Clara’s POV It was a beautiful evening, and the air seemed serene, although there was still a strange aura that hung low, permeating the serenity. It’s been around since all these things have been happening… I was taking a stroll around the Estate with Lydia, trying to get some air, and filter my thoughts, exercise a little also, as my pregnancy require I walked around every now and then, but it wasn’t really working, because this strange aura in the air made me feel uneasy. Edward was barely speaking to me, and although I understood that it was because he was really busy, it still kind of annoyed me. Plus I wasn’t feeling my best these days, all thanks to the pregnancy. I let out a deep sigh, wishing that everything would go back to how it used to be before. Before the pregnancy. Before the attacks. Before all these calamities. “Luna, are you okay?” Lydia’s voice rang out beside me, infiltrating my thoughts, and I turned to look at her. “Hmm?” She pressed on, her brows
Clara’s POV The night of the ball was already upon us, and I stood at the front of the hall, my gaze sweeping across it. The security tonight seemed really tight, tighter than ever, and before anyone came into the hall, they were properly scrutinized and checked by the guards at the door. No one without an authentic invitation would be let into the hall, that had been the instruction. And once the ball starts in full session, the doors will be shut. I exhaled, already in good spirits, because it seemed like we’d executed a good plan this time. And everything seemed to be going smoothly so far… Tonight will be good, for a change. I glanced at Edward, who stood beside me in a polished tux, his displeasure still very evident in his face. But I was sure that displeasure would only last a while, as he would be duly impressed with how things turn out tonight. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, still keeping his eyes at the entrance, and I smiled at how observant he was, even wh
Edward’s POV I whirled around, my heart shattering into thousand tiny splinters. “What did you say?” I ground out, my jaw ticking terribly. “T-the Luna,” Jacob stuttered, keeping his head bent. “She’s missing.” Oh, no, no. This had to be a joke. Was this a surprise Clara had prepared? I could barely contain the blinding rage that coursed through my veins, setting me on a dangerous brink, and grunting, I rammed my feet into the table in my office with so much rage that it went flying against the chair in the corner, breaking in two. Jaxon and the few guards that stood around scooted to the side, avoiding being hit by my destructive anger, their faces twisted into sad expressions that somehow pissed me off even more. This was not the time to be sad. No. “Tell me,” I pointed at the guards, my fingers trembling, “where is my wife?” No one said a word in response to my question, instead scooting further backwards, a mixture of fear and sadness clouding their features.
Clara’s POV I slowly regained my consciousness, my eyelids quivering as I struggled to peel my eyes open. I was numb all over, weak to my bones. Sharp rays of sunlight hit my eyes as they peeled open, and I tried to move, getting away from the sharp rays. That was when I realized I couldn’t move. Looking down, I saw that my hands and feet were tied, and slowly, it all came back to me. The gas leakage at the ball, the choking, the coughing. The strange man. And now, I was here. In this strange place. Dread filling my chest now, I glanced around fearfully, trying to figure out where I was. But the environs were unfamiliar, or was it the grogginess, still? My heart was pounding so fast now, at the prospect of being in potential danger. My baby… Oh, no, no. I started to struggle against the ropes tied around my ankles and wrists, trying to get free, trying to get away from this dreadful place, but my efforts proved futile. Just then, the door to my right pushed open, and
Edward’s POV I paced about my office, not any less agitated than I’d been since I was informed that Clara was missing. Almost twelve hours later, and she still hadn’t been found. There were no leads about her whereabouts yet, no sniff of her, whatsoever. I was losing my mind now, no doubt, knowing so well that she was not safe wherever she was. She, and the baby. Anything could happen, anything at all, and if things turned worse than they already were, and something happens to her, I would never be able to forgive myself. Ever. A knock sounded on the door just then, and I whipped my gaze to the door, hoping that whoever was there bore some news about my wife. “Yes?” I called out, and a second later, the door opened, and Henry stepped into the office. Sighing in disappointment, I whipped my gaze away from him, pushing my fingers through my hair as the agitation spiked higher. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my tone cold. He scoffed, pulling out a seat and sin
CLARA’S POV Violent coughs tore through me, leaving me weaker with each passing second. I rolled onto my side, tears streaming down my face as sobs shook my body. I had screamed for hours, but the gag muffled every sound. Eventually, exhaustion took over. Now, all I could do was cry for myself, for my baby. I hadn’t eaten or had a sip of water in hours. My head swam, my throat raw and dry. I swallowed, but there was nothing left. The door creaked open. I lifted my head just enough to see him—wearing the same mask, the same smug smirk. Hatred twisted in my chest. “Oh, Clara,” he cooed, crouching beside me. He pushed my hair from my face with mock tenderness. “Is your baby okay? Can you feel it?” I couldn’t answer, not with the gag still in place. Realizing that, he leaned in and yanked it down. “Go on,” he murmured. “Let’s hear that sweet, sultry voice of yours.” “You’re a coward,” I rasped, my throat burning. My glare was sharp, even as my body trembled. “Why else
Edward’s POV I sat in my office, cradling my head in my hand, sifting through my thoughts for answers. Where the hell was Clara? Who had taken her? A knock on the door interrupted me, and I lifted my head slightly, a dull ache spreading across my forehead. “Come in.” The door opened almost instantly, and Jaxon stepped inside, his face etched with devastation. Lydia followed closely behind, looking just as shaken. I fixed my gaze on Jaxon, waiting. He cleared his throat. “We’ve searched every warehouse in the pack, Alpha,” he reported, exhaustion clear in his voice. “Still no sign of her.” “For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair as frustration and fear tore through me. Where was she? Who had my wife? Was she even still alive? That last thought sent a fresh wave of dread crashing over me. In the chaos of searching, I hadn’t truly let myself consider that possibility. I pushed to my feet, staggering slightly as the weight of it hit me. “Alpha,”
Clara’s POV I ran through the thick bushes, panting hard, glancing back to see if my abductor was catching up. He was fast, too fast. My energy was running out quickly. “You better stop right there!” he shouted. His voice sounded farther away than he actually was. I pushed myself to go faster, shoving twigs and branches out of my way as they scratched my skin. A twig snagged in my hair, and as I turned to pull it free, my foot caught on a rock. I stumbled and hit the ground hard. Before I could get up, rough hands clamped over my nose from behind. In a second, I was yanked to my feet. He had caught me. He dragged me across the forest floor, leaves and twigs crunching beneath me as I kicked and screamed, trying to break free. But he was too strong. Way stronger than me. Desperation took over, and I kicked out wildly—my foot landing hard against his groin. He grunted in pain, then spun around and slapped me so hard my vision blurred. “Fucking stop, bitch!” he roare
CLARA’S POV Edward stood at the foot of my bed, his face tense with frustration. I had insisted on carrying this baby, no matter what. He wasn’t happy about it, he wanted to keep me safe, but I wasn’t changing my mind. Lydia walked in, carrying a bowl of water. Edward glanced at her. “Make sure she’s looked after at all times,” he said, his jaw tight. “I want more maids assigned to her, and she isn’t to lift a finger. Understood?” Lydia set the bowl down on the bedside table and curtsied. “Yes, Alpha.” Edward sighed, then leaned down, cupping my cheek. “Get some rest, okay? I’ll check on you later.” I nodded, giving him a weak smile. He returned it before heading for the door. But just before leaving, he paused and turned back to Lydia. “Make sure she doesn’t strain herself,” he added, his voice laced with worry. “No single task. Nothing strenuous.” Lydia nodded, and he slipped out, closing the door softly behind him. I pulled the sheets up to my chin, staring ou
Clara’s POV I stared down at the blood trickling down my thighs, my heart pounding. My eyes blurred, and tears began to fill them, making it hard to see. What was causing this blood? Why was I bleeding so suddenly? Where was it coming from? I slowly turned my gaze up to Edward’s face, seeing that he looked just as shocked and scared as I felt. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of my bloodied thighs and the soaked sheets beneath me. “Edward…” I whispered, my voice breaking as the weight of fear settled heavily in my chest. “Get the doctor!” Edward suddenly yelled, his voice sharp with panic. A guard rushed in, looking confused. “Alpha?” “Get the doctor, now!” Edward’s voice was desperate, and his panic spread across his face. He bolted to his feet, lifting me into his arms with a gentleness that didn’t match the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation, he carried me out of the room, half-sprinting down the hall to his own room. “Edward,” I whimpered, my ch
CLARA’S “No!” I screamed, kicking wildly, full of rage as they dragged me out of the room, pulling me across the rough concrete floor. “Let me go!” “Scream all you want, Clara,” my abductor spat, walking behind the men who were dragging me. “No one’s coming to save you. I’ll take that baby you care about so much, and no one will stop me, not even Edward.” “No!” I cried out, tears pouring down my face as the concrete scraped against my body, leaving bloody marks. “I won’t let you!” “No! I won’t let you!” he mocked, his voice filled with ridicule. “Save your energy, Clara,” he said, his tone turning cold, “and stop yelling, because you’re going to lose a lot of blood in the next few minutes.” Exhausted from screaming, I started sobbing, still trying to struggle, but it was useless. These men were far too strong and brutal, paying no attention to the fact that I was pregnant. Eventually, we reached the forest, and as they dragged me through the woods, the twigs and branches
Clara’s POV I ran through the thick bushes, panting hard, glancing back to see if my abductor was catching up. He was fast, too fast. My energy was running out quickly. “You better stop right there!” he shouted. His voice sounded farther away than he actually was. I pushed myself to go faster, shoving twigs and branches out of my way as they scratched my skin. A twig snagged in my hair, and as I turned to pull it free, my foot caught on a rock. I stumbled and hit the ground hard. Before I could get up, rough hands clamped over my nose from behind. In a second, I was yanked to my feet. He had caught me. He dragged me across the forest floor, leaves and twigs crunching beneath me as I kicked and screamed, trying to break free. But he was too strong. Way stronger than me. Desperation took over, and I kicked out wildly—my foot landing hard against his groin. He grunted in pain, then spun around and slapped me so hard my vision blurred. “Fucking stop, bitch!” he roare
Edward’s POV I sat in my office, cradling my head in my hand, sifting through my thoughts for answers. Where the hell was Clara? Who had taken her? A knock on the door interrupted me, and I lifted my head slightly, a dull ache spreading across my forehead. “Come in.” The door opened almost instantly, and Jaxon stepped inside, his face etched with devastation. Lydia followed closely behind, looking just as shaken. I fixed my gaze on Jaxon, waiting. He cleared his throat. “We’ve searched every warehouse in the pack, Alpha,” he reported, exhaustion clear in his voice. “Still no sign of her.” “For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair as frustration and fear tore through me. Where was she? Who had my wife? Was she even still alive? That last thought sent a fresh wave of dread crashing over me. In the chaos of searching, I hadn’t truly let myself consider that possibility. I pushed to my feet, staggering slightly as the weight of it hit me. “Alpha,”
CLARA’S POV Violent coughs tore through me, leaving me weaker with each passing second. I rolled onto my side, tears streaming down my face as sobs shook my body. I had screamed for hours, but the gag muffled every sound. Eventually, exhaustion took over. Now, all I could do was cry for myself, for my baby. I hadn’t eaten or had a sip of water in hours. My head swam, my throat raw and dry. I swallowed, but there was nothing left. The door creaked open. I lifted my head just enough to see him—wearing the same mask, the same smug smirk. Hatred twisted in my chest. “Oh, Clara,” he cooed, crouching beside me. He pushed my hair from my face with mock tenderness. “Is your baby okay? Can you feel it?” I couldn’t answer, not with the gag still in place. Realizing that, he leaned in and yanked it down. “Go on,” he murmured. “Let’s hear that sweet, sultry voice of yours.” “You’re a coward,” I rasped, my throat burning. My glare was sharp, even as my body trembled. “Why else
Edward’s POV I paced about my office, not any less agitated than I’d been since I was informed that Clara was missing. Almost twelve hours later, and she still hadn’t been found. There were no leads about her whereabouts yet, no sniff of her, whatsoever. I was losing my mind now, no doubt, knowing so well that she was not safe wherever she was. She, and the baby. Anything could happen, anything at all, and if things turned worse than they already were, and something happens to her, I would never be able to forgive myself. Ever. A knock sounded on the door just then, and I whipped my gaze to the door, hoping that whoever was there bore some news about my wife. “Yes?” I called out, and a second later, the door opened, and Henry stepped into the office. Sighing in disappointment, I whipped my gaze away from him, pushing my fingers through my hair as the agitation spiked higher. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my tone cold. He scoffed, pulling out a seat and sin
Clara’s POV I slowly regained my consciousness, my eyelids quivering as I struggled to peel my eyes open. I was numb all over, weak to my bones. Sharp rays of sunlight hit my eyes as they peeled open, and I tried to move, getting away from the sharp rays. That was when I realized I couldn’t move. Looking down, I saw that my hands and feet were tied, and slowly, it all came back to me. The gas leakage at the ball, the choking, the coughing. The strange man. And now, I was here. In this strange place. Dread filling my chest now, I glanced around fearfully, trying to figure out where I was. But the environs were unfamiliar, or was it the grogginess, still? My heart was pounding so fast now, at the prospect of being in potential danger. My baby… Oh, no, no. I started to struggle against the ropes tied around my ankles and wrists, trying to get free, trying to get away from this dreadful place, but my efforts proved futile. Just then, the door to my right pushed open, and
Edward’s POV I whirled around, my heart shattering into thousand tiny splinters. “What did you say?” I ground out, my jaw ticking terribly. “T-the Luna,” Jacob stuttered, keeping his head bent. “She’s missing.” Oh, no, no. This had to be a joke. Was this a surprise Clara had prepared? I could barely contain the blinding rage that coursed through my veins, setting me on a dangerous brink, and grunting, I rammed my feet into the table in my office with so much rage that it went flying against the chair in the corner, breaking in two. Jaxon and the few guards that stood around scooted to the side, avoiding being hit by my destructive anger, their faces twisted into sad expressions that somehow pissed me off even more. This was not the time to be sad. No. “Tell me,” I pointed at the guards, my fingers trembling, “where is my wife?” No one said a word in response to my question, instead scooting further backwards, a mixture of fear and sadness clouding their features.