23. Zeus

Igasped as I shot up in bed. The room was pitch-black, my heart thundering as panic choked me.

I couldn't feel Odin.

He was gone.

I thought it was another one of my nightmares.

I chucked my awareness out through the bond, but there was nothing there. I could feel Apollo faintly in the background, but he was too far away to tell what the fuck was happening to us.

Chest heaving, fear took over. I needed my pack; I needed Candy. I needed to know what the fuck was going on. If they were close, if they were safe.

My head spun. I thought I was going to puke. I tried to breathe, but something covered my mouth. I inhaled a sharp scent I recognised: chloroform.

I tore it off my face, coughing, spitting out the liquid that had seeped onto my lips.

My eyes snapped to four figures on the other side of the room as they froze.

There was no time to think. All my senses were on full alert. A growl ripped from me as I jumped out of the bed, throwing aside the covers.

I stumbled as my feet hit the ground. The chloroform had already dug its way into my blood.

"He was meant to be knocked out," one of them whispered.

Betas, all four of them by their scent. My nose was so fucked that's all I could smell. Male, smaller than me.

Reaching out for Apollo, I sent him a warning through the bond. He was freaking the fuck out, but he was far enough away that he was safe, I hoped.

I gripped my head, trying to make the betas out in the darkness. The world toppled, and I fell backwards, knocking into the bedside table.

I had to stay awake, even though the world was spinning.

I fumbled around dizzily until I hit the lamp. One tap and her bedroom was flooded with pale light.

My snarl split the room as my eyes instantly landed on Candy. She was unconscious, hoisted by the arms and legs between two of the betas, her ass on the floor as they dragged her across her pure white carpet. The glass door that led out to the gardens was forced open by another beta, and it was clear where this shitshow was going.

I leapt for them. No hesitation. I had to do everything I could to protect my omega.

Each of them was dressed in black: balaclavas, tight trousers, long-sleeved tops. Leather gloves, and fucking bulletproof vests that would be no use as I cleared the space between us.

I had to get to her. I needed to stop them. My mind scrambled, my senses blown. I could barely see them through the haze of chloroform, but I could hear their breaths and their shuffling feet, and I picked them out in the blur.

I got to the first guy easily. A single punch and his jaw cracked as he crumpled to the floor. My lips pulled back over my teeth. My only goal was my omega, and nothing could stop me as I flew towards the two betas kidnapping her.

Her head was knocked forward, her whole body loose. It wasn't right to see her like that.

"Fucking move!" the one by the door hissed.

The beta clutching her feet dropped her as the one holding her under her armpits kept tugging her.

I loved how small she was, how she fit so comfortably against me, how she was completely buried when Odin and I sandwiched her between us, but it made it so much easier for the beta to drag her to the door.

Candy's bedroom was large enough that she could fill it with huge closets and racks for all her clothes. It would have taken me five strides to get to her. That's how close I was; that's how easily I lost her… just like Odin all those years ago.

Two strides, closing quickly on them, until the one by the door lifted a gun.

I kept moving, roaring, desperate, sick. But he fired.

I gasped as it hit me in the chest, pain bursting through my body.

My heart in my throat, I croaked as I pitched forward. I wouldn't give up. I'd never give her up. I promised her, promised them.

He shot me again, a puff of air and a sharp sting to my neck.

This time, I went down.

I hit the floor hard, wheezing as my mind flashed back to the pub and my memories blurred with reality. I had failed again. I needed to protect them and, no matter how strong I was, I was powerless.

The last thing I saw were the scars on her feet and harsh eyes through the beta's balaclava as they disappeared through the door.

I reached for her as everything went black. My voice hoarse, my breaths slow, I could only moan one word as the darkness took me:

"Candy…"