KADEN’S P.O.V

I felt like I was going in the opposite direction but mum was certain that this was what we needed to focus on. I just wanted to find Amelia, I couldn’t be bothered about whatever fucked up reason he took her but that didn’t stop me from going through every single thing I had heard about Blake so far.


On paper, I knew that he wanted her because he was in love with her, or he believed himself to be but mum said it wasn’t enough. She claimed there was something else I was missing and that I would know what it was whenever I found it.

We had maybe two days until it became public knowledge that Amelia was missing and I needed to do everything possible to make sure I was close to finding her before then. I couldn’t handle a panic around the pack as well as trying to find my mate at the same time.

“I don’t know what the hell I am meant to be looking for,” I groaned turning to my mother who was standing directly in front of me. She was on the phone but after my outburst, she quickly hung up. “I already know why he took her. What more do you want me to find?”


She sighed and took the couch beside me. “Why did he do it now? He was in love with her last week and last month. What was so special about now that he chose it to take her?”

“I don’t know.”


“Think, Kaden, he has been Alpha for a while so why would he choose now? It doesn’t have to be a confirmed answer, it could be a theory. You must have noticed something unusual while you were at his pack.”

I thought about it. everything seemed unusual while I was there from the mistress who welcomed us even down to the fact that Brittany seemed out of place. I mentioned everything in order as if crossing off a list but nothing seemed to stand out to me so I did it again. I was doing it the third time when something occurred to me.

“I didn’t see Gregory anywhere,” I said suddenly and mum raised a brow. “I didn’t think much of it then and it might not have anything to do with this but-”

“But what?” mum probed and I let out a deep exhale and explained everything about Aaron to her and the story he had told us about what happened with Amelia’s mother and Gregory.

By the time I was done speaking, her eyes were as wide as saucers. It was clear that she knew nothing about it either. It filled me with some sense of relief at least, it meant that it was still a secret although with things like this, I wasn’t sure how long they could stay secrets.

“Blake might know the truth,” she mumbled softly and I nodded. “It would make sense that he would want to take her now. If she has that much power then her child might inherit some of it too. It would only make sense that he would want to mate with her so that it can be his child.”

“He can’t mate with her,” I snarled. “I already marked Amelia.”

“Mating bonds can be broken, Kaden,” mum’s voice was soft. “With or without the mark.”

The thought of that had my blood boiling with rage. If he tried to break our bond, I was going to do everything in my power to ensure that he died a slow and painful death and I didn’t give a damn if we went to war for it after. We were planning a fucking mating ceremony when she was taken.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. The mere thought of it alone had me wanting to rip my hair out from the sides. Blake had chosen the worst possible time to come for her and if I had only been by her side then all of this would have never happened. If I had just stayed with her like the mate bond wanted me to, she would be here.”

I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. “We will find her, I know we will.”

“We have to,” I added sitting up straight. “I’ll go and talk to Aaron. He might know something about Gregory. If Blake is working with Gregory or with information from him then Aaron might have something useful for us.”

I was getting to my feet when I heard a knock on my door. I knew it wasn’t Caleb because he was already inside the house and even if he wasn’t, he would have just walked straight in. I glanced over at my mother wondering if she was expecting anyone but she shook her head. She was eyeing the door warily but I walked over and pulled it open without a second thought.

On the opposite side of the door was Aiden. He had a small smile on his face and a Tupperware in his hands. To say I was shocked to see him would have been the understatement of the century, especially with the way he was smiling at me like we were longtime friends.

“What do you want?” I asked unable to keep the edge out of my voice.

“Can’t I come to see my cousin?” he asked. “I saw your mum’s car outside. It seems you are holding a family reunion without me. That is a bit unfair, don’t you think so, Kaden?”

Aiden was a slimy piece of shit- family or not. Our last interaction had been anything but pretty and it was a while ago. There was no need for him to come over now. He obviously wanted something and until I knew what it was, I wasn’t going to put my guard down.

“I will only ask one more time and then I will shut the door in your face.”

“Alright, wow, who pissed in your food?” he mused. “I brought some food for you. I got the news and I just knew that it would be unfair of me to not come and see you. We might not get along so well but we are family and family always-”

“What news?” I cut him off.

“Oh, Amelia is missing.”

“How did you know that?”

He snorted. “The entire pack knows.”