KADEN’S P.O.V

I practically knew the entire letter by heart now. I spent almost every waking hour reading the words over again and trying to figure out any hidden meanings to it. There was also the fact that it was her writing and it smelled faintly like her. I could almost see her bent over a desk, scribbling the words. It was the closest thing I had to her right now and the only assurance that she was alive and well.


So far, the only thing I could come up with was the hidden love declaration and the fact that she wasn’t touching Blake because she wanted to but because she had to pretend.

It broke me knowing that she was in that position having to deal with that because I hadn’t found her yet. In the past two days, I had felt that pain no less than three different times and each time, I wanted to kill myself even more. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think or even breathe, all I knew was that she wasn’t safe and I needed to get her as soon as possible.

I hadn’t been to see Aaron since the first day she went missing but I found myself standing outside the door to his room. I was getting desperate and anyone who could see me knew it too. I was running out of options fast.


“I was wondering when you would come to see me,” Aaron drawled as soon as I opened the door. “I have been hearing whispers but no one tells me anything. Is she truly-”

“Missing,” I cut him off. “Yes, she is, but that isn’t why I am here. I want to know if you can find her. You said that her magic led you here. Can you try and find her magic and lead me to her.”


“It doesn’t work like that,” he answered softly. “I felt her magic because she was using it. She might not have realized it but she was and it manifests in different ways. If she doesn’t use it then I won’t know. Magic lies dormant most times.”

“I need something,” I ground out. “Anything at all. Are you telling me that you are completely useless?”

He didn’t even blanch from my insult. “Unless I am in close proximity, I won’t be able to sense dormant magic. She isn’t in this pack and she isn’t in this pack house, there is no way I can sense her from here.”

I understood exactly what he was saying.

“You want me to release you.”

“I am saying that is the only way I would be able to find her. I can snoop around neighboring packs, I can try to find her.”

“What if you are caught? What if you don’t return?”

“I know how to stay hidden when I want to, Kaden, and I came here for Amelia, I will not leave until I have helped her the way I want to. She is my niece, I want her back as much as you do.”

I didn’t trust Aaron, I didn’t trust anyone much these days but I was grasping at straws. Nothing seemed to be yielding results and I needed to get Amelia away from Blake as soon as possible. I just hoped I wasn’t going to regret my decision in the future.

I stepped aside for him. “You’re free to go.”

He raised a brow. “Is it that simple?”

“I swear on my pack that no one will stop you,” to say he was shocked would have been an understatement.

He stood to his feet and slowly took a step forward as if cautious. When I didn’t stop him, he smiled and headed straight for the door. I waited until he was within arm’s reach to grab his elbow.

“If you do anything that jeopardizes Amelia or if you don’t return, I will hunt you to the very ends of the earth and mount your head on a spike outside my pack walls, am I clear?”

His eyes widened in shock but he nodded. “Crystal clear.”

I released him and he disappeared.

I stayed in that room for a little while longer debating all my choices before finally dragging myself to my feet. I didn’t know where I was headed to next, it was most likely going to be my office when I got a call. It was from an unknown number but I recognized the digits. I had memorized it the day I was given the note.

As soon as I picked up, I heard Brittany’s voice on the other end. “I am surprised you haven’t called since. I had to steal your number to get to you.”

“What do you want, Brittany? There is a reason I didn’t call.”

“You don’t trust me, I know that, it is a wise decision if you ask me. I wouldn’t trust me either but then again, we have the same goals. I can help you.”

“We don’t have the same goals.”

“Don’t we?” she asked, amusement dripping from her tone. “This pack is mine. If Blake mates with her, she gets to be Luna and I don’t want that. I want what was mine by birth, she doesn’t get to take that away from me too. I’m the best bet you have.”

I knew she was right. “What do you want then?”

“I can’t leave this pack, Blake has men watching me twenty four hours of the day, but they don’t follow me when I enter the goddess’ temple. If you can sneak into the pack and meet me there-”

“Are you insane? Why would I do that? You could betray me.”

“I could,” she mused. “But I won’t. The East border isn’t well manned. There is a blind spot around the stream. You can get in without anyone noticing. How does tomorrow sound?”

“I never said I was coming.”

She just hummed. “You have the rest of today to make a decision. I will be at the temple around four in the evening. I’ll see you there.”