KADEN’S P.O.V

We searched the pack for the entire day. I didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, if breathing wasn’t an involuntary action, I wasn’t sure I would have even remembered to breathe. With each passing second, I knew that Amelia wasn’t in the pack but that didn’t stop me from searching.


I combed every inch of the pack down to the hidden pockets in the woods but I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t even get a whiff of her scent. It was like she had just disappeared off the surface of the earth. I knew that was impossible. Whoever had taken her had just done a very good job of hiding their scents.

It was around ten when I finally returned to the hospital. Everyone was there because of Clara. I didn’t even know how she was doing until I walked in. She had a bandage around her head and an IV in her hands but she looked fine. When I walked in, they took one look at my expression and Pamela burst into tears.

Devin struggled to console her but I kept my attention fixed on Clara. “What happened?”


I knew it was probably too early to question her but I didn’t care. My mate’s life was in danger and I was going to do everything possible to make sure that she was safe even if that meant upsetting Clara.

“We were with Aaron and he was telling us about powers. I agreed to show him mine if he showed me his. I looked through the eyes of the birds and I saw a camp within the pack. There were a few wolves I didn’t recognize and I saw Blake. I knew he was here for Amelia. I was going to bring her to you. We left immediately after I saw it.”


“How come you didn’t get to me?” I couldn’t get the edge out of my voice.

“Kaden, it wasn’t her fault,” Caleb tried to reason with me but I ignored him.

“A wolf came out of nowhere while we were driving. I tried to swerve so I wouldn’t hit it but I crashed. I passed out immediately and when I woke up, I was here. I don’t know what happened. I’m so sorry.”

Tears gathered in her eyes and I knew she was sorry. It wasn’t her fault and I knew that but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words to her, not until I found Amelia. I just gave her a curt nod and turned on my heels. I heard Caleb rushing after me but I didn’t wait to speak to him. I had just gotten into my car when I noticed him also getting into the passenger seat.

“Go to your sister,” I instructed but he ignored me. “That was an order, Caleb.”

“Respectfully, fuck your order,” he spat and I raised a brow. He knew better than to fight with me. “Amelia didn’t just matter to you, she mattered to all of us.”

“Matters,” I corrected. “She isn’t dead.”

His cheeks flushed pink. “Right, I’m sorry. The point is that I won’t let you act like you have to find her on your own. I want to help, Clara wants to help. I know you’re on your way to Blake’s pack right now and I am not letting you go alone so you don’t raze the pack to the ground.”

“If I don’t find her, I will.”

It wasn’t a threat, it was a promise and even Caleb knew that because he sighed.

“Just let me help you,” he said finally. “Clara can sketch a picture of the people she saw. We can leave tonight and we will get Amelia back by tomorrow.”

I reluctantly nodded and started the car.

We drove in perfect silence but my thoughts were a storm inside of me. It was such a chore to keep my wolf under wraps. He wanted out, he wanted Amelia and I couldn’t blame him, I wanted her too. It was my fault that she was gone. If I had just respected the mate bond and stayed with her, she would have never been taken. I just had to go into work.

It didn’t take long for Caleb to get everything we needed including some fresh clothes. I didn’t have plans to stay long but Caleb always liked to be prepared. He also made a call to Pamela to ask for a picture from Clara.

“I think I should drive,” he said once it was time to leave.

“No.”

I didn’t even have to think about it.

“I don’t think you’re in the right frame of mind to drive right now.”

“The only thing keeping me from losing my ever loving shit is the fact that I have my hands on the wheels,” I said simply. “I’m driving, nothing will change that so either get in the fucking car or drive with someone else. I truly don’t give a shit.”

Caleb pursed his lips but nodded and got into the other side. “I have some guards going with us in case there is a resistance. I don’t want it to come down to it though.”

“As long as he gives Amelia back to me without a scratch on her and I can rip him apart with my bare hands, then I don’t give a shit about their pack.”

“The guards won’t sit by and watch you kill their Alpha no matter how much they don’t like him.”

I shrugged. “Then I’ll kill them too.”

“It is going to be a blood bath, Kaden. It is my job as your Beta to tell you that this is not going to end well no matter what. We have to think of a diplomatic way-”

“The lost every right to diplomacy the moment my mate was taken from my pack,” I spat. “They snuck in here, took her and left. I will rip every single one of them to shreds with my bare hands and nothing you say will change it.”

Caleb stayed silent. He knew this was a lost cause.

I cleared my throat before speaking again. “I need to know how they snuck in. Find the guards who were working at the border and find out from Clara what border Blake came in through. I want their bodies hanging by the time I return.”