Chapter 17

"I'm hungry," Chloe whined .

Beck was too, or maybe that was the pain of the poison causing his stomach to cramp. He was doing his best not to stress and exert more energy than he already had. If he panicked, the adrenaline would speed the blood flowing through his veins, spreading the poison faster. Why he wasn't already dead… Beck didn't care the reason, but he was thankful for it.

"Are we going to die here?"

Beck barely heard Chloe's whispered question. His teeth were clattering loudly in his head, and that he had no control over. He'd never been so cold in his life, and that was saying something considering he'd swum in the arctic waters above Alaska.

Beck tried shifting when he first woke up, but the cuffs prevented him from doing so. "Are you chained?" he asked instead of offering false hope.

"Chained? No."

"Well, I am, so it's going to be up to you to find a way out of here."

"How? I can't see two inches in front of my face."

"Then use your hands. Hold them out in front of you until you run into a wall."

Before she could respond, there was a scraping noise. A hint of light filtered into the area as a man wearing a balaclava waltzed in with a bucket in one hand and a case of water under his other arm.

"Still alive, then? You won't be for long." He dropped the bucket on the ground next to Chloe. "If it were up to me, you'd starve to death. Since it's not…" He then dropped the cans, not caring if they were dented in the process.

Beck took advantage of the light to check on his sister. Her blonde hair was a tangled mess, and tear tracks bisected her dirty cheeks.

"I'd make that last, if I were you." The man backed out of the cave. Beck stared at him until the door closed, taking the light with it.

Beck sniffed. "That smells like fish."

"It is, and it's raw. Like he just pulled it out of the water."

"You did say you were hungry. Can you toss me a couple, please?" Chloe had a good arm, and Beck hoped her aim was still on point. When something hit him in the face, he cringed. He held his hands up in case the next one was thrown in the same vicinity. It was, but he hadn't been expecting it that soon, so it landed on his lap. Beck released a claw, thankful the cuffs didn't hinder that ability. He used it to scrape off the skin, then cut through the head and tail. His hands shook as he picked out the raw flesh, careful to avoid any small bones. If he were in his fur, those wouldn't bother him, but in his skin, he could choke on them. The fish wasn't large, but it was better than nothing.

"Did you recognize his voice?" Beck tossed the carcass to the side and began on the next one.

Loud crunches came from across the space. It took a few seconds for her to respond. "No, did you?"

Ah, Chloe had shifted so she could eat in her other form. Beck was jealous. He was also confused as to why she wasn't chained. She was formidable in her shifted form, as were all females.

Beck shrugged, then he remembered she couldn't see him. "I'm not sure. Something seemed familiar, but it could be wishful thinking."

"You want another fish?"

"No, we better save them in case we're not given anything else. But I wouldn't mind a can of water."

Chloe rolled a can across the floor. Beck had to search for it in the dark, but his hand eventually found the container.

"Why would he do this?" Chloe's voice was smaller than he'd ever heard. Beck didn't have to ask who she was referring to.

"My guess is he's desperate. Valerie turned him loose."

"But why come after Mom? She's not going to help him. Why kidnap his own daughter? And why me and not Delaney? She's next in line for the crown."

"Maybe that's it. If Amara is out of the picture, then he can get Delaney on the throne and use her for whatever scheme he has planned next." Beck popped open the can and took a sip. "Do you know who Amara is seeing?"

"Why do you think she's seeing someone? She hasn't mentioned it to me."

"Because there was evidence of a strange male at her house. I'm surprised you didn't notice his presence when you went by there. Ten bucks says it's that guy who brought us the fish."

"Yeah, but who is he, and why would he help my… Boyd? Delaney taking over the pack doesn't mean she'd automatically help him. She's tougher than Amara, but don't tell Mom I said that."

"Not while she's pregnant. She'll be vulnerable until after the cub is born."

Chloe huffed out a laugh. "Delaney's not pregnant. Where'd you get that idea?"

"She was puking when I stopped by the office, and she admitted it."

"What the fuck is going on? They used to tell me everything."

Now his sister knew how Beck felt, but he didn't say that aloud. Chloe didn't deserve his bitterness, but since when had she become so whiny? She was the tougher sister.

A scraping sound filled the air, and Beck figured Chloe was moving the bucket. "What are we going to do?" she asked.

"Have you ever picked a lock? Maybe if you use your claw, you can get me out of these cuffs, and when the male comes back, I can attack him."

"Sadly, that's one skill I never learned. Besides that, I don't think you're strong enough to attack anyone."

She wasn't wrong. Beck reclined onto his side and cradled his head the best he could with iron cuffs around his wrists. "Then I guess we wait for my mate to save us."

Chloe sucked in a breath. "Since when do you have a mate? Who is she?"

Beck's Bear rumbled in his chest. Why was he warning Beck to keep quiet? "No one you know. I met her… Fuck, I don't know when. How long have I been here?"

"I'm not sure what day it is. So, this female?"

Something Dooley said about his sisters not needing a reason to lie had Beck hesitating to tell Chloe the truth. "I doubt you know her. I met her in Kodiak after dropping off some clients. It's new."

Chloe's feet scuffed over the ground. "It's not like she'd know where we are, right?"

Beck didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes and let the past week with Lydia remind him he had something – someone – to live for.

Wake up.

Go away.

Wake up! Beck needs us, and we can't help him by sleeping the day away.

Lydia sighed as she rolled to her back. Her beast wasn't wrong. Sitting up, she stretched her arms overhead, then pushed back the covers and slung her legs over the side of the bed. She removed Beck's shirt, found a bra and some jeans, then got dressed, putting his shirt back on. After peeing and splashing water on her face, Lydia made her way down the hallway. Dooley and Kennedy were sitting at the dining table. He was tapping away at a laptop, while Kennedy sipped something in a mug.

Kennedy jumped to her feet. "I'll get supper in the oven."

Lydia liked the female. A lot. And if it was time for supper, Lydia had slept longer than she intended. She took the seat opposite the one Kennedy vacated. "Anything new?"

"Yes. I put your cell and the sat phones on chargers. Beckett's has several calls and texts from Delaney, and yours has been blowing up with text messages from someone named Dakota. You had one call from your mom, two from your dad, a text from someone named Locke, five texts and several calls from a Cailín, and Carleigh figured out who the man at Amara's was."

Lydia crossed her arms and laid her head down on them. Cailín she could handle. The others? She didn't want to talk to anyone other than Carleigh, but if she didn't respond to her family, they'd hop the Clan jet to Alaska. She looked around for her cell phone. When she saw it on the counter, she stood and padded across the room, dodging Kennedy as she put a casserole dish in the oven. "Who's the man?"

"Orson Murray, father to Heather Lewis, whom Beckett dated before leaving BC."

Lydia's hand froze as she reached for her phone. Beck hadn't mentioned anyone from his time before. "Was it serious?"

"Eh. They were together several years, but when Amara was made to leave the province, Heather refused to move with Beck, and he wouldn't remain behind, so it ended."

If she and Beck weren't fated mates, Lydia might be jealous. Hell, she still was. Lydia hadn't dated anyone for any length of time, while Beck had loved this female enough to ask her to move with him.

Kennedy placed her hand on Lydia's arm. "Don't go there. That was ten years ago. What they had was nothing special. What you have with Sawyer? It's everything."

"You're right, but what is her father doing with Amara?"

"That is the million-dollar question. It's possible the Empress doesn't know his identity. It isn't as though they all got together for Sunday dinners. Beckett's personal life was, and still is, separate from his family. Chloe and Heather went to school together, and if I remember correctly, they were close. But back to Orson. When I tapped into the video feed from the Empress's security cameras, it showed them leaving her house together. It didn't appear as though she was under duress, but Amara is Queen for a reason. She wouldn't be quivering in her snow boots."

Lydia's phone pinged with another text message. "I need to go answer some of these calls before my family comes with a rescue party."

"Carleigh spoke to your mom and gave her the gist of what's going on, so there's that."

"Okay. I'm still going to call her." Lydia took the phone to the living room but stopped short when she noticed Caleb sprawled out on the sofa. He looked up from where he was scrolling on his phone. "Thanks for the rescue. I don't think I said that earlier."

"You were kind of out of it, and you're welcome."

"That I was."

Caleb stood and pocketed his phone. "Now that you're awake, I'm needed back in Seward. The helo is in the warehouse, and the Cessna is in the slip Beckett rented when you first got here."

"How did you manage that?"

"All Sagan crafts have GPS locators. I took my own trip through the snow to get it. It's not often I get to run on four legs, and I rather enjoyed it. Dooley has all the keys. Carleigh assured me you can fly the bird?"

"Yes, my uncle taught me, and Beck gave me instructions with the Cessna, although I won't be taking it across the mountains."

"I'm sorry I can't stay and help, but Delaney is pissed I stayed away this long. I guess money trumps missing family members."

"I guess so. Safe travels."

Caleb called out his goodbyes to Dooley and Kennedy, and then he was gone. Lydia plopped down on the sofa that was warm from where Caleb had been lounging. She read all the texts and listened to the voicemails. Since Carleigh had shared with Cailín what was going on, she texted her friend first and let her know she was alive and kicking. Okay, maybe not kicking, but she was alive. Next, she texted Dakota letting her know she was okay. Then, she called her mom.

"Lydia Nicole Stone. Why did I think you going off to Alaska was a good idea?"

"Hi, Mom. I'm fine."

"That's to be determined. Carleigh said you found your mate. What's he like? Wait. Call us back on video. I want to see your face."

Lydia did as her mom requested. Her parents were sitting on the sofa, huddled close.

"Why do you look like the world is ending if you met your mate?" Sophia asked.

"Because he was abducted. His name is Sawyer Beckett, he's a polar bear shifter, and he's awesome. Well, probably not at the moment considering he was taken. His mother, the Queen of their pack, and one of his sisters are also missing, and we're pretty sure his sisters' father is responsible. I'm working with Carleigh and Dooley, one of Beck's packmates, to get them back."

"Hey, Bug. Locke and I can be on a plane within the hour. Just say the word," Nikolas said.

"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate the offer. If Dooley, Carleigh, and I get stuck, I might take you up on it."

"Ooph. Damn, Gio, you're killing my bladder, kid. Lydia, tell us everything."

Lydia smiled at her mom scolding her round belly. She reclined on the sofa with her feet propped on the arm and did as Sophia asked, recounting everything that happened, minus the sex. She also left out how she struggled the last few hours of walking alone.

"A flamethrower? That's my girl," her mother praised.

Nikolas let out an exasperated sigh, but he was grinning. "Don't encourage her."

"Oh, come on, Gorgeous. You have to admit that's badass."

Lydia curled onto her side and let her parents' gentle bickering wash over her.

"I want a fucking flamethrower." Locke knelt behind the sofa, looking at her between their parents' heads.

"Language." Sophia tried to swat at Locke, but he ducked her hand.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to say flamethrower. But I'm with Dad on this, Lydia. You shouldn't rely on someone you don't know to have your back. You saw how many of us were there for Bas last month."

"And he was going up against a whole pack of wolves. This isn't the same thing. Besides, you don't need to miss any more school right now."

"Psh. I'm coasting at this point. I could miss the rest of the year and still pass all my classes." Locke huffed against his fingers and rubbed them on his chest.

"I'm sure, Mister Smarty Pants." Locke took after their uncle Julian in the brains department. Carleigh's dad was a literal genius, and Locke wasn't far behind. Only Connor was smarter. Genetics were strange. "Seriously, though. It's going to be a lot of Carleigh and Dooley doing their voodoo with computers. I'm not going back out until I have a solid lead on where to look, and that could take days."

"Okay, Bug. We'll play it your way. For now."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Why hasn't Sebastian sent an army to Alaska already?" Sophia asked.

"Because he doesn't know I'm here." When her mom started to protest, Lydia held up her hand. "And I want to keep it that way. He and Dakota have enough to deal with. Like I said, right now, it's all about gathering intel."

Sophia leaned her head against Nikolas's shoulder, then she popped right back up. "I almost forgot. We found a house in New York. We hired someone Lucy recommended to update it, and it's going to be stunning when it's finished. I'll send the link to your email."

" I'll send the link. Mom can't remember shi— anything nowadays," Locke said.

Sophia opened her mouth and narrowed her eyes at her mate who was grinning. "He's not wrong."

"Rude. The both of ya."

Something beeped in the kitchen, and Lydia figured it was the timer on the oven. "Listen, I need to go. Supper's ready."

"We're proud of you, Sweet Girl. Promise to keep us posted."

"I promise. Love you."

Three voices responded, "Love you too."

Lydia pressed her fingertips to her lips and blew a kiss before closing out the video.

"Your family loves you," Kennedy said softly.

"That they do. But Beck said yours is pretty awesome too." Lydia sat up, then rose to join her new friend.

"That they are, but with them in the northern part of the state, I hardly see them anymore. Supper's ready."

Lydia linked her arm through Kennedy's, and they strolled back to the kitchen together. The spaghetti casserole was exactly what Lydia needed. Cheesy, carb-loaded yumminess. Kennedy had toasted French bread and tossed a salad. Dooley put aside the computer long enough to enjoy his meal, but as soon as he was finished, he went back to typing. Lydia offered to do the dishes, but Kennedy insisted on helping. They were drying the last dish when Lydia's phone rang. Her heart skipped a beat thinking it might be Beck, but it wasn't. Lydia didn't want to talk to Dakota; she'd probably end up lying to her Queen. She let it go to voicemail.

Since Dooley was still on the computer, and Kennedy said she was going to take her shower, Lydia went into the bedroom and grabbed her own laptop so she could check out the house her parents were buying and maybe do a little work. She sat against the arm of the sofa and got comfy. Before she could open the lid on her laptop, her phone rang again. This time it was Sebastian. Lydia twisted her head, popping her neck, then answered.

"Hey, Bas."

"Wow. I'm surprised you answered. How are you?"

Lydia felt bad for dodging his calls, especially with him being her King. "I'm good. Searching for shifters for the council. Cell phone coverage isn't great out here."

"And where is here?"

"Oh, I'm in Alaska. Don't ask."

"Alaska?" Dakota hollered from the background.

"Yep. How are things with the lodge?"

"Don't deflect," Dakota said, having taken the phone away from her mate. "About you not having cell phone coverage, give me your address."

Lydia panicked, thinking her Queen was coming to visit. "Uh…"

"You are staying somewhere, correct?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then give me your address, and I'll send you a satellite phone. I won't have you out there with no way to contact us if you need us."

"Oh. Yeah, it's… Hang on." Lydia put the phone on speaker, then opened her email to find the rental address.

"Done. Now, how are you, and don't lie," Dakota insisted.

Lydia sighed. "Having a hard time dealing, but there's something healing about snow."

"I'm really sorry. If it weren't for—"

"Nope. We're not doing this. I was defending my Queen, and I don't regret that. I think the part of it that I'm having a hard time with is I didn't mean to do it. If she and I had been battling, like it was either her or me, then I wouldn't feel as guilty. I'm working through it."

"I can't imagine what you're going through, but I want you to know Bas and I are here for you. And do me a favor. I want you to check in at least once a week. If you don't, I'm hopping a plane to Alaska."

"I appreciate that, but you need to focus on the lodge."

"Then you'll check in?" Dakota asked softly.

"I will. I need to go, but I'll call back soon."

"We're looking forward to it, Lydia. Love you," Bas said.

"Love you too, Bas." Lydia disconnected. She was reaching for her laptop when Dooley cursed a blue streak.