AIDEN’S P.O.V

If I had known that Amelia going missing was all that it would take to make Kaden spiral then I would have helped Blake take her a long time ago.


Kaden never went anywhere without adequate protection, especially not another pack and especially not in the middle of the night. He was always careful but since Amelia was taken, he had been sloppy and I knew it was only a matter of time until I would be able to catch him unaware- today was that day.

I watched him sneak into the pack and for the longest time, I debated on whether I should inform Blake or not but I figured it had nothing to do with me. If Blake were to find out, he would probably confront Kaden and I needed this secret meeting to go perfectly so that I could do my own part.

The rogues were waiting in the trees. It was amazing how well they could hide. I suppose when you’ve lived your entire life in the shadows that it almost becomes second nature. I wasn’t sure if they were that good or if Kaden just wasn’t paying much attention because he didn’t notice them until it was far too late and he was surrounded.


“Are you ready?” I asked into the phone. I was speaking directly with their appointed leader. They knew their job, it was very simple- attack to kill. “He cannot get away.”

“I’ve been doing this for far longer than you have been alive,” the rogue drawled into the phone. “He will not escape us, I swear it to you.”


“Make it worth my while,” I said before hanging up and I watched with glee as Kaden was thrown to the side.

There were six of them and only one of him and I watched as they attacked him. Kaden was a ferocious fighter, his wolf even more so, but even he couldn’t fight six fully grown rogues on his own, he knew better than that. That didn’t stop him from trying to defend himself though.

It was a rush of claws and teeth as they slashed and bit themselves. Kaden managed to grab the head of a rogue between his teeth and pulled it off at once. They were one less but they were still overpowering him and I had faith that he would lose, especially when they had a secret weapon.

The leader was hidden in the trees, a bow and arrow in his hands and I watched as he nocked an arrow. A smile grew on my lips as the arrow flew and impaled itself in Kaden’s front limb. His loud roar of pain was like music to my ears. Not only was it painful, the arrow was dipped in silver and wolf’s bane. I could see the effects start to take hold as his moved became sloppier. One of the rogues even managed to scratch him so deep in that same injured limb. The smell of blood filled the air and with it, the smell of me becoming Alpha soon.

“Kill him,” I whispered more to myself than anyone. “Make him suffer.”

Another arrow flew, impaling itself in the open flesh of that same limb and Kaden fell to the ground with a cry. He couldn’t move, even if he tried. The victory felt so close, I could almost taste it. The leader jumped down from the tree, silver sword in hand. My request was simple, give me Kaden’s head and you get your pay.

He stalked forward, ready to swing the sword when I heard some noise from the trees nearby. I watched in shock as Caleb’s fucking brown wolf burst through the woods with some guards behind him. I let out a groan of frustration as the rogues scattered.

“NO!” I growled wanting nothing more than to rip Caleb’s head off his body. He had ruined my plan.

Rage course through me as I was forced to turn on my heels and abandoned the ship. I couldn’t risk being caught here, not now. I got into the car that I had hidden and drove off as fast as I could towards the pack. Kaden was only a few seconds from death. If only Caleb had just waited a few fucking minutes.

I slammed my hand hard against the steering wheel.

The only consoling fact was that even if Kaden was revived, his shoulder would be out of commission for a while. He was badly hurt and with all the silver coursing through his system, it would be a miracle if he had full use of his hand in two weeks. I could still plan something in that time- I had to.

This was my one chance and I wasn’t going to blow it.

I drove back to the pack house and sat in the lounge area waiting for someone to come in with the news of Kaden being hurt. It took almost two painful hours of waiting before some guards rushed in, whispering under their breaths as they did.

“The Alpha is in the hospital, did you hear?” one of them whispered. “He was badly hurt. They don’t know if he is going to make it.”

“What happened?”

“A rogue attack. They say he was looking for his mate.”

I didn’t wait to hear the rest of it, I took a taxi to the hospital. I found Aunt Marjorie there pacing the waiting area. As soon as she saw me, she let out a sigh and rushed over to me.

“Is he alright?” I asked and she shook her head. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. Caleb hasn’t said anything yet, he is still with the doctors. They say that he was badly torn apart. Who would do such a thing?”

“I don’t know but I’m sure that Amelia’s disappearance has something to do with it. Someone wants to hurt Kaden.”

She ran her hands over her face. “Thank you for coming, Aiden. It is good to have family on our side at a time like this.”

“You can always count on me. Kaden and I might have our differences but he is like a brother to me. I will do everything in my power to bring those rogues to justice, I swear it.”