Chapter 4 Kidnapped

Catherine became afraid. She tried to scream, but nothing came out of her mouth. Just as she was about to run away, she felt a hand grab her by the hair and cover her nose and mouth.

"Where are the quads?" Catherine shook at the man's deep and rough voice.

It felt like a bad dream. Though she was aware of what was going on, Catherine's emotions were out of control. How could the men have known that the house contained quadruplets? Also, why were they after the kids?

"Search the entire house."

Catherine's body trembled in fear of those men hurting the quads and that she would run out of breath. A tear trickled down her cheek. She could almost feel her teeth cracking from the force of his hard facial squeeze.

More tears trickled down her cheek as she eventually heard the cry of the quads.

Catherine began to sob more loudly. The four boys were taken out of the house, their cries muffled like those of animals. She wanted to cry out, beg them not to take the children, but all she could manage was a few faint moans of anguish.

Except for her chest rapidly rising and falling as she attempted to catch her breath, Catherine froze in dread.

"Eliminate the bitch."

The last sound Catherine heard was the man's hasty stride, before a knife was thrust right through her heart. They ran away, leaving a massive trail of blood and her body laying on the ground.

***

I got to the door of the house and a chill went through my body. The primary entrance had a small trail of blood. When I opened the door and found Catherine lying in a pool of blood, fear seeped into me. She was gone. After searching the entire house for the Quads, my throat was choked with dejected tears.

I could not feel them. My wolf was asleep. It would be useless for me to go to the police and hope that someone would help me, but I knew I couldn't wait.

Hugging Catherine's motionless form, I let forth a growl from my throat. I cried for a while before getting up and leaving the house. Knowing that I would lose my courage if I looked back, I dared not.

Catherine was very special to me and I promised to avenge her death.

Knowing that there was only one place to go, I left the city. I was going to the only person that could help me find my children. Caiden.

I was going to revisit the past. I had to. I was going to tell him everything.

I could see through the thick jungle ahead of me as dawn was beginning to break. My heart was racing with nervousness and anticipation. It was brave of me to go back to the pack, with memories of a life I had left behind, together with the people who had hurt me.

I moved carefully down the dry-leaf-covered trail, my senses keenly picking up the different scents that filled the air. The first rays of sunshine peaked through the treetops, casting a wonderful ambiance as the dusk painted the horizon in hues of orange and gold.

I finally made it to the center clearing where I could see the Moon Howlers Pack. Nothing seemed strange from a distance in this little town tucked away in the forest. After seven years, not much had changed—well, almost—aside from my wolf, which had almost vanished. My wolf had weakened and gone into slumber because of the rejection.

I assumed the pack would treat me like an outcast for running away. I felt like a theif sneaking in through the back door. However, I was on the verge of immobilization from my fear of rejection again. I realized I couldn't give up. I recalled Sterling's bravery; Noah's serenity; Lucas's beauty; and Kyler's fierceness. I would not have risked coming back here except for them. I was determined to locate my quads and was willing to face hatred from all members of the pack, even Caiden, in order to be reunited with my kids.

Reuniting with the pack was not the hardest mission; rather, it was informing Caiden that he was the father of quadruplets. My mind plagued me with the moment of revelation as my shoe dragged on the grass. My feet had carried me back to the place I had vowed never to go again when I realized it. My pulse was thumping in my chest when I saw a familiar figure in the distance after arriving in the town. My feet stopped as, after seven long years, Enzo's gaze met mine.

I knew he hated me, I found his presence and the fact that I have to see him again quite unbearable.

Before I knew it, he was already where I was, poised to strangle me to death by grabbing me by the neck.

However, he didn't. He looked at me, his face close to mine, as if he was trying to figure me out.

"Kamara, what are you doing here?" His snarl made me take a step back. He took delight in my frailty.

I took a deep breath. I nearly lost my grip when I thought back to the night I left. But now was not the moment to panic. I refused to let Enzo trample on me yet again.

"I'd like to speak with Caiden," I spoke in a firm and uncompromising manner.

"You ceased to be a part of this pack when you fled like a coward," Enzo mocked. He was in that same terrible mood that I'd always seen. "You are not entitled to any requests at this time."

"That's alright. If you won't take me to him, I'll search the entire pack until I find him." Enzo was taken aback.

I could sense that Enzo was observing me and that he didn't like what he saw on my face. I was not the terrified girl he had exiled from the pack seven years ago. I appeared willing to do anything and no longer displayed any fear or trepidation for him.

"Why do you want to see him in such a hurry?" He asked as though he cared.

"That isn't any of your business."

"Well, as the beta, I can't allow people like you bother the Alpha," Enzo retorted, clearly offended by my statement.

I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or terrified that Caiden had at last assumed the role of the alpha.

"Well then, I'm gonna find him myself."

I turned to leave after giving him one last glance, but before I could go three steps , I felt Enzo's hand grabbing me. He had always been power hungry, particularly with Caiden. Enzo almost lost it when I started to get close to Caiden. Even worse, I didn't know why he detested me so much; he loathed me before he even got to know me. It felt like a big issue to be on Enzo's blacklist, but even though the beta was dangerous and constantly irate, I didn't have time to deal with his paranoia.

He released me right away, saying, "I will take you to Caiden." Nevertheless, I was aware that I couldn't trust him. "I want to see him banishing you like the worthless wolf you are."

A content smile expressed his belief that he would prevail in this fight once again. I wanted to answer him, but I gave up. I said nothing as Enzo took me to where Caiden was.

When we came to a halt at the pack house, where I used to reside, I was nearly overcome with panic. From inside the building, I could hear Caiden laughing. When I tell him the secret, it might make my things simpler because at least he was in a good mood. I struggled to catch my breath as I watched Enzo approach the room.

Inside, Caiden was hearing tales from Kastor, the pack's most seasoned hunter. The way he told his stories amused Caiden. He noticed Enzo at the entrance.

"Enzo, why are you here so early?" As the smile on his face vanished.

He coughed and said, "Apologies for disturbing Alpha, but you have a visitor."

"This early, Enzo?" Enzo felt chills down his spine at Caiden's deep, disgruntled voice. "Who's that?"

"Seeing with your own eyes is preferable." he murmured.

Though enraged, Caiden remained motionless and heard the footsteps approaching as Enzo went behind the door. The shadow of a woman materialized on the wall in front of the entrance before Caiden's eyes locked with Kamara's once again.