Author POV
Alpha Liam roared angrily after hearing the devastating news that his sons and their mate had been kidnapped.
The weight of his rage threatened to crush everything in its path as he and his beta, Greg, hurried to the scene of their disappearance.
The area where their car was parked by the roadside felt eerily quiet, the air heavy with an unsettling tension.
They could still catch whiffs of their scents-faint but unmistakable.
“They must have drugged them to carry them away,” Liam seethed, his voice laced with fury as he surveyed the surroundings.
His instincts screamed that time was of the essence.
“You think Vercus did this?” Greg asked, brow furrowing in concern.
“I have no idea who orchestrated this,” Liam replied, frustration threading through his words. “The fact remains that we have numerous enemies at hand, and this could be anyone.”
Liam’s orders were clear: his men were instructed to secure the area, waiting patiently behind as they combed through the site for any clues.
As they returned home, they were met with the sight of distraught women-Mara cradling Macy, and Elaine sobbing into her hands.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy with grief.
In a corner, Greg’s mate Eloise comforted Flora, Aria’s mother, who looked as though the world had crumbled around her.
“Any news on the children?” the women implored, their eyes wide with fear.
“They were long gone before we arrived,” Liam said, his heart sinking further with each word.
Elaine broke down, her wails echoing through the pack house. Mara held her close, trying to offer solace.
“Call the witches, Greg,” Liam ordered, determination rising in his chest.
Within moments, Serai and Paige-the latter being the half-witch, half-wolf who had earned her place among them-arrived, urgency in their steps.
They set up a glass orb, murmuring incantations that sent shivers down the spine.
As the orb began to glow, images flickered into life, revealing the abduction scene.
“These aren’t Vercus’s men,” Serai stated, her voice firm. “They’ve been taken by close enemies.”
Greg growled lowly, the realization igniting his anger. “It can only be the Star Crust Pack.”
Liam felt rage boil within him, hot and relentless. The audacity of their enemies was infuriating, and he clenched his fists, knuckles whitening.
—
Daryl’s POV
The cold, dark room felt like a prison, and time had become an abstract concept-one that slipped through their fingers like sand.
Daryl sat in silence, his heart heavy as he glanced over at Aria, who huddled against the wall. The chill seeped into her skin, and he could see her shivering.
“Hey, Aria,” he called softly, attempting to soothe her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m… cold,” she admitted, her voice trembling as she pulled her knees closer to her chest.
“Fucking bastards! Come in and face us!” Daryl growled, the frustration boiling over. He needed to channel his rage somehow.
A man with a scarred face stepped into the dim light of the room, irritation etched on his features. He barked at the brothers, “Shut up or I’ll cut your tongues off!”
Daryl’s fury ignited further. “She’s freezing and hungry! At least be human and get her a quilt.”
The man laughed, a cruel sound that twisted Daryl’s insides. “Watch her die then!”
Just as the words hung heavy in the air, a familiar figure strode into the room. The sight of him sent shockwaves through both brothers.
“Unbelievable!” Leo gasped, recognition dawning as they locked eyes with the man who had kidnapped them.
Gordon, the acting Alpha of the Star Crust Pack, leaned against the door frame with an arrogant grin plastered across his face.
“So this is the little lamb that’s caused so much trouble for us,” he sneered, eyes narrowing on Aria. “The reason our innocent Razam was brutally murdered?”
Daryl felt his heart race as a primal protectiveness surged within him. “You won’t lay a finger on her, Gordon,” he snarled, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Gordon stepped closer, an unsettling glint in his eye. “Oh, but I think I will. Now I want to taste you, bitch!”
He leered at Aria, the menace in his voice sending chills down her spine.
Aria’s eyes widened in fear, and Daryl clenched his fists, ready to pounce at any moment. “Get away from her!” he shouted, his voice fierce and unwavering.
“Oh, calm down, wolf,” Gordon taunted, amusement dancing across his scarred face.
“This is just a little fun before the real games begin. You’re going to be a part of something much bigger than your little lives. You think you can just waltz in and kill my half-brother without consequences?”
“What are you talking about?” Leo demanded, struggling against the ropes binding him. “You’re pathetic if you think this is how you’ll get revenge.”
Gordon chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “You don’t even understand, do you? This is only the beginning.
You’ll watch her suffer, and then, when I’m ready, you’ll both join her in a much darker fate.”
Daryl felt a surge of anger and desperation. “You think we’ll let you do this? We’re not afraid of you!”
“Fear is not required for what I plan to do,” Gordon replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. “But you’ll regret underestimating me. I’ll make sure of it.”
The tension in the room thickened as Gordon leaned in closer, his eyes glinting with malice. Daryl and Leo exchanged a look, silently promising to fight until their last breath.
As Gordon stepped back, a cold, calculating smile remained on his face. “Enjoy the darkness, boys. It’ll be your new home soon enough.”
With that, he turned and left, leaving the brothers and Aria in the suffocating silence of the cold room, the threat of their impending doom hanging heavily in the air.
Daryl felt a surge of anger and desperation. “You think we’ll let you do this? We’re not afraid of you!”
“Fear is not required for what I plan to do,” Gordon replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. “But you’ll regret underestimating me. I’ll make sure of it.”
The tension in the room thickened as Gordon leaned in closer, his eyes glinting with malice. Daryl and Leo exchanged a look, silently promising to fight until their last breath.
As Gordon stepped back, a cold, calculating smile remained on his face. “Enjoy the darkness, boys. It’ll be your new home soon enough.”
With that, he turned and left, leaving the brothers and Aria in the suffocating silence of the cold room, the threat of their impending doom hanging heavily in the air.
Continuation