30. Plotting

I'm ashamed to admit I lost my cool for more than a minute. The moment the luna called Liam and told him that they were attacked and that Ella is missing, it felt like the world stopped spinning. I was close to shifting and running to them to see for myself.

My urge to find Ella and save her was stronger than anything else.

Liam managed to hold me back. He made me calm down and see reason. Ella won't need me going berserk here like an idiot, and through our bond I don't feel any pain. She seems to be well. Not that this lessens my immense hatred against this hitmen group… and against the vampire asshole who hired them.

Fortunately, Alpha Marcellus, Lord Silas, and Ella managed to capture some of the attackers, so I have at least a chance to get rid of some of my pent-up anger.

"I am sorry," I mutter towards Liam.

"Don't mention it," he says. "It's not like I would have reacted any better." He furrows his brows, anger flashing in his eyes. "I can't believe they dared to attack Annalise. Those fuckers are going to pay."

"They will," I add grimly, cold anger filling me. Compared to the panic I felt before, I'm much calmer this time. I want to rip everyone apart who even dared to lay their finger on my mate. And if they dare to harm her, I will bring each and every one of them down.

For the next couple of hours, Liam, Aryanna, and I try to gather as much information as we can while waiting for Luna Annalise to return. To our surprise, Liam informs me that she will return with company. Raffy and Jun are with her as expected, but also… Silas, one of the renowned vampire lords and co-leader of Sunset Hills.

"Why is he accompanying the luna?" I ask Liam.

"I have no idea," he says. "Annalise just linked me and told me he would come along. She thinks we will need him."

It's only a few minutes later that three cars halt in front of the packhouse. Two of them are transporting the prisoners, and we have them taken to the dungeons instantly. They are all still out of it, making transferring them much easier. In the last car, I spot Annalise, Jun and Raffy, and Silas. I have only met him a few times when I accompanied Liam to Sunset Hills Pack.

"Dante!" Annie gets out of the car and hurries towards me. She hugs me. "I'm so sorry this happened."

"No need to apologize, Annie. This is not your fault," I say quietly.

Annie draws back a bit. "I reassure you we searched the whole area, and there was no blood or anything."

Liam has waited impatiently for Annie to stop consoling me before wrapping her in his arms. I can see how the tension leaves his expression now that he knows she is safe. How I wish I would be able to feel the same about my mate. But Ella is still missing.

I feel a painful churn in my chest.

I cannot lose her. I just can't. I… she is my whole life. She gave it meaning again.

"I'm certain she wasn't hurt," Silas says calmly.

"How can you be so sure?" I ask shortly.

"I am certain because I'm sure my brother is behind it," he explains. "And he is not stupid enough to attack the beta of Red Claw and go to war with the lycans."

Liam and I exchange a surprised glance.

"It's a long story," Annie tells us. "Come, we need to talk somewhere privately. You need to hear what Silas told us."

Annie wasn't wrong. The moment we are in the safety of Liam's office, Annie tells us what happened and what they found out. Silas adds a few details here and there. It's mindboggling to say the least. This is just…

"I knew your brother was a vile man," Liam says. "But I didn't know the extent of your fallout."

Something close to pain flashes in Silas's eyes. "The fallout was worse than you could imagine," he says. "I was betrayed by a friend, who alerted Aloysius. We both almost died during the fight that ensued out of it. I cannot forgive my brother for the things he has done, for the cruelty he has displayed, but all my bitter feelings aside, the truth is"—he looks at each of us—"he is very intelligent. And from my experience, he would never just go on a killing spree."

"But he will kill Charlie the moment he knows she is his daughter?"

He nods. "He will try to."

"Never," I exclaim.

A smile curls Silas's lips. "Your mate said the same."

Liam is about to say more when my phone rings. It's a suppressed number. I frown, looking at Liam who just gestures for me to take it. And I'm eternally glad that I did.

It's Ella!

She is not hurt. She isn't even a prisoner… or that's what they want her to believe. She also verified Silas's words and more. She believes that Imogen's team attacking us and Aloysius's lieutenant abducting her are two separate incidents. She also hints that they might not know how close we are to Silas.

We don't have much time to talk and can't talk openly either, but hearing her voice reassures me. And while I don't like her to be there with this vicious vampire leader, I know she is momentarily safe.

Once I hung up, Liam nods at me. "She is doing the right thing, Dante," he says.

"Your threat was a good thing, Alpha Liam," Silas says. "Aloysius is not going to risk a war. I know none of you truly believe me when I say that, but he thinks only brutes and barbarians grab the weapons and lunge into battle. He believes more in a psychological war if you want to call it that way."

"Does your brother know your whereabouts?" I ask Silas.

He shakes his head. "My brother has some tricks up his sleeve, but I do too. Sunset Hills is officially known as a werewolf pack and a coven of outcast vampires. My brother would never imagine in his wildest dreams that I, an ancient vampire lord and his brother, would call myself an outcast."

"So, Ella's intuition was right," I say. "She also believes Imogen attacking Sunset Hills and Aloysius having her abducted are not connected."

"We can easily find that out when we question the prisoners," Liam says. "She has a point though. It's true that the lieutenant—What's his name actually?"

"Atticus," Silas answers.

"It's true that Atticus visited Imogen and the other mercenaries, but we don't know what he wanted from them. He might have ordered the attack to distract everyone from Ella. But Richie has been spying on us for a lot longer. I'm starting to wonder if Atticus was always in the picture or if they have another client."

"Liam is right," Annie says. "If it's true what Silas says about his brother, then why would Aloysius hire mercenaries to kill Charlie? They are hitmen, they are killers, not spies, and they are certainly not subtle."

"Ella said that one of them carried a piece of paper with a drawing of her necklace," I say.

"Of Ella's necklace?" Annie asks.

Liam has turned silent.

"What are you thinking?" Annie asks him.

"Imogen had Richie spy on Ella and Dante," he says thoughtfully. "When they lured him out in the bar, he followed the both of them… not Charlie. And Imogen's attack was at Sunset Hills. Charlie was nowhere to be seen. I'm sure Aloysius wants Charlie. I have no doubts there, but I'm starting to wonder if Imogen's team is truly targeting Charlie."

We all stare at him in shock. "You think they are after Ella?" I ask.

"It's an option," Liam says.

We discuss this issue a bit further, deciding to question the prisoners properly, and also ask Richie once more for help when my phone rings again. Once more it's a suppressed number, and it's Ella again. She explains to me she is sitting with Lord Aloysius, and they are trying to figure out Charlie's heritage.

Her tone is light and casual, but I know her well enough to hear a certain edge in it. She is playing a game with the powerful vampire lord. I just hope she is as careful as possible. She tells me that Aloysius approved of a warrior to be sent to her for support.

"Choose someone to your liking," Ella says. "And make them wait at the gas station at the west entrance from town. A vampire will pick them up at 11:00 p.m. His name is Atticus, and he is easily noticeable by the fine bruise on his face."

"Got it," I say. "Anything else?"

"Yes, I'd need some equipment to research on Charlie. My phone, notebook, and alike."

"Consider it done." I pause. "I miss you," I say quietly.

"I miss you too," she says. "Please don't worry about me."

I catch the others up on what she just told me. Silas snorts when I tell them that Atticus is going to pick up our warrior and that he has a bruised face.

"What's so funny?" Annie asks curiously.

"Nothing, but Atticus is an asshole and my brother's favorite. The fact that he probably punched him feels very satisfying," Silas says. "Oh, and since we are already on it, some more advice: Make sure to send a female warrior," he adds. "Aloysius easily feels threatened by other males, but he thinks of females as less of a threat and will let his guard down around them."

"What's his endgame, though?" I ask. "Why the games? This is all so weird."

"His endgame is to save face, always," Silas says. "He is proud and thinks of himself way too highly."

"But how can he save his face if he goes and kills Charlie?" Liam asks.

"He wouldn't need to kill her instantly, would he?" Silas asks in return. "An accident a few months later… an unfortunate attack of rogues. Unfortunately, he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve."

I feel dread filling me, and for the first time today, I'm fully on board with Ella being there with Aloysius and playing her own games with him. I cannot let them hurt Charlie. It would completely ruin Ella and me. Us.

"How about we add a tracker to the notebook?" Annie offers.

"You can do that, but I know where Aloysius lives," Silas tells us.

"We should still connect the notebook…" Liam's voice trails off. "Maybe to Dalila?"

"That's a fantastic idea," Annie exclaims. "Dalila will know what to do. Through her, we can communicate with Ella, and maybe Dalila can use some of her skills."

"Yes," I agree. "We would benefit so much from this!"

Liam nods. "I will give Anthony and Dalila a call once we wrap up the meeting. Then I want us to question these werewolf hitmen."

"I would like to offer my help," Silas says. "That's why I'm here. Beta Ella was abducted under my and Alpha Marcellus's watch, and we feel it's our responsibility to help."

"I appreciate the gesture," Liam says. "It's not your fault, though. Aloysius would have found Ella anywhere."

"That's true," Silas says. "But he is my brother."

We stay silent at his words before Annie clears her throat. "Being related to him doesn't put you at fault. You cannot choose your family."

Silas sighs. "I feel like I should have tried to stop him earlier. But I was blinded by my love for him. I love my siblings and never believed one of them could turn into someone like Aloysius became."

"There is still time to stop him," Liam says. "You made the first step by leaving him and his elitist coven. You have your most trusted men and women with you. And you have new allies."

"That's true," Silas says. "Maybe it's time to think of a way to stop him. First, however, I want to help with your problem at hand."

"Well, I for one, would be curious to see an ancient vampire in action," Liam says.

"Then it's set," Silas agrees.

"Which warrior are we going to send to Ella?" Annie asks.

Liam answers before I can even suggest someone. "Aryanna," he says.

"Your own beta," I ask, stunned.

"Yes, I consider Ella family, and Aryanna is the best female warrior we have. Also, she is experienced, smart, trustworthy, and knows everything already." He turns to Jun. "Jun, she is currently leading the advanced warrior training. Find her and fill her in on everything, then send her to me."

"Yes, Alpha," Jun says before leaving the room.

Everyone but Liam gets up and leaves the office so Liam can call Dalila. Meanwhile I link for Livia to come and help with preparing the things Ella requested. It doesn't take long for Liam to finish his call, and soon he joins us. "They are happy to help," he says. "I will meet with Aryanna to brief her on everything. Maybe Silas can join me."

Silas nods his agreement.

"I will gather some of Ella's things with Livia's help," I say. "She knows more about electronics than I do. I will have her talk with Dalila and prepare Ella's notebook." I pause. "And I… I need to talk to Charlie," I say quietly.

"Right," Annie mutters. "You need to tell her about everything."

"Ella asked me to do it," I admit. "I don't know how. I need to tell her that she is a hybrid… and that her potential father has Ella."

"I can only advise you to be honest," Annie says. "Not brutally honest but be real. Show some vulnerability. Tell her that she is not the only hybrid in the pack and that Silas is here, an actual vampire, and is probably related to her. And when you tell her about Ella, make sure she knows that Ella is staying out of her own free will."

"She lost so much already. She needs to know that Ella has it under control," Liam adds.

"Let her help," Annie suggests. "She will feel much better if she can help."

"I can ask her to connect with Lorenzo," I muse. "She knows him. He is part of her past."

"Good idea, Dante," Annie says.

"Well then," Liam says. "It's time that we go to business." He gestures at the young woman approaching us. "Livia is here too."

Indeed, Livia hurries towards us, greeting us all politely. She seems to be distraught, though. "Is something wrong, Livia?" Annie asks.

"No… it's just…" She shakes her head. "It smells so nice here."