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*****
*Izabella*
I watched as Eli, Tamia and Ashton played silently, definitely linking to each other so that I wouldn’t hear a thing, and even though Eli and Tamia were really good at neutral faces – something they undoubtedly got from our Beta, Ashton wasn’t the same way and I could read my son’s face. It clearly showed that whatever they were linking about upset them.
I was trying to figure out what it was…
Corey, Sean and a few of our guys had gone to find Jayden yesterday, they hadn’t called to update us on their situation at all yet. We didn’t know how far they were, but I trusted they were alright. They were an incredibly strong group of wolves, after all.
“Mommy?” I snapped out of my daze that had left me staring at the kids and found them all watching me.
“Yes?” I asked looking at Ashton.
“Can we get pizza?” Eli asked.
I smiled. They hadn’t eaten all morning. I was ready to feed them pretty much anything as long as they were willing to eat it. “Sure, where do you guys want to go?” I asked.
“I wanna play.” Tamia looked back at her dolls before her eyes moved to me again.
“Yeah, Annie can watch us,” Ashton said.
“Will you get it, please?” Eli inserted looking at me sweetly.
I frowned. Annie – or Annabelle – was a teenager that lived next door, well, before our houses were destroyed. She usually watched Ashton while Sean and I were out but I knew she didn’t do that great a job, she was still young but at least he never got hurt while under her supervision, which is more than I can say for his father.
“Fine. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” They all nodded their responses at me before turning back to their toys looking slightly less upset. I got up grabbing my bag. “Behave yourselves.” I gave the kids a smile and left to call Annabelle before I went to get their pizza.
—–
I glanced at the pizza contemplating eating a piece before I got home but restrained myself because I knew Ashton had a weird obsession where he always wanted to see the pizza as a whole before he took a slice. I had no idea where he had gotten that from.
I sighed pushing my hair behind my ear wondering if the others had found Jayden yet. It did not feel good, none of them had called to update us. Had they gone to the wrong place? No, Marcus’s magic was never wrong…
I pulled over to the side of the road as the ring tone I’d set specifically for Annabelle began to blast. I’d set it just in case Ashton ever drove her crazy enough to go into a state of panic where she would absolutely need to call me. It had never happened before and usually, she just called to update us when someone came by urgently looking for us.
Despite never needing it, I still kept the ringtone, especially now with all three kids together. I mean, Ashton alone sometimes pushed her to the edge just for fun. I felt bad for leaving her with them all at the same time, but they were in a packhouse with a lot of other wolves so she could call for help.
“Hey, what’s up?” I answered my phone.
“I-I-I was watching – I mean, I went downstairs for just a bit because-because I heard – I thought I heard someone calling, b-but –” She was stuttering and I could barely make out what was being said as she ran through her words.
“Annabelle, calm down.” I tried not to smile, “It can’t be that bad, what did they do?” I asked.
“They – They’re gone, Izabella.” I opened my mouth to give an automatic ‘it’s okay’ reply but stopped as I realised what had been said.
“They’re gone?” I asked.
“I-I came back to Tamia’s room and they aren’t here – I-I’ve looked everywhere, I’m so-so sorry, I –” she was saying.
“No, no, wait.” I cut her off, “My, uh… Ash, Eli and Tammy? They’re gone? What-what do you mean they’re gone?”
“I-I think they left out of the window and we thought…” I let her voice drift while staring at the road ahead.
Gone? My mouth gaped open a little. Where could they have gone? Why would they have left? I heard the phone ruffle before someone spoke into my ear desperately.
“Izabella?” I heard Hayley.
“Yes?” I asked.
“Carrie’s gone too.”
—–
*Corey*
I growled, in both anger and delight as we ran through the trees.
‘Hey,’ Jason growled, ‘Some of us are mere Deltas, can you two slow down?!’ He growled annoyed.
‘No.’ I replied simply and quickened my pace.
Everyone growled, clearly exhausted as we had been running without a break for a day. Sean and I exchanged glances and ran faster ahead of the pack. They could catch up, I was not slowing down for any reason.
I growled again randomly and Sean shot me a glare.
‘Stop doing that, it’s annoying.’ He linked to me.
‘Can’t help it, he’s so close!’ I’d have him back, safe with me in just an hour or so.
Sean just laughed at my reaction before his phone went off. Again.
Zeke growled telling him to shift and answer. I shook my head, we weren’t slowing down. Sean would be able to look at his phone later. He had been the only one who had insisted on keeping his phone on him, we had all left our things with the reserve wolves who were staying back at a motel until they were called. Now Sean was a black wolf with a bag hanging over him. He looked like an idiot, to say the least. A wolf with a bag…
‘Could be important.’ Jason growled.
I shot him a glance and Sean shook his head.
‘Doesn’t matter. We get Jay before we let anything distract us.’ He growled.
I couldn’t have been more grateful for Sean’s cooperation at the moment but knew he was doing it because there was no way I would be able to focus on anything if I was away from Jayden for longer.
I growled causing everyone to stop as I did too. I could feel him. Without magic, I could feel him… It seemed that the magic used on Jayden did not completely block our pull, just weaken it so much I could not feel him from far away. From where we were, I could feel that he was really close and wanted to figure out the quietest way to approach so that we did not slip up and let them get away while leaving him behind if they could not take him with them.
No, I was killing them, before the sun went down I would find him and taste their blood. They could not be brought back twice.
I was snapped from my thoughts as Jason nudged my shoulder.
‘Smell that?’ He asked.
I sniffed the air and growled. It was the really strong smell of wolfsbane, and in it lingered Mike’s scent. I couldn’t forget that scent. I didn’t even remember ripping him apart, my wolf had taken complete control in that moment, but now I was going to keep a level-head, just so that I could replay the memory of killing him whenever I felt like it.
‘Calm down, we don’t want to let them know we’re here, remember?’ Zeke linked to me.
‘Ambushes aren’t any fun.’ I linked back to him. I absolutely hated taking a subtle approach to fights, what was the point of killing someone before even being able to see the fear on their faces? I guess I did not want to risk it with Mike and Jayden’s father, but it would be fun to see them try to get away only to realise there was no way out.
‘You’re harsh.’ Sean shot me a look.
‘Stop linking to me.’ I snapped back in a growl. Usually Alpha’s were incredibly brutal, but I think Izabella’s the reason Sean’s brutality couldn’t compare to mine. Or maybe Jayden was the reason…
We began sneaking through the trees until we found the house and began to carefully make our way around it, my impatience was growing with every step we took and I let out a low growl that quickly caused Sean to tell me to calm down. I could not smell Jayden, just so much wolfsbane…
I spotted an open window and decided to ignore Sean’s ‘subtle’ approach and jump into it, quickly realising that it was a kitchen. I heard him growl, but ignored him as I sniffed the air.
The smell of wolfsbane was strong enough to make my eyes water and burn my throat.
What had they done to him?
I was about to go running blindly towards where I felt him but paused when I heard a laugh.
“St-stop –” I froze. Jay? “Please… Just-just kill me.” My heart stopped in my chest.
“Aw Jay,” I heard his father’s voice in a chuckle, “You don’t get that luxury, remember?”
I sprinted up the stairs and smashed into the room that smelt the strongest of wolfsbane, I didn’t hesitate before diving at Jayden’s father while linking to Sean.
‘Mike’s not in here.’
I didn’t need him to reply to know he was going to look for the guy.
A splash brought me back to the present as wolfsbane stung at my skin and Jayden’s scream made me shift instantly, his father’s screams drowning from my ears.
As soon as I was human, my hands grabbed his arms causing him to cry out more as I pulled him from the bath. I barely felt the wolfsbane burn through the skin of my hands as I put them in the water, I was too focused on getting him out.
Once he was out, I lifted him into my arms and desperately held him against me as my eyes ran around the bathroom looking for a shower. There was none, but we needed to get the water off fast.
I ran from the room, Jayden still groaning while he tried to push away from me telling me that I was getting wolfsbane all over myself as well. For the moment, I ignored his concern about me because he was obviously in a much worse state than I would be with just a few drops of wolfsbane against my skin.
I gave a breath of relief as I found another bathroom and shoved him into the shower before turning on the warm water. He was leaning in the corner weakly as I held him up.
“Can you stand?” I asked. He gave a weak nod.
“Cor –” he began.
“Wait here,” I cut him off.
I let go, watched him for a few seconds to make sure he wouldn’t fall before I walked from the room. I found some clothes in another room and just pulled a pair of pants on before walking back into the bathroom Jayden was initially in.
As I entered the room, I chuckled dryly at the sight of Jayden’s father sprawled across the room, crying as he desperately tried to wipe the wolfsbane water from his eyes and face, but because his hands were covered in it, he wasn’t doing a very effective job.
“You’re pathetic…” I muttered grabbing the jar of wolfsbane. It began burning my hand despite the glass that separated my skin from the ground plant but that didn’t matter.
I threw the rest of the contents on his face because it was the only exposed skin and watched as he began screaming and withering, trying to brush it off.
“Damn, Corey,” Zeke muttered from the door sounding sick as he watched Jayden’s father.
“Where’s the other?” I looked at him. He bit his lip nervously and my jaw clenched.
Shit. Mike was gone. Again!
“No, no. Come on, Zeke, he’s gotta be close –”
“No… he’s clearly been gone for a while.” I looked at the door as Sean walked in.
I grit my teeth running my hand through my hair. This cannot be happening…
As long as he was alive, I knew Jayden would never feel safe, he would never be safe. And damnit, I needed the satisfaction of torturing that piece of shit!
“Take care of him,” I muttered to Zeke while motioning to the guy that still screamed on the floor, the wolfsbane having completely burned the skin on his face and hands away. I then turned to head back to the room I’d left Jayden in.
Once there, I pulled my mate out of the shower and caught the pants Sean threw at me. Jayden wasn’t healing at all. It was definitely the trauma mixed with his usual slow healing. I helped him pull the pants on and he gave a weak chuckle. I didn’t have to read his mind to know what he was thinking. Usually, I didn’t help him put his clothes on…
“Here.” I looked at Sean as he held out a small bottle while I helped Jayden sit on the floor because he was having trouble standing. From what I smelt, it was filled with blood.
“Izabella?” He nodded.
I smiled letting Jayden drink all of the bottle’s contents and noticed he instantly began healing again, much faster than usual. I couldn’t have been more grateful for Izabella’s blood…
“Good thing I brought a bag, huh?” I rolled my eyes as Sean smirked.
“Whatever,” I replied.
As Jayden began to heal rapidly, I pulled him into a tight hug and finally felt completely at ease and relieved as he lifted his arms to my neck. It did not last long though, because he spoke.
“Eli –” The sound of Jayden’s voice showed how worried he was and I cut him off.
“Eli’s fine, he’s at home. His leg has already healed. I dealt with Carrie, we have her locked up. Everything’s okay, and I’m so sorry, Jayden.” I whispered tightening my grip on him. He inhaled deeply.
“They said he was dead.” Jayden sounded so drained, “Thank you for looking for me… I honestly didn’t think you would.”
“What? Why wouldn’t I?” Despite his eyes avoiding mine as I pulled back to look at him, I knew what he was referring to. “I love you, of course I’d look for you.”
“It didn’t seem like that.” He mumbled, “And maybe… maybe that’s the way things are… but you won’t admit it.”
“Jay – What?” I asked in shock, “No. I love you, I do. That… I told you, that was nothing and I didn’t know she would do any of this, I would never intentionally hurt you.” I whispered.
“I know. I’m not talking about this. She wouldn’t even have been around if you just told me what happened to begin with, you wouldn’t have had to tell me about anything if you didn’t kiss her in the first place… there’s-there’s a reason you did that.” He replied. I began to disagree. No, the only reason I did that was stupidity and beer.
“I’m, uh… I’m going to… to check my phone…” Sean’s awkward voice reminded me that he was still in the vicinity as he quickly backed out of the room and I loosed my grip on Jayden just enough to let him lean against the wall so we were looking at each other comfortably. I felt my stomach twist when he completely let me go to drop his hands onto his lap as he gulped.
“I think… we need a break.”
“What?” My voice barely left my throat in a whisper. He nodded confirming what he had said.
“Clearly we have some things to figure out. I mean,” Jayden gave a humourless laugh as his eyes still stared down to his hands before meeting mine again, “I still don’t like myself, I don’t think I’m worthy of anyone so I’ve never stopped questioning you and why we’re together… And you… you think I never forgave you – which isn’t right, because I forgave you, just never myself, but it’s made you so insecure, you… I feel like you’re not fully committed to us because you’re just waiting, waiting for me end it, but you’re scared of that too. You’re so afraid that I would not want to be with you that you-you bought the woman you cheated on me with into our house. You let her get close to me, to our children. That’s painful… and humiliating…” I opened my mouth to speak even though I had no idea what I would say, but Jayden continued, “You hated her, knew there was something wrong, she made you so uncomfortable and you knew that she might even be dangerous and yet, you wouldn’t be honest with me because you don’t trust that I would understand or want to stay with you after everything. These insecurities… I just think they’re something we have to deal with… without each other, at least right now… I just think it’s best for both of us and for the twins if we… if we take a break, Corey.” I shook my head as tears I did not realise had filled my eyes began to run down my cheeks but he lifted his hands to my face with a small, sombre smile on his, “I do love you, Babe, and I really think we can figure this out… Like I said… just a break, some time…”
“No, no. Wait. Jayden, let’s just – just pause, we can talk about this at home, okay?” Jayden’s smile fell and I instantly regretted speaking. Had I made it worse?
“Will we? One of our problems clearly is that we don’t talk.” He mumbled. I let out a choked breath trying to form words in my mind through the panic I felt at what he had said – which was proving his point about how afraid I was that he would want to break up eventually but before any nonsensical rambling or pleading could leave my mouth, Sean walked back into the room looking panic-stricken.
“Corey,” He gasped.
“What –?” My voice cracked and I quickly cleared my throat while feeling Jayden’s thumbs gently brush the tears from my cheeks. “What’s wrong?”
“The kids – The kids are gone.” Jayden paused, his hands falling onto my shoulders as he looked at Sean, “Izzy called and said she left them with Anabelle for a few minutes and-and they – they went off on their own.”
I felt Jayden tense beneath my grip as my heart stopped.
“No, did she look in the –?”
“The whole pack’s been looking, everywhere. They’re gone, Corey.”
My chest felt tight as I stared at the floor near Sean. No, I couldn’t take any more of this.
They’re gone… and Mike’s gone.
*****
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