Stephanie’s POV
The familiar path to the pack’s gates felt different this time, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. I returned under the cover of the fading moonlight, weary but determined to act as if nothing had happened. Whatever Sarah and I had discussed earlier would remain between us at least until I could figure out my next steps.
As I approached the gates, two sentinels stepped forward, their expressions unreadable.
“Stephanie,” one of them said curtly, “Alpha John and Jake are waiting for you.”
My steps faltered. “Waiting for me? Why?”
Neither of them answered. They only exchanged a glance, their faces cold and void of emotion.
“What happened?” I pressed, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest.
Again, no response.
The silence sent my mind spinning, and my heart began to pound. Something was wrong very wrong. The atmosphere was colder, heavier, and every step toward the Alpha’s office felt like walking into a storm.
I swallowed hard as I reached the door. It felt more imposing than usual, as though it carried the weight of whatever awaited me inside. With trembling fingers, I knocked, and John’s voice called out, “Come in.”
I pushed the door open, my eyes immediately finding both John and Jake standing stiffly behind the desk. Their expressions were grim, their postures rigid.
“Sit,” Jake said curtly, his tone sharp enough to make me flinch.
I hesitated but did as I was told, sinking into the chair. My palms were clammy, and the unease gnawed at me.
“What’s going on?” I asked cautiously.
Jake wasted no time. “What are you hiding, Stephanie?”
The bluntness of his question caught me off guard. “What? I don’t-what do you mean? I’m not hiding anything!”
“Don’t play dumb,” Jake snapped, leaning forward. His eyes burned with anger. “Reyna is missing.”
The words hit me like a freight train. “What?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“And Diane,” John added grimly. “She’s gone too.”
My head swam. Reyna, missing? Diane, too? My stomach churned as I tried to process what they were saying.
“I don’t-how?” I stammered.
“That’s what we’re asking you,” Jake said, his voice ice-cold. “Do you know anything about this?”
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my breathing. When I opened them, both John and Jake were staring at me, waiting for an answer.
“I swear I’m not the bad guy here,” I said softly. “But… I’ll tell you the truth. Everything.”
“Go on,” John urged, though his tone was wary.
I took a deep breath. “My father… he’s the rogue king.”
The room fell silent.
John’s eyebrows shot up, and Jake took a step back as though the air around me had suddenly turned toxic.
“What?” Jake hissed, his voice laced with disbelief.
“Wait,” I said quickly, holding up my hands. “My father is not Alpha Damon. He’s not the one responsible for this, I promise you.”
“Then who is?” John asked, his voice calm but firm.
I hesitated before answering. “I think this is Alpha Damon’s doing. Him, Diane, Reyna’s father, and Marcus. They’ve been planning something for a while now, and I think this is it. Reyna’s abduction… it’s part of their plan.”
John’s gaze narrowed. “And you knew all this? Why didn’t you tell us before?”
“I was trying to survive,” I said, my voice breaking. “If they knew I was here, they’d come for me. I didn’t want to put anyone else in danger, but… but I swear, I didn’t know they’d take Reyna. I would have told you if I’d known!”
Jake’s expression darkened, and his voice was low and venomous as he said, “You’ve been lying to us this whole time. You let us trust you, let Reyna trust you, while hiding something this big?”
“I didn’t have a choice!” I snapped, my voice rising in desperation. “You think it’s easy being the daughter of the rogue king? I didn’t ask for this life! I’ve been trying to escape it ever since I could think for myself!”
Jake shook his head, disgust evident in his expression. “You’re done here, Stephanie. The moment we find Reyna, you’re gone. I don’t care where you go, but you’re not staying in this pack. I don’t want a rogue under my roof.”
The words cut deeper than I expected. I opened my mouth to protest, but no sound came out.
Jake turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving me and John in tense silence.
“John,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He looked at me, his expression softer than Jake’s but no less serious. “Stephanie, if you want to prove you’re on our side, you need to help us find Reyna. That’s the only way.”
I nodded slowly, though my chest felt heavy with guilt. “I will,” I said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back.”
John’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before he stood and left the room, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of everything I’d just confessed.
I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. I had always known my past would catch up to me eventually. I just hadn’t expected it to cost me everything.
___
Marcus’s POV
I was about to slide into the driver’s seat of my sleek black car when I caught sight of Jacob approaching, his strides urgent and his expression stormy.
“Marcus,” he called out, his tone sharp. “We have a problem.”
I paused, my hand gripping the car door. “What now?”
“News just came in,” Jacob said, his voice laced with tension. “Alpha Damon has abducted Reyna.”
The words sent a jolt through me, but I kept my composure. My mind immediately connected the dots. If Damon had Reyna, there was only one person who could have orchestrated it.
“Diane,” I muttered under my breath, my teeth clenching in frustration.
Without wasting a second, I pulled out my phone and dialed Sally and Ryan.
“We’re making a visit to Damon,” I said curtly when they picked up. “I need you both ready in five minutes. No delays.”
I didn’t bother explaining further. They knew better than to question me when I was like this.
—
The drive to Damon’s estate was tense, the air inside the car thick with unspoken thoughts. Jacob, seated beside me, kept glancing my way as though gauging my mood. Sally and Ryan sat in the back, equally silent but visibly on edge.
When we finally arrived at Damon’s territory, the guards at the gate let us in without question. It was clear they’d been expecting us.
We were escorted into the grandiose main hall, where Alpha Damon waited, lounging in a large leather chair like a king surveying his subjects. His smug grin only fueled my irritation.
“Ah, Marcus,” Damon said, his voice dripping with mock hospitality. “What a pleasant surprise. I assume you’re here to congratulate me?”
I stiffened, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “Where’s Reyna?”
Damon chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Straight to the point, I see. You never did appreciate pleasantries, did you? Well, let me save you the trouble I’ve succeeded where you failed for months. Reyna is here, in my house. Safe and sound.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” Jacob interjected, stepping forward. “We want to see her. Now.”
Damon’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “You’ll see her when I decide you can. Not a moment sooner.”
Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
“Well, isn’t this a cozy reunion?”
I turned to see Diane descending the grand staircase, her steps slow and deliberate. My jaw clenched as her smug smile met my glare.
“Diane,” I said through gritted teeth, taking a step toward her.
Before I could get any closer, two of Damon’s guards moved swiftly, blocking my path. Their expressions were cold and unyielding, making it clear I wasn’t getting past them.
Diane tilted her head, her smile never wavering. “Careful, Marcus. I’m under Damon’s protection now. You wouldn’t want to do anything… rash.”
Her words were like fuel to the fire burning in my chest. “You think this is over? You think hiding behind Damon will protect you from the consequences of what you’ve done?”
Her laugh was light and mocking. “Oh, Marcus, you’ve always been so predictable. That’s what makes this so easy.”
Jacob stepped forward again, his voice sharp. “This isn’t about you, Diane. We came for Reyna. Let us see her.”
Damon rose from his chair, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the room. “I’ve told you already you’ll see her when I allow it. And until then, you’re all trespassing on my territory.”
Ryan opened his mouth to argue, but Damon raised a hand, silencing him.
“Guards,” Damon commanded, his voice low but firm. “Escort them out. They’re no longer welcome here.”
The guards moved in unison, their heavy footsteps echoing through the hall as they stepped toward us.
“You’re making a mistake, Damon,” I said, my voice cold and measured.
Damon smirked. “The only mistake was letting you fumble around with this for so long. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a future Luna to attend to.”
His words were like a slap in the face, but there was nothing more we could do not here, not now.
Reluctantly, we allowed the guards to lead us out, though every step felt like a retreat. As we climbed back into the car, the weight of the situation pressed down on all of us.
“We’re not letting this slide,” I said, my voice firm as I started the engine. “Diane and Damon think they’ve won, but they’re about to learn what a real mistake looks like.”
Jacob nodded, his expression grim. “Whatever it takes, we’re getting Reyna back.”
The car sped off into the night, leaving Damon’s estate behind but taking with it a renewed determination. This wasn’t over not by a long shot.