Chapter 124
Nathan’s POV
Lightning split the sky as a storm thrashed the pack borders. The rain was a wall of water, making it hard to see
the gates.
Ryan stood outside the gates, soaked to the bone, his hand raised slowly so my guards wouldn’t shoot him on
sight.
Behind him, a black SUV waited with the engine running. And through the rain streaked window, I saw Beatrice itting inside.
“I know where Emily is!” Ryan shouted over the storm.
My wolf surged. Kill him.
Every instinct I had demanded blood. I wanted him dead. I wanted to hear him beg while I tore him into pieces.
Instead, I gave the order to open the gates. Only because Emily had asked me to spare him–and her voice in my head still carried more weight than my own fury.
Six armed wolves escorted them through the territory.
The second we stepped into the pack house, I hit the mind–link to Poppy. Wake Marcus up. Now.
Her confusion was a dull fog in my mind. My Alpha? What’s going on?
Bring him to my house.
By the time we entered the main sitting room, tension already filled the air. Liam stood by the fireplace, his eyes racing the easiest spots to stab Ryan. Blake looked just as ready for a fight. My mother sat on the couch, her face
ike stone.
Ryan held onto Beatrice, keeping her steady. They stayed by the door and didn’t sit, even though it was clear Beatrice was struggling to stay on her feet as she clutched her stomach.
“Well?” Blake snapped, moving toward Ryan. “Start talking before the Alpha runs out of patience.”
Ryan swallowed, his throat working hard. “I know where Emily is.”
My pulse hammered against my ribs.
“She’s alive,” Ryan said, the words rushing out. “The rogues are holding her in a mountain stronghold. They’re
ising crystal portals to move between territories.”
Liam’s brows pulled together. “We know about the portals. Do you have anything specific?”
“Yes. I can lead you there.” Ryan’s voice had a slight tremor. His eyes flicked to me, searching for a mercy I didn’t feel. “But first… I need your word. You won’t kill us.”
1:35 pm P P
Ryan flinched, but Beatrice stepped forward before he could retreat. “Please.”
The raw desperation in her voice caught everyone off guard. Tears tracked down her cheeks. “I know you hate us,” she whispered. “But you have to understand we were just trying to save our babies.”
Rage sparked through me. “You helped them steal my mate.”
Beatrice shivered, her whole body shaking.
“The witch took Beatrice’s blood,” Ryan cut in, his voice cracking. “Months ago. She tied the twins to it somehow. She told us if we didn’t follow orders… the curse would trigger.”
My mother leaned forward, her expression hardening. “What kind of curse?”
Ryan looked like he was about to get sick. “She said the babies would rot inside her.”
Even Liam went completely still at that. Beatrice covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. “I never
wanted Emily to get hurt,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Please, you have to believe that.”
My wolf snarled. It didn’t matter what she wanted. Emily was suffering because of them, and that was the only
hing that mattered.
Ryan rubbed a shaking hand over his face. “Yes,” he admitted, the words rushing out. “We helped cause the
listraction at the ceremony. But we didn’t know what Declan was really planning.”
The name felt like poison in the air.
“Who is this Declan?” Blake asked. “The Rogue King?”
“He is. But not exactly.” Ryan looked at me and saw I was about to explode.
“Be clear,” I snapped.
“He was the prince. He was the one behind everything. After Emily helped drain the life from the sid King, Declan Cook the throne.” Ryan’s voice shook. “Nathan, he’s insane.”
୮
The fact that Ryan was brave enough to use my name meant he was way more terrified of Declan than he was of
- ne.
I moved before I even realized I had shifted. I slammed my hands down, and the wooden table cracked under the
force. “You actually expect me to spare you after this?”
Ryan looked me straight in the eye. I saw genuine regret. “No,” he said quietly. “I expect you to kill me eventually. But before you do…” Ryan reached slowly into his jacket. “You need to see this.”
Every wolf in the room tensed, ready to lunge. Ryan carefully placed a folded piece of paper on the table between
- us.
My heart skipped a beat. I knew that paper. Even before I touched it, her scent hit me. Strawberries. Moonlight. Emily.
1:35 pm P P TM
My hands moved on instinct. I unfolded the sketch with trembling fingers, and there I was. My own face, drawn in charcoal by Emily’s hand. The rest of the room faded away until it was just me and her art.
Then my eyes dropped to the bottom of the page. Trust him. I’m alive. Emily.
My legs felt weak. She had written this. She had touched this paper.
The entire room had gone dead silent. They all realized the same thing at the exact same time I did.
Emily really had reached me in that dream. This wasn’t grief. This wasn’t me losing my mind. This was real.
My fingers tightened around the sketch, nearly crumpling the paper. And then–something hit me. A second cent. Faint. Sharp. Completely wrong.
I could smell more than just strawberries–there was mint, too. Why was there a second scent?
“Why is there mint here? Is that his scent? Declan’s scent?” I growled, turning toward Ryan.
“No, no,” he started, backing away. “It’s still her, but it’s changed. The strawberries are there, but they’re no onger alone–the mint has appeared.”
I couldn’t understand. I didn’t know how this was possible. I turned to the doctor, who was still standing there.
“Can you explain this?” I demanded.
Dr. Reed only shook his head. “I’m encountering such a case for the first time. But I can research it.“”
“Then go and find out,” I ordered, and the doctor left.
At that moment, Marcus entered, looking sleepy, followed by Poppy.
“It’s crowded in here. What’s the noise, but no fun?” He asked, walking past Reed and glancing at him and leatrice, who were still dripping with water.
“We know where Emily is, and we are going after her,” I said, seeing the shock and surprise pn his and Poppy’s
aces.