36. Another Kidnapping

Chapter thirty-six

Another Kidnapping

*ARDEN*

W e are in the midst of going through Meg's things—as Leila said, there is a collection of crystals—when Eric and Vander suddenly barge into the room.

"Arden," Eric comes to the point immediately. "You need to come with us."

"What happened!?" My gaze wanders to Vander, noticing the anxiety in his eyes. "Something with the pack?"

"Yes, a young woman was abducted," Eric explains. He looks calm, but his voice is tense. "Her name is Juliet. She ranked beta, her blood group is—"

"No way," I blurt out, jumping up. It slowly starts to sink in. "Wait a moment… a member from Vander and my pack! I need to go there immediately."

I can't believe it. They kidnapped someone from my pack, someone I could possibly know. It was always real, but this makes it even more real.

"That's not all," Eric says. "She was with her son, a three-year-old boy."

I stare at him. "Don't tell me—" I whisper.

"The boy is alright."

"Wait, they abducted her in front of her kid… just like that, with potential witnesses around?" I ask, shocked.

"Her mate reported her missing," Vander explains, chewing on his lips anxiously.

"Her mate?"

"What are you thinking?" Eric prompts me.

"That it doesn't make sense," I say. "They have never been that reckless. It's also not logical. And so far, our culprit has been very careful… recently, more desperate, but he remained careful. This is just reckless. I need to get there immediately!"

"I will come too," Vander says.

"I would rather you stay here," Eric says, unusually serious. "You are both alpha's sons, and I can't take the risk of taking you both along. Arden will come with me, but you need to stay here."

"But—"

I put my hand on Vander's shoulder. "Eric thinks someone might be targeting our pack," I say quietly, explaining to my brother what I think Eric suggested. By the way Eric nods, I know I'm right. "He means it when he says he doesn't want to take us both along to be safe. One high-ranking pack member needs to stay here."

"Is it really that dangerous?" Vander asks.

"I don't know yet," Eric says. "Which is why I want to be extra cautious. Please understand that, Vander."

He sighs but nods, eventually. "Alright, but you call me the moment something happens."

I turn to my friends and team members, but before I can say anything, they beat me to it. "We got you," Nox reassures me.

"Just go and check on your pack," Gustave says. "We'll make sure to work here. We both know what we are looking for."

Nox turns to my brother. "Why don't you help us, Vander?"

His question raises Vander's mood instantly, and he takes the chance to help them. I feel bad for leaving him behind, but he is my little brother, and seeing how my father doesn't even get in touch with him, I feel it's my responsibility to keep him safe.

Eric's and my fears are unfounded, though, as we arrive in the pack safely without any issues. I feel the familiar feeling of over-strained nerves the moment I set foot in my pack, my ears almost starting to ring on their own, and the noise starting to overwhelm me. I battle the urge to switch off my hearing aid, but it does make me realize how much my mental health has improved ever since I've been away from here.

"Let's look for the victim's mate," Eric says.

Some of the warriors are running around, clearly searching for someone. "Goddess," Eric mutters. "They are so unorganized."

"My father has never been a good strategist."

"Yes," Eric says darkly. "He should have gotten over his ableist pride, and instead consulted with his prodigy son who would have clearly had some suggestions on how to improve the warrior training and strategies."

I don't comment on his words, mainly because he is right. Years ago, I started to plan out the perfect guarding strategies, IT safety measures, and the like, but my father never wanted to see me, let alone listen to me.

I spot Beta Jules somewhere in the crowd, and to my utmost surprise, he smiles at me. He looks almost relieved to see me. "Prince Eric and Young Alpha Arden. I am so happy to see you."

I debate with myself for a moment, but I don't have the heart to lie to him, nor do I want to. "You certainly know my father's opinion, and you were here when things went downwards. There is no rank for me here and no need to call me Alpha."

"You are my future alpha," he says. "No matter what anyone says."

I can't help but chuckle. When he looks at me, surprised, I just shrug. "Come on, Jules," I say. "You never even paid attention to me or had anything to say to me."

He is not a bad guy. I know that much, but I have never seen him as a particularly good guy either. He wasn't mean to me or Vander, but he also didn't have our backs. And he definitely knew of the abuse that was going on.

"How come you see me as alpha material, now?"

"It's because you stood up to your father, and he couldn't alpha command you," Eric says mercilessly. He smiles, but his eyes are cold when he looks at Jules.

"I know," I say. "There is no other explanation."

"I'm not proud of my actions," Jules mutters. "Or rather… the lack thereof."

My whole life was ruined by people who were just standing here and watching. Watching me get abused and shunned by my father, watching me get bullied in school. Bystanders. At least Gustave was a kid himself, feeling awkward and anxious about becoming a victim too, and showed genuine remorse now, but Jules is my father's age.

I don't need to say anything, because Eric isn't here to take any prisoners today. "The Council is not even an hour from here," he says. "No one can convince me they never had the time or chance to report their alpha, anonymously, for abusing his power, for keeping young omegas from their education, for abusing his children."

Jules looks seriously ashamed. Fortunately, though, he doesn't say anything else. "I assume you want to see the she-wolf's mate and child?" he asks.

I nod. "That's why we are here. What's happening with her child? Is the boy alright?"

"Yes, he was crying a lot, but fortunately, I think he is too young to really understand what's happening."

"He will be sent to a therapist," Eric says with finality in his words. "He might be too young to truly grasp the severity of what happened, but what he saw and encountered definitely put a strain on his mind."

"I will make sure to follow your orders," Jules says. "Now, her mate," he gestures towards the pack house, "is right there with… with the alpha."

Awesome. Of course, my father is here. I gaze in the direction Jules pointed at, nodding slightly when I see the warrior, the mate of our victim. "I see him. Nicolas."

"You know him?" Eric asks.

"Yes, he is a warrior here, a quiet, kind man. He always had a soft spot for Vander and me."

"Let's go," Eric says, smiling warmly at me. I can feel parts of my anxiety being lifted while we walk towards my father and Nicolas.

Once Dad notices me, he gazes at me shortly but doesn't acknowledge me in any other way. I feel the usual sting in my chest at his obvious dismissal and rejection of me. And as usual, I try not to let it bother me, telling myself over and over again that this is my reality, and that I have a mate, my brother, and friends now.

Again, Eric proves not to hesitate to use his power, when necessary. "We need to talk to Nicolas alone," he says, not even gracing my father with a greeting.

Dad grits his teeth but knows better than to fight a royal lycan, especially one with Eric's standing. He steps back and gestures towards Jules to follow him. Jules looks at me for a moment, smiling sadly. Guilt flashes in his eyes, but I don't have the time to act on it, and I don't particularly feel like it either.

"Arden," Nicolas says, his eyes lighting up. "You are here to help?"

"Of course," I say.

"I thought you would never return," he says quietly.

"I am not returning for my rank," I say. "I am here for you and Juliet."

"That's what's so special about you," Nicolas says. "You always help. Many of us miss you and Vander." He pauses. "If you are here to help, I am more hopeful that I will get Juliet back."

His faith in me comes as a surprise. It's humbling but also motivating. "I won't rest until we have found her," I reassure him.

"Does it have anything to do with the kidnappings?" he asks.

"You heard about them?" Eric asks, alarmed. The whole issue was treated as top secret. Someone must have talked.

"It's a rumor," he admits. "I don't know for sure."

"Please keep that to yourself," Eric says. "Juliet is our top priority, but it's of utmost importance that no word about the kidnappings is spread."

"It might mean the culprits will go into hiding, then," I tell Nicolas. "If they feel safe, it's easier for us to find them."

"I understand," Nicolas says earnestly.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Eric asks softly.

"She was running errands," he says, twisting his fingers nervously. "Our pup was with her. I know she wanted to get some blood tests done at the hospital. We want another baby, you know, but it's difficult. One of the nurses there is a friend and fellow wolf, and promised to help."

Nicolas doesn't know much but tells us all he can, how he felt her fear through the bond and rushed into the city with some warriors to search for her.

I exchange a gaze with Eric. She went to the hospital. That's how they must have spotted her. My mind runs wild. It's still so spontaneous. All the other victims were clearly spied on for a long while. The culprit knew their patterns, their routine, they were abducted without anyone noticing. Even with the young male beta wolf, Denis, it was framed as a rogue attack. Our culprit, whoever he is, isn't an idiot. He has high-paying influential customers within the vampires. He won't just risk his business .

But this here, this is reckless, spontaneous, stupid. Juliet is even mated and marked! They noticed her missing the moment she was abducted.

Eric asks some more questions before he lets Nicolas return to his son.

I turn to Eric. "This gave us a lot of insight."

"It proves that we definitely have more than one culprit," Eric says.

"Not only that," I mutter, "but the group's strategist has to be their leader. He is losing control over them. Or this wouldn't have happened. Someone in his group wants more power or more recognition; a piece of the cake."

"That could be good for us," Eric says. He gazes towards the infirmary where Nicolas ran to. "I wonder if we could talk to the child."

"Nicolas said he isn't talking," I mutter. "He is in shock."

"Still," Eric sighs, "let's take a look."

I nod, following him to the infirmary. Everyone is so anxious and busy they barely pay us attention, which I'm more than glad about. We follow Nicolas's scent to a small hospital room and find him sitting next to his son. The boy doesn't look at him. He seems to be detached and shaken, and just keeps drawing something.

Nicolas gazes at us, surprised to see us again. "I'm sorry," I whisper.

"He is not talking," Nicolas says sadly, worry all over his expression. "He is… he is…"

"We'll get him help," Eric promises. "I will make sure that there will be a therapist coming to him today."

"Thank you, Prince Eric."

I step closer to the child, noticing the many sheets of paper he has already scribbled on. It's always the same thing he draws. One of the papers has dropped to the ground, and I pick it up. It's the abduction of his mom— so much about him not understanding what happened.

I look at the picture, taking in the details. It's a typical child's drawing, yet the blood freezes in my veins. The face of the kidnapper is blackened out, crossed out, but what draws me in is a sloppily drawn tattoo on his arm, probably a rune, and… he is wearing a necklace with an orange gemstone. No way did the boy make this up!

I turn to Eric. "I need to get back to the Council," I say, showing Eric the drawing.

"He is wearing jewelry…" he says. "This could mean it's like a signature for them. Or rather their symbol to spot each other."

"And he has a tattoo," I say. "Pretty sure that's a rune."

"What are you thinking?" Eric asks.

"Whoever leads them began his project with abducting Meg. He is the one who started the whole operation, the one who planned it. The codenames, the runes, it has to be his doing. Maybe he was also wearing a necklace back then—"

"Or he had a tattoo," Eric says. "Return to the Council. You are right. You and your sharp brain are of more help there."

Right at this moment Eric's phone vibrates. He takes it out of his pocket, frowning. "It's Emilien," he says. "That can't be good." He reads the message swiftly, his eyes clouding with worry all of a sudden. "Return immediately, Arden."

"What happened?"

"Emilien said that the auctions got canceled. Denis and Annette are not being sold anymore. Something happened."