The road unrolled in front of me, tranquil and empty, as Owen and I exited the city for our long-deserved vacation.The sun was going down, sending down a soft orange light on tree tops beside the winding road.Owen was murmuring a familiar tune in the back of the car, looking out of the window, feeling thrilled by our little excursion.It was meant to be an escape from everything – a moment for us to relax and run away from all these happenings that had turned into our lives in multiple crazily overflowing cases. I had started feeling so confused especially since Landen came into sight again after long since he left me with tears in my eyes.This journey was meant to clear up my mind concentrating on Owen only, however; I still had deep within me this weird intuition that something bad could happen.But I tried to suppress it anyway. It was meant to be our moment together and I was determined to make it feel interesting. Looking at the mirror behind me, I saw Owen’s face smiling at
When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t even sure I would call it darkness because my sight wasn’t strong enough for comparison.A cold and damp atmosphere crammed with a scent that was hard to describe filled up the air. I tried to build a mental image of the place by blinking many times but all I could see were morose shadows outlining walls. My heart started pounding when the realization came that we were not in a van anymore.“Owen,” I whispered with a shaky voice.My hands were groping around me as my heart was racing at its normal speed. That’s when I found him by my side curled up on the floor; tiny and shaking.“Mommy?” came Owen’s voice—timid and trembling.“I’m here baby,” I murmured while pulling him into a possessive embrace. At that moment everything seemed perfect because there was no better way to keep him calm other than holding him close.“I am right here.”We were in a small, cold room. The great interior door of the basement was heavy and the floor was hard floor as though
I couldn’t believe my eyes when she appeared in the doorway of that cabin, her face contorted into a wicked grin. Hannah—my former best friend, but now my foe.As I held Owen closely hugging him tight, my heart began racing. I wanted to scream and cry out, or better yet fight back, but there was no way out.We were trapped inside with this crazy woman who could do anything she wanted and for all I knew it would be something terrible.“Well well well look who we have here,” Hannah said stepping further into the room with a frigid and mocking voice“Anna you’re harder to get rid of than I thought.”Glaring at her body shook from both fear and anger that the whole time was evident on my face“Hannah, why are doing this? We used to be friends why not leave us alone?”She laughed as if she were possessed sending shivers down my spine“Friends? Is that what you thought? Oh, come on Anna! You’ve always been such an innocent naive person. It was never about any friendship; it was always about
Owen was shaking beside me, gripping my small hand while we were sitting down on the cold floor inside the cabin.He looked at me with his wide eyes full of tears demanding answers, comfort, or rather anything that could erase this nightmare. But they were not there.All I am able to do is keep him calm despite being frightened myself.“Mommy, why did they take us?” Owen asked in a hardly audible voice. It was trembling and sounded full of fear.“Are we going home?”These words were enough to break my heart into tiny pieces. If only I could assure him everything would be alright; that soon we’d be back home safe and sound.But how do I know? The next thing is unknown which frightens me even more than anything else. For him, I must be strong while inside me; all seems lost.I drew him closer with my right arm around him tightly. “We’re going to be okay baby,” I said trying so much to sound very confident.“There must be a way out and I assure you I will find it.”Owen sniffed and burie
3rd Party PovAt that time, Navian was seated at his desk, gazing at his phone. For more than twenty-four hours, Anna and Owen had left for their vacation. Normally, Anna would send him a brief message or even call to inform him of their safe arrival. Occasionally, Owen would ring Navian just so that he could tell him about trivial things like what he saw along the way or how much fun he was having since Owen loved Navian so much. But now there was nothing- no call, no text, and no update.Navian attempted to self-convince that perhaps they were just having fun. Perhaps not having thought about it; Anna wanted to spend quality time with Owen instead of checking on them but however deep inside, he knew differently.This is uncharacteristic of Anna who takes responsibility very seriously, especially when it comes to Owen.He drummed his fingers across the desk leaving a glistening sound in a serene room. He picked up his phone again and sent another message:*Hey, just checking in. Hop
Navian had been on edge for days. He couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at him since Anna and Owen disappeared. No messages, no calls—nothing. It wasn’t like Anna to leave without a word, especially with Owen.The police were still saying it was too soon to file a report, but Navian knew something was wrong.On his own, he had been looking for a hint by making hotel reservations, visiting hospitals, and even just driving around aimlessly. But his anxiety increased with the amount of time that passed.Elena was the second thing that had been worrying him lately.Elena had always been straightforward with him. They’d been together for a while now, and she had never kept secrets before. But recently, she had been acting… strange. It started small—whispering on the phone, leaving the room when he entered, or cutting conversations short when he asked her what she was talking about.At first, he thought maybe she was planning a surprise for him or something harmless like that. But now, with A
Navian’s fingers drummed nervously against the steering wheel as he drove down the empty road. The pressure that was growing with each passing day was causing a discomforting feeling in his stomach.Anna and Owen left for their trip and it had already been more than a day, and he had not received any kind of communication from either of them. That wasn’t like Anna.She always checked in. And Owen? He loved calling just to tell him the smallest things.The silence was unsettling. Too much time had passed, and the police didn’t seem concerned, but Navian knew better. Something was wrong.As the hours went by, his anxiety only worsened. He couldn’t just sit around and wait anymore. He needed to act.Anna had mentioned the location they were headed to, and Navian had been able to track their likely route. Even if it meant getting things done on his own, he was determined to find out what had happened. A glow of silver in the woods far away made him stop in his tracks after what seemed li
Gazing at the evidence strewn all over his desk, Navian sat in his office. It was becoming apparent that Anna's absence was not merely a case of unplanned abduction.Beneath it all was something far darker, and the more he dug, the more uneasy he grew. The authorities had already received the video of Anna's burning car from him, but they were moving incredibly slowly.Restlessly tapping his fingers on the desk, Navian decided he couldn’t wait around any longer. He had to dig deeper himself.His mind raced back to the people Anna trusted. There was one person who knew her better than most: Mikel. He had saved Owen from that near-fatal car accident a month ago, and Navian remembered how close he and Anna were.Mikel would know if there were any places Anna might have gone if she had ever felt unsafe—or if he had any suspicions about who could be behind all of this.Without wasting another second, Navian picked up his phone and dialed Mikel’s number. After a few rings, Mikel answered, h
The living room was filled with the soft hum of conversation and occasional laughter, the warmth of companionship wrapping around me like a familiar blanket.Navian sat beside me, his eyes reflecting both relief and concern. I glanced around at the others—Rita, Mikel, and someone I hadn’t expected to see—Elena, Navian’s fiancée.Having Elena in the room made me feel off and it only got worse when she took a step forward, the atmosphere thickening. Her eyelids were puffy and her cheeks were crimson.It looked like she had been sobbing non-stop for many hours. I studied her with caution because I didn’t know what to anticipate.Elena said with a trembling voice, "Anna." “I—I need to apologize. For everything.”I frowned, glancing at Navian for an explanation, but he nodded, silently urging me to hear her out.“I—worked with Hannah to get you and Owen kidnapped,” she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush.“I was jealous and insecure. I thought—thought Navian still had feelings for
I watched as Landen cradled Owen in his arms and rocked him back and forth like a baby. I could see the tenderness in his gaze as a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Seeing him this protective and caring kind of guy reminded me of their planned connection. "He's so peaceful when he sleeps." I walked over to them and whispered, “Like all the pain and chaos we’ve been through never touched him.”Landen glanced up at me, his eyes shining with a warmth I hadn’t seen in years. “It’s because of you, Anna. You’ve always protected him, kept him safe when I couldn’t.”I smiled softly, reaching out to brush my fingers through Owen’s hair. “We both protected him, Landen. We’re both his parents.”A flicker of something—guilt, regret—crossed his face. He looked down at Owen, his jaw tightening.“I failed him. I failed both of you. I let you go… let you suffer alone because I didn’t see what was right in front of me.”“Landen,” I whispered, my voice gentle but firm. “We’ve been throug
Anna's POVI found myself in the middle of the pack house, surveying the crowd spread before me. Some faces were known to me, while a few were unknown but friendly faces, filled with respect and warmth.It was heartwarming to hear Landen’s voice echo around the room, announcing my presence after such a long time.“Today, we acknowledge what should have never been questioned,” Landen declared, his gaze steady on me.“Anna is the rightful Luna of the Moonlight Pack. Her strength, courage, and unwavering loyalty have proven that time and again. And,” he paused, his voice softening as he looked at Owen, “our son, Owen, is the true heir of this pack.”Around us, cheers broke out. I felt a wave of emotions rush through me as a result of the music. I blinked back the tears that pricked at the corners of my eyes while maintaining a straight face. I had believed I had lost this moment and this realization forever.I glanced over at Owen, who was standing beside Landen, a proud smile on his sma
I wasn’t separated from Anna for hours it seemed like I had been watching over her the whole day. Each day washed the other away, sleepless nights and hours of waiting where the days became a blur. I sat by her bedside and only got up occasionally to attend to Owen or get something I needed.It mattered not whether the roof above was made of iron or gold; it mattered not whether the earth below was stone or sand; it didn’t matter whether the food on the table was plain or grand; the only thing that was important was to be here with her, waiting for her to wake up and give me her smile once again, to hear her laughter, to hear her say “I’m fine.”It was very silent in that room, the only audible noises were the …beeping of the heart monitor, and the sound of the equipment. I saw how Anna’s chest was moving up and down, but she was so weak, so slim, so unlike the woman I had married.I reached out and touched her gently on her hand, afraid to grip it too firmly lest she break.“Anna,” I
Gerald was finally behind bars, I was standing just outside of the cell, looking at him across the heavy barred iron, I looked at him that way.He looked right back at me and his eyes were filled with anger and hate that had been brewed deep within him.“You think this is over, Landen?” Gerald sneered, his lips curling back. “You may have won this round, but you’ll never truly defeat me. The bond I have with Anna—”“Shut your mouth,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “You lost, Gerald. There’s no bond, no claim. You’ll rot in this cell for the rest of your miserable life.”I turned on my heel, walking away before I could do something I’d regret. I couldn’t afford to let Gerald’s words affect me now. Not when Anna’s life still hung in the balance. I glanced at the pack warriors standing guard.“No one goes in or out without my express permission,” I ordered. “He doesn’t get to speak to anyone. Understood?”“Yes, Alpha,” they replied in unison, their stances firm and unyielding.Sa
I glanced up as the two warriors dragged a struggling, screaming Hannah towards me. Her screams broke through the mayhem and blood that had marred the evening, resonating throughout the warehouse.My so-called wife, the one who had destroyed all I had ever held dear, was the object of my unwavering gaze.“What is the meaning of this?” I growled, narrowing my eyes at the warriors.My voice came out low and dangerous, but I couldn’t help it. Anger coursed through my veins like fire. “You dare to handle my wife like that?”The words slipped out before I could stop them, but even as I said them, they felt foreign on my tongue. I didn’t recognize them as mine.Was she really my wife? Could I even call her that when Anna—my true mate—was lying on the cold ground, bleeding out in front of me?“We apologize, Alpha, but…” One of the warriors hesitated, glancing at his partner before meeting my gaze again.“We saw the Luna pull the trigger that just shot Lady Anna.”All I could feel was cold, a
Gerald shrieked in agony as my claws tore into his side. I saw him stumble back, breathing in short breaths as blood spattered on the concrete floor. His fur was matted and saturated in blood—some of it mine, most of it his. We circled each other, breathing fiercely, but I felt like I was winning this time. The look in Gerald’s eyes wasn’t one of a confident victor anymore. It was the gaze of a desperate man who realized he was losing everything.“Come on, Gerald,” I growled, lowering my stance. “Is this the best you can do? After all the planning, the scheming—you thought you’d just waltz in and take my family?”He growled, baring his teeth, but there was hesitation in his movements now. His attacks came slower, less precise. I could feel his strength fading as we clashed again and again. With each bite and claw stroke, I pushed him farther away and neared victory.His voice quivering with a mix of tiredness and wrath, he growled, "Shut up!" He came at me, but I effortlessly sideste
The moment my bones cracked and shifted, fur bursting through my skin, I knew there was no turning back. My wolf form, dark and massive, towered over Gerald as he shifted in response.The air hummed with energy and anticipation, our growls vibrating through the large warehouse like thunder.Everything around us blurred—my warriors, Gerald’s men, Navian desperately trying to untie Anna from those cursed red bindings—but none of it mattered.It was just Gerald and me. Alpha against Beta. We lunged at each other simultaneously, teeth bared, claws ready to rip through flesh.Our bodies collided with a sickening thud, and we rolled across the concrete floor in a tangle of fur and fury. Gerald’s fangs snapped at my throat, but I twisted, using my larger frame to pin him down. He snarled, kicking me off with a powerful shove that sent me skidding back.I regained my footing quickly, leaping at him again. This time, my teeth found purchase, sinking into his shoulder.He groaned in pain and hi
As we approached the warehouse, it appeared as a dilapidated prison instead, its decayed skeleton cutting sharp tongues of shade on the ground that was bathed in the light of the moon.My team and I went a little faster, heading toward Gerald's hideout. We had managed to follow him to this godforsaken location with only one intent in mind: to shoot and bring both Anna and Owen home.That feeling lingered in the atmosphere, the second skin feeling when your body was alert and screaming for you to run. Each and every step we made resounded faintly in the silence.My heart was a drumbeat of fury and fear. When we reached the doors, I signaled my men to halt. The scent of wolves—more than I had expected—hung heavy in the air. Gerald hadn’t just hidden away; he’d prepared for war.I glanced at my warriors. Each one looked back at me with grim determination, their muscles taut, ready for action. I nodded, and they braced themselves. Pushing open the creaky metal doors, we stepped inside, we