Emma's POV“Mhmmm… Where am I…” Was the first thought that flashed inside my head as soon as I regained my senses. My vision was blurry just like my thought process and I had no idea what was going on. I looked around to find myself in something which seemed to be moving and then I slowly made out that I was in the backseat of some car.The backseat of a car? How did I end up here?My head was dizzy and I needed some assistance. I tried to call out but realized that there was a cloth around my mouth, obstructing me from making any sound. My eyes flew open and I involuntarily tried to sit up straight. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that either as my arms and legs were tied.Panic took over me and I was fully awake at this point. I managed to look around and saw the driver who was driving the car.The fuss I was creating seemed to have attracted his attention. He turned to look around at me and smiled creepily, jumping start my memories.It was the same face I had seen before my memories
Draven's POV“Hey, this is Emma. Leave your message after the beep.” As soon as I heard this announcement, I pulled the phone away from my ear in annoyance. The mask of anger on my face was noticed by my daughter who was sitting on the sofa next to me.Holding the stuffed, pink bunny which was almost half her size, she asked, “Did Mom not pick up the call?”I looked at my phone and shrugged, “Yes.”Emma and I were supposed to take the kids shopping today. They were starting school in a few days since it was a huge milestone in their life, and they wanted their mother involved.I informed her about it days ago and asked her to keep her schedule clear. She agreed to it but now was not picking up my calls.“Can we please wait a little longer? Maybe she is busy.” The little girl pleaded in the most adorable voice possible. “Of course, sweetheart.” I said and petted her head. The way daughters can bring the soft side in you which you did not even know existed.The arm of the clock shifted
Draven's POVEven Strix perked up when he heard Alex's question. Emma only had Natalie and this guy in the name of friends, it was really concerning if she was not with either of them.I replied, “No, I am unable to find her.”“What!” His voice raised, “Where are you? Did you check in the hospital?”“I am in the hospital with her Senior Doctor. Apparently, she went back home early in the morning.”“I don't have a good feeling about this. Especially after what she told me last night.”“What happened last night?” I furrowed my eyebrows.Alex seemed hesitant to talk about it over the phone, so I reassured him, “You can tell me. It's safe.”He hushed his voice and said, “Emma was right. It was not an accident, someone was indeed trying to kill her.”“What?” My whole body went numb, and I couldn't think of another thought.Did he just say that someone was trying to kill Emma?I went to a scheduled corner where no one could hear me speak. I asked, “What do you mean someone tried to kill her
Draven's POVI did not explain further or wait for him to say anything, I just hung up and stepped on the gas pedal. I was driving across the highway, jumped every single traffic light and even edged a few accidents but made it to the pack house in just the right minutes.I did not even bother to park the car and left it right in the corridor. I marched into my office where the charge and staff of the security department were waiting for me.“Alpha.” They greeted me nervously.I sat down on my chair and said, “Play the footage of 4 am of every single surveillance camera near West Wing Hospital.”“On it.” The incharge tapped a few times on his laptop and the screen of the television in my cabin lit up. “There are four cameras around that area, Alpha. And this is the footage of the time you requested.” The incharge explained to me and played the video.Not even two minutes into the video, I could see Emma's frail frame walking alone on the road. The door of my cabin was pushed open a
Emma's POVI don't know how long it's been since I have been left alone here. It feels like it's been a whole day already but the brightly lit sky told me that it was hardly close to being afternoon.I sighed and tried to call the men again, “Hey! Anyone in here?”My words got lost as if they were some needles thrown in the stack of hay. I tried to break loose again and in the process, accidently knocked off an old mirror which was hanging on the other side of the iron grill to which my chair was tied.“What on Earth are you doing in here, woman?” One of the men, whose name was Bradley, pushed open the door. He had a bottle of beer in his hand. No wonder he was pissed, I interrupted their drinking session.“I am sorry. It just fell.”He checked the broken mirror and clicked his tongue in annoyance. He kept the half-empty beer bottle on the floor and picked up the broom to sweep the broken mirrors, “Dumb bitch.”I furrowed my eyebrows, “Hey, who are you calling a bitch?”“You.” He sai
Emma's POVIt was not just torture, it was inhumane. Everyone knows how brutal the human trafficking industry can be!I asked, “Why would they do that to me? What did I even do to them?”I felt tears sting my eyes. As far as I am sound and aware, I have never harmed anyone and even if I did, it was unintentional. Why would anyone want to do such an inhumane thing to me?The kidnappers shrugged, “We honestly don't know what kind of grudge this person is holding against you.”“Do you at least know who it is?”The men looked at each other, they were hesitant.I said, “Guys, this person hates me and there is no way I am making out of here alive. I am not going to rat you out. I deserve to at least know the identity of the person who is destroying my life, right?”There is no one other than that assassin who is after my life. This too should be one of his work! We have been standing across each other for almost seven years now, it would be a shame if I die without even knowing who this per
Emma's POVArgh…I opened my eyes and looked around, the back of my head felt numb as if it had been hit. I touched my forehead and noticed that I was bleeding. I perked up in my seat only to stumble and fall on my face when the vehicle hit a pothole.“Ahhh.” I cried, attracting the attention of Rico who was next to me.“Oh, see. The runner is up.” As soon as he said it, Bradley, who was driving the car, looked at me through the rearview mirror.I asked, “Why am I bleeding?”“You tried to run. What else do you suppose us to do? You got hit while we caught you.” Rico explained calmly.I touched my wound again and hissed, even though it was bleeding it was not that bad and could be fixed with just a bandage.I looked around the car and asked, “Where are we going?”“We told the initiator about your little attempt to run. They determined that it would be risky to hold you any longer and asked us to carry out the already decided plan.” Bradley said.“Already decided plan?” My pupils dilate
Emma's POVI ran down the forest like a headless chicken, I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing. I could hear the men screening through the forest for me. They must be hunter-wolves as they were able to track down my scent even from afar.The deeper I went into the forest the more I started to panic.Where was I?How far till I reach the road?Will I end up getting captivated again?At this point, my ankle was bleeding heavily and I could not think straight. My vision was starting to blur because of exhaustion and my chest was heaving as if I had put a stone over it.I hadn't eaten since last night and my stomach was rumbling. I could feel the sugar level in my body fall down to the pits of hell.I can't do it anymore!I was on the verge and I did not have the strength in me to continue anymore.I did not know how long I had been running but it felt endless. The branches of the canopies were starting to haunt me and the roots seemed to drag me back to where I had started
Emma's POVThe hum of the airport was a blur in my ears as my focus remained on Desiree’s face.“Desiree?” I involuntarily called out her name, causing her to look up. The usual haughty confidence that had been always there in Desiree’s eyes were replaced by flickers of shock when she us.She came to a halt right in front of us, staring at our faces as if we had caught her red handed or something.I barely had time to process her presence before Draven’s voice sliced through the tension. “What are you doing here?” Draven’s tone was sharp, authority laced in every syllable. Desiree tilted her head, an infuriating smile playing on her lips, “What does it look like? I mean, why do people even come to Hawaii? I am here for a mini vacation.” “I thought I made it very clear—no one leaves the pack.” Draven said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone.Desiree shrugged nonchalantly, “Oh, I saw your little decree, Alpha. I just chose to ignore it.” I glanced at Draven, his jaw clenched
Emma's POVThe security room was a cramped, dimly lit space filled with monitors and buzzing equipment. The owner fumbled with the controls, his hands shaking as he brought up the footage from the day of the kidnapping. I stood to the side, my arms wrapped tightly around myself as I watched the grainy footage play out on the screens. Her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions—fear, hope, anger, and an overwhelming gratitude for Draven. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He stood tall and unyielding, his sharp features illuminated by the flickering screens. There was something about him that made me feel safe, even in the face of the chaos surrounding us. “Here.” Draven said, pointing to one of the screens. The footage showed the children playing near the entrance of the restaurant, their laughter faint but audible. The grainy footage played on repeat, the flickering image of Asher and Ashel being dragged away at gunpoint seared into my mind. Three men—faceless, thei
Emma's POVMy mind was unable to process what was going on. Draven asked, “So, you were not intending to return my son if I stepped down from the position?”“Yes. We don't even have your son, Alpha.” The man said.“Where is he? How can I get him back?”“No idea.” He shrugged, “Maybe the group who has your son has a second task for you.”Draven was silent for a while, staring blankly at the screen. We could feel the tension well up in the room as his gaze intensified. Suddenly, he let out a chuckle confusing everyone.He let out a cold laughter before stopping abruptly, “The day I find you, I will wipe out your entire clan.”The man grunted before saying, “We will see about that. As for now, come get your kid.”The line went silent, indicating that the call was hung up.Draven stood up and came out of the room, I rushed to him immediately. Even though I heard everything, I was still in denial that our situation was so messed up. I asked him, “How is everything? You will get the kids b
Emma's POVDraven's phone beeped, notifying him of an incoming message. He checked it and the expression on his face told me that it was from those men. He said, “Okay, I will go now.”The Alpha played smart here and decided to attend the video call from the investigation room. Not only was there a camera to record everything, even we could watch everything unfold through the one way mirror. Before the call, Draven made sure to alter the investigation room to look more like a hotel room. He did not want the kidnappers to get the hint that we were already in talks with the cops.I was shivering involuntarily watching all of this unfold, and Alex was always there to tell me that it was alright and that we would find the kids. I didn't even have the strength in me to respond to him, all I did was nod mindlessly while my eyes were hooked on Draven.He sat down on the chair and opened the laptop in front of him. His fingers flew across the keyboard, creating a symphony out of the clicking
Emma's POVThe tension in the air was suffocating as I paced the small room, my heart racing in sync with my restless thoughts. The kids…Draven…The pack…Everything was in shambles, all because of me. I looked at Draven, he had been silent since the call was hung up. It was worrying me more and more. I have always seen him as a man who was clear about his next move, it was my first time seeing him so clueless. It was haunting me.Alex stood by my side protectively, even though he was bleeding he refused to leave me alone. I know he was blaming himself deep down as well. Just then I saw Robin walk into the room, his pace as brisk as always.“Alpha!” He greeted Draven who was silently staring at his phone.The man nodded his head in acknowledgment and asked, “Do we have anything?”Robin nodded and said, “They were smart and kept their IP bouncing but we managed to find their location. They are in the forest near the pack.”My eyes widened, a flicker of hope piercing through the dark
Draven's POVI looked him dead in the eye and said in the most impolite tone possible, “Stay out of this, Alex. You have no idea what you are dealing with. This is family business.”The mutt did not say anything but he did not break eye contact either. It was as if he was challenging me.Before I could say anything, Emma spoke up in her meek voice, “Let's not do this here…”I gave Alex a scornful look before asking Emma why she did not heed my order and come back to the pack. The Emma I have known for so long was not this irresponsible and definitely not someone who would put our kids at risk. I was desperate to know what changed.“I did not know it was serious.”Did not think it was serious? I did not know how to react to it. How can a summon given to the entire pack by the Alpha himself not be of importance? Why would anyone think it was not important unless…My eyes widened in shock as I realised. She did not take it seriously because she thought it was a bluff!I said, “You must h
Draven's POVI looked him dead in the eye and said in the most impolite tone possible, “Stay out of this, Alex. You have no idea what you are dealing with. This is family business.”The mutt did not say anything but he did not break eye contact either. It was as if he was challenging me.Before I could say anything, Emma spoke up in her meek voice, “Let's not do this here…”I gave Alex a scornful look before asking Emma why she did not heed my order and come back to the pack. The Emma I have known for so long was not this irresponsible and definitely not someone who would put our kids at risk. I was desperate to know what changed.“I did not know it was serious.”Did not think it was serious? I did not know how to react to it. How can a summon given to the entire pack by the Alpha himself not be of importance? Why would anyone think it was not important unless…My eyes widened in shock as I realised. She did not take it seriously because she thought it was a bluff!I said, “You must h
Draven's POVThe sound of the private jet’s engines faded as I descended the steps onto the Hawaiian tarmac, my strides purposeful and my mind consumed with worry. I didn't even have the time to properly pack or prepare. The moment I got to know that the children were missing, everything else had ceased to matter. Emma. The kids. My entire focus was on finding them and bringing them home. The sun blazed overhead, its warmth doing nothing to thaw the ice in my veins. As I approached the sleek black SUV waiting to take me to Emma’s resort from where the kids had vanished, Robin jogged up beside me. His phone was in his hand and his serious face was grim. "I just got the word." Robin said, falling into step, “Miss Whitemane has been arrested."I froze as his words didn’t register at first, "What did you just say?""Arrested.” Robin repeated, "Apparently, she caused a scene trying to find the kids. Police didn’t take kindly to it."My jaw tightened, the veins in my neck throbbing. A
Draven's POVThe scout barely had time to catch his breath as he came rushing into my cabin, “Alpha, we have an emergency.”The panic on his face was evident and I looked at Robin wordlessly. This matter seemed to require my urgent attention, so I hung up on the call and looked at him, “What happened!”The scout caught his breath and said, “We have new intel about the Rogues.”My eyebrows furrowed themselves and my ears perked up. It was never good news when it was about the Rogues.“They are rallying up into an organized force this time, not the usual scatterbrained attacks. Worse, they have a new benefactor, someone powerful enough to pull their strings.”“What?” Robin was shook. Someone was helping the Rogues? Why would anyone want to help those sinister, good for nothing?I inquired, “Are we positive?”“Yes. We are positive.” The scout, “Whatever they are planning, it is huge.”The implications were clear: danger wasn’t lurking in the shadows anymore; it was at the gates.I didn’