KADEN’S P.O.V

The scolding from Caleb was exactly what I needed to get off my ass and start focusing on the right things.


The flower I had gotten from Brittany was dead by the time I got back to it but I was able to describe it enough for a simple internet search and luckily, we were able to found it. It did little to help us find Amelia considering the fact that it grew in a large variety of areas but when we added Brittany’s clue about mud, it narrowed it down to three main areas.

It wasn’t a lot but it was something. It was closer than we had been in a long time. Now the fact remained- how were we going to find her? I had an idea but Caleb was not the biggest fan of it. He didn’t like a lot of my ideas to be honest but even he knew that it was the only one we had.

“Why can’t I stay with you?” he asked. “We can send someone else to-”


“You’re the only one I trust,” I cut him off. “There are two other forests to check but this is the closest to Blake’s pack, he should be keeping her here. I will distract him while you go and find her.”

He pursed his lips but said nothing because we were already at the point where we split up. He mumbled a small curse under his breath before getting out of the car.


“Be careful,” he warned and I gave him a curt nod before he dashed into the woods.

I waited until he was gone before I headed for the border. I had instructed our spies to let out some rumors that I was going to show up at the pack. It would ensure that Blake was at the pack when I arrived. I could have snuck in using the blind spot but I wanted him to see me.

The guards blocked my way, creating a circle around my car and I snorted. If I wanted to drive through them all, I would, but instead, I stopped the car. With a harsh grunt, I opened the door and stepped out, loving how they took slow steps back as if they were scared of me.

They were staring at my arm and I knew news of my injury had already spread. My arm was nowhere near healed but I couldn’t wear the brace so I had left it at home. My bones protested and burned from how much energy it took to even pretend that I was fine but I was going to buy Caleb as much time as possible.

“Get me Blake,” I snarled making them take a few more steps back. “I want to see the coward that you call an Alpha.”

“Our Alpha does not respond to summons,” one of them was brave enough to say.

He was close enough that I reached out and grabbed him by the shirt until he was dangling above ground. He let out a small squeal that reminded me of a mouse as his weapons dropped from his hands. The rest didn’t even dare hold up their weapons against me as I stared down at him.

“Get me the bastard,” I spat in his face and I could almost smell the fear emanating off him.

There was a split second of silence and I smelled it- piss. It was almost comical that these were the men guarding the entire pack. I was sure if I growled at him, he would pass out.

“Stop scaring my men, Kaden,” I heard a voice drawl and I turned to find Blake leaning against a tree. He had three guards flanking him wearing full protection and holding weapons. “You wanted to see me, I am here.”

I threw the man to the ground watching out of the corner of my eye as he scurried away. I almost felt bad for him but he wasn’t the focus for today- Blake was. He looked like he had rushed here, his clothes were a mess and his shoes were coated in mud, almost as if he had forgotten to change them. He followed my line of sight and grinned.

“I like outside work,” he shrugged. “What do you want, Kaden? I don’t like unwanted visitors.”

“I want my mate and don’t give me that bullshit about not knowing where she is. You took her, give her back.”

He smiled sadistically and pushed off from the tree. “I didn’t take your mate, but I am sure that wherever she is, she is happier than she was when she was with you.”

I growled and took a step forward but stopped in my tracks when I noticed a red dot pointed directly at my chest.

“You’re a coward, hiding behind men with guns. Why don’t you come out here and let us settle this one on one? If I win then you have to give her back to me.”

“Even if I wanted to, I don’t have her. I can’t give you what I don’t have and your arm is hurt despite how badly you want to hide it.”

I curled the corner of my lip. “I knew you were a coward but you should at least try to hide it in front of your pack.”

I turned my back on him and headed straight for my car. I anticipated his move even before he rushed at me and managed to dodge at the last minute. One of the most disrespectful things you could do to an Alpha was turn your back on them. It was the same as saying you didn’t consider them a threat and I knew that Blake would take offense to that.

He let out a growl and rushed me again, this time trying to aim for my wounded arm. Once again, I managed to side step him but this time, I kicked the back of his knee as I did, making him fall face first into the ground.

It went on like that for a while, him blindly attacking and me just side stepping him. I could easily end the fight but I needed to buy Caleb more time, I needed to make sure he had done everything he needed to do. I was so focused on buying Caleb time that I wasn’t completely into the fight and I didn’t realize when Blake faked a move just so he could dig his now extended claws into my wounded arm.

A pained growl left my lips as the pain reverberated through my entire body. It was a miracle that I didn’t end up on the ground.

As if that wasn’t enough, he took the opportunity to run his claws through my mid section.

At the smell of my blood, I realized it was time to end the game. I just hoped it was enough for Caleb and his spies to get a good comprehensive search. I grabbed Blake by the collar and threw him hard against a tree. The tree bent from his weight and I grabbed him by the throat.

“Where is Amelia?” I growled but all he did was laugh.

He smiled wide, his teeth bloody as he spoke. “You will never find her.”