secrets I was keeping, and the storm that was about to break.
___
Jake’s POV
The night was suffocating. I tossed and turned in my bed, unable to shake the day’s events. My mind was a whirlpool of chaos Reyna, John, and everything that had unraveled between us. I clenched my fists against the sheets, frustrated with myself for not being able to let it go.
Reyna. Her name echoed in my head like a mantra. I had barely acknowledged my feelings for her before they turned into something much more consuming. And John… John’s smug words from earlier replayed like a broken record, mocking me.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair as I sat up. Sleep was out of the question.
The air felt heavier as I made my way out of my room. A strange unease had settled in my chest. My feet seemed to carry me on their own accord toward Reyna’s room. I needed to see her, to talk to her, even if it was just to clear my thoughts.
But as I approached her floor, something felt off. The door to her room was slightly ajar, the faint creak making my stomach churn.
I quickened my pace, my heart pounding wildly as I took in the scene before me. Two sentinels lay lifeless on the floor, their bodies crumpled like discarded dolls.
Panic surged through me as I pushed the door open, shouting, “Reyna!”
Nothing.
The room was empty. The bed was untouched, her closet left ajar, and the bathroom door swung open, revealing nothing but darkness.
My breaths came in short gasps as I struggled to process what I was seeing. “This can’t be happening,” I muttered, my voice trembling.
Without wasting another second, I ran to the danger bell and pulled it with all my strength. The loud, piercing sound echoed throughout the estate, waking everyone.
I didn’t wait for backup. I sprinted toward the dungeon, my heart a chaotic drumbeat. There was only one other person I could think of Diane. If Reyna wasn’t in her room, then there was a chance Diane was involved.
Bursting into the dimly lit dungeon, my worst fears were confirmed. Her cell was empty. The door was wide open, the lock smashed clean off.
My fists clenched as rage bubbled inside me. “Damn it!” I growled, slamming my hand against the cold, damp wall.
Within moments, other sentinels and John came running into the room, their faces etched with confusion and alarm.
“Jake!” John called out, his voice sharp. “What’s going on?”
I turned to him, my chest heaving. “Reyna’s gone. She’s been abducted. And Diane, she’s not in her cell.”
His face paled, and for once, he looked as rattled as I felt. The sentinels exchanged panicked glances before one of them stammered, “What do we do now?”
“We start with the cameras,” I barked, already heading for the surveillance room.
The others followed closely behind as we scoured the monitors. But it was no use all the cameras had been destroyed, the footage wiped clean.
“Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing,” John muttered under his breath, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
Before I could respond, a sentinel ran into the room, holding a folded piece of paper in his hands.
“Sir,” he said, addressing John, “I found this outside, on the floor by the main gate.”
John snatched the paper from him, unfolding it with trembling hands. As his eyes scanned the words, his expression shifted from confusion to shock.
“What is it?” I demanded, stepping closer.
John’s voice was low and grim as he replied, “It’s a note.”
“And?”
He hesitated before handing it to me. I read the words aloud: ‘Stephanie is hiding something.’
Silence fell over the room, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
John looked at me, his jaw tightening. “Where’s Stephanie?”
The question hung in the air like a loaded gun.
Another sentinel stepped forward, his voice uncertain. “She’s not in her room, sir. And we’ve checked the grounds she’s nowhere to be found.”
My blood ran cold as realization dawned. Stephanie, the person we all trusted, might be involved in this nightmare.
John’s eyes locked with mine, a silent agreement passing between us. We needed answers and fast.
“Find her,” I growled. “Now.”
The sentinels scattered, and I turned to John, my mind racing. If Stephanie was involved, then this betrayal ran deeper than I’d ever imagined.
“We’ll get her back,” John said, his voice steadier than I expected.
I nodded, though doubt gnawed at the edges of my resolve. Reyna’s life depended on us now and failure wasn’t an option.