42. Show Time

Richard takes a few deep breaths while looking at the phone in his hands. Next to him is Livia, her hand on his arm in a gesture of support. I'm not sure if she is aware of how she leans towards him, but one thing is for sure: this boy is certainly not heartbroken anymore. I think he probably can't even remember Imogen's name.

The mate bond is truly magical… in a weird and slightly scary way.

I don't care how Richard finds his courage; he just needs to find it. In front of the others, I try to remain calm and collected, but I'm so scared for my girl. Elden isn't coping much better. I briefly saw him without the others, and there was a whole storm in his eyes, his veins almost popping out in fury for someone having abducted his sons.

Like me, he is just trying to remain level-headed to find them. An alpha must always remain collected, so should a beta.

"You can do it," Livia reassures Richard once again. "I believe in you."

"Really?" he asks.

She reaches out her hand to squeeze his arm. We have filled him and Julianus in on what we expect from them. Both men are up for the task. It seems Richard is eager to prove himself as a good person, while Julianus wants to make amends… for whatever reason. It's not the worst possible combination.

In the letter to me is a contact number. We make sure to contact them through a burner phone. Meanwhile, Annie and Dave did my makeup, making me look like I'd been through hell. A believable victim, hopefully.

Imogen's contact man on the werewolf side goes by the name of Dylan, probably a fake name, but Richie has met him once. It has to be enough. Once he and Julianus are ready, everyone leaves the room, minus me, in case they need me to yell, beg, or sob. Alpha Elden has my necklace and is trying to open it. If it were up to me, I would have probably just broken it. It might be an heirloom, but Charlie is so much more important.

However, both he and Liam fear we might break whatever is inside as well, something I haven't even considered.

"You can do it," Livia whispers to Richard, and before he can react, she kisses his cheek.

Richie looks at her through wide eyes while she dashes out of the room, her face red with embarrassment.

"I can do it!" Richie repeats with conviction.

He is clearly whipped, but that's good for us. Livia's support pushes him and gives him confidence. It's exactly what we need now.

It's like an out-of-body experience, watching how Richard dials a number. It feels like forever. Dread settles inside me when I try to imagine what will happen when we don't reach anyone. When they won't buy Richards's trick.

I try to be strong; I try to be confident; I try to tell myself over and over that we will find her, that nothing happened to her, that she is safe and sane and that we will come in time.

"Hello," Richard says into the phone.

The voice on the other side reaches my sharp ears. "Who is this?"

"I want to talk to Dylan," Richard says shortly.

The other man snorts. "Who are you to make demands?"

"I'm the person who has what you want so desperately," he says shortly. "Tell Dylan it's Richard. Imogen's boyfriend. Or rather ex-boyfriend."

There is silence for a moment, and I halt my breath. But soon I can hear some rustling and then—"You have some nerves, human!" a voice sneers. "Don't be pathetic, or I will come and free the world of your existence."

"You can try," Richard says. "But I doubt you will succeed."

"Quit the games, human, or I will tell your werewolf girlfriend you went behind her back to call me. Then she can rip your head off your shoulders instead. Or do you think you mean anything to her?"

"That's going to be difficult for her to do," Richard says. "From prison." When Dylan stays silent, he gapes. "Oh, you didn't know? The bitch got caught. Guess who didn't get caught? The lousy human."

"For a pathetic human you sound way too cocky," Dylan says, but it's obvious Richard has piqued his interest.

Richard laughs, sounding surprisingly convincing.

"What's so funny?" Dylan huffs.

"It's funny that you just said that." He chuckles. "You know Imogen wasn't it. So, I had to move on… to something better."

Dylan is silent before he snorts. "Why would that interest me?"

"So, I assume you don't need a certain beta she-wolf?" Richard asks innocently.

"Stop the games," Dylan grumbles. "You are wasting mine and my alpha's time."

"So you haven't heard?" Richard asks. "Man, you have no clue. Your little beta she-wolf was caught by the vampires. Seems like Imogen's other customer got impatient. But guess what… he was looking for a walking human blood bank." Richard laughs. "Funny how the tables turn, isn't it?"

"You're telling me you are working with the vampires?"

"Of course, my blood is young and fresh, and thanks to Imogen I know quite a lot," he bluffs.

"Show me proof," Dylan demands.

We have expected him to ask for proof, which is why I'm in the messed up makeup in the first place. Before our call I had the guys take a photo of me and made sure to wear the necklace. "How about a little picture?" Richard asks lazily before typing something on his phone. Once he is done with sending my picture, he returns to the call. "So?"

It's silent. "What do you want?" Dylan asks. I can feel the tension inside me growing. He is taking the bait!

"Money," he says. "A fair share of what you will get."

"What makes you think we are out for money?"

"You are telling me the beta and the information she has aren't worth anything?" Richard laughs. "Who is the cocky one now?"

"Pick something else," Dylan huffs.

"Hmmm, no money?" Richard whines. "Then give us fresh blood. Young blood. One of your pups maybe. My vampire says that innocent blood is the best."

"How about…" Dylan says, and I can almost hear the disgusting smirk in his voice. "Three little teenagers. Are they young enough?"

Richard lets out a sigh. "Well, it would be better if they were younger, but I will talk to my sire. I will call in half an hour."

"Don't miss it," Dylan says sharply. "Or I swear to the moon goddess I will find you, rip off your dick, and feed it to the rats. If you think I won't find you, believe me, I will." He sounds so serious I see Richard waver, but he doesn't let it show to Dylan.

"Half an hour," he says. "Expect my call."

Once he hangs up, he releases a shaky breath, his whole body trembling. "That was the scariest thing I ever did," he whispers while he falls down on his knees, his legs not supporting him anymore. Before I can say anything, the door opens with the others coming in. Livia pushes past everyone and approaches her mate.

"This was amazing, Rich!" she exclaims, hugging him. "You were incredible!"

"I… I just talked," Richard mutters shyly, but he seems to enjoy Livia's praise and wraps his arm around her middle.

"I have to agree with her," Liam says. "You did well."

"Thank you," Dante says quietly. "For your help, Richard. The next task will be upon Julianus."

"Richard laid all the groundwork. I won't disappoint you," Julianus says. He bends down, squeezing Richard's shoulder. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind having you as my personal blood bank. You know, I'm said to be quite the good lover too. A cute and smart guy would be to my liking."

Livia tosses him a deathly glare. "Get your hands off him," she hisses. "He is mine!"

Richard blinks in confusion, staring at the young woman in surprise. Livia, who is usually so straightforward, seems frozen in place, not sure what to say or do. She realizes she let the truth slip out thanks to Julianus's little trick. Richard's surprise makes it even more evident that she never told him who he was to her. Judging by the hopeful look in his eyes, he doesn't seem to mind that she kept the truth from him.

"We should probably continue," Dante says. "Thirty minutes have almost passed."

Richard nods, hurrying back to his phone with newfound motivation. As Julianus predicted, the second part of the call is much easier. Richard talks shortly to Dylan before handing the phone to his so-called sire. Julianus is a trained warrior and spy; it's easy for him to sound convincing and negotiate the conditions. The exchange will be in a few hours at a storehouse two hours away from our pack.

She is so close. Charlie is so close!

Once Julianus has discussed the details, he quits the call again, letting out a sigh of relief. For the next couple of minutes, we discuss the outcome with the others.

"We set everything in motion," Dante says. "Let's hope they don't trick us."

"I'm pretty sure they will," I say, my nerves tensed again. This is our chance to get Charlie, Felix, and Dario back. I hope we didn't endanger them further.

Before anyone can comment on my last words, the door opens once again and Elden steps inside. "I did it," he says, handing me the necklace, the look in his eyes dark. His lips are a thin line while his eyes have taken the shade of the night. "I opened it. I know what's inside and why they want it so badly."

Like Felix, Dario returns after a while, getting tossed back into the cell. Blood drips from his nose, and there is a gash on his forehead. And just like Felix he remains silent after what happened. The guards just laugh and remain in front of the cell now.

They start drinking. Soon the whole basement stinks of alcohol and their sweat. It makes me feel nauseous, but at least they are momentarily distracted. I just wish my vampire genes would kick in and make me be able to do something. At the end of the day I'm just a kid and can't do anything despite being half werewolf and half vampire. The same can be said for the twins. Felix and Dario might grow into strong wolves, but they don't have their wolf spirits yet.

"Are you okay?" I whisper towards Dario.

"Don't worry," he mutters.

His words don't put me at ease at all. He is lying on his back with Felix next to him, both of them looking utterly drained.

"Let's sleep a bit," Felix whispers. "They are preoccupied now."

I nod tentatively, not convinced by their casual attitude, but I don't want to argue either. They both look exhausted and probably need an hour or two of sleep. I doubt I will be able to sleep here, but Felix and Dario make sure to take me between them so that I am protected by their bodies.

I was so convinced I wouldn't be able to sleep, but surrounded by Felix and Dario's bodies and the comfort they give me, I feel how slumber is pulling me under. Soon my eyes turn heavy, and I'm dragged into a restless sleep. Nightmares are haunting me. My conscience is telling me I'm just dreaming but in this state it's difficult to be rational.

"…up."

My ears ring slightly by the noises around me before an icy cold spreads over me.

"Wake up!"

I startle, sitting up abruptly, my heart almost jumping out of my chest by being pulled out of my sleep so harshly. Something cold is dripping off my hair. It reeks of beer.

Felix and Dario have startled awake too, their gazes still disoriented. One of the guards is standing at the door, an empty bottle of beer in his hands. He tosses it aside with a grin.

"Let's play a new game," one of them sneers. "I'm bored."