Avenger(43)

“Grandpa!” Charlotte rushed to Cody’s side.

“Caeden, you need to calm down,” Bryce grabbed my arm, trying to pull me away.

I slung his hold off with so much force that he went flying through the air and landed on his butt.

Anger coursed through my veins like a powerful drug. For the first time in my whole life, I hated what I was. Being a shifter had caused this. I might lose everything to that psycho because I belonged to this world.

I crumpled to my knees as defeat hit me.

A cry escaped my throat and I grasped at the snow, letting the cold seep into me, reminding me that I was alive. Alive, while Sophie was either dead, or fighting for her life. I’d never forgive myself for this, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she hated me if—no, when—I found her. Because I would find her…and she’d be alive.

I had to believe that, or I couldn’t keep going.

I finally rose, bracing my shoulders against the cold wind. “I want you all gone,” I whispered, knowing they’d hear me. When none of them moved, my anger returned. “LEAVE!”

I watched as they began to shift back to their wolf form and left. Bentley, Christian, my mom, Bryce, Sophie’s parents, and Lucinda lingered.

“Go away!” I yelled at them, not caring how harsh I sounded.

No one moved though.

They stared at me, watching as I broke apart. I was their Alpha and they shouldn’t see me like this. But today’s events had taken its toll on me. I’d lost Sophie and threatened my pack—which went against everything an Alpha stood for. You were a leader, the voice of reason, you weren’t supposed to threaten your pack. But I meant every word. I wasn’t going to be weak and stand by. It was probably a bad thing that I’d let my belief of a mole be known, but I’d needed to say it. I couldn’t keep everything bottled inside anymore.

As my family and friends stood, watching me, I finally got the strength to stand once more.

Garrett, Sophie’s dad, was the first to approach me.

“We’re going to get her back.”

I nodded, but I wasn’t so sure.





Sixteen.

Caeden

Eight days.

One hundred and ninety-two hours.

Eleven thousand five hundred and twenty minutes.

Six hundred ninety-two thousand and two hundred seconds.

That was how long Sophie had been gone.

How was it possible that I continued to live and function without my heart and soul?

I wasn’t sleeping.

I wasn’t eating.

I was existing.

Going through the motions with no destination.

I was half out of my mind and there was nothing I could do to change it. Sophie was gone, and I couldn’t find her. I’d been searching and searching, and always came up empty. I was tempted to rip out Cody and Baxter’s throats just to feel like I was doing something.

I’d never been a violent person, but losing Sophie again was making me more animal than man. Being separated from your mate was a painful thing and I wasn’t even experiencing those affects because the baby disrupted our connection. Despite that, I knew she wasn’t dead. I’d feel it if…if he killed her. I almost threw up at the very thought. I hoped, wherever she was, that she knew I’d find her.

* * *

Sophie

My whole body hurt like I’d been run over by a car…actually a train seemed more accurate.

I wouldn’t summit to Travis’ delusion that we were going to be a family, so he hit me. A lot.

I was close to giving in though.

Not because I was hurting—even though I was—and not because I’d given up. I could take anything he dealt me. But I was concerned about the baby. He moved inside me restlessly and it was like he was aware that we were in danger. I couldn’t keep letting Travis hurt me, because it hurt Beau.

I had resolved that when he returned to the room I was confined in, I’d play into his fantasy. I wasn’t an actress, but when you’re in a life or death situation, the things you can do are pretty remarkable.

I sat up, which was difficult with my arms chained above my head, and licked my parched lips. It had been a while since Travis had visited me, and he hadn’t brought water or food with him then. I think his new tactic, instead of violence, was to starve me until I caved to his demands. Little did he know that I was already there.

“Mommy’s going to protect you,” I whispered to my bump. Talking to the baby was the only thing keeping me sane.

I took a deep breath and started counting the cracks and dents in the ceiling. It was the only thing I had to do that passed the time. Boredom was a killer. And while counting wasn’t fun, it was something.

Maybe if I was nice to Travis he’d let me have a TV.

I wondered if I could sweet-talk him into unchaining me? I didn’t think any amount of eyelash batting on my part would get him to let me leave this room, but if I got unchained at least my arms would have relief and I’d be free to move about.